Colombia is known for its green treasures. Green emeralds and rainforests are some of the first things that come to mind. However, Colombia is also developing a new “green” treasure: a burgeoning “green” economy made up of socially and environmentally friendly entrepreneurs and investors.

The diverse crowd of investors, entrepreneurs, and experts that gathered for the 2nd Annual New Ventures Colombia Investor Forum at the Universidad de los Andes on August 18th in Bogota were brought together by one common belief: that the innovation and hard work of socially and environmentally conscious entrepreneurs has the power to change the economy and the world. United by this theme, hundreds of participants came to the Investor Forum to share ideas and experiences in the impact investing field, and be introduced to some of the most exciting and innovative green entrepreneurs in the region.

The main focus of the Investor Forum was showcasing the fifteen companies in the New Ventures Colombia Portfolio. These portfolio companies range from startups to more established enterprises with dozens of employees and 7-figure annual sales, providing a wide variety of products and services from natural food products to biofuels to energy efficiency solutions. The Investor Forum gave companies a chance to introduce themselves to investors that can help them reach new markets and achieve greater scale. Conversely, the Forum was a unique opportunity for impact investors to quickly learn about a diverse array of excellent sustainable enterprises.

Beyond showcasing the New Ventures Colombia Portfolio companies, the Investor Forum was also a venue for the exchange of the latest ideas and innovation in impact investing in Latin America. Investors, facilitators, and entrepreneurs shared their experiences with the investment process across the region and the world. In addition, New Ventures Impact Officer Kelly McCarthy shared with the audience the latest progress of an ambitious effort to build the market infrastructure for impact investing. Included in this presentation was a discussion of how the Impact Reporting & Investment Standards (IRIS), Global Impact Investment Rating System (GIIRS), and the fund management system http://www.app-x.com/pulse).">PULSE fit together to help streamline the flow of mission-aligned capital to environmental enterprises.

This Investor Forum, like those that take place regularly in each of the six countries that compose the New Ventures global network, was the culmination of months of hard work by Diana Gaviria Quigley, Andres Guerrero Alvarado, Manuel Camacho, and Francisco Noguera of the New Ventures Colombia team. New Ventures Portfolio companies are carefully selected to ensure that only companies with innovative business models, demonstrable environmental benefits, and the potential to scale are showcased. Once selected, Portfolio companies undergo extensive mentoring and development to ensure that they are ready to pitch their companies to the investors at the Forum.

This event marked a critical landmark in the New Ventures business acceleration process in Colombia. The information shared and relationships forged during these events have strengthened the network of environmental entrepreneuers and investors throughout the region.

Download the New Ventures Colombia 2010 Portfolio - .PDF in Spanish

*New Ventures hosts Investor Forums in each of its countries around the world. For a complete listing of upcoming Forums and other NV events and news, please see the “News” section of www.new-ventures.org.