SilverEconomyof Peru
Turning experience into an active part of the innovation ecosystem.
About the Initiative
The Silver Economy initiative was developed by Emprende UP with BID Lab as part of a regional effort to explore new models around longevity, entrepreneurship and innovation.
BID Lab is the innovation arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, supporting experimental approaches that can drive more inclusive development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
My Role
I led the multidisciplinary proposal team at Emprende UP, working directly with the BID Lab specialist to shape the strategy, coordinate contributors and turn the concept into the proposal that secured funding.
My contribution focused on strategy, ecosystem design, international collaboration and proposal leadership.
Before we begin
Two terms I'll use throughout this story.
- Silver Economy
- Economic activity and opportunities created by longer lives and aging populations, including new needs, markets, services and forms of participation.
- 50+
- People aged 50 and over, considered here not only as consumers or beneficiaries, but also as potential founders, mentors, advisors, investors and contributors.
It started with...
The Silver Economy was often discussed through questions such as:
- What products do people 50+ need?
- What services could improve longer lives?
- What new markets are emerging?
Those are valid questions. But the proposal explored another one:
What knowledge and experience are we leaving out of the innovation system?
The starting point
BID · IDBEconomía plateadaMapeo de actores y tendencias en América Latina y el CaribePublic report ↗The regional mapping helped frame the emerging Silver Economy landscape in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The opportunity was not only to develop more solutions for people over 50. It was also to recognize the knowledge and experience already present among them as part of the innovation ecosystem itself.
Not only
50+
- Beneficiaries
- Consumers
- People with new needs
But also
50+
- Founders
- Mentors
- Advisors
- Investors
- Experts
- Entrepreneurs
- Contributors
Knowledge tells us what to do.
Experience tells us how to do it.
Experience in the ecosystem
The proposal was designed to bring 50+ knowledge and experience into the innovation ecosystem through entrepreneurship, mentorship, investment and collaboration.
The opportunity wasn't only to design more solutions for people over 50. It was to recognize their knowledge and experience as part of the innovation system itself.
What I did
I shaped the strategy, designed the ecosystem model and led the proposal through to funding.
Shaped the strategy
Helped define the opportunity and translate the Silver Economy challenge into a coherent strategic direction.
Designed the ecosystem model
Designed how entrepreneurship, mentorship, investment, institutions, universities and other actors could participate in the proposed ecosystem.
Built international collaboration
Connected with international experts and established collaboration/commitment with The Global Institute for Experienced Entrepreneurship as part of the proposal.
Led the proposal
Led the multidisciplinary proposal process, working directly with BID Lab to turn multiple perspectives into a fundable initiative.
- Strategy
- Ecosystem design
- Proposal leadership
- International collaboration
What it made possible
≈ $1.3M
Selected for BID Lab funding
The proposal was selected for BID Lab funding, moving the ecosystem model from concept into a funded multi-year initiative.
My chapter
- Opportunity
- New perspective
- Ecosystem model
- International collaboration
- Proposal
- ≈ $1.3M funding
My chapter ends with the successful proposal and funding.
Public project materials
Additional public information documenting the research, selection and development of the Silver Economy initiative.