Established in 2013 by IDB Lab, WeXchange seeks to stimulate the growth potential of women STEM entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean. WeXchange organizes an annual forum that gives women entrepreneurs in the region the opportunity to expand their network of contacts, access mentors and investors, receive training on key topics to develop their startups, as well as the possibility to participate in a call for proposals that recognizes the most dynamic and innovative women entrepreneurs in the region and provides them with the opportunity to pitch their startups in front of international investors and ecosystem players.
In 2012, IDB Lab decided to actively support and promote the participation of more women in STEM startups. After countless phone calls to female entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and other industry peers, the focus for the intervention was clear: women entrepreneurs needed to strengthen their networks.
WeXchange was born from the idea of bringing members of different entrepreneurial communities together in one place, with three objectives:
- To recognize and strengthen women entrepreneurs.
- Connect them with mentors, investors, role models, and other successful female entrepreneurs.
- Increase their chances of success and access to financing by creating a support network and democratizing essential tools for their entrepreneurial journey.
Annual call for applications to identify the most innovative and dynamic women-led STEM startups from Latin America and the Caribbean, to connect them with potential financing opportunities.
The selected entrepreneurs pitch their startups in front of investors and relevant ecosystem players.
- Women entrepreneurs leading innovative businesses with high growth potential focused on Latin America and/or the Caribbean, interested in accelerating the growth of their companies.
- Investors interested in the region.
- Mentors with experience advising companies in the region.
- Experts in the world of entrepreneurship.
- Companies and institutions interested in supporting the creation of innovative companies led by women.
- Get inspired, share, and learn from other woman entrepreneurs like you.
- Receive personalized and group mentoring to solve key issues in your company.
- Network with key people in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Attend hands-on training sessions led by experts.
- Find investable projects.
- Keep abreast of the latest trends in technology and innovative business models.
- Meet the companies that will become the next success stories in the region.
- Accompany a platform formed by young talent that contributes to the creation of wealth and social welfare in the region.
Hear the success stories and lessons learned of innovative women STEMpreneurs.