The program recognizes social startups that help reduce social and economic gaps, transforming lives in Peru’s highlands and jungle regions.

The PERUMIN 37 Organizing Committee and Kunan successfully held a virtual Q&A session to share more information about the sixth edition of the PERUMIN Inspira Award with the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP) and managed by Kunan, PERUMIN Inspira is the mining industry’s leading recognition program for high-impact social startups that contribute to sustainable development in Peru’s highlands (starting at 500 meters above sea level) and jungle regions. The event will be held as part of the PERUMIN 37 Mining Convention that will take place in Arequipa this September.

Mariana Abugattás, president of PERUMIN Inspira, highlighted the participation of hundreds of entrepreneurs from across the country who joined the session. She emphasized that PERUMIN Inspira was created in 2019 precisely to recognize ventures by individuals who dare to take action with a sustainable vision that positively impacts communities and their surroundings.

“Throughout history, the country’s economic development has not been distributed equally. That's why we value the spirit and efforts of our talented compatriots who turn challenges into opportunities focused on the common good,” she said.

Contest and Awards

Úrsula Moscoso, Executive Director of Kunan, explained that this edition will award the two best social startups in the “High-Impact Startup” category.

She also noted that participating ventures must have been operating for at least six months and address one or more of the nine United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) selected for this edition.

“They must have an innovative business model with the potential for scalability and self-sustainability that contributes to solving the identified problem,” she said.

This year, each winning social startup will receive 15,000 soles in seed capital, digital technical support for 12 weeks provided by Wichay Continental: Hub for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, mentoring sessions from KAMAN, the Business Incubator at the Universidad Católica San Pablo, 10 hours of legal advice from Benites, Vargas & Ugaz Abogados, and international visibility of their work through the CIP-CGIAR international network, which includes research centers around the world thanks to the International Potato Center.

How to Participate

Applicants can submit their proposals starting April 24, 2025, at: https://bit.ly/FormsPostulacionPERUMINInspira2025.

The ten shortlisted projects will attend the PERUMIN 37 Mining Convention, where the two winners of this edition will be selected. 

Learn more about the sixth edition of PERUMIN Inspira at: https://youtu.be/sOAU0JopS8k