1. Latin American
The Latin American IdEA Partnership (La Idea) 50 million. This diaspora includes highly skilled
is a business competition platform that fosters and educated entrepreneurs who can serve as an
collaboration between entrepreneurs in the important engine of growth and development in
United States and Latin America with the goal of the United States and Latin America.
expanding
innovative The Competition
businesses that
La Idea will begin accepting applications starting
will generate
in summer 2012. Eligible businesses are
employment and
partnerships between U.S. and Latin American
economic growth
entrepreneurs. The first round of the
throughout the
competition will review business partnerships in
Americas. La Idea
Mexico and Central America.
winners will receive working capital grants to
support their businesses. La Idea partners will
Proposals will be evaluated based on their
also provide participants with tailored business
project strategy, development impact,
counseling and mentorship and access to
sustainability, scalability, and resource
financing.
leveraging capability. Finalists will be invited to
present their ideas to a panel of judges
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
consisting of experts from development
announced La Idea on November 14, 2011,
institutions, private sector companies, financial
during Global Entrepreneurship Week. On April
institutions, investors, and diaspora community
13, 2012, President Barak Obama highlighted La
leaders.
Idea as a key component of the Small Business
Network of the Americas (SBNA), which will
strengthen partnerships between small business Diaspora Engagement
development centers and their clients La Idea was developed by the International
throughout the Western Hemisphere. diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA), which is
an innovative platform for public‐private
The Opportunity partnerships designed to engage diaspora
communities, the private sector, and public
Latin America's increasing affluence represents a
institutions in a collaborative process. The goal
unique opportunity for Hispanic entrepreneurs
is to support diaspora‐centered partnerships
in the United States. Latin America is a region
that promote trade and investment,
with fast‐growing economies and a rapidly
volunteerism, philanthropy, diplomacy,
expanding middle class. The Hispanic
entrepreneurship, and innovation in countries of
community in the United States numbers at least
origin.

2. Support and Resources Provided
 Awards to winning innovative and
scalable businesses Who Are We Looking For?
 Access to financing
 Assistance to access global markets and
investors
 Business counseling ABC, International
Expected Outcomes This shoe manufacturing company has taken steps to
grow their business to an international operation and
 Catalyze engagement between Latin provide social support to the communities they
American and U.S. diaspora operate in. For every pair of the shoes sold, the
company:
entrepreneurs to promote high‐impact
business and social development  Provides healthcare and education services to
 Build businesses that have real their employees and families, in partnership
sustainable impact on communities with non‐governmental organizations
 Share knowledge and create new learning  Gives away a pair of shoes to someone in need,
networks with and among diaspora through charitable alliances and
communities  Makes the shoes through an eco‐friendly
 Create new, cross‐sector partnerships for
process
development A Senior International Trade Consultant has helped
 Provide tools that foster sustainable this company with in‐depth market information,
development and expand opportunities import regulations, assistance with locating
distributors, manufacturer contracts, and help in
Our Partners selecting the most appropriate trade shows for its
products.
La Idea is a public‐private partnership with the Developing eco‐friendly products and creating a
Department of State, U.S. Agency for global social initiative to expand abroad, especially in
Latin America, are a few of this company’s goals.
International Development, Small Business
They plan to gradually influence the world in a
Administration, Inter‐American Development
positive way through expansion and example.
Bank, Univision Networks, Overseas Private
Investment Corporation, Boom Financial, Accion,
and WellSpace to support collaboration between
business partners in the United States and Latin
America. The U.S. Department of the Treasury is
also supporting our partnership. Powered by …
For updates on La Idea, please see our website:
www.laidea.us
Or contact us at: diaspora@state.gov