Fundacion Gen E

The GEN E Foundation, established in 2014 by a group of young professionals in Córdoba, is recognized as an incubator by the National Secretariat of Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Incubating over 80 ventures (with more than 140 entrepreneurs), over 70% of which are women-led, the foundation boasts a survival rate exceeding 60%. Through talks, workshops, training, and simulations, more than 2500 individuals have benefited. The foundation focuses on impact and social economy entrepreneurs, along with entities aiming to stimulate social and environmental impact. Their efforts center around entrepreneurial support programs, fostering alliances, and providing consultancy/project management for companies and institutions.

The mission of the Gen E Foundation is clearly revealed: "to be the seed of a better world by training, accompanying and multiplying sustainable and regenerative entrepreneurship". Our interpretation of sustainability incorporates the concept of "triple impact", merging environmental, social and economic aspects. We always persist in the principle of "leaving no one behind".

The Gen E Foundation is driven by the powerful purpose of promoting conscious models of production and consumption in Latin America, aiming to foster sustainable and regenerative businesses for a better and fairer world. Positioned as change agents, Gen E combines transformational leadership with sustainability to effect tangible change. The foundation takes responsibility for connecting diverse actors in inclusive, human-centered socio-economic ecosystems, recognizing the essential role of the private sector in achieving the goals of a more sustainable world, crucial for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our vision is: "To become a benchmark for sustainable development in Latin America, with people at the center". We accompany those who undertake with a deep purpose, aware that their actions will reverberate in their own lives and in the community at large. Recognising the risks of ignoring environmental and social aspects, we assume an irrevocable commitment to integral sustainability.

The GEN E Foundation has three main lines of action, which are the framework for our recurring activities. Below is a description of each of the axes with past and planned future activities

1-GEN E ACADEMY

GEN E Academy is a unit dedicated to strengthening ventures with a focus on social and environmental impact. Through this unit, we help ventures with a focus on socio-environmental impact to grow. We do this through two distinct but complementary programmes, "Impact Business Incubation" and "Winay - Inclusive Business Space", which target two different beneficiary audiences.

1.A.Impact Business Incubation

Established in 2014, this incubator is dedicated to promoting impact entrepreneurship, emphasizing social and environmental well-being alongside economic development, irrespective of the applicants' vulnerability. The initiative supports change leaders working towards just causes aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Specializing in non-financial support tools and facilitating links to funding sources, the program focuses on developing and strengthening sustainable business models. Recognized by the Córdoba Innovate and Entrepreneur Agency in 2017 and 2021, it was selected to participate in the "Córdoba Incuba Empresas" program. Moreover, the incubator holds official recognition as an incubator from the National Ministry of Production under registration number 390.

To date, the incubator has supported more than 50 ventures through training, mentoring, coaching, networking spaces, support in applying for funding, links with investors, business linkages, among other opportunities offered. The survival rate of the projects supported is slightly above 70%. The incubator has had 8 editions from 2015 to 2023. This year our institution's goal is to promote impact investment. Starting with a program of investment readiness , made in alliance with 3 impact venture capital. The program will strengthen entrepreneurs valuation, impact measurement and their pitch to investors. We are also developing our own impact fund, so we can develop an impact accelerator.

1.B. WINAY - ESPACIO DE NEGOCIOS INCLUSIVOS (WINAY - INCLUSIVE BUSINESS SPACE)

Winay specializes in supporting entrepreneurs in vulnerable contexts by transferring knowledge, experience, and connections from its impact incubator work. The objective is to assist entrepreneurs who share similar values but lack social and economic capital or necessary support due to vulnerability. Leveraging the impact incubator's experience, Winay identifies mentors, coordinates connections, incorporates tutors, and implements monitoring tools.

The program seeks to democratize access to entrepreneurial benefits for those in vulnerable contexts, integrating them into business value chains. It includes a personal strengthening component, addressing spirituality, motivation, life purpose, and physical and mental health monitoring. This component is vital, addressing aspects often overlooked by existing support programs.

Winay aims to serve as an "inclusive business laboratory," connecting social economy entrepreneurs with companies seeking these projects as suppliers. The goal is to improve the survival rate of social economy projects by providing opportunities for links, training, support, empowerment, and resource access for entrepreneurs in their enterprises, cooperatives, and productive units.

First edition Winay (2021-2022): has worked with 100 productive enterprises and organizations, providing them with weekly training in business skills, presentation and social networks, mainly, creating a community and spaces to sell their products. Ten of them received personalized support, and two of these ten became cooperatives, managing to sell their products directly to companies such as Coca-Cola, Quilmes and Hipermercados Libertad.

Second edition Winay (2022-2023): In its latest edition (2022-2023), Winay conducted 47 high-impact training sessions, with 10 in-person and the remainder virtual. Emphasizing digital inclusion, the program provided computers and specific training in IT tools. The total training duration was 90 hours, benefiting nearly 100 ventures. Ten of these received personalized support, including coaching, mentoring, and specialized training. Beyond training, the support involved tailored advice and continuous follow-up, addressing the specific needs of each project.

Third edition Winay (2023-2024): In its third edition, the primary objective of the program is to generate authentic job opportunities. To accomplish this, the focus is on organizations with financial stability that have been operating for over a year and express the intent to grow. The initiative believes that creating an impact, particularly in underprivileged neighborhoods, is accomplished through empowerment and the creation of employment opportunities. Currently in the recruitment stage, the program has received 25 applications and is scheduled to commence in April.

2-GEN E CORPORATE

This unit specializes in advising companies, government institutions and organizations seeking to incorporate practices and actions with a focus on social and environmental impact in their projects and business models. Its objective is to promote corporate sustainability, recognising that corporate responsibility goes beyond profitability, encompassing the positive contribution to society and the environment. It offers services such as consultancy in sustainable development, open innovation for impact, agility for impact, support for social impact projects and links with impact communities.

One of our central projects within GEN E Corporate:

2.A. EQUÁNIME - SOCIAL INCLUSION INITIATIVE OF THE CORDOBA RECTORS' FORUM

Since 2020, the Foundation has been actively involved in supporting the Forum of University Rectors in the Province of Cordoba to conceptualize, design, coordinate, and implement the "Equánime" Platform (https://equanime.ar/). This initiative aims to foster inclusion, enhance employability, and support social economy enterprises in the province. Equánime focuses on providing a comprehensive and accessible catalog of opportunities from various universities, creating communication spaces, increasing visibility, and valuing projects dedicated to promoting inclusion and equal opportunities. It targets individuals facing employment challenges, those without access to formal education in Cordoba, vulnerable populations, and those striving to create jobs in the social economy, ultimately seeking to positively impact diverse segments of the population.

One of the upcoming activities for 2024 involves establishing Connection Centers strategically located throughout the city. These centers will provide access to computers and connectivity, ensuring that a broader audience can benefit from the Equánime platform. Additionally, we are planning more in-person events to enhance the visibility of the opportunities offered by Equánime.

3- GEN E VENTURES

In 2024, a significant initiative is the launch of Gen E Ventures, a specialized unit for impact fund management. The objective is to facilitate equity financing for impact tech ventures and businesses dedicated to creating jobs in vulnerable sectors. Following the "Impact First" principle, the investment strategy emphasizes supporting bold and scalable ventures aligned with Sustainable Development Goals in Impact Tech, as well as generating income and employment in vulnerable communities for Social Business. Ventures opting for Gen E Ventures not only secure funding but also access the Gen E Academy, offering educational resources and mentoring to amplify the impact of their projects.