Working towards the creation of a truly inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem is what has driven Aliança Empreendedora for 20 years. Including people at the base of the pyramid is not a simple task, however, the organization points out some guidelines that allow for greater participation of these entrepreneurs. The proposals arose during the realization of the Summit Aliança Empreendedora – A Brief History about the Future of Entrepreneurship, which took place in Brasília, in early June.
The event, which is part of the celebrations of 20 years of impact by Aliança Empreendedora, brought together hundreds of entrepreneurs, leaders, and government authorities who presented the challenges and discussed solutions to boost this field of the economy. This meeting is an initiative of Aliança Empreendedora and the Empreender 360 Program, in partnership with Bank of America, Instituto Assaí, Arymax Foundation, Coca-Cola Brasil, Mercado Pago, Volkswagen Group Foundation, Lojas Renner Institute, Itaipu Binacional, and Caixa Econômica and Mercado Pago. The discussions resulted in a document that presents the main challenges and possible solutions for each scenario. The full document can be accessed here.
The equitable access to capital and resources is a point highlighted in the document and perhaps the most critical and urgent challenge. ‘For innovation to flourish across all social strata, it is imperative that funding, mentoring, and infrastructure be equally available, breaking down barriers of location, gender, ethnicity, or social class,’ comments Lina Useche, co-founder and head of institutional relations at Aliança Empreendedora.
In addition, creating and making accessible customized training and development programs and building support networks and communities were also listed as essential for the project’s success. ‘These issues are essential, first and foremost because no entrepreneur, or even a person, can grow alone, as we live in society,’ explains Lina. It is necessary to develop safe environments, especially for those who feel marginalized, for exchanges and learning.
Finally, the document also points out two paths to overcoming obstacles, which are also prominent social issues: promoting diversity and representation and eliminating systemic barriers and prejudices. Both are intimately related and concern the diversity of Brazilian society. Creating public policies and eliminating biases that disadvantage certain audiences and groups is essential for a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Brazilian Microentrepreneurship Forum, an event that was part of the Alliance Entrepreneurship Summit program, showed that people reinvent themselves, resist, and are supportive in overcoming entrepreneurial challenges. However, this creativity is not enough to change the scenario. For this, concrete support, institutional articulation and public policies are needed that, instead of pruning, cultivate more potential, which is one of the missions of the Entrepreneurial Alliance.
