Marcela Escobar Email and Phone Number

• I managed to get Caldas selected as the only region in Colombia to be accelerated by the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program, which allowed us to define the strategy to develop the innovation ecosystem.• Support the growth of 171 High Potential Companies to achieve an average sales increase of 41%, equivalent to 94 million USD, and the creation of more than 3,000 new jobs.• Make the model visible worldwide as a result of participation in the World Entrepreneurship Congress in Turkey and in 8 countries as a success story of economic development.• Train 130 mentors from Argos, Fundación Bancolombia and CHEC EPM in the business mentoring program.• Design the first Open Innovation program to prioritize the innovation challenges of large companies and connect them with the actors of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, achieving the identification of 4 strategic solutions.• Manage a public-private alliance of 13 heterogeneous actors for 12 years, generating value for all.

• Articulate large companies, universities and associations to develop technological innovation projects according to the industry needs.•Lead a 6 professionals team in advising 100 companies in virtual, design, electronic and biotechnology areas in the development of prototypes and search for resources.

Structure and manage 30 training and innovation projects to obtain resources for more than 250.000 USD

Structure and consolidate a support network with more than 20 public and private stakeholders to support more than 6.000 small business owners in Caldas with microcredits, technical support and business training.Manage resources for Fomipyme for 50.000 USD for the technical support of 10 food businesses of the region.Support the creation of 150 business plans, leading them to be codified in sales channels for big supermarkets.