After winning the Get in the Ring competition in Bolivia, startup founder Madelein Segurondo had hoped to take the stage at the regional competition – and then win a trip to Colombia to meet entrepreneurial ecosystem organizers from around the world.
But at the regional finals, Segurondo fell just short of a win – taking a runner-up position. It was a wonderful experience, she said, but she was disappointed she couldn’t compete for a trip to the GEC.
Later, she decided the travel – and the cost – to the Congress was worth it.
“I really wanted to be here,” she said. “I thought my purpose was to do Get in the Ring, but I couldn’t. And I believe that everything happens for a reason. I’m here to understand the global ecosystem – that’s why I took my risk. I paid my whole trip and I’m here with my parents.”
She said she learned so much from the competition, including to start as fast as possible to be lean, and to meet people within the industry.
“I learn from many people, and that what they are thinking may be different from what I’m thinking. It’s important to ask people from many different places, and to get the knowledge they have. It is easier and faster to get the solution you want.”
DeliCoin is a startup application that seeks to understand the personal experience of a person eating. The app shows a person dishes and asks if they like the food, and then gathers the history of choices and suggests healthier alternatives and options.
“I am creating this trust application so people can use it and find other solutions to eat better,” Segurondo said. “The most important decision every single day is where to go to eat, and what to eat. You don’t have time to make these decisions.”
She said she’s felt like she has made good connections at the GEC, and she is glad that she didn’t miss it.
DeliCoin has been in operation since July 2015. Segurondo hopes to develop her business both in Bolivia and abroad.