– Colmena66, a program of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust, invites the business community to participate in its 2024 Annual Entrepreneurship Survey. This initiative aims to assess the state of Puerto Rico’s business sector to inform the entire ecosystem so that entities and organizations that directly serve this sector—including the legislative branch, municipalities, state and federal governments, academia, foundations, investors, private sector associations, and non-profit organizations—can incorporate the findings to develop initiatives that strengthen the business community. This aligns with Colmena66’s mission to facilitate entrepreneurship by connecting and building the business community, enabling anyone in Puerto Rico to start and grow a successful business. The survey results will be an integral part of the State of the Business Community in Puerto Rico Report, an interactive platform that highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs as well as the resources available for business support in Puerto Rico. This report allows for the analysis of opportunity areas to encourage data-driven decision-making and the development of programs that help bridge gaps faced by local entrepreneurs. This year, the goal is to reach 888 responses.
In 2023, 711 entrepreneurs, business owners, startups, and self-employed individuals participated in the survey, with 70% highlighting the need to improve access to financing and specialized resources, such as export support and human resources, to strengthen their businesses. Cases like La Cocina de Mamu, Meliora Centrum, conVIDA Cocktail Lounge, Dema Lab Services, and Woody’s Packaging
Resources were highlighted as examples of success stories that reflect the resilience and creativity of Puerto Rico’s entrepreneurs, as well as the positive impact of the ecosystem that supports them.
Survey participants will have the opportunity to be selected to showcase their stories and entrepreneurial journeys in the State of the Business Community in Puerto Rico Report 2024, including interviews conducted at their businesses to be published on Colmena66’s social media platforms, participation in interviews, and other media opportunities alongside Colmena66. They may also be featured during the opening session of the Boricua Emprende Fest 2025 (BE Fest), Puerto Rico’s largest business event, which will host over 1,800 attendees in August 2025.
In addition to the opportunity to showcase their businesses, under the campaign “Win with Colmena66,” all survey participants will receive a 25% discount on one (1) ticket to the Boricua Emprende Fest 2025. They will also be entered into a raffle to win one of the following prizes:
· One of 10 checks for $150.
· One of 5 free tickets to BE Fest 2025.
· A free booth to sell their products or services at BE Fest 2025.
· Access to mentoring sessions with high-level professionals.
“This survey represents an unprecedented collective effort from our business ecosystem, which integrates the knowledge and expertise of over 200 business support organizations in Puerto Rico. It is backed by an advisory group of experts that includes the U.S. Census Bureau, the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, the University of Puerto Rico, Invest Puerto Rico, the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, and Echar Pa’ Lante. We are building a unique resource that not only maps out the reality of our entrepreneurs but also generates strategic information to drive their growth,” stated Lucy Crespo, Chief Executive Officer of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust.
Denisse Rodríguez Colón, Executive Director of Colmena66, added: “With this survey, which we have conducted for seven consecutive years, we aim not only to better understand the current landscape of entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico but also to create a solid database that enables informed decision-making. It allows us to identify the ecosystem’s needs and highlight inspiring stories that reflect the effort and creativity of our entrepreneurs. Additionally, this information will help business support resources secure funding to design effective programs and initiatives that foster entrepreneurs’ growth.”
The survey will remain open until December 31. To learn about the rules, details of the raffle, and to complete the survey, visit https://bit.ly/GanaconC66.
Sobre Colmena66: Colmena66 es un programa del Fideicomiso para Ciencia, Tecnología e Investigación de Puerto Rico y miembro de la comunidad de SourceLink, una red de sobre 80 constructores de ecosistemas empresariales en EEUU. Su misión es facilitar el emprendimiento al enlazar a las personas con el recurso adecuado en el momento indicado para que puedan desarrollar empresas exitosas en Puerto Rico. Es la única organización en la isla que trabaja con todo tipo de empresa en cualquier etapa de negocio. Como integrador del ecosistema empresarial, Colmena66 analiza las brechas y trabaja de la mano con la Red de Apoyo para atenderlas. La Red de recursos de Colmena66 está compuesta por más de 200 organizaciones que proveen apoyo empresarial en todo Puerto Rico. Estas organizaciones representan al sector público, el sector sin fines de lucro y la academia. Para más información, visite www.colmena66.com.
Sobre el Fideicomiso para Ciencia, Tecnología e Investigación: El Fideicomiso para Ciencia, Tecnología e Investigación, de Puerto Rico, según descrito en la Ley Pública 214, es una organización sin fines de lucro, privada, creada en el 2004 para impulsar la participación y creación de empleos de la Isla en la economía global del conocimiento al promover la inversión y el financiamiento de la investigación y el desarrollo de la ciencia y la tecnología. Invierte, facilita y desarrolla las capacidades que adelanten continuamente la economía de Puerto Rico y el bienestar de sus ciudadanos, mediante empresas basadas en la investigación, ciencia y tecnología, salud pública e innovación. Con la meta de que Puerto Rico sea un centro de reconocimiento global. Para más información: www.prsciencetrust.org.
