“Jóvenes Buena Onda” Innovation,Regeneration and Entrepreneurship Laboratory

Grupo Nutresa is committed to sustainable development. Therefore, the Organization seeks to consolidate business models that support the capitalization of opportunities and the creation of shared value for our stakeholders.

That is why, through the “Buena Onda, Negocios que Transforman” (Businesses that drive transformations) Program, the Company has enabled the development of capabilities among young people in the Colombian departments of Antioquia, Bolívar, Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca and Nariño in the contexts of business models, innovation and entrepreneurship. These skills boost the young people’s personal and professional development, the generational replacement and the consolidation of their life projects in their rural settings.

“Jóvenes Buena Onda”:

A year ago and in partnership with Universidad EAN, Comfama and Rewired, Grupo Nutresa started a training pathway for the youth who were part of the “Buena Onda” Program, which is focused on learning the design-thinking methodology for the development of business models that are sustainable over time.

For three days and as part of the closing exercise, the second Innovation, Regeneration and Entrepreneurship Laboratory was held with the participation of 40 young rural entrepreneurs and leaders at the Biosuroeste Agro-Park and at ‘La Nacional’ Estate (owned by Compañía Nacional de Chocolates) in the municipality of Támesis in Antioquia, Colombia. This event enabled Grupo Nutresa to promote an inter-generational exchange between the young people and the leaders of the grassroots organizations, and to co-build innovative and collaborative solutions for several territory-based challenges, as it is the case of regenerative livestock farming and agroforestry.

Successful experiences:
In the latest Innovation BootCamp, which was carried out in 2023, and with the support of our partner Rewired, Grupo Nutresa boosted three entrepreneurship projects under the “Impact Unicorns” methodology, where more than 30 young people from El Carmen de Bolívar and Chivatá received training related to emerging technologies and digital business.

Within the framework of the laboratory, these entrepreneurial young people presented their pathway and shared good practices and success stories with the aim of inspiring more young people to create business models that are sustainable over time.

Accelerated entrepreneurship projects:
Highlights:

‘Monte’: Wellness platform that offers rituals of care for the body, the mind and the spirit inspired by the secrets of nature and products based on the biodiversity of the ‘Montes de María’ region.

‘Salvaje tours’: Nature tourism platform that offers routes and experiences designed by young people from the Colombian department of Boyacá.

‘Agrowtech’: Rural education platform centered on learning technological and digital skills, the solution of rural challenges and the possibility of launching real- world innovations.

We are aware of the fact that innovation and entrepreneurship are key drivers of the future development of both our Business Units and all our stakeholders, that is why we will continue promoting and working on initiatives that enable us to inspire the changes we want to see among the youth and in the world.