• In the framework of World Entrepreneurship Day, which is celebrated today, the Bogota Chamber of Commerce launches the call for business creators to access workshops, advice and support to carry out their business idea through the new entrepreneurship route.

• The Chamber has also opened the call for the XVII Young Entrepreneurs Fair aimed at people between 18 and 36 years old, which will be held during the fourth edition of GoFest, Bogota's Entrepreneurship Festival, to be held from August 18 to 20.

• With these actions, the entity contributes to consolidate Bogota as the entrepreneurship capital of Latin America.

Bogota, April 16, 2021. In Colombia, approximately two out of every ten entrepreneurs are still in the market after five years. In the case of Bogota, three out of every 10 remain in business and, according to figures from the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, 5 out of every 10 that have taken part in its support programs manage to remain in business and continue operating after five years.

In the framework of World Entrepreneurship Day, which is celebrated on April 16, the CCB shares figures of interest of the services and invites business creators of Bogota and the region to be part of the new Entrepreneurship Route, a space in which through workshops, advice, support and mentoring on strategic issues help to validate, mature, model the idea, generate income and create sustainable and profitable companies.

All entrepreneurs who enroll in the entrepreneurial routes of the CCB have access to an activation process for business creation, structured in 4 axes: strategy, marketing, financial and legal and procedures, consisting of workshops and capsules.

These routes can be done with the accompaniment of a consultant that lasts two months, so that through the advice they can achieve their goals, or just taking the services according to the availability of the entrepreneur.

All those registered are invited to participate in the Business Creation Activation Day, where the Entrepreneurship route and services are presented, as well as a talk on inspirational topics of interest to entrepreneurs. The call is open until May 31 for the route that will take place from June 24 to August 6. To start the process, interested parties can call the Juntos line 7467027 or go to www.ccb.org.co/juntos and click on the option "Entrepreneurship Route".

Data of interest

• More than 116,989 entrepreneurs have been linked to the services of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce since 2014; in addition to training services, the model incorporates specific activities for the segment of business creators, which have allowed accompanying 4,372 entrepreneurs during the last 4 years in the fulfillment of 8,423 business objectives.

• The majority of the entrepreneurs assisted are young, 25% between 18 and 29 years of age and 40% between 30 and 39 years of age. Nearly 47% are women entrepreneurs and 53% entrepreneurs; the entrepreneurs belong mainly to the macro-sector Business Services (13.6%), Agriculture (8.6%) and Tourism and gastronomy (10.3%).

• In the first quarter of 2021, the CCB has provided 85,382 assistance and advisory services and has accompanied 55,557 unique clients in their business objectives.

Juan David Castaño, Vice President of Business Strengthening of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce states that "We know firsthand the challenges generated by the current situation and therefore, as part of the Juntos program, we develop initiatives to continue supporting the creation of new businesses that are maintained and grow despite the difficulties. Likewise, to accompany entrepreneurs who are willing to contribute their talent to solve needs and take advantage of opportunities offered by the market, that is why we are developing the CCB Entrepreneurship Routes".

Young Entrepreneurs Fair

The purpose of the CCB's Young Entrepreneurs Fair is to provide companies with differential value offers with a showcase where they can exhibit their products and services, interact with their clients and buyers, and have effective contacts with them.

The call, which is open until May 3 at www.ccb.org.co, is aimed at people between 18 and 36 years old and will be held during the fourth edition of GoFest, Bogotá's Entrepreneurship Festival, to be held from August 18 to 20.

The format of this year's Fair, in principle, will be a hybrid event (i.e., with both face-to-face and virtual elements). However, this will be defined according to the circumstances that the evolution of the pandemic determines, and according to the guidelines established by the authorities in proximity to the dates of the event. The companies that apply will go through a selection process in which aspects of the business model such as the value proposition, what differentiates them in the market and sales channels will be reviewed. The selected companies will participate in trainings related to digital marketing, logistics for e-commerce, among others, in order to be inserted in the best way in this digital channel.