What Connect does

Connect Bogotá Región (legal name: Corporación Connect Bogotá Región) is a Colombian non-profit corporation founded in 2011 and headquartered in Bogotá at Carrera 18 # 93 - 90, operating as the largest innovation network in Colombia. Its mission is to connect universities, companies, entrepreneurs, and the State under the CUEE (Community-University-Enterprise-State) collaboration model in order to transform Colombia into the most innovative, competitive, and sustainable country in Latin America. The organization serves large enterprises, universities and higher education institutions, startups and scale-ups, MiPyMEs, government and public entities, researchers and inventors, and the Bogotá-Cundinamarca region more broadly.

The product portfolio spans programs, a digital platform, and consulting services. Programs include Premio INNPACTA (innovation awards, launched 2025 with a 2026 second edition), Bonos de Innovación (innovation voucher program reaching 147 companies across 28 Cundinamarca municipalities), Bio-B (Latin America's largest bioeconomy open innovation accelerator with a $600,000 USD acceleration fund, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank), Especialización Inteligente (regional competitiveness agenda), Diálogos de Futuro, Cundinamarca Innova, and Tech Colombia Advocates. The core digital platform is Bogotech Abierta, which facilitates the publication of technology challenges, solution proposals, and the cataloguing of technologies, patents, research groups and laboratories. Consulting services cover innovation strategy and culture, open innovation and corporate entrepreneurship, research results transfer and technology transfer via the Oficina Regional de Transferencia de Tecnología (ORTT), and innovation financing including tax-benefit project formulation.

Revenue derives from two streams: recurring membership fees paid by organizations joining the network, and professional services fees for innovation consulting engagements. Government and development-bank partners (Minciencias, BID, Gobernación de Cundinamarca, Alcaldía de Bogotá, iNNpulsa Colombia) also co-fund specific programs. As a Corporación under Colombian law, Connect does not have equity owners, investors, or public shareholders; it is governed as an independent non-profit with Diana Gaviria serving as Executive Director. Reported outcome metrics include US$1.6 billion in innovation-derived revenues generated by participants in 2024, 640 billion+ Colombian pesos mobilized in social innovation projects, 147 companies supported via Bonos de Innovación, and a 2.6x ROI on university R&D investment.

Name

Connect

Legal name

Corporación Connect Bogotá Región

Website

https://connectbogota.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Connect Bogotá Región is a Colombian non-profit innovation network founded in 2011 that connects universities, companies, entrepreneurs, and government through membership fees, consulting services, programs like Premio INNPACTA and Bio-B, and the Bogotech Abierta digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Network Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus (EDAHAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH)

Keywords

• Innovation network services
• Open innovation consulting
• Technology transfer advisory
• Corporate entrepreneurship support
• Innovation ecosystem programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Organizations become members of Connect's network to access benefits that strengthen their innovation capabilities and impact their competitiveness.
2. Consulting services: Innovation consulting services including strategy and culture, open innovation, technology transfer, and innovation financing. Customized solutions designed to connect ideas, capabilities, and opportunities with real impact.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Connect Bogotá is a non-profit innovation network that connects universities, companies, entrepreneurs, and the State in Colombia to accelerate innovation. Its core offerings include organizational membership in the innovation network, innovation consulting services covering strategy and culture, open innovation, technology transfer, and innovation financing, plus ecosystem programs such as Premio INNPACTA, Bogotech Abierta digital platform, Bio-B, Bonos de Innovación, Especialización Inteligente, and Diálogos de Futuro, and the ORTT technology transfer office.

Product overview

Connect is an innovation network that operates as a multi-service platform connecting universities, companies, entrepreneurs, and the state to transform Colombia into the most innovative country in Latin America. The offering includes award programs (Premio INNPACTA), digital platforms (Bogotech Abierta), innovation funding programs (Bonos de Innovación, Bio-B), regional initiatives (Especialización Inteligente, Diálogos de Futuro), technology transfer services (ORTT), and consulting services covering innovation strategy, open innovation, research transfer, innovation financing, and specialized services (bootcamps, storytelling, GC Index, Innovation Bridge). The ecosystem approach combines programs, platforms, and advisory services to drive innovation across Colombia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Premio Innovación que INNPACTA Innovation award program that recognizes, visibilizes, and measures innovation transforming Colombia, with categories for universities, researchers, startups, scaleups, enterprises, MiPymes, products/services, social innovation, and public innovation.
• Bogotech Abierta Digital platform facilitating interaction between science and technology ecosystem actors, enabling publication of technological challenges, solution proposals, and showcasing capabilities including technologies, patents, research groups, and laboratories.
• Bonos de Innovación Innovation voucher program providing services to small and medium enterprises and productive associations to improve efficiency, develop initiatives, and enhance product offerings, financed by Sistema General de Regalías de Cundinamarca.
• Bio-B Largest open innovation program in Latin America for accelerating bionegocios with $600,000 USD in acceleration funding for biotech solutions from universities, specialized centers, and startups.
• Especialización Inteligente Competitiveness and innovation agenda for Bogotá Región with five specialization areas: Biopolo, Bogotá Región Creativa, Servicios empresariales, Ciudad Región Sostenible, and Hub de conocimiento avanzado.
• Diálogos de Futuro Collective dialogue initiative with 38 organizations promoting consolidation of the education, innovation, and learning ecosystem for transforming education in Colombia.
• Oficina Regional de Transferencia de Tecnología (ORTT) Technology transfer service accelerating market entry of technologies from companies, universities, and technology development centers, including identification, validation, economic validation, commercial strategy, negotiation, and softlanding support.
• Finanzas para la innovación, beneficios tributarios y proyectos especiales Consulting service including project formulation for tax benefits, technical and financial supervision for Minciencias submissions, certification of R&D units and innovative companies, and an innovation finance course.
• Estrategia y cultura de innovación Innovation strategy and culture consulting service helping organizations generate innovation strategies and design immersions to innovative ecosystems.
• Emprendimiento e innovación abierta Open innovation and entrepreneurship services including design of open innovation programs and accompaniment in structuring corporate entrepreneurship models.
• Transferencia de resultados de investigación Research results transfer services including technological surveillance, competitive intelligence, and support for validation, valuation, negotiation, and commercialization of technologies.
• Financiación de la innovación Innovation financing services accompanying project formulation for tax benefits and designing initiatives using artificial intelligence.
• Membership Network Organizational membership providing access to the Connect innovation network benefits, including connections to universities, corporations, government, and entrepreneurs to strengthen innovation capabilities and competitiveness.
• Premio Innovación que INNPACTA 2026 Second edition of the INNPACTA innovation award program with 8 award categories: IES más Innovadora, Inventor/Investigador, Startup más innovadora, Scaleup más innovadora, Gran empresa más innovadora, MiPyME más innovadora, Producto o servicio más innovador, Innovación social con más impacto.

Quantifiable outcome

• US$1.6 billion in innovation-derived revenue generated by participants in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Universidad de La Sabana (NCP Líder)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 December 2021Lead National Contact Point for Horizon Europe Cluster 5, leading the consortium for climate, energy and mobility innovation.
• Universidad del MagdalenacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 December 2021Regional NCP partner for Horizon Europe covering Caribbean region.
• Universidad del VallecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 December 2021Regional NCP partner for Horizon Europe covering Pacific region.
• Universidad EAFITcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 December 2021Mission NCP partner for Horizon Europe focused on climate adaptation missions.
• Alcaldía de BogotácoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting Connect's innovation ecosystem development for Bogotá Region, co-developer of Bogotech Abierta platform.
• Cámara de Comercio de BogotácoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in the innovation ecosystem, co-leading the Specialization Intelligence agenda and various innovation programs.
• iNNpulsa ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment innovation agency partner in multiple programs including Bonos de Innovación, Marketplace Éxito, and various acceleration initiatives.
• 100 Open StartupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian platform partner for ranking Colombian startups and corporations on open innovation, supporting Demoday Connect and Open Innovation Summit.
• Climatech AcceleratorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-corporate accelerator focused on climatech startups, through which Connect accelerates startups like Molinillito and connects them with corporations and investors.
• Gobernación de CundinamarcacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government partner funding Bonos de Innovación program with System General Royalties, supporting 147 companies across 28 municipalities.
• Banca de las OportunidadesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment banking program partner for Escala tu Fintech initiative promoting financial inclusion through technology solutions.
• MiLABmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovtech laboratory of the National Government operated by iNNpulsa Colombia, partner in fintech inclusion programs.
• Grupo ÉxitocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retail partner in Factory of Innovation Carulla and Marketplace Éxito programs, connecting with startups and entrepreneurs for innovation.
• Universidad de La SabanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner in technology development including UV ray hygienizer technology for Grupo Éxito, demonstrating university-enterprise collaboration.
• ASCUNmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Colombian Universities, strategic ally for Premio INNPACTA in Higher Education Institution category.
• InvamermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch firm, strategic ally for Premio INNPACTA providing evaluation and measurement services.
• MentexmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally for Premio INNPACTA in the Inventor/Researcher category.
• Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment IP authority partner in 'Sácale jugo a tu patente' program helping inventors commercialize patents.
• JOINN - Red Colombiana de OTRIscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombian Network of Technology Transfer Offices, partner in patent commercialization program.
• Cámara de Comercio de BogotámajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally for Premio INNPACTA in Product/Service category.
• Endeavor ColombiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally for Premio INNPACTA in Scaleup category, supporting high-impact entrepreneurship.
• ACOPÍmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmall business association, strategic ally for Premio INNPACTA in MiPyME category.
• CPC (Consejo Privado de Competitividad)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate competitiveness council, strategic ally for Premio INNPACTA in Large Company category.
• ID白色majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic ally for Premio INNPACTA in Social Innovation category.
• SURAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance company partner in 'Más detección, más vida' innovation program for COVID-19 solutions.
• RochecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical company partner in 'Más detección, más vida' innovation program for COVID-19 solutions.
• Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e InnovacióncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry leading 'Sácale jugo a tu patente' patent commercialization program with Connect as OTRI network member.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rockstart: Amsterdam-based accelerator with active LATAM and Colombian programs running domain-focused cohorts (energy, agritech, etc.). Comparable to Connect as an operator of accelerator programs, corporate-startup matchmaking and innovation ecosystem building.
• Endeavor Colombia: Colombian chapter of the global high-impact entrepreneur support network. Comparable to Connect in supporting scaleups, running selection/award programs and convening corporates, investors and founders, though focused on high-impact entrepreneurs.
• Corporación Ruta N: Medellín-based innovation and technology center that connects universities, companies and government. Directly comparable to Connect Bogotá as a regional innovation network with consulting, programs and a digital platform in the same Colombian ecosystem.
• MassChallenge: Global non-profit accelerator network with presence in Latin America. Comparable to Connect in running corporate-startup matchmaking programs and operating a non-profit, network-driven accelerator model.
• Wayra: Telefónica's global open innovation and corporate venturing arm operating accelerators across Latin America including Colombia. Comparable to Connect in running corporate-startup programs, open innovation calls and ecosystem convening.

Broad incumbents

• iNNpulsa Colombia: Colombian government innovation and entrepreneurship agency. Overlaps with Connect in funding accelerators, innovation vouchers and ecosystem programs, but operates as a state entity with a national mandate rather than a member-driven network.

Others

• Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá: Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, a Connect member and co-leader of the Especialización Inteligente agenda. Adjacent comparable as a Bogotá-focused business support and innovation services organization.
• BID Lab: Innovation and venture arm of the Inter-American Development Bank. Comparable to Connect as a funder and convener of Colombian innovation programs (Bio-B is BID-funded), though primarily a financier rather than a program operator.
• ANDI (Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia): Colombia's largest business association, which runs innovation and competitiveness programs for its corporate members. Adjacent to Connect as a convener of large Colombian corporates on innovation policy and ecosystem activity.

Emerging players

• 100 Open Startups: Open innovation ranking platform (originating in Brazil, with Colombian operations) that ranks corporates and startups by open innovation activity. Comparable to Connect's Bogotech Abierta platform and Premio INNPACTA measurement activity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ConnectBogota
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ConnectBogota
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConnectBogota
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connect-bogota
• Instagraminstagram.com/connect_bogota_region

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connect