Mentorship for Social Entrepreneurs in Latin America

Social entrepreneurship is emerging in Latin America to address some of the region’s most pressing problems. Many social enterprises in Latin America lack the networks and capabilities to obtain the funding needed to sustain and scale their businesses. Conectamos, created by a Capstone team, is a nonprofit organization designed to help social enterprises achieve sustainable, scalable impact and financial results by connecting them with experienced mentors and impact investors. To better understand the struggles of social entrepreneurs in Latin America, the team conducted field research in Chile and Colombia, administering over 90 customer discovery interviews with social entrepreneurs, impact investors, and academics. The team’s research showed that successful social entrepreneurs possess extensive networks, while those struggling with fundraising lack valuable industry connections. In response, the team developed a service that helps social entrepreneurs expand their networks through tailored connections with mentors and potential investors. Beginning with select interview subjects, Conectamos will advise social enterprises on how to build their businesses and garner sufficient investment.