Greg Mitchell

The 2020 PECAP Directory is out!

Last month the Peruvian Seed and Venture Capital Association, PECAP, published its Directorio de Miembros PECAP 2020. This is a great step to provide access to information on active early stage investors in Peru.

AWS steps up support of startups in Peru

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has increased its presence in Peru and, with that its support of local startups. Alex Harasic, who previously founded startup Operatio, is now Business Development Manager, Startups & Venture Capital, for Chile and Peru.

Peru is setting an example

The current Covid-19 outbreak has put pressure on governments to act. Peru’s goverment has taken quick, drastic action. So far, it has stood out as a model globally.

According to the International Survey on Coronavirus, with over 100,000 participants so far, Peru sits on the spectum of most extreme government reaction and most truthful government communication.

This is hard

Startup founders are used to crisis and leading through change is part of founders’ mental make-up.

What is happening now is unexpected, unprecedented, and harder.

Startup solidarity

Solidarity among Peruvians has remained strong during the first weeks of the goverment-mandated quaratine period. Citizens are staying home and doing their best to manage the challanges brought by the novel coronavirus.

This solidarity of the general population has extended to startups, many of which are in a great position to provide support. In some cases, this support comes in the form of providing resources and ideas for managing time at home. In others, startup support comes in the form of a digital channel to provide direct resources to people most in need.

Startups providing in-home resources

Startups in Peru and across Latin America are quickly responding to people’s needs. As local governments ask, or require, citizens to stay home, demand for in-home services has increased.

Local startups are playing a role in keep all of us calm and focused. Their solutions can be an important resource or valuable distraction.

Remote Work 101

For the next few weeks many companies with implement remote work. Startups that have launched with remote DNA are prepared. This will be a competitive advantage compared to corporations with structured work days whose employees will take time to adjust. A flexible mindset allows startups to think about hiring talent and selling to customers who don’t live in the same city.

El embajador

Startup ecosystems need ambassadors. People who connect with neighboring communities to share good news and build bridges.

Javier Benavides, Manager of BBCS Capital and co-founder of Investa VB has spent time over the last year building important links between Peru and other members of the Pacific Alliance countries.

2 years of Ruta Startup!

We started Ruta Startup two years ago to share the progress of the Peru startup community through the eyes of people across the ecosystem.

It wouldn’t have been possible over the last twelve months without the writing and feedback from active members of the startup community, including Luis Narro, Jose Garcia Herz, Jia Li Tan, Andres Benavides, Enzo Cavalie, Ivonne Quiñones, Carlos Rodrich, Anson Tou, Renzo Reyes, Elias Mufarech, Diego Bartra, Ernesto de Olazaval, Charlotte Ducrot, Paola Mego, Valeria Reyes and Oriana Fuentes.

How are we doing, Michael Porter?

Ten years ago, renowned Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter came to Peru to analyze the local competitive environment. His conclusions were shared in a presentation entitled Competitiveness: A New Economic Strategy for Peru. Now is a great time to take a look back and see what progress has been made as it relates to startups.