Quipu is one of 16 organizations selected from among applicants across 28 countries.
Quipu, a Colombian startup with operations in Medellín, has been selected as one of 16 organizations by the World Economic Forum (WEF) to join the third cohort of Minds, an initiative that recognizes projects from around the world using artificial intelligence (AI) to drive measurable transformation. Quipu was the only organization from Colombia and Latin America selected in this edition.
The company has developed an AI-powered solution that assesses the borrowing capacity of informal workers, small shop owners, street vendors, delivery workers, and other individuals who have been excluded from the financial system due to a lack of credit history. Through this model, Quipu has facilitated nearly 49,000 loans and helped reduce reliance on informal lenders among its users, from 38% to 28%.
“Every time a company from our ecosystem reaches international platforms, it confirms that innovation can create opportunities and transform realities. Today, we celebrate Quipu’s selection for this World Economic Forum program, a recognition that further positions the city as an innovation ecosystem capable of developing technologies with social impact. We will continue attracting opportunities that enable more startups and companies in the District to grow and achieve global impact,” said Camilo Zapata Wills, Director of the Medellín Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
As part of the program, Quipu will gain international recognition and visibility through the World Economic Forum’s channels and platforms, while joining a global community of organizations that share experiences and best practices on the responsible and scalable adoption of AI to address social and economic challenges. The company has established itself as a key player in Medellín’s innovation ecosystem through its participation in Ruta N initiatives such as the StartIA platform, the Venture Capital program, and several events focused on strengthening female leadership in entrepreneurship and technology.
“This opportunity will allow us to build partnerships and expand our international reach. We earned our place in this program by presenting the Financial Health Monitor and the Quipu Oracle. Through these solutions, we want people at the base of the economic pyramid to better understand their finances and enable more banks to provide them with access to funding,” said Ana Lucía Escobar, Quipu’s Partnerships and Impact Lead.
Applications are currently open for the fourth cohort of Minds at initiatives.weforum.org/minds. The program is aimed at startups, companies, public entities, and organizations that use AI to generate measurable transformation. Previous editions have included Colombian organizations such as Argos, Corona, Erco, and Metro de Medellín, among others. Applications will remain open until August 7, and proposals are being accepted in areas such as accelerating growth through productivity and innovation, building a sustainable planet through energy and food systems, expanding learning, skills, and opportunities, protecting trusted information and governance, and other related fields.
Ruta N and the Medellín Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution continue working to connect local talent with global opportunities, strengthen the growth of high-impact startups, and position Medellín as a city capable of developing innovative solutions to local and global challenges.
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