Kinesis Accelerator:
A Transformative Program for Enterprises across Latin America and the Caribbean
In September 2024, the USAID CATALYZE APEP Accelerator program celebrated a significant milestone as its Kinesis acceleration program graduated its first cohort, comprising 46 impact enterprises based in Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama. Through a 12-week customized learning course, these enterprises enhanced their expertise in business fundamentals, financial management, sales, socio-environmental innovation, and digital transformation — key areas that will help them thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
The Kinesis accelerator offered a robust mix of expert-led sessions, individual mentoring, and tailored road maps designed to guide each business toward sustainable growth. As a result, 32 companies have already reported an increase in the use of data and/or digitalization: including digital services for online sales, remote payments, logistics, and digital tools for data storage and analysis.
A unique element of the Kinesis program was the EcoChallenge, an initiative to encourage sustainable innovation and the adoption of environmental practices. Thirteen enterprises designed eco-friendly business models, and four were selected and awarded grants to attend the IDB Lab Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The IDB Lab Forum, which focused on climate action, financing innovation, and the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems to drive solutions with greater impact at scale in Latin America and the Caribbean, enabled these entrepreneurs to gain visibility, expand their networks, and access funding opportunities.
To broaden each enterprise’s market reach, Kinesis facilitated valuable connections with corporate and digital value chains for increased and diversified sales and introduced participants to financing partners to meet capital needs. Altogether, the program created more than 144 strategic connections between various key players in the ecosystem, including investors and business partners.
During the closing event of this first cohort, participating enterprises shared how the Kinesis experience had transformed their business. Gustavo Ruidiaz, founder of Panama-based startup RD Tour Pty, described the accelerator program as a “masterclass” that redefined his approach to sustainable tourism. Through Kinesis, RD Tour Pty secured three strategic partnerships — including two international and one local partner that will begin working with RD Tour Pty as their primary tourism provider in Panama. Kinesis also connected RD Tour Pty with potential investors focused on climate-smart projects, enabling them to align even more closely with their environmental mission.
Although the first Kinesis cohort has graduated, the Accelerator and its community continue to grow. In October 2024, Kinesis selected an additional 80 enterprises from Barbados, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Uruguay to participate in the second and third cohorts, extending CATALYZE APEP’s impact and commitment to empowering innovative, sustainable businesses across Latin America and the Caribbean.
