By Charlotte Gouveia Neto
On the fourth day of our trip, we visited INACAP, a school focused on technology (IT), where students can choose between 2, 4, 5 or 6 year programs. The group I was assigned to consisted of one Chilean businessman who worked as a consultant for people who, as he stated, was afraid to reach their full creative potential. Another Chilean student, Gabriel, created a technology for the copper mining industry, which dealt with the water additive chemicals to make the traditional way of mining more efficient. Maria, a Chilean who worked for the U.S. Embassy, translated for the group between the Chileans and the three MBA students working with them.
As the time progressed and we heard from Michael about the problems Cleveland has faced as a pre-manufacturing economy shifting to a technology and service based system, and our Chilean group seemed to be a little inspired by the presentation and film. However, after the presentation, they expressed huge problems that one faces when trying to innovate in Chile. These problems consisted on the lack of societal acceptance of failing, therefore many people are afraid to become entrepreneurs and make a leap on their own without support from family and friends. Our Chilean consultant stated that people in Chile do not grow up thinking creatively, so usually those who innovate are foreigners coming into Chile, which is a similar statement to one Julie Macpherson has said on the first day in her initial presentation focused on doing business in Chile.
Further, Gabriel mentioned when he designed his technology for the mining industry, no one would listen about the innovation he had created. Gabriel apparently took the project to mines in the area, and stated that the management are so “stuck in their ways” that they did not want to hear about the technology, even though it would make the mining process more efficient, saving money and time. Further, Gabriel mentioned even if he was able to get a discussion going to talk about his technology, he would not know how to develop the business end of the product, including licensing and possible patent rights. Gabriel said there is no where to really go to get help on the business end, however when we asked him and the consultant about the progress made with Start Up Chile and Cumplo, they said no one ordinary usually uses Start Up Chile, and both has never even heard of Cumplo.
Thus, suggestion from our team consisted of focusing innovation and entrepreneurship around, as Michael has stated, what is strength of Chile and in the area. Thus, we suggested focusing first on the mining and agricultural industries, and then move into other industries such as heavy tech or more tech based services. This session was a great way to interact with other Chileans about the current business situation in Chile and the challenges one would face as an entrepreneur.
As the time progressed and we heard from Michael about the problems Cleveland has faced as a pre-manufacturing economy shifting to a technology and service based system, and our Chilean group seemed to be a little inspired by the presentation and film. However, after the presentation, they expressed huge problems that one faces when trying to innovate in Chile. These problems consisted on the lack of societal acceptance of failing, therefore many people are afraid to become entrepreneurs and make a leap on their own without support from family and friends. Our Chilean consultant stated that people in Chile do not grow up thinking creatively, so usually those who innovate are foreigners coming into Chile, which is a similar statement to one Julie Macpherson has said on the first day in her initial presentation focused on doing business in Chile.
Further, Gabriel mentioned when he designed his technology for the mining industry, no one would listen about the innovation he had created. Gabriel apparently took the project to mines in the area, and stated that the management are so “stuck in their ways” that they did not want to hear about the technology, even though it would make the mining process more efficient, saving money and time. Further, Gabriel mentioned even if he was able to get a discussion going to talk about his technology, he would not know how to develop the business end of the product, including licensing and possible patent rights. Gabriel said there is no where to really go to get help on the business end, however when we asked him and the consultant about the progress made with Start Up Chile and Cumplo, they said no one ordinary usually uses Start Up Chile, and both has never even heard of Cumplo.
Thus, suggestion from our team consisted of focusing innovation and entrepreneurship around, as Michael has stated, what is strength of Chile and in the area. Thus, we suggested focusing first on the mining and agricultural industries, and then move into other industries such as heavy tech or more tech based services. This session was a great way to interact with other Chileans about the current business situation in Chile and the challenges one would face as an entrepreneur.