Throughout 2024, ALIVE Ventures and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) joined forces to empower innovative startups in Colombia and Peru through BCG's Social Impact Consulting Program. This initiative offers pro bono strategic consulting services to high-potential, impact-driven businesses, enabling them to scale their operations and social impact.
This year’s collaboration involved a rigorous application process in both countries, led by ALIVE, which culminated in one winning startup from each country, Sinba (Peru) and Symplifica (Colombia), each committed to addressing critical social challenges in their region.
Partnering to Amplify Impact
ALIVE's partnership with BCG involved two calls (one in each country) for startups to apply for the pro-bono consulting prize. Selected startups then participated in a local pitch day in front of an expert panel of judges and one final startup was selected in each country.
Since the program’s inception, BCG has mobilized over 30 consultants and provided more than $1.4 million in consulting services, benefiting multiple social enterprises across the region.
The partnership with BCG reflected ALIVE's commitment to catalyzing high impact startups, recognizing their potential to reduce inequality and promoting sustainable growth in Latin America.
Peru Winner, Sinba, is Pioneering Waste Reduction in the Country
Sinba, the winner of the Peru edition, is a social enterprise dedicated to reducing waste and environmental contamination through innovative waste management solutions based on the circular economy.
Founded with the mission of transforming organic waste into valuable resources, Sinba plays a crucial role in Peru’s fight against pollution, managing to reduce waste contamination by up to 90%.
The company converts organic waste into animal feed and fertilizers, using a process that not only minimizes landfill waste but also creates new value chains in agriculture and aquaculture. Additionally, Sinba educates businesses and communities on proper waste sorting and recycling techniques, implementing collection systems that make waste processing more efficient.
As the winner of the Social Impact Consulting Program in Peru, Sinba will receive pro bono consulting from BCG, which will focus on optimizing their strategy for growth and expanding their operations. This support will enable Sinba to reach new markets and increase the impact of its waste management model, driving Peru toward a more sustainable future.
Colombia Winner, Symplifica, Improves Access to Formal Employment for Domestic Workers
In Colombia, Symplifica was selected as the winner of the Social Impact Consulting Program. Symplifica, one of ALIVE's portfolio companies, is a digital platform that facilitates the formalization of domestic workers, ensuring they receive legal benefits such as health insurance, pensions, and paid leave—rights that are often overlooked in this sector which is characterized by high levels of informality.
Founded to address this widespread issue of labor informality in domestic work, Symplifica's mission is to improve the quality of life for domestic workers by securing their legal rights while making the process easier for employers. This not only provides financial security for workers but also contributes to a more just and equitable society.
With the support of BCG's consulting services, Symplifica will work on refining its business model and exploring ways to scale its operations across Colombia and beyond. By formalizing domestic work on a larger scale, Symplifica has the potential to uplift thousands of workers (more than 90% of whom are women) who have historically been excluded from Colombia’s social protection systems.
A Catalyst for Impact
The collaboration between ALIVE Ventures and BCG underscores the growing importance and opportunity of supporting high impact startups that have the potential to scale and address the region's most pressing challenges.
As these enterprises continue to grow, they exemplify the potential for entrepreneurship to transform communities, industries, and entire countries.
To learn more about how ALIVE invests for impact, click here.