Ecuador Launches Covid-19 Challenge

Ecuador, the second hardest hit country in LatAm by the disease after Brazil with, 3,747 confirmed cases and 190 deaths, has a public health service in danger of overloading.

This challenge, launched by the Alliance for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (AEI), searches for creative and effective solutions that can help the country face the crisis, through the development of products or services that its allies or the health system require.

AEI is a network of stakeholders that articulates support services for entrepreneurs with private companies, public institutions, or the academy.

The challenge consists of two phases:  The first one called conecta, seeks to enable entrepreneurs and SMEs to offer products or services that AEI’s allies currently require. Allies will connect with entrepreneurs or companies that meet the requirements published on a web platform, and will agree to participate in online meetings to coordinate and sign contracts. The second one, called innovation challenge, summons startups and entrepreneurships to solve challenges raised by the allies to be faced in the post-crisis world.

Under the health category, the development of ventilators for patients with respiratory disorders that can be manufactured with available supplies will be financed.  In the same way, supplies and financing will be provided for the production of facial protection masks, which will be donated to professionals in the public health system. Under the product category, it will connect the market’s needs generated by local buyers.