According to the Inter-American Development Bank, the Economic Commission for Latin America, and Procolombia, 99% of Colombian products enter the European market tariff-free or under very favorable conditions. However, nearly 38% of small and medium-sized exporters in Latin America and the Caribbean exit the export market each year.
Challenges like rigid internal processes, limited knowledge, restricted access to capital, and a lack of innovation hinder international expansion for these companies. In response, Ruta N, in partnership with Impact Hub, developed the Soft Landing COxDE program, which took five Colombian entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in Germany’s startup ecosystem to strengthen their business and export capabilities.
During the 12-day immersion, the entrepreneurs began with a business development assessment, followed by theoretical and practical acceleration training and connections with intelligent capital. Each participant received tailored mentorship based on the initial diagnostic, focusing on areas such as value proposition, market definition, and technological preparation.
The program provided a total of 345 hours of support through group workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions in Hamburg and Leipzig, resulting in clear expansion plans for the participating ventures targeting the German market.
