Alètheia Group is a non-profit organization that fosters the development of small and medium enterprises through networking. It connects local producers and services within communities to enhance knowledge sharing and strengthen civil society. Aletheia's methodology is based on complex systems theory and draws parallels between social networks and biological systems. It designs networks by clustering similar organizations and interlinking clusters to generate influence and drive regional economic development. Aletheia provides consulting services to help organizations identify potential partners, access funding, and improve business processes.

1. Aletheia Group Integrating networks Creating value www.grupoaletheia.com

2. “ Only all together we will be able to know it All” Wixárika Proverb

3. Contents The origins, philosophy and values of Aletheia Group Our methodology How we envision networks How we design netorks: clusters and interlinking Consulting for SME’s and NGO’s Counseling and coaching for independent professionals, recent graduates and young social entrepreneurs (volunteers) Accessing funding and private equity Delegates and Chapter Hosts

4. Who we are Alètheia Group is a non-profit organization aimed at fostering the development and sustainability of SME's (Small and Medium Enterprises) through the clustering of value chains and nets within small communites. Based on international collaboration of an interdisciplinary group of consultants and researchers from Mexico and European Union, we enhance the value of Human Capital to strenghten the role of Civil Society in regional economic development .

5. Origins, philosophy and values Alètheia Group was born in 1997 as a coaching practice aimed at helping unemployed persons to reintegrate themselves to the workforce or become entrepreneurs In 2000 a coaching program called “SELF Capital” was born… and so was our approach regarding building networks – hence our first name was “SELF Capital Networks (SCN)”, a consulting practice that operated on a project by project basis, recruiting unemployed professionals, students and recent graduates. From 2008 to 2009 SCN participated in three research projects on “SME’s clustering” lead by Italian researchers and Irish consultants. In 2011 “SELF Capital Networks” became Alètheia Group

6. Philosophy Alétheia is a Greek word that means "Truthful" ; it is the philosophical concept of coherence between facts and reality . Literally the word means: "that which is not hidden", "that which is evident”.

7. Philosophy For us, networking is not only the natural, true way we humans organize and become productive , but also the way to reduce “ asymmetries in information ”, hence a way to share and enhance knowledge to start living in economic and social transparency

8. Our principles S hare Knowledge E nhance Human Capital Value L everage Sustainability F oster Efficiency and Cooperation Generate ROI from Meritocracy Lack of financial resources should never prevent us from driving change Our most important incentive is TO SEE THINGS HAPPEN At least 50% of our efforts should be focused on underdeveloped segments of the economy

9. Our consulting methodology Our methodology is designed based on Complex Systems Theory It is a constantly evolving methodology since it deals with “chaos and complexity” of social and economic systems. Each project provides enormous feedback to improve our approaches and methodology One of our short term goals is to conform a team of researchers on Complex Systems Theory (with proper funding) in order to create a knowledge base and management system as an ongoing analysis tool

10. How we envision networks We define a network as a “dynamic organization model that constantly pursues a point of equilibrium while adapting itself to exogenous changing conditions” To understand and explain social networks we build constant parallels with Evolution in dynamic biologic systems (From the human body to a colony of ants) Physics principles (like the laws of equilibrium and the theory of forces) The creative process found in human artistic activity Parallels and metaphors allows us to identify basic patterns

11. How we design networks Individuals Local producers and services providers Interlinked value chains

12. How we design networks The SELF Capital approach Human Capital can be defined as: “The knowledge, skills, competences and other attributes embodied in individuals that are relevant to economic activities” SME and Professional networks, as any complex system, are integrated by BUILDING BLOCKS(*): HUMAN CAPITAL (Core building block) RELATIONAL CAPITAL STRUCTURAL CAPITAL FINANCIAL CAPITAL * = In complex system’s theory a bulding block is a part that, linked to others in a coherent manner, integrates a whole. An organ is a building block of the body, a cell is a building block of the organ, and so on.

13. SELF Capital approach: A network’s building blocks HUMAN CAPITAL GENERATES DINAMICS

14. Clustering and Interlinking The clustering model is especially useful for regional networks Clustering has the objective of: Preventing competition Optimizing resources Distributing building blocks Interlinking is the second phase for Clusters. In simple words is the strategic linking between Complimentary Clusters Interlinking has the objective of: Generating bargaining power Internationalization To drive the influential role of Civil Society in public policies

15. Consulting for SME’s and NGO’s Our network members provide consulting services and research aimed at: Identifying potential networks to join Design a network strategy and find potential partners Identify funding / equity sources and linking them to these sources Preparing for Due Diligence’ appraisals Designing or Improving business processes Performance indicators Management control systems Quality standards and measurement systems Financial and Economic Advisory Export and International Trade Advisory Social Responsibility and Sustainability Advisory Training, coaching and counseling in diverse matters Administering networks and clusters

16. Coaching and counseling for independent professionals and recent graduates We help independent professionals build creative networks through coaching and counseling methodologies Our network’s designs try to incorporate recent graduates as trainees or voluntaries; this helps them enrich their “SELF Capital” and prepares them for future opportunities, while being indoctrinated in our approach We still need to design a program to engage students and recent graduates into collaborative networks (young generations are a fertile base to build non-economic Social Capital)

17. Redefining Meritocracy Meritocracy is a term of which many professionals feel proud, but as any “____cracy” it has profound perverted structures Our meritocratic system leads, unequivocally, to unjustified economic inequality, since it generates value for the privileged minorities In a networked structure, “merit” implies a Return on Investment (ROI) in favor of society In other words, it means that professionals and entrepreneurs should have a way to directly benefit the least developed sectors (Way beyond paying taxes) Human Capital Outcomes:

18. Redefining meritocracy Traditional Model Network Model

19. Oligarchy gets the ownership of Financial Capital But Meritocracy and Society are the true sources of Intellectual Capital, Structural Capital and Relational Capital Without these, the Financial System freezes (a financial system that is fake anyway, because it is based in no real value but speculation) Hence, it is the role of the Merictocratic class to create working capital for young social entrepreneurship in favor of society

20. Accessing funding and private equity Our most important goal for 2012 and 2013 is to build a solid “relational capital” structure composed of international funding organizations and some private equity firms that become engaged to our approach This has the purpose of facilitating our network members access to funding or equity for specific projects

21. Delegates and Chapter Hosts We are currently inviting consultants and researchers in different countries to become Delegates and Chapter Hosts: A Delegate will be identified as a Country’s key point of contact and main promoter of Alètheia’s approach A Delegate will be also member of our benchmarking and interlinking counsel Chapter hosts may be based regionally within a Country or be part of a “Cluster’s interlink”, reporting to a Delegate Delegates and Chapter Hosts should integrate “consulting and research networks” to assist their local projects Delegates and Chapter Hosts must have a parallel economic activity, since remuneration from our group still cannot be guaranteed The profile of delegates and chapter hosts? We are looking for persons who: Are PASSIONATE about networks Share our principles Have a solid relational capital structure Do not take active part in governments or political parties