BancoEstado‘s 2025 Emprende Award: Fueling Chilean Entrepreneurship
Santiago, Chile – BancoEstado is actively empowering Chilean entrepreneurs with the launch of its 2025 Emprende Award, offering important financial incentives and recognition. The initiative extends opportunities not only to existing BancoEstado clients but also to those without an account with the financial institution.
The Emprende Award is designed to bolster talent and capacity within the Chilean entrepreneurial ecosystem, specifically recognizing businesses that generate positive social, economic, and environmental impacts. This strategic initiative aims to elevate ventures across all regions, spotlighting those demonstrating competitiveness, innovation, sustainability, and a commitment to positive change.
Award Details and Prize Amounts
Winners of the national awards category can recieve up to 8 million Chilean pesos. the program seeks to highlight and support businesses that are building a more sustainable and impactful future for Chile.
Did You Know? BancoEstado has a long history of supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Chile, recognizing their crucial role in economic growth and job creation.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the Emprende 2025 Award, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a natural person registered with the SII (Chilean Internal Revenue Service) or a legally constituted entity in Chile.
- be at least 18 years of age, of Chilean or foreign nationality with permanent residency.
- The applicant’s business must have been operating for at least twelve months with a registered start date.
- Have no outstanding labor debts or legal restrictions as of the application date.
Award Categories
The Emprende 2025 Award features four distinct categories to recognise a diverse range of entrepreneurial endeavors:
Microenterprise (Men and Women)
This category is open to businesses with annual sales of up to 5,000 UF (Unidad de Fomento,a Chilean inflation-indexed unit of account). Two national awards of 8,000,000 pesos each will be granted, alongside 23 regional prizes of 1,500,000 pesos each.
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) (Men and women)
Designed for more established companies with annual sales between 5,000 and 100,000 UF, this category mirrors the prize structure of the Microenterprise category.
Startup / STEM
This category focuses on companies with a strong scientific and technological foundation, showcasing innovative and scalable business models. A single prize of 4,000,000 pesos will be awarded.
Green Impact
Recognizing businesses actively contributing to environmental sustainability through impactful projects, this category also offers a single prize of 4,000,000 pesos.
Pro Tip: Carefully review the specific requirements for each category to ensure yoru application aligns with the evaluation criteria.
How to Apply
Interested entrepreneurs can submit their applications online through the official BancoEstado Emprende Prize website until August 31, 2025. The application form is available here.
| Category | Annual Sales | National Prize(s) | Regional Prize(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microenterprise | Up to 5,000 UF | Two @ 8,000,000 pesos | 23 @ 1,500,000 pesos |
| SME | 5,000 – 100,000 UF | Two @ 8,000,000 pesos | 23 @ 1,500,000 pesos |
| Startup / STEM | N/A | One @ 4,000,000 pesos | N/A |
| Green Impact | N/A | One @ 4,000,000 pesos | N/A |
What kind of impact do you hope your business will have on Chile’s future?
What resources would be most valuable to your business if you were to receive funding from the Emprende Award?
Chile’s entrepreneurial landscape is experiencing significant growth, driven by government initiatives like the Emprende Award and increasing access to funding and mentorship programs.The focus on sustainability and social impact is becoming increasingly prominent, reflecting a global trend towards responsible business practices. According to a recent report by the World Bank, SMEs contribute significantly to Chile’s GDP and employment rates, highlighting their importance to the national economy World Bank – Chile.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Emprende Award? The Emprende Award is a BancoEstado initiative offering financial prizes and recognition to Chilean entrepreneurs.
- Who is eligible to apply? Natural persons and legally constituted entities in Chile, over 18 years of age, with at least 12 months of operation, and no outstanding debts are eligible.
- What are the prize amounts? Prizes range from 1,500,000 to 8,000,000 Chilean pesos, depending on the category.
- What is the application deadline? The application deadline is August 31, 2025.
- Where can I find the application form? The application form is available on the official BancoEstado website.
We encourage all eligible entrepreneurs to seize this opportunity and apply for the Emprende 2025 Award.Share this article with your network and let’s collectively support the growth of Chilean innovation!
