From August 18 to 20, Bogotá hosted the second edition of Colombia Tech Week (CTW 2025), a meeting that brought together investors, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders from all over Latin America. The Universidad del Pacífico stood out for the participation of its graduates: 

• Adrián Juárez, UP graduate of Economics
• Alexander Urquizo Bobadilla, UP graduate of Administration
• Carmen Rosa Nepo Gamero, UP graduate of Administration
• Noelia Isabel Terrazas Cano, UP graduate of Business Engineering
• Oscar Rivas Delgado, Up graduate of Business Engineering

The delegation was accompanied by Marita Ruiz, director of Emprende UP, who represented the university institutionally. Together they shared learnings, experiences, and strategic contacts, bolstering the UP's presence in a global innovation ecosystem. 

Exploring new horizons 

The UP graduates went to the CTW with the intention of exploring a more consolidated ecosystem than at in Peru one and of forging strategic connections to enhance their projects. Adrián Juárez participated on behalf of Makers Fellowship, an organization that encourages high-potential young Latin Americans to develop world-class enterprises. "I wanted to get to know how the ecosystems that have produced unicorns like Rappi and Habi are structured, and learn from their experiences to apply them in Peru and the region," he said.

For her part, Noelia Terrazas sought to create social and professional connections with entrepreneurs and experts in the technology sector, besides sharing her experience in products, growth, finance, and artificial intelligence. "It motivated me to seek opportunities for future alliances and partnerships in Latin America and the world," remarked the UP graduate.

The array of talks and workshops as well as the presence of global leaders were aspects that had a special impact on the participants. Noelia stressed that the experience went beyond technical learning: "I was surprised by the quality and the closeness of the speakers; the experience allowed me to connect beyond doing and toward being." It was this combination of knowledge and networking that laid the foundations for the learning and connections that marked the graduates' time at the event. 

Connections that transform 

Among his most valuable moments, Adrian singled out the talks on how to increase exits in Latin America, given by representatives from SoftBank, LAVCA and Riverwood Capital, as well as the testimony of an entrepreneur who balanced his professional passion with his family priorities. Noelia, in turn, valued the closer gatherings where she could exchange learning experiences directly: "I took part in a meeting with female entrepreneurs where we shared how to face the challenges of entrepreneurship by assisting one another through coaching, support networks, and therapy," she recalled. 

The opportunity to acquire strategic contacts was another key element. Adrian noted that connecting with investors and founders of successful startups will lay the foundations for their professional development: "Networking opens doors that can't be found in any other space; it is key to growth in the world of startups and venture capital." Noelia agreed, adding that these forums provide access to international connections that are crucial for designing scalable solutions in Latin America and beyond.

Innovation that sets the course 

The graduates identified artificial intelligence and deeptech as pivotal trends that will transform the future of the Latin American ecosystem. Adrian highlighted the importance of private equity funds focused on technology and the application of AI in fintech, healthtech, and agrotech, while Noelia referred to the role of quantum computing, blockchain and Web3 in solving structural challenges in energy, health, agriculture, and finance. 

These tools are redefining business by automating tasks, reducing costs, and accelerating product creation and validation cycles. As Noelia observed, "what used to take months can now be achieved in weeks or even hours thanks to AI."  As to practical learning, Adrian plans to apply these tools in disruptive personal projects, while Noelia identified the need to strengthen her business profile and business skills, recalling that the product is only one step in the creation of successful solutions. 

From academia to regional impact 

The comprehensive training they received at the Universidad del Pacífico was decisive in the graduates' successful performance in a global environment. Adrian cited courses such as Digital Startup Toolkit and Machine Learning Principles, while for Noelia it was the combination of technology, business, agile methodologies, and leadership with a humanistic approach that made the difference.

The participation of the UP graduates at the CTW also reflects their potential to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem. From Noelia's perspective, "we just need to take the step of discovering common problems in different Latin American countries and solving them in Peru for the world." Adrian pointed out that UP graduates contribute talent, innovation, and strategic connections that drive the creation of high-impact startups. 

The participation of graduates and Emprende UP in Colombia Tech Week 2025 underlines the commitment of the Universidad del Pacífico to training leaders and entrepreneurs capable of integrating into global innovation ecosystems, making a positive impact in the region, and consolidating the presence of its graduates at the leading edge of Latin American entrepreneurship.