2011 Yearbook - Universidad ORT Uruguay

89 Universidad ORT Uruguay Three of the startups (Kidbox, Zonacamping, and Smart Way) were sponsored by the CIE through the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII), receiving non-repayable grants of $25,000 each after being accepted into the Young Entrepreneurs program. NOTABLE STARTUPS Among the major successes of 2011 are: EVOLUTIVA, creators of the PedidosYa! product, secured a $500,000 investment from Prosperitas Capital Partners to launch its international expansion and gain access to new markets. Today, PedidosYa has a presence in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Puerto Rico, in addition to Uruguay. KIDBOX was selected as one of the most innovative companies in the region by Red Innova Brasil. The company provides a web service for children specifically designed for Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking families. It has designed a web browser through which children can enjoy the Internet safely and independently, while parents have peace of mind knowing their children are safe online. Uruguay360 signed an agreement with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to provide virtual tours of Uruguay. The agreement is part of the Program for Improving the Competitiveness of Strategic Tourist Destinations. This company is dedicated to developing virtual tours created using 360-degree photographs. Femway won first prize in the “Emprendedores en la Mira 2011” competition organized by the Emprender Network, with the development of an innovative feminine hygiene product that has established itself in the Uruguayan market. CROVAT obtained seed capital from the Emprender Fund to consolidate its business focused on the creation of thematic social networks (communities). The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) aims to foster innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit at the university. The year 2011 was marked by strong growth in the number of ideas submitted to the CIE by students and/or university graduates. During the year, 80 ideas were submitted, doubling the number received the previous year. GRADUATES In 2011, the following ventures graduated from the CIE: ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (CIE) 2011