Talent and Innovation Challenges of the Americas – TIC Americas

TIC Americas is a program that honors innovative businesses and accelerates the process of market integration of young entrepreneurs in the Americas. TIC Americas model goes beyond developing a business plan as it incorporates extensive support phases with training, mentoring and development of prototype.

Prizes include incubation opportunities, training, business network, cash, international visibility and important contacts. The awards are presented in two categories:

About TIC Americas:

Talent and Innovation Awards:

Eco-Challenge Awards:

Business and social projects that demonstrate talent and innovation in its proposal or business strategy. In this category will be given the following Awards:

Social projects and business ventures that offer innovative and viable solutions to environmental problems. Eco-Challenge: awards are a joint initiative of YABT and PepsiCo Latin America that seek to promote sustainable and innovative solutions to address environmental problems.

TIC Americas 2009, San Pedro Sula - Honduras

TIC Americas 2007, Panama City - Panama

TIC Americas 2008, Medellin - Colombia• E-Entrepreneur• Social Entrepreneurship

• New Markets• Tradition and Culture

• People’s Choice

• Connects science and technology with entrepreneurial skills training, monitoring and resources.• Provides training to students promoting dynamic relationships, the exchange of experiences and challenges of self-improvement.• Promotes to inspire innovation and improving those skills planning and operation of new businesses• Includes the private sector participation as mentors, partners and sponsors.• Increase the number of entrepreneurs who create jobs for themselves and for others.• Helps existing companies to find innovative business solutions through a commitment of talented youth.• Create new business and partnership opportunities between mentors and entrepreneurs.

• 5 Editions: (Panama 2007, Colombia 2008, Honduras 2009, Peru 2010 and El Salvador 2011)• 72 countries represented.• 20,705 young participants• 6,770 business proposals• 93% of participants finish the program with an established company• More than 500 professionals from across the continent have been involved as judges and mentors.• More than 100 hours of virtual conferences to train participants.• More than 200 universities, colleges and incubators have been linked to the process.• 91.3% of participants stated that TIC Americas motivated them to start a new project or a business venture.

The final event of the TIC Americas has established itself as a training platform, acceleration; international visibility and interaction among young entrepreneurs, the private sector and government are represented through their inclusion as an activity in the framework of the General Assembly OAS.

TIC Americas:

TIC AMERICAS BACKGROUND:

Young Americas Business TrustEmail: info@yabt.netTel: +1 202 458 6452www.yabtlinks.netTwitter: @YABTs

www.ticamericas.netwww.yabt.net

Contact

Process: Two phasesOnline Phase:• Team Registration and Project Concept• Access to BOOT Camp: online courses, tutorials, webinars and business development resources.• Preparation of Business Plan• Development of the Prototype• Web Page Design• Production of Promotional Video• Evaluation and Feedback• Selection of Finalists

On site Phase:• Participation in the finals• International Exhibition• Training sessions• Participation in the private section forum• International judges assessments• Investments opportunities and market access.

OrganizersThe program is managed by the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), with the support of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS), in partnership with private sector sponsors, public, and educational institutions to create business opportunities .

TIC Americas 2012 April 10 - 13 Cartagena, Colombia

TIC Americas 2010Lima - Peru

TIC Americas 2011San Salvador - El Salvador