Entrepreneurship trends highlight associative models and digital growth

Recent data and expert insights highlight evolving trends in entrepreneurship across South America. In Chile's Biobío Region, the VIII Micro-entrepreneurship Survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics in 2025 reveals over 127,000 micro-entrepreneurs, with approximately 10,000 actively participating in associations, guilds, or cooperatives. Notably, 49.4% of these individuals started their ventures due to necessity.

To address this, the FOSIS Emprendamos Grupal program provides training, advisory services, and financing to vulnerable productive organizations and cooperatives. For 2026, the program is focusing on five communes within the Biobío province: Negrete, Santa Bárbara, Quilleco, San Rosendo, and Yumbel.

In Peru, the 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report indicates that 12.8% of adults were starting or managing new businesses. While seven out of ten early-stage entrepreneurs intend to increase their use of digital technology, only about one in eight currently serves international clients. Experts suggest that integrating artificial intelligence, automation, and data analysis is essential for scaling operations and improving productivity.