Help Startup for Underserved Colombian Citizens
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Hernan Echeverry. I am a proud Colombian-American and have spent most of my life travelling back and forth between the US and Colombia. During these trips, up until my most recent one a month ago, I have noticed a few things about the underserved communities and did some research and the realization spurred something in me.
Several people in Colombia own micro-businesses much like this cart. They typically sell candy, minutes and data cards for mobile phones, and snacks. Some even sell coffee (tinto) and homemade meals (empanadas, arepas, etc). However, most don't have bank accounts due to high fees, unfamiliarity, and the complexity of the banking system. They walk around with coffee tins full of cash throughout the day, and this puts them at a huge risk for theft and gives them some limited ways to actually utilize their money. Venconmi will be a startup to give these micro-businesses, and other Colombian citizens who don't have access to traditional banking, a way to accept payment and store their funds in a digital bank with no start or maintenance fees.
The amazing thing is that while most Colombians don't have bank accounts, most have smart phones. This opens the market up to our app. We're asking for this startup money to finish developing our app by integrating it to the necessary API's, hiring the lawyers necessary to start our banking license in Colombia, and market the product in person, on the ground, to the people we wish to help. The goal is to show them how simple and safe it can be to store and use their money through the app, as well as take payments in order to ensure their personal and financial security.
As a tech company operating in Colombia, our tech team will consist of entirely Colombian programmers, talented professionals who typically have to do freelance work or resort to being cashiers and servers for lack of a current tech market in Colombia. The USD goes a long way there and we can find and fund highly motivated and talented individuals there to be part of our team. Better even, they're part of our target audience and would be among the first to be utilizing our services.
If you would like to learn more, contact me, or simply send us a good luck message, check us out at venconmi.co!
I truly hope this realization shocks you as much as it shocked me and you can be a part in making a difference towards the inevitable modernization of a struggling country. Any support will be appreciated and entirely go to this cause. Thank you so much!
Several people in Colombia own micro-businesses much like this cart. They typically sell candy, minutes and data cards for mobile phones, and snacks. Some even sell coffee (tinto) and homemade meals (empanadas, arepas, etc). However, most don't have bank accounts due to high fees, unfamiliarity, and the complexity of the banking system. They walk around with coffee tins full of cash throughout the day, and this puts them at a huge risk for theft and gives them some limited ways to actually utilize their money. Venconmi will be a startup to give these micro-businesses, and other Colombian citizens who don't have access to traditional banking, a way to accept payment and store their funds in a digital bank with no start or maintenance fees.
The amazing thing is that while most Colombians don't have bank accounts, most have smart phones. This opens the market up to our app. We're asking for this startup money to finish developing our app by integrating it to the necessary API's, hiring the lawyers necessary to start our banking license in Colombia, and market the product in person, on the ground, to the people we wish to help. The goal is to show them how simple and safe it can be to store and use their money through the app, as well as take payments in order to ensure their personal and financial security.
As a tech company operating in Colombia, our tech team will consist of entirely Colombian programmers, talented professionals who typically have to do freelance work or resort to being cashiers and servers for lack of a current tech market in Colombia. The USD goes a long way there and we can find and fund highly motivated and talented individuals there to be part of our team. Better even, they're part of our target audience and would be among the first to be utilizing our services.
If you would like to learn more, contact me, or simply send us a good luck message, check us out at venconmi.co!
I truly hope this realization shocks you as much as it shocked me and you can be a part in making a difference towards the inevitable modernization of a struggling country. Any support will be appreciated and entirely go to this cause. Thank you so much!
Organizer
Hernan Dario
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
