Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), offered local entrepreneurs advance training on the topic “Entreprises development in Argentina”. This masterclass was hosted by Gabriel D’Eboli, president and co-founder of IDEX.LA –Institute of Exponencial Development Latam-. He explained aspects related to entrepreneurship and investmentecosystems. The event was organized by UNL’s Technology Transfer Office.
IDEX.LA “works on the development of the entrepreneurship area, supporting and mentoring bussiness projects and investment advisoring” said D’Eboli.
The activity was held as a part of some actions UNL is offering trhough theTechnology Transfer Office and Banco Nación. To list a few, they present a training cycle for entrepreneurs and innovation platforms managers. Additionally, the authorities made the presentation and selection of startups, incubators and technology parks.
The Entrepreneur’s Office, Idear and Expresiva entreprise incubators, Esperanza’s and North Santa Fe’s technology centres and Litoral Centre technology park, were part of this learning instance. Also, the bank entity is part of the startup evaluation bureau along with UNL.
Investment Chain
The investment system and chain are one of the most important aspects regarding entrepreneurship development. In that sense, the expert explained that the chain of risk inverstments gives information about certain project’s status and, somehow, impacts which kind of invest or the entrepreneur should look for.
“One of the biggest problems that entrepreneurs have to deal with is the doubt about their project’s status. As a result, they have no clue about the type of invest or they should approach to. They end up making mistakes due to inconsistences between the company’s valuation according it’s state and the capital the investor is willing to risk on the project as shareholders. If theselines are blurry on the entrepreneur’s side, the chances of investments opportunities are more difficult”, he explained.
That being said, D’Eboli, talked about the important role of angel investor because it supports the entrepreneur from it’s early stage to the new born company’s stablishment:
“As entreprise’s latency period tends to be quite long, what is called as ´th evalley of death´, and it is where the entrepreneurships end up extinguishing. Angel Investor brings value to theearlystagetilltheentrepreneursmaketheirwayout of the valley of death, so they hand over the control to whoever is next on the investment chain as an strategic aliad or the venture capital investor”.
Then, he added “the characteristics of angel investor are peculiar because they are basically who can understand the project since day one and shares the goal of developing a bussiness along with the entrepreneur team. It shares it’s social and economic capitals, and it is almost investor and entrepreneur at the same time. From that base, for the invesment cycle to work, it is necessary that the angel investor is supportive of both aspects: “because it is investing money, it is also a good idea for this person to investit’s intelectual and social capitals too”.
Mentor’s role
Between the multiple aspects that had their place on this masterclass, the expert also talked about the importance of mentor’s role “this person covers the lack of experience that an entrepreneur may have at it’s early stages. The mentor provide networking opportunities, social capital and the confidence to lead the project through the success’ road”. Commented the IDEX LA president.
To share his experience as a mentor, the professor invited Fabio Lionel Huser, FLH Vitrales holder,, “an entreprise deidcated to produce stained glass for houses, institutions and religious spaces. The service also covers the restoration and the intervention of emblematic buildings”, described Huser. In terms of his participation, he added: “Gabriel D’Eboli invited me to share my experience; how it all begun and how I could get through this process that, at first, thought I was not capable of but then I realised that I actually was”.
About his entrepreneur joutney and his mentor experience, Huser highlited the importance of “believe in yourself before anything else.As an entrepreneur, I know that every difficulty we have to get through is not that big of a deal when we have a clear goal. Commited mentors help you build your confidence and that is the initial point for everything to flow. They contribute to the bussiness idea, to make choices and follow the right path”.
Entrepreneur’s Journey
At the end of this conversation, the hosts gave some advice for people initiating their own projects: “It is important to know when to delegate. Sometimes, us as entrepreneurs believe that we are capable of everything, but sometimes we need a specialized hand to help us. It is not easy but we must idenify the right time to seek for help in some chores. Also, it is crucial to develope the capacity of overcoming the obstacles that may show up in our ways” expressed Huser. On the other hand, D’Eboli claimed: “The entrepreneur’s journey is full of bondings and networking. It is important to reach the centres of knowledge and technology transfer at universities, to bussiness incubators, accelerators, puiblic or private programs.Sharing with others that are at the same situation that you are and the ideas of how to access to a menor or investor to get support”.