Empowering Female Entrepreneurs
Fundación Adhara, under the leadership of Ivonne Ortiz, has been a driving force in transforming the entrepreneurial landscape for women in Ecuador. With a strong focus on supporting single mothers and female entrepreneurs, the foundation provides education, training, and mentorship to help women build successful businesses with purpose and social impact.
One of Fundación Adhara’s most notable initiatives is the National Entrepreneurship Contest, which awards up to $29,000 to innovative projects. This initiative has positively impacted over 3,000 women across the country, supporting ventures such as upcycling bottles into textiles, producing organic apple cider vinegar, and cultivating edible flowers.
Achachay’s collaboration with BO and Fundación Adhara is rooted in a shared commitment to supporting local communities by being actively involved with organizations that are delivering funds directly to women.
Business Opportunity’s First 2025 Dinner
We were honored to attend BO’s first annual dinner, which brought together over thirty business owners and innovators from diverse industries. At this event, we officially received our BO membership card, signifying our commitment to supporting fellow BO members through exclusive benefits and collaborations.
Three key themes emerged from the evening’s discussions:
📌 The Difference Between Entrepreneurs & Innovators
Business owner Ernesto Kruger delivered a powerful message: Ecuador doesn’t just need more entrepreneurs—it needs more innovators. He emphasized that true entrepreneurship is a continuous process of innovation and evolution. Without it, businesses struggle to differentiate themselves.
Kruger highlighted Ecuador’s well-established flower export industry as an example. While the country is renowned for its floriculture, innovators are now finding ways to create added value within the industry by introducing new business models and unique value propositions.
📌 The Highs & Lows of Being a Business Owner
Carmen Borja, who introduced me to Ivonne and extended the invitation to join BO, shared her journey of launching NATU, her clean beauty brand. She started by formulating recipes in her kitchen while raising five children. When asked, “How do you do it?” she candidly responded:
“Every day, I feel like I’m at the top of a mountain of happiness—and I also want to hide under my bed.”
Her story is a testament to the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. As business owners, we all experience these highs and lows, and I personally resonate with this journey of birthing and growing a brand.
📌 The Power of Opportunity-Focused Thinking
Events like these bring together changemakers—people who see opportunity, even in the face of adversity. Despite Ecuador’s ongoing challenges—political uncertainty, poverty, and social inequalities—this network is composed of problem-solvers with a growth mindset. They are the ones driving change, finding ways to innovate, and building solutions for the future.
Looking Ahead
Together with BO and Fundación Adhara, we are committed to being active contributors to initiatives that empower local communities.
We know that success isn’t built in isolation. True innovation happens through collaboration, connection, and shared vision. By joining forces with BO and Adhara, we are ensuring that our impact extends beyond commerce—it fuels sustainable growth, cultural preservation, and economic empowerment.
Are you ready to explore new horizons with us? Let’s build the future of Latin American innovation, together.