WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
WISE Peru: Meet the Most Outstanding Female STEM Entrepreneurs in Peru in 2023
The WISE Peru 5G “Entrepreneurs in STEM” competition has reached its final stage, recently unveiling the event's winners. The competition showcased the talent and innovation of women entrepreneurs working in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Organized by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub UDEP of the University of Piura, the event was conducted through the WISE Women in STEM Entrepreneurship Program - Peru by the IAE Business School of the Universidad Austral de Argentina, in collaboration with BID Lab of the Inter-American Development Bank. This collaboration allowed the gathering of the 13 finalists from different regions of the country.
Presenting projects focused on technology, science, and engineering, the participants from Piura, Arequipa, Cusco, Tacna, Apurímac, and Lima showcased creativity and dedication. Their projects were characterized by innovation, business models, team collaboration, and growth potential.
“We want the participants to join the community of over 1000 women who have benefited from the WISE program in the last 5 years and continue to strengthen the largest national network of women entrepreneurs in STEM,” said Eddie Valdiviezo, Director of the Entrepreneurship Incubator at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub Udep. He also congratulated all the finalists of the competition and emphasized the perseverance and effort that the entrepreneurs put into their projects.
We want the participants to join the community of over 1000 women who have benefited from the WISE program in the last 5 years and continue to strengthen the largest national network of women entrepreneurs in STEM.
It's worth noting that, in the final phase of the competition, the finalists received specialized training sessions and mentoring, adding value to their projects by providing teams with crucial information for the progress of each venture.
Niome Hüneke-Brown, Director of Projects at FNF Andean Countries, highlighted the importance of startups developed by women: “Women-led STEM ventures play a dual role: empowering women to rethink their roles and, at the same time, providing opportunities for them to design tasks that suit the roles they want to fulfill in their family environment.”
Women-led STEM ventures play a dual role: empowering women to rethink their roles and, at the same time, providing opportunities for them to design tasks that suit the roles they want to fulfill in their family environment.
Winners Receive Seed Capital for Their Ventures
The winners received significant prizes thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation - FNF Andean Countries and Celepsa, a company within the UNACEM Group. The first-place winner in the “Sales” category will receive a seed capital prize of S/5,000, while the winner in the Prototype category will receive S/3,000 to boost her venture.
The WISE Peru competition highlighted women entrepreneurs for their extraordinary dedication and innovative vision in their respective areas of expertise. Each of them serves as an inspiring example for entrepreneurs and the STEM community nationwide.
In addition to the financial prize, the ventures that secured the first place in their categories will receive mentorship sessions with experts from the WISE Peru network, as well as visibility on social media.
About the Winners
Category “Sales”:
- Maria Pia Pacheco secured the first place with her innovative venture, Vuelve Compostario de Mascotas. This initiative ecologically redefines composting as a way to bid farewell to our pets. The venture stood out for its sustainability and the well-being of pets.
- Dely Goicochea earned the second place in the sales category with her venture Tecky Brains - Tecky Niñas Digitales. This platform provides an educational space where girls can start learning about computers from an early age, demonstrating a commitment to the education and empowerment of girls in the field of technology.
Category “Prototype”:
- Yanet Quispe secured the first place in the category with the venture NOSTOC. This project uses nutritious cushuro gummies to combat childhood anemia, presenting an innovative solution to a significant health issue in childhood.
- Brunela Alatrista claimed the second place in this category with her project LiVo. This platform simplifies the property rental process and offers coliving options. LiVo demonstrates a clear and practical vision to enhance the rental housing experience.