Month: April 2024

As originally published by GoDaddy’s Venture Forward Research Initiative

Since 2020, GoDaddy Venture Forward findings have consistently proven that microbusiness entrepreneurship makes an outsized impact on the economy, promoting job creation, boosting annual household median income growth and driving down unemployment. Every year, when the U.S. Census releases its most recent data, GoDaddy Venture Forward runs new analyses to capture the latest economic impacts.

Venture Forward is a research initiative that GoDaddy launched in 2018 to quantify the presence and impact of online microbusinesses on their local economies, providing a unique view into the attitudes, demographics and needs of these entrepreneurs.

This year, in partnership with UCLA Anderson Forecast economists led by William Yu, we’ve uncovered the following impacts made by microbusinesses (those having 10 or fewer employees, a domain and an active website).

At the county-level, every additional microbusiness entrepreneur adds about seven jobs, which has continued to grow based on data through 2023.
 Analysis of data from 2018 to 2022 found the effect of microbusiness entrepreneurship to be two or more new jobs for every additional entrepreneur, and from 2020 to 2022, about six new jobs.
 Adding 1,000 new microbusiness entrepreneurs in a county is associated with a drop of 0.11 percentage points in the unemployment rate.
 This means that studying Miami-Dade County in Florida, with almost 430,000 microbusinesses and 2.1 million people over the age of 18, adding just 1,000 entrepreneurs would reduce the region’s unemployment rate by almost 7% (from 1.6% to 1.49%).

Our research shows that entrepreneurship has only continued to grow in importance – from acting as a backstop during economic downturns like the pandemic, to being a catalyst for greater prosperity in current times, and the historically low unemployment rates we’re experiencing.

“We’ve learned that online businesses with 10 or fewer employees are creating more jobs than before – up to seven jobs for every one entrepreneur, compared to only two just a few years ago,” said Alexandra Rosen, senior director of Venture Forward. “Our findings show how even the smallest of businesses can significantly drive down unemployment rates in communities across the country.”

For more information about the state of microbusinesses across the country, visit the Venture Forward Microbusiness Data Hub.

About GoDaddy Venture Forward

GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research initiative analyzes more than 20 million online businesses with a digital presence (measured by a unique domain and an active website). Most of these businesses employ fewer than ten people, categorizing each as a microbusiness. While these microbusinesses may be small, their impact on economies is outsized even though they are often too informal or too new to show up in traditional government statistics. 

Since 2018, Venture Forward surveyed more than 36,000 small business owners with a digital presence, making it the source for microbusiness data and insights.

At Motorola Solutions, inclusion is deeply ingrained in our identity as a company. Our commitment to solving for safer starts from within, with our dedication to creating an inclusive workplace where every voice is valued.

Our business councils (also known as employee resource groups) and diversity, equity and inclusion champions play pivotal roles in shaping our culture and ensuring that inclusion is not just a buzzword, but a lived experience. Already in the first few months of 2024, several of our business councils have hosted impactful events to celebrate and promote inclusion around the world.

The Motorola Solutions Black Inclusion & Diversity Organization (MBIDO) led efforts to honor and celebrate the contributions and impact of the Black community during Black History Month in February. They organized events featuring prominent speakers on Black men and women’s health, climate justice for Black people and the past, present and future of diversity, equity and inclusion. Throughout the month, MBIDO also campaigned to support Black-owned businesses. These initiatives aimed to raise awareness, foster dialogue and inspire action towards inclusion.

The Women’s Business Council (WBC) organized a series of events and volunteer opportunities to commemorate women and allies during March’s Women’s History Month. WBC events featured guest speakers on emotional residence, negotiation strategies and metabolic health. Several WBC chapters also led volunteer efforts in support of female-focused charities, including making letters, bookmarks and bracelets of encouragement for Girls Empowerment Network and creating care packages for women and children residing in The Star Shelter in Singapore.

One of the standout initiatives during Women’s History Month was our “Give a Flower” campaign, which led to more than 3,000 women being recognized for their leadership traits by colleagues and allies around the company. The campaign not only celebrated women’s achievements but also underscored the importance of allyship and collaboration in driving positive change.

In celebration of this year’s Lunar New Year, the Motorola Solutions Asian & Pacific Islander (MAPI) business council partnered with our sales team in Allen, Texas to provide an opportunity for employees around the world to learn, appreciate and immerse themselves in the traditions of Lunar New Year. MAPI also hosted a session on unlocking Asian leadership potential with a guest speaker from the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. The presentation was a testament to the importance of recognizing and harnessing the potential within our diverse workforce. The presentation shed light on unique challenges faced by Asian professionals and emphasized strategies for inclusive leadership practices that create environments where every employee can contribute their best work and realize their full potential.

At Motorola Solutions we know that fostering inclusion propels innovation. By bringing together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and creating a culture where they feel that they belong, we harness the collective wisdom and creativity needed to tackle complex challenges that arise when solving for a safer world for our employees and our customers.

At Covia, prioritizing Safety First is a fundamental principle. We implement various measures to ensure that Safety and Health (S&H) are consistently at the forefront for our Team Members, contractors, vendors, suppliers, and customers. One specific area of opportunity is hand safety. Hand injuries are a common risk in our daily operations, which is why we are initiating a hand safety campaign to highlight this crucial aspect of safety and well-being for all Covia Team Members. This initiative underscores the significance of safeguarding our hands, as they are essential tools in all our tasks – protecting them is vital for maintaining a thriving and secure workplace environment.

In the upcoming months, Covia will offer a variety of resources for our teams to use, including articles, presentations, and interactive training sessions on various key hand safety topics. These resources aim to spark discussions across the company, empowering each employee to take proactive measures in preventing hand injuries.

Hand injuries can be avoided, but it requires effort and cooperation. At Covia, we are committed to meeting this challenge head-on.

To gain further insights into Covia’s Hand Safety Campaign, we invite you to watch this video presentation. For more information about Covia’s commitment to Safety and Health, click here.

For English Version click here

April 10, 2024 /3BL/ – Representantes del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos a través del World Environment Center (WEC) y sus socios: el Núcleo de Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC), Baastel y la Red de Innovación e Impacto (LaRed), llevaron a cabo el lanzamiento de la tercera y última edición del concurso “Empower Innovation Challenge” (EIC) en abril del 2024. 

Desde el año 2023, WEC y sus aliados estratégicos desarrollan el Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC), cuya meta es fortalecer 24 organizaciones con fondos no reembolsables a través de esta serie de concursos y pasarán a formar parte de un conglomerado de negocios que fomenta la competitividad en Latinoamérica denominado: “La RED de Innovación e Impacto” (La RED). 

El Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC) es un concurso único de innovación dirigido a organizaciones sin fines de lucro que estén enfocadas en fortalecer a las Micro, Pequeñas y Medianas empresas lideradas por mujeres (MIPYMEs), con el fin de lograr un crecimiento económico inclusivo a través de soluciones locales especializadas en economías verdes y azules para Latinoamérica y el Caribe.

El EIC ofrece pequeñas subvenciones por organización, para fortalecer proyectos que puedan escalarse y ampliar su alcance a través de capacitaciones, acceso a redes de contactos y oportunidades de asociación con empresas locales e internacionales.

El período de postulación de este tercer y último concurso está abierto desde el 1 de abril hasta el 28 de junio del 2024. Puede descargar las instrucciones y formatos del EIC en la página web https://www.eiclared.org/ 

Las organizaciones postulantes deben desarrollar proyectos en alguno de estos 10 países de Latinoamérica: Belice, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panamá, República Dominicana, Colombia, Perú y Ecuador.

Los proyectos que participen pueden ser de Organizaciones privadas sin fines de lucro, Organizaciones No Gubernamentales Sin Fines de Lucro (fundaciones, organizaciones de la sociedad civil, asociaciones, centros de producción más limpia, entre otros), Universidades e instituciones de educación superior privadas sin fines de lucro. 

Los sectores hacia los cuales va dirigido el concurso varían desde la agricultura, pesca, turismo sostenible, tecnologías de servicios creativos, manufactura ligera y pequeña, así como textiles, entre otros.

La más reciente premiación del segundo concurso se llevó a cabo en enero pasado donde ocho iniciativas resultaron ganadoras. Los beneficiarios del segundo concurso fueron:

Asociación Cooperativa de Ahorro, Crédito y Comercialización “Mujeres Dispuestas a Triunfar” (ACOMUDT)- El Salvador: “Iniciativas productivas de la zona norte”

Asociación Guatemalteca de Exportadores (AGEXPORT)- Guatemala: “MIPYMEs sostenibles”

Cámara de Comercio, Agricultura y Turismo Chiriquí (CAMCHI)- Panamá: “Crecimiento Empresarial para Mujeres Emprendedoras”

Comunidades de la Tierra (WAKAMI)- Guatemala: “Fortalecimiento de las cadenas de valor en Guatemala”

Empresa Campesina Agroindustrial de la Reforma Agraria de Intibucá (ECARAI)- Honduras: “Cerrando la brecha del mercado justo para la producción sostenible de hortalizas de las mujeres indígenas Lena de Honduras”

Libélula para el Cambio Global- Perú: “Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs from the Green and Blue Economies project (OMEEVA)”

Rural Commerce- Ecuador: “Innovación y Red Sostenible para Mujeres Rurales”

Travolution- Colombia: “Fomento de Mujeres para el Turismo Sostenible”

Los recursos para poner en marcha este proyecto provienen de uno de los fondos del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos denominado el Fondo GEEA (Acción Global para la Igualdad y Equidad de Género), e implementado por la Oficina de Asuntos del Hemisferio Occidental, Oficina de Planificación y Coordinación de Políticas (Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Office of Policy Planning and Coordination, WHA, por sus siglas en inglés).

Breve descripción de los proyectos ganadores: 

ACOMUDT (EL SALVADOR): Su propuesta consiste en ampliar, fortalecer y comercializar tres iniciativas productivas amigables con el medio ambiente y con enfoque de género. Uno de los objetivos es ampliar la producción. Capacitar a las beneficiarias en el adecuado manejo de sus actividades productivas del sector apícola. Los resultados esperados son una mejor interacción con el medio ambiente, la mejora económica de las personas involucradas y la difusión y comercialización de los productos obtenidos.

AGEXPORT (GUATEMALA): A través de su proyecto se proponen mejorar la competitividad de las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas lideradas por mujeres exportadoras o que participan en las cadenas de valor, a través de la adaptación de la cultura empresarial a favor de la sostenibilidad y la inclusión.

CAMCHI (PANAMÁ): La implementación de este proyecto busca promover el crecimiento de las unidades productivas bajo un enfoque de cierre de brechas, identificadas a partir de un autodiagnóstico, a partir del cual se establecen los respectivos planes de acción o planes de negocios individuales. Estas acciones de mejora son el resultado de la consulta de expertos temáticos y empresarios. Para lograr lo anterior, se implementará una hoja de ruta que incluirá talleres de capacitación, asistencia técnica individual y eventos de relación financiera. El trabajo estará enfocado en los siguientes temas: Administrativo Financiero, Marketing y comercialización, Gestión productiva, Capital humano y Sostenibilidad ambiental.

Comunidades de la Tierra (GUATEMALA): El proyecto tiene como objetivo fortalecer la cadena de valor artesanal de KIKOTEM, propiedad de las empresas certificadas B-Corp Wakami y Cemaco. A través de capacitación administrativa y productiva específica, el proyecto se enfoca en elevar la productividad, fomentar el acceso al mercado y establecer sistemas de trazabilidad alineados con los principios de B-Corp.

ECARAI (HONDURAS): Esta iniciativa tiene como objetivo empoderar a las mujeres y contribuir a mejorar su calidad de vida, a través de sistemas de producción más limpios que les permitan cuidar el medio ambiente y su salud, mejorar la disponibilidad de alimentos saludables. Asímismo, generar rentabilidad a través del acceso a nichos de mercado justo que valoren su esfuerzo; en una relación comercial ganar-ganar, a través de acuerdos entre las iniciativas privadas del Mercado Local (Restaurantes, Hoteles, supermercados). 

Libélula para el Cambio Global (PERÚ): El objetivo del proyecto ‘Oportunidades para Mujeres Emprendedoras de las Economías Verdes y Azules (OMEEVA)’ es doble: ayudar a 50 mujeres líderes de MIPYMEs verdes o azules del Perú a adquirir capacidades de gestión y liderazgo, prácticas de género y preparación para el cambio climático, además de respaldar las herramientas digitales necesarias para ayudarles a hacer crecer su negocio de manera exitosa y sostenible. En segundo lugar, es promover el uso de las herramientas de diagnóstico digital para el avance de las MIPYMES consolidadas por el proyecto apoyando a los participantes y socios de OMEEVA para promoverlo en comunidades más amplias.

Rural Commerce (ECUADOR): El proyecto tiene como objetivo establecer un ecosistema de apoyo para las mujeres rurales dedicadas a la agricultura familiar, en particular las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas (MIPYMES). Este proyecto se centra en alinear la producción con las tendencias del mercado y las prácticas climáticamente inteligentes a través de la digitalización democrática. Una red sólida maximiza la eficiencia de las herramientas y apoya a las mujeres emprendedoras rurales. Las tecnologías rentables de América Latina impulsan mejoras comerciales. Los resultados incluyen una mayor eficiencia de los recursos, una participación diversificada en el mercado, mayores ingresos, una mayor seguridad alimentaria y una reducción del desperdicio de alimentos debido al acceso limitado. Acceder a industrias comunitarias implica seguir la guía del proyecto.

Travolution (COLOMBIA): El proyecto tiene como objetivo crear, fortalecer y consolidar una red de mujeres líderes y emprendedoras en el área de turismo comunitario, cuidadoras del agua, de los mantos acuíferos y de sus territorios, en 7 departamentos de Colombia representando a 10 organizaciones de base social que constituyen el público meta del proyecto.

Para mayor información acerca de la iniciativa visite: https://www.eiclared.org/ y https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/

Acerca de La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La Red)

La Red es una iniciativa que reúne a organizaciones, sin fines de lucro y con fines de lucro, para apoyar a MIPYMES con el fin de promover el crecimiento económico sostenible y la prosperidad en Latinoamérica y el Caribe (ALC). La Red nació en 2014 a través de un proceso de selección de organizaciones que han venido acelerando el desarrollo de negocios sostenibles y promoviendo el crecimiento económico en Latinoamérica y el Caribe. El proyecto fue financiado por el Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos y ejecutado por el Centro Mundial del Medio Ambiente (WEC) y sus socios Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) y RioSlum Studio hasta junio de 2021. A partir de julio 2021, La Red se sustenta a través del liderazgo de sus propias organizaciones miembros y coordinada por el Núcleo de Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC) de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso en Chile.

Acerca del World Environment Center (WEC)

WEC es una organización sin fines de lucro neutral, independiente, global, que fomenta el desarrollo sostenible a través de las operaciones de sus empresas miembros y en alianza con gobiernos, organizaciones multilaterales, organizaciones no gubernamentales, universidades y otras partes interesadas. La misión de WEC es promover los negocios y su valor social fomentando soluciones a problemas relacionados con el desarrollo sostenible.

Acerca de Núcleo de Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC)

NBC de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, es un Centro de I+D+i integrado por académicos y profesionales de excelencia, con más de 10 años de experiencia en desarrollo tecnológico, innovación y transferencia tecnológica en el área de ciencia y tecnología. El NBC busca hacer que las empresas sean más productivas, sostenibles y competitivas, visualizándose en tres años como un centro de referencia para apoyar a las pymes para que puedan aumentar su competitividad. NBCWe desarrolla tendencias innovadoras para afrontar los nuevos retos económicos, sociales y medioambientales para que mañana vivamos en un mundo más sostenible.

Acerca de Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel)

Baastel está reconocido por sus servicios de calidad en Monitoreo y Evaluación (M&E), Gestión Basada en Resultados (GBR), planificación estratégica, gestión de proyectos y programas y construcción de capacidad individual e institucional en estas áreas. La reputación sobresaliente de Baastel en la industria se ha estado construyendo sobre un historial de éxitos nacionales e internacionales y experiencia respaldada por la atención al detalle, calidad, transparencia y neutralidad. 

Versión en español

April 10, 2024 /3BL/ – The World Environment Center (WEC), and its partners, the Núcleo de Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC) and Baastel, launched the third and final competition of the “Empower Innovation Challenge” (EIC) in April, 2024.

Since 2023, WEC and its strategic partners have been implementing the Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC) to strengthen 24 organizations through a series of online competitions. The winning organizations receive small grants and become part of a business conglomerate that promotes competitiveness in Latin America and the Caribbean called “La RED de Innovación e Impacto”.

The Empower Innovation Challenge is a unique competition that identifies and awards innovative nonprofit organizations that manage projects benefiting micro, small, and medium-sized (MSMEs) enterprises led by women. It aims to achieve more sustainable and inclusive growth by generating local solutions that support green and blue economies in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The EIC offers small grants to strengthen projects that can be scaled and extend their scope through training and access to network opportunities with local and international stakeholders.

The application period for this third and final competition is now open from April 1 through June 28, 2024. To learn more or apply, visit: https://www.eiclared.org

Qualified organizations that wish to apply must be from one of the following ten countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador.

The participating projects may come from non-profit organizations and institutions in general: civil society organizations, educational institutions, centers focused on developing small businesses, and organizations dedicated to implementing and promoting cleaner production.

The sectors targeted by the competition range from agriculture, fishing, sustainable tourism, creative services technologies, light and small manufacturing, as well as textiles.

The most recent award ceremony took place last January, when eight organizations were awarded as the winners of the second challenge. The eight winning organizations are:

ACOMUDT- El Salvador: “Iniciativas productivas de la zona norte”AGEXPORT- Guatemala: “MIPYMEs sostenibles”CAMCHI- Panamá: “Crecimiento Empresarial para Mujeres Emprendedoras”Comunidades de la Tierra- Guatemala: “Fortalecimiento de las cadenas de valor en Guatemala”ECARAI- Honduras: “Cerrando la brecha del mercado justo para la producción sostenible de hortalizas de las mujeres indígenas Lena de Honduras”Libélula para el Cambio Global- Perú: “Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs from the Green and Blue Economies project (OMEEVA)”Rural Commerce- Ecuador: “Innovación y Red Sostenible para Mujeres Rurales”Travolution- Colombia: “Fomento de Mujeres para el Turismo Sostenible”

This initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) through the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) 2021 Global Equity and Equality Action (GEEA) Fund and implemented by the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Policy Planning Coordination Office (WHA/PPC).

Brief description of the awardees’ projects: 

ACOMUDT (EL SALVADOR): The project consists of expanding, strengthening, and marketing of a beekeeping productive initiative to be economically self-sustainable while integrating the gender perspective. The expected results are a better interaction with the environment, the economic improvement of the people involved, and the dissemination and marketing of the products obtained.AGEXPORT (GUATEMALA): The project aims to improve the competitiveness of MSMEs led by women exporters and/or those involved in value chains by adapting the business culture to favor sustainability and social inclusion.CAMCHI (PANAMA): The implementation of this project seeks to promote the growth of productive units under a gap-closing approach, identified from a self-diagnosis, from which the respective business plans are established. A road map will be implemented to achieve the expected results, including training workshops, individual technical assistance, and financial relationship events. The work will focus on the following topics: Administrative Finance, Marketing and Commercialization, Productive Management, Human Capital, and Environmental Sustainability.Comunidades de la Tierra (GUATEMALA): The project aims to strengthen the KIKOTEM artisanal value chain, owned by the certified companies B-Corp Wakami and Cemaco. Through specific administrative, production, and gender training, the project focuses on increasing productivity, promoting market access, and establishing traceability systems aligned with B-Corp principles.ECARAI (HONDURAS) – The project aims to empower MSMEs led by women by implementing cleaner production systems while also improving their quality of life and well-being. As part of the project, women-led MSMEs will raise their profitability, safeguard their health, preserve the environment, and improve the availability of healthy foods in their communities. In addition, it aims to generate market niches and fair financial returns for MSMEs led by women.Libélula para el Cambio Global (PERU)– The goal of the project is twofold. First, the project aims to support 50 MSMEs led by women of green or blue in Peru by strengthening their management and leadership capabilities, gender practices, and preparedness for climate change. Additionally, the project will support them with digital tools that will enable them to expand their businesses successfully and sustainably. Second, the project wants to promote the OMEEVA toolkit – a collection of digital tools for MSEMs- in wider communities through participants and partners.Rural Commerce (ECUADOR): The project aims to support the development of a sustainable ecosystem for rural women engaged in family farming, particularly MSMEs. Through democratic digitization, this project aligns production with market trends and the best climate-smart practices. The expected results are increased resource efficiency, diversified market share, higher incomes, improved food security, and reduced food waste due to limited access.Travolution (COLOMBIA): The project aims to generate a network of women leaders and entrepreneurs in the sustainable tourism sector. The project wants to make optimal use of water and positively impact the territories of seven departments of Colombia, representing ten grassroots organizations that constitute the project’s target audience.

For more information about the initiative visit: https://www.eiclared.org & https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/.

For additional information please contact: 

WEC Team info@wec.org

About La RED de Innovación e Impacto (La RED)

La RED is an initiative that brings together nonprofit and for-profit organizations to support MSMEs in order to promote sustainable economic growth and prosperity in LAC. La RED was born in 2014 through a selection process of organizations that have been accelerating the development of sustainable business and promoting economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean. The project was funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and implemented by WEC and its partners Le Groupe-conseil Baastel ltée (Baastel) and RioSlum Studio until June 2021. As of July 2021, La RED is supported through the leadership of its own member organizations and coordinated by NBC of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile.

About World Environment Center (WEC)

WEC is an independent, global nonprofit, non-advocacy organization that promotes sustainable development through the business practices and operations of its member companies and in partnership with governments, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. WEC’s mission is to promote business and its social value by advancing solutions to sustainable development related problems.

About Núcleo de Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC)

NBC of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso is an R+D+i Center integrated by academics and professionals of excellence, with more than 10 years of experience in technological development, innovation and technology transfer in the area of science and technology. NBC seeks to make companies more productive, sustainable and competitive, visualizing itself in three years as a reference center to support Small and Mid-size Enterprises (SMEs) so they can increase their competitiveness. NBC develops innovative trends to face new economic, social and environmental challenges so we will live in a more sustainable world tomorrow.

About Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel)

Baastel is recognized for its quality services in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Results Based Management (RBM), strategic planning, project and program management, and individual and institutional capacity building in these areas. Baastel’s outstanding reputation in the industry is built on a track record of international and national successes and expertise that is backed by attention to detail, quality, transparency and neutrality.