Chile launches free entrepreneurship course with $1 million prizes

The Association of Banks (ABIF) together with the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Chile have released a new edition of the free online course "Manos a la Obra." The program, hosted on the Mi Barrio Financiero platform, offers ten free modules and a certification aimed at entrepreneurs aged 18 or older who have a business idea or an operating venture. Participants who complete all modules become eligible for the "Aprendiendo Emprendo" contest, which selects 25 finalists and ultimately awards ten winners each a cash prize of one million Chilean pesos to strengthen their business. Finalists also receive mentorship and training on business modeling and elevator pitching. The launch event took place at INACAP’s Apoquindo campus in Santiago. The contest deadline is 12 September 2026. ABIF president José Manuel Mena highlighted the program as a tool for financial education and social mobility, while Mi Barrio Financiero executive director Jaime Ruiz‑Tagle emphasized the goal of democratizing financial knowledge across the country.