In addition, this winning venture of PERUMIN Inspira 2023 is promoting the creation of more Credit and Savings Unions (UNICA) in Cajamarca.

The Credit and Savings Union (UNICA) Nueva Esperanza is a credit model that promotes the development of community initiatives, thereby contributing to economic dynamism and poverty reduction in the village of Llushcapampa Alta, Cajamarca.

“We organize ourselves with 20 partners, 12 women, and 8 men. Every month we collect savings. After the month, we start lending money to each other for our respective businesses, such as the production of blueberries, roses, and strawberries. I also represent a tourist center, and that is how we create jobs," explains Martín Julcamoro, founder of this startup.

“It has been a beautiful experience to leave Cajamarca for the first time. PERUMIN 36 has been important, with a large turnout and many stands. We are still in contact with our great friends, the ten finalists of the contest. It has not been a competition with them; we have become more than brothers, sharing bonds of friendship," expresses Julcamoro.

History and Future Plans

Julcamoro tells us that the creation of this UNICA dates back to 2015, and in 2018, they began receiving training from the Los Andes Association of Cajamarca (ALAC), as part of the social responsibility program of the Yanacocha mining company. "We had valuable support from ALAC, especially after the pandemic," he points out.

Last year, they received S/ 15,000 in seed capital thanks to the allies of PERUMIN Inspira (Minera Poderosa, Orica, and Moquegua Crece). In addition, they continue receiving guidance from the Business Incubator Kaman of the Universidad Católica San Pablo, as well as from the law firm Benites, Vargas & Ugaz; mentoring sessions with the ADN Partners Accelerator; and virtual workshops with Tecsup.

For this year, UNICA Nueva Esperanza aims to promote the creation of more UNICAs. "We already have one more UNICA, and we will continue in 2024, hoping to reach the end of the year with about three or four more UNICAs," said Julcamoro.