Entrepreneurs are carving out a spot for themselves in Chile, writes Emilia Díaz in Nature Biotechnology's Trade Secrets blog. She notes that the country, specifically Santiago, was ranked recently by Entrepreneur magazine as the 20th hottest startup spot.
While Díaz says it wasn't easy, she took time off from college to start a biotechnology company in Chile. "I’ve been through heaven and hell creating my company," she says. "As an entrepreneur, you already get judged on everything: career, manner of speaking, looks, income, etc. — oh, and also your project, at some point."
The last two years — 2012 was the year of entrepreneurship and 2013 was the year of Innovation in Chile — have led to increased opportunities, she adds.
"Public funding is now accessible to anyone with a good idea and a tenacious working plan. Private companies are slowly starting to open up to new projects pitched by overexcited students," Díaz says. "Suddenly, a near future with national science, and especially national biotechnology, is more than possible."