Honduras Digital Challenge returns with its fifth edition providing new opportunities for growth and innovation in the country

The successful program which supports entrepreneurship and technological innovation continues to pave the way for many talented Hondurans.

The launch of its long-awaited fifth edition for 2021 took place this Friday, January 22nd, virtually, which will have as its main axis the "Digital Transformation for the Economic Recovery of the Country." The Initiative led by Banco Atlántida has received major support from other partners that are an essential part of this project, such as: the World Bank, IDB, CABEI, Grupo Karim's, USAP, AFP Atlántida, C&W Business, COHEP, Espresso Americano, STARUPSPS Foundation , UNAH through its CISCO program, and this year three new partners joined.

One of them is Regus Honduras, a strategic partner with whom it has been possible to jointly enable a Workspace in the city of Tegucigalpa so that participants of previous, current and future editions of the HDC can have a workspace that has all the required amenities. In addition, Bridge for Billions joins as a sponsor, an international company that will provide entrepreneurs with an online platform, guiding them interactively in the development of their business models, and providing an international network of mentors. Grupo OPSA joined, who provides a broader coverage of the HDC activities through its various media channels. Additionally, PROSPERA joins as a sponsor, also known as Platform for Prosperity.

In its 5th edition, Honduras Digital Challenge seeks to support technology-based enterprises, whose products and services may have a Central American or Latin American reach with the potential to generate a positive impact on MiPymes, in order to facilitate the economic recovery of Honduras due to the effects of Covid-19 and the natural disasters caused by hurricanes ETA and IOTA, providing support to early-stage ventures that use new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning, Blockchain, 3D Printing, among others. It includes 7 main categories in which you can register from today; 1) Business Software, 2) Medical Technology, 3) Agrotechnology, 4) Electronic Commerce & Fintech, 5) Education, 6) Civic Technology (digital solutions aimed at public sector problems) and 7) Green Technology (Products and services that generate a benefit to the environment directly and indirectly, reducing or eliminating the effects caused by global warming).

The program is composed of two categories, the Idea Track; for fresh new ideas that can be turned into profitable businesses and the Flight Runway; designed for businesses that are already underway who seek to boost their growth. Registration will be enabled from Friday, January 22, to Sunday, February 28, 2021.

All applications will be evaluated, and the selected participants will be announced in the month of March. From then until June (3 months), all the selected teams will go through an intensive development process where various Webinars, conferences, workshops, mentoring, and other activities or resources will be given that seek to help the teams prepare for the big final, the second component of the program, Demo Week.

In Demo Week, projects are presented to a panel of international judges who will evaluate performance and award the best projects based on Implementation, Business Model, Work Team and Scalability. Additionally, throughout these selected days the participants and the general public have access to Webinars and keynote talks given by national and international speakers from the Global Ecosystem, networking events and workshops.

With the examples of the achievements obtained in previous editions, credibility towards the national and international Startup community has been achieved, making Honduran entrepreneurs motivated to carry out their digital projects to the next level, more than 190 technology companies pre developed and more than 39 trained, leaving at least 1020 entrepreneurs trained in more than 30 events held with more than 1600 attendees.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic facing the country and the rest of the world, the previous year, the Honduras Digital Challenge 2020 had to reinvent itself, becoming a 100% virtual pre-development program, for this year if the Conditions allow it, face-to-face and virtual activities will be developed.

Without a doubt, Honduras Digital Challenge is the most complete entrepreneurship program in the country, which it is intended to continue opening new opportunities in the world to export quality Honduran services that meet the needs of the digital ecosystem.

To participate and / or more information, visit the website: www.hdc.hn