Juan Pablo Bernal

The Emprende 2025 Report confirms an undeniable reality: SMEs and micro-enterprises are the real economic engine of the country. They represent 99.8% of the business fabric, generate 72% of private employment, and contribute 65% of business GDP, but they operate in a highly fragmented and demanding environment. The study reveals a clear gap between ambition and capacity. Only 18% of SMEs are innovative, and investment in innovation (1.2% of turnover) remains well below that of large companies. Even so, the data is compelling: advanced digitization, internationalization, and continuous innovation double the chances of survival at five years. The profile of the Spanish entrepreneur is resilient and diverse, with motivations that change with age: younger entrepreneurs prioritize sustainability and social impact, while older entrepreneurs seek autonomy and financial independence. Financial independence remains the main reason for starting a business. Despite bureaucracy, labor costs, and economic uncertainty, there is moderate optimism: six out of ten entrepreneurs see growth in their sector. The trends are clear: digitalization, artificial intelligence, and sustainability are no longer options, but conditions for competition. Entrepreneurship in Spain is possible, but scaling up and consolidating requires strategic focus, technology, access to financing, and a more robust support ecosystem. The challenge is not to create more companies, but to help them grow better and survive longer. #venturecapital #innovationhub #familyoffice #angelinvestors #startups #nordenpeak #investors

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CDA InterCorp | Commercial Solutions Built for the Mission The Department of War’s renewed emphasis on commercial solutions is reshaping how industry will support our nation’s defense. Speed, affordability, and rapid fielding are now the decisive factors, and commercial-item innovation is the path forward. CDA InterCorp is already aligned to this shift. Our portfolio of commercial motion-control products—motors, actuators, geartrains, and precision assemblies—has been engineered and manufactured for years under proven commercial processes. That foundation positions us to deliver rapidly, scale efficiently, and provide the level of cost transparency that today’s acquisition frameworks demand. What makes our approach different is the discipline behind it. We leverage our commercial supply chain, our vertically integrated operations, and our tested manufacturing methods to deliver products that meet warfighter needs without the burden of extended development cycles. These commercial offerings are not theoretical. They are fielded, reliable, and ready to serve as the backbone for next-generation systems. As the Department drives toward greater use of commercial capabilities, CDA is prepared to support programs seeking high value and performance, accelerated delivery, and a partner who thrives inside the new acquisition model. If your team is evaluating commercial options that can meet urgent operational requirements, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss how our capabilities can directly support your objectives. Commercial solutions. Mission focus. CDA InterCorp is built for this moment. #Aerospace #Defense #MotionControl #CommercialSolutions #AcquisitionReform #CDAInterCorp

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🇨🇴 Women entrepreneurs are leading the way to bridge the digital divide in Colombia.    🌎 They are changing their lives and communities with the power of the Internet!    🌐 Through the project ‘Internet Plus: Plus entrepreneurship, women and digital tools’, 25 women entrepreneurs are gaining essential digital skills, expanding their businesses, and bridging the digital divide.    📲 From creating their first logos and emails to mastering online sales, these women are not just growing businesses — they're building economic autonomy and inspiring their communities.     ➡️ This project was implemented by Fundación PLAN, with support from the Internet Society Foundation's SCILLS grant program, in partnership with Asociación Colnodo.     🔗 Watch and read the full story: https://lnkd.in/d5J9XcyY     #InternetForEveryone #DigitalEquity #Empowerment #CommunityImpact #Colombia

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The law mandates that 30% of government procurement must flow to MIPYMEs. With the Pro-Pedernales Trust managing $2.245 billion in investments, this equates to $673 million that must be absorbed by SMEs. For executives, investors, and planners in the South, this is not a line item — it is a frontier of operational and economic risk.

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Have a listen! ✨ Recap of our latest SESA Puerto Rico webinar ✨ Youtube link: https://lnkd.in/eG_WJN8T 📢 SESA Updates & Upcoming Summit 🏝️ Annual Summit at the Caribbean Hilton, San Juan this September 👥 500–600 participants: policy, business development, engineering, sales & executives 🤝 Networking • 🛠️ Product showcases • 🗣️ Policy discussions 📍Details & registration - sesapr.org/summit ⚡ Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Success 🔋 Over 160,000 residential batteries in Puerto Rico are preventing blackouts ⚡ Supplying up to 50 MW during peak demand 🚘 Tesla leads with the largest share of batteries (primarily enrolled via Sunrun as the main Demand Response Aggregator) 🌎 Puerto Rico now has the largest VPP per capita in the world 🔧 Smart Inverter Settings 🏠 About 175,000 homes with solar have smart inverters ⚙️ But only 25,000 are fully configured to support the grid. With improved firmware settings, support for the grid would multiply. 📑 SESA is working with regulators & utilities to improve settings for grid stability + customer benefits 🌞 Community Solar Opportunities 📍 Pilot program approved by regulator: 25 MW across 5 projects 👨‍👩‍👧 Half of subscribers must be low-income households 🗣️ Jason Holsman (CCSA): Mid-scale projects (≤5 MW) = 10–20% savings for low/mod income customers + stable income for landowners. Pairing storage = stronger reliability. 🗣️ Noah Ginsburg (NYSEIA): New York’s lessons — standardized interconnection, incentives, streamlined billing — offer models PR can adapt. 🇺🇸 Federal Policy & Funding Landscape 💰 Solar for All + Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund = frozen or delayed 📉 The 30% ITC begins phasing out → urgency to begin construction of community solar projects before mid-2026 ⚖️ Puerto Rico’s Rate Case 📜 First full-scale rate case in PR history ⚡ Issues: net metering, hosting capacity, new rate designs (time-of-use, inclining block) 🛡️ SESA is actively defending solar + storage 🌟 Takeaway: Puerto Rico is making huge strides in solar + storage (especially with the VPP 🚀), but we face challenges in policy, funding, and regulation. 🌍 Community solar offers a path to expand access — especially for renters & low-income families — while federal deadlines make it urgent to act now. #PuertoRico #SolarEnergy #EnergyStorage #VPP #SmartInverters #CommunitySolar #CleanEnergy

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Join us tomorrow for the discussion on our perspective regarding the reciprocal trade agreement signed with the US. The takeaway is simple: we are strengthening predictability and reducing complexity so trade and investment can translate into real competitiveness. And for the productive sectors that still face challenges, we are keeping dialogue open and focusing on working hand in hand to take practical measures that lower costs and bottlenecks. This is how we build a relationship that delivers for businesses and for people. ProGuatemala Ministerio de Economía de Guatemala Programa Nacional de Competitividad de Guatemala

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As part of our strategy to diversify financial instruments, this year we approved the first investment guarantee for drinking water projects. The operation was structured in #Panama with the objective of reducing contractual risks, mobilizing private financing, and advancing the construction of two drinking water treatment plants in the provinces of Arraiján and Colón, where 13% of the country’s population lives. The completion of these works will generate tangible benefits: 💧12,000 households gaining safe access to drinking water for the first time 💧23,000 households experiencing improvements in service quality and continuity 💧US$21 million per year in operational savings for the Instituto Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (IDAAN) by replacing bulk water purchases 💧US$91 million in private investment mobilized Congratulations to the Government of Panama, IDAAN, and the project and Panama teams involved in making this milestone possible, demonstrating how financial innovation can translate into concrete social impact. Special thanks to Anderson Caputo Silva team! More details below. Ana María Ibáñez Tomas Serebrisky Tomás Bermúdez Emilio Pineda Gloria Lugo S. Jean Eric Theinhardt Maria Eugenia de la Pena Christian Schneider Javier Garcia Merino Kleber Machado María Fernanda Romero Burgos Joan Oriol Prats Juan M. Julio Rojas Lara Ana Grigera Aracelis Itzel Arosemena Angulo Esteban de Dobrzynski

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#Argentina🇦🇷 The State Intelligence Secretariat announces the enactment of a renewed “National Intelligence Policy”, the first comprehensive update in two decades. This milestone reflects the Government’s commitment to strengthening Argentina’s strategic posture in an increasingly complex global environment. The Policy introduces a modernized framework that aligns national intelligence priorities with emerging geopolitical, technological, and security challenges. It outlines six core objectives that will guide coordinated action across the National Intelligence System: • Reinforcing Argentina’s international projection through a more active and strategic engagement with global partners. • Protecting sovereignty and strategic autonomy, ensuring that national decision–making remains free from undue external influence. • Securing strategic resources and essential infrastructure, vital to economic development and national resilience. • Countering terrorism and organized crime, addressing both traditional and transnational threats. • Strengthening cyber defense capabilities to confront sophisticated digital risks targeting national assets. • Neutralizing hostile foreign intelligence operations that threaten the country’s interests. By establishing these priorities, the Government seeks to modernize the national intelligence architecture and enhance the State’s capacity to anticipate risks, prevent crises, and safeguard the well-being of the Argentine people. For more information: https://lnkd.in/ev2jNekx #SIDE #Inteligencia #Intelligence #NationalSecurity 🔗#Links in comments

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IDB Group supports digital literacy initiative in #Belize The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of E-Governance Belize, partnered with the University of Belize (UB) and the Inter-American Development Bank to soft‑launch the Digital Literacy Training to Citizens initiative. The hybrid ceremony marked an important step toward expanding nationwide digital skills training for Belizeans of all ages, backgrounds, and locations.   This program represents a significant step in advancing digital inclusion, strengthening cybersecurity awareness, and ensuring that all Belizeans, regardless of age, background, or location, have the skills needed to navigate an increasingly digital world.   Digital transformation is about people, and when digital literacy expands, so do opportunity. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eWiJA-9y Karla González Carvajal Ferdinando Regalia Emma Naslund-Hadley Katelyn Hepworth Beatriz Guimarães Almeida Ariana María del Mar Grossi Mel Hyeri Yang

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Growth and Value – A Moral Responsibility of the Private Sector As the new year begins, let’s discuss two key pillars of an economy: growth and value, and the role the private sector plays in both. Year after year, we hear debates about Puerto Rico's growth, or the lack thereof. Economists present their models and analyses, trying to introduce some slope to what appears to be a consistently flat line. Meanwhile, we often confuse growth with inflationary revenue increases and constantly blame the government for our stagnation. Similarly, the concept of value is often overshadowed by rising prices. Companies believe that price increases—while they may improve cash flow—equate to value creation and growth. However, in reality, price increases that occur without corresponding increases in wages or economic output (productivity) diminish consumers' purchasing power and do not contribute to real (inflation adjusted) growth. This highlights the critical role of the private sector in Puerto Rico's economy. If businesses across the island do not prioritize real value creation and invest in non-inflationary growth, we cannot expect the country to thrive. One could argue that the fiduciary responsibility of companies to grow and create value for their shareholders extends to a social responsibility toward the communities in which they operate—not from a welfare perspective, but in terms of fostering financial and productive prosperity. The private sector must balance day-to-day operations with medium- and long-term strategic paths that emphasize value creation. While the path to a thriving Puerto Rico certainly depends on government policy, every company—whether small, medium, or large—must adopt a mindset focused on real (not nominal) growth. Otherwise, we will simply shift money between pockets while deceiving ourselves into believing we are truly growing. Ultimately, the private sector has the power and responsibility to transform the economic landscape of Puerto Rico. By prioritizing real value creation and embracing a sustainable growth mindset, companies can not only enhance their own success but also contribute to the prosperity of the communities they serve. José Arroyo Sinfonica Founder

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Tonight, we look forward and have the honor of speaking at Green Drinks as part of Puerto Rico Energy Week. It’s a space I value deeply — not just because of the mission, but because of the people behind it. Our good friend Gabriel Perez Sepulveda has built a community where real conversations about sustainability actually happen, and the open space to deepen the discussions. Sharing the stage with Francisco Berríos Portela and H.G. Chissell makes it even more meaningful; they’re both brilliant minds and committed partners in pushing Puerto Rico toward a more resilient, equitable energy landscape. Puerto Rico’s energy transformation isn’t abstract — it’s urgent, it’s personal, and it demands collaboration. Tonight, we will be talking about the work ahead of us, the opportunities we can’t afford to miss, and the role each of us plays in shaping a cleaner, smarter, more independent energy future. This is a conversation you’ll want to be part of. Let’s keep building momentum together and move with the conversations that will build action. My great colleagues from CSA Group, Architects and Engineers Franklyn Colmenares and Salvatore Prestano, PE will also be in attendance for this great event. Nos vemos esta noche!

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Governments can be powerful drivers of innovation — when connected to the right solutions. At IDB Lab, our #GovTech agenda bridges public institutions with #Startups, knowledge products, and proven models across #LatinAmerica and the #Caribbean. Explore how we are strengthening #PublicServices through #Innovation: https://lnkd.in/ewHXit42 Natalia Laguyas, Javier Madariaga, Eduardo Azevedo, César Buenadicha, Graham Macmillan, IE University, CorLab, Municipalidad de Córdoba, Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación, InovaHC, Quintessa, Fundação Lemann, Imaginable Futures, Red de Innovación (Juslab)

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📱 Connecting more people, powering opportunities IDB Invest has joined the GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition, a global initiative dedicated to making smartphones more accessible for low-income populations in emerging markets. This partnership reinforces our commitment to expanding connectivity and accelerating digital transformation across #LatinAmerica and the #Caribbean. Learn more about this initiative ➡️https://bit.ly/4nZrhAJ

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Last week, I had the honor of representing the Miami-Dade Beacon Council at the Future Proptech Miami Summit for my keynote: "Tech Meets Policy: Building the Regulatory Framework for Smart Cities." I highlighted the importance of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council in the economic development of our region. For companies looking to establish themselves in Miami-Dade County, the Beacon Council is often the first institutional bridge into the market, connecting international companies, investors, public stakeholders, private-sector leaders, workforce resources, and growth opportunities. Miami-Dade County is not just another local economy. It is a $260.8B annual GDP powerhouse, the largest in Florida, driven by real estate, international banking, technology, LatAm headquarters, wealth migration, logistics, and finance. When we talk about the future of cities, we are not only talking about technology. We are talking about the ability to attract companies, coordinate public and private stakeholders, create jobs, and build trust between innovation and public interest. In terms of Regulations the Beacon Council does not set public policy. That responsibility belongs to the County, the cities, elected officials, and public institutions. But they can play a critical role in supporting, amplifying, and helping organize the economic development strategy behind those policies,especially when Miami-Dade has an opportunity to become the national model for what responsible urban innovation looks like. In my keynote, I introduced what I call the Smart City Regulatory Stack, a layered framework where: • Infrastructure is the foundation. Buildings, utilities, transportation, land, and connected systems for buildings, streets, roads, companies and citizens. • Regulation sits above it, governing permits, compliance, rights, liability, and standards. • AI Intelligence supports decision-making, but only on trusted, governed data. • Resilience becomes the public outcome, spanning climate, energy, safety, and continuity. • Capital comes on top, because investment follows confidence, and confidence follows verified, governed, intelligent assets. For me, the most important layer is regulation. It must sit between the physical infrastructure layer and the AI layer. Because AI in cities should not become an autopilot system. It should be a co-pilot, one that helps public agencies, developers, owners, investors, and citizens make better decisions, without violating privacy, public rights, or democratic accountability. This is the critical moment we are entering. The future of cities will not be decided only by who has the best technology. It will be decided by who builds the right governance framework around the technology. Miami-Dade has a unique opportunity to lead this conversation by building its own model grounded in verified data, responsible AI, and human-centered urban development. More on that soon. #PropTech #SmartCity #betacity #MiamiInnovationzone

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IDB Invest, IPED partner to expand access to financing for micro and small businesses in Guyana WASHINGTON - IDB Invest will provide a loan of $5 million to the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) to expand access to finance for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Guyana, the Inter-American Development (IDB) said Friday. "The operation will help IPED diversify its funding sources and expand access to finance with a focus on women, youth, and rural entrepreneurs....

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