Source: SABMiller
SABMiller boosts small businesses in Colombia
July 05 2010 - Bavaria, the Colombian subsidiary of world leading brewer SABMiller, is addressing the problems faced by small entrepreneurs as they try to grow their businesses.
The new initiative builds on Bavaria’s Destapa Futuro entrepreneurship programme, which has already been running for three years. Destapa Futuro has supported the creation of 184 businesses and invested over US$6 million in training, mentoring and assessing business plans for more than 1,000 entrepreneurs.
However, in Colombia the principle challenge for small projects is the difficulty in resourcing private capital to grow further once they have exhausted their seed funding. In response to this need, Destapa Futuro has launched a social networking website – http://www.redemprendedoresbavaria.net – to connect business people and entrepreneurs across the country.
The site helps small entrepreneurs build connections with individual investors who offer information, advice, contacts and, in many cases, investment. It has already attracted over 18,000 registered users from more than 500 towns and cities, 12% of whom have engaged in business deals with other users.
Barry Smith, MD of SABMiller Latin America said: “Destapa Futuro has provided training, seed capital and support to entrepreneurs. But beyond this there has been a significant gap between start-up businesses and the formal providers of capital. We hope that our new entrepreneur network will result in many stories of new businesses bridging this gap and becoming significant, thriving and established.”
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SABMiller plc
Address: One Stanhope Gate London, ENG W1K 1AF United Kingdom
Telephone: +44-20-76590100
About SABMiller plc
SABMiller plc is a holding company, which has brewing and beverage interests in more than 60 countries across six continents. The principal activities of the Company and its subsidiaries are the manufacture, distribution and sale of beverages. Its brands include international beers, such as Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Miller Genuine Draft and Grolsch along with local brands, such as Aguila, Castle, Miller Lite, Snow and Tyskie. The Company is one of the bottlers of Coca-Cola products. The Company’s markets range from developed economies, such as United States to markets, such as China and India. As of February 21, 2008, SABMiller plc had acquired a 99.46% interest in Koninklijke Grolsch N.V. In March 2009, the Company acquired the remaining 50% interest in SABMiller Vietnam JV Company Limited, from its joint venture partner, Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company. As a result, SABMiller Asia BV is the sole shareholder in SABMiller Vietnam JV Company Limited.