13 Sep IE’s Social Innovation department continues to support the world’s social innovation leaders

IE’s Social Innovation department continues to support the world’s social innovation leaders. Fundación MAPRE Awards for Social Innovation boosted by IE has granted us the opportunity to get to know groundbreaking initiatives and the entrepreneurs boosting them in Europe, Latin America and Brazil. More than 450 social innovators applied to the awards, from which 27 semifinalist (9 per category) were selected by IE mentors and Fundación MAPFRE experts. The 27 semifinalists have pitched at the semifinal events, where specialized juries have selected the 9 finalists (3 per category). Today, we inaugurate a series of three blog posts where we aim to introduce the finalists representing each of the three regions (Latam, Brazil and Europe) to you. Selected finalists will receive support from specialized coaches to prepare their presentations for the Grand Finale, where 3 winners (one per category) will be will be granted with 30.000€ each to boost their projects.

The three representatives of Latin America where selected at the semi-final event held in Mexico City in July. They all have outstanding solutions with the potential to improve the quality of life of millions. In the Health category, the finalist project for Latin America is the Chilean social venture Oliber, an easy easy-to-use manic glove for people with atrophied hands. Inspired by the resilience of young children with buttefly skin, the entrepreneurs perfectly describe with their motto, “freedom in your hands”, the value they bring to children and adults whose day-to-day autonomy is limited. The finalist of the Road Safety/Mobility category is Lazarillo, an app for blind people translating the physical environment into voice. Lararillo allows blind people to take advantage of GPS technologies, helping them navigate their city with ease. Finally, Comunidad 4Uno is the finalist for the Innovation in Insurance category. This Mexican project offers savings formula, banking and health coverage to home staff through an app. The app helps their employers conveniently pay salaries of their home staff and grants the opportunity to insure the staff and their families.