Industrious luminaries linking forces with fledgling entrepreneurs: Daniel Daccarett's Emprende Tu Mente initiative sparks change, focusing on bridging the gap between industry titans and budding business owners through strategic networking events.
In the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, networking events can play a pivotal role in accelerating startup growth and fostering a supportive professional ecosystem. A study published in Nature Human Behaviour (2021) supports this notion, suggesting that connections between people from different industries generate more innovative ideas.
One such initiative that has demonstrated the power of networking is "Emprende tu Mente," a non-profit event that brings together over 45,000 people. Founded by Daniel Daccarett, this annual event has become a regional benchmark, with participants from 19 countries in 2024. The success of "Emprende tu Mente" can be attributed to its focus on inclusion, accessibility, and collaboration, as well as public and private sector support that provided spaces and outreach assistance.
Daccarett, co-founder of the Corporation "Emprende tu Mente," demonstrated that the key is to design experiences that level the playing field. Unique activities like hot air ballooning or the Ferris wheel have been successful in connecting people who wouldn't normally talk. The initiative contrasts with summits like WebSummit, where access exceeds $1,000, and instead charges symbolic $5 entry fees. There are no VIP lounges or special entries, making it a platform for entrepreneurs from all walks of life.
Top executives from companies like Falabella or Ripley have mentored emerging startups at "Emprende tu Mente" events. This opportunity to learn from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts is invaluable, as it helps entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls and rapidly develop skills.
78% of entrepreneurs attribute their key advances to relationships built at in-person events. These events benefit entrepreneurs by expanding their access to opportunities such as clients, investors, and partners; providing valuable knowledge and industry insights; enabling relationship building that fosters collaborations and support systems; increasing visibility and credibility; and enhancing core skills like communication and confidence.
To maximize the value of networking events, entrepreneurs can set clear networking goals, focus on quality over quantity in relationships, actively engage in conversations, follow up with contacts, participate regularly to build trust, and use online platforms to complement face-to-face interactions.
For the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), countries with the highest density of networking events have a faster growth rate in startup creation. Initiatives like Colombia Tech Week and TECH SPHERE 2025 in Colombia have followed a similar path as "Emprende tu Mente."
However, Daccarett emphasizes the importance of keeping the focus on the community and preventing commercial interests from overshadowing the original purpose. By prioritizing accessibility and collaboration, events can become engines of social mobility.
Attending networking events strategically can unlock new opportunities, accelerate startup growth, and build a supportive professional ecosystem that sustains long-term success.
- Networking events have been proven to accelerate startup growth and foster supportive professional ecosystems, as seen in the study published in Nature Human Behaviour (2021).
- The initiative "Emprende tu Mente," with over 45,000 participants from 19 countries, embodies the power of networking.
- Founded by Daniel Daccarett, "Emprende tu Mente" has become a regional benchmark, offering a platform for entrepreneurs from all walks of life.
- Daccarett designs experiences that level the playing field, with unique activities like hot air ballooning and the Ferris wheel.
- Unlike summits like WebSummit, "Emprende tu Mente" charges symbolic $5 entry fees, fostering inclusivity.
- Top executives from companies like Falabella or Ripley have mentored emerging startups at "Emprende tu Mente" events.
- Relationships built at in-person events are crucial, with 78% of entrepreneurs attributing their key advances to these connections.
- Networking events expand access to opportunities such as clients, investors, and partners.
- These events provide valuable knowledge and industry insights to entrepreneurs.
- Networking enables relationship building that fosters collaborations and support systems.
- Networking events increase visibility and credibility for entrepreneurs.
- Participating in networking events can enhance core skills like communication and confidence.
- To maximize the value of networking events, entrepreneurs should set clear networking goals.
- Quality over quantity should be the focus in relationships built at networking events.
- Entrepreneurs should actively engage in conversations at networking events.
- Following up with contacts after networking events is essential.
- Participating regularly in networking events builds trust and long-term relationships.
- Online platforms can complement face-to-face interactions in networking events.
- Countries with a higher density of networking events have a faster growth rate in startup creation, according to the OECD.
- Initiatives like Colombia Tech Week and TECH SPHERE 2025 in Colombia have followed a similar path as "Emprende tu Mente."
- Commercial interests should not overshadow the original purpose of networking events, as emphasized by Daccarett.
- Prioritizing accessibility can make networking events engines of social mobility.
- The management of big-win situations in industries like finance and wealth management can be learned through networking events.
- A healthy-diets and fitness-and-exercise industry expert can share recipes for healthy meals at networking events.
- The housing-market, personal-finance, and commercial real-estate sectors can benefit from networking events for data and insights.
- In the fashion-and-beauty and food-and-drink industries, networking events can connect entrepreneurs with new suppliers and distribution channels.
- Investing, banking-and-insurance, and fintech sectors can benefit from networking events for investment opportunities and industry insights.
- Networking events can provide opportunities for learning about political careers, career-development, and policy-and-legislation, especially in the casino-and-gambling and sports-betting industries.
