The recent IEEE Entrepreneurship Ambassadors Program event celebrated a year of extraordinary accomplishments and set the stage for future initiatives. Attended by innovators, tech leaders, and partners, the gathering highlighted the success of the program and shared plans for empowering even more young professionals in the years to come. 

The program was inspired by the success of the IEEE Region 8 Ambassadors Program, which has facilitated over 70 events since its launch in 2018, involving more than 130 ambassadors. This year, the program expanded to Region 9 (Latin America) to drive entrepreneurship across the continent..

The first year of the Region 9 program has seen impressive results:

●     Applications and Diversity: 33 ambassadors from 12 countries applied, achieving a gender representation of 42% female and 58% male.

●     Event Execution: A total of 13 ambassadors successfully organized events across eight countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, Panama, Peru, Mexico, and Uruguay. These events included pitch competitions, entrepreneurship workshops, and summits. Eleven events were conducted in person, while two were virtual​.

●     Community Engagement: The events reached over 2,500 attendees, with 25% being IEEE members. More than 50 partners, including companies, universities, and sponsors, supported these initiatives. Three of these partners were IEEE Organizational Units​.

●     Volunteer Efforts: The program mobilized more than 500 volunteer hours from committee members, mentors, ambassadors, and evaluators, underscoring the community's dedication to driving entrepreneurship​.

Recognitions and Awards: Celebrating Excellence

The program also honored outstanding ambassadors and events:

1)   Best Entrepreneurship Events Awards: Six standout events will receive a $500 USD prize for their associated IEEE Organizational Units. These events include:

a)    Programa de emprendimiento EMPRENDIEEE 2024- Ecuador Section - Young Professionals

b)    Semana do EmpreendedorIEEEsmo- Northeast Brazil Section- Federal University of Campina Grande Student Branch

c)     Summit de Jóvenes Emprendedores- Bolivia Section - Universidad Mayor de San Andrés Student Branch

d)    Asciende - Ecuador Section - Yachay Tech University Student Branch

e)    IEEE Entrepreneurship Week 2024: El camino del Emprendedor - Ecuador Section - Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE Student Branch

f)     IEEE Entrepreneurship Day UFRN- IEEE Northeast Brazil Section- Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte Student Branch

2)   Top Ambassadors: Pedro Pineda from Ecuador and Vitor Paiva Medeiros from Brazil were recognized as Top Ambassadors. Both will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the IEEE Rising Stars Event in Las Vegas from January 3-5, 2025, showcasing the impact of Latin American entrepreneurship on a global stage.

Join the Movement

IEEE Entrepreneurship invites all tech enthusiasts and innovators to become part of this vibrant community. Connect, collaborate, and innovate with IEEE as we continue to drive the future of technology and entrepreneurship across Latin America.