Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD) embodies an entrepreneurial culture, fostering innovation and risk-taking. UDD Futuro initiative aligns with its vision of pioneering future-oriented education, preparing students for contemporary challenges with interdisciplinary training and immersive experiences. UDD's commitment to entrepreneurship is evident in its curriculum and research activities. Entrepreneurship competencies are integrated into every UDD program, complemented by specialized tracks and interdisciplinary courses. The Entrepreneurship Institute leads research efforts, including collaborations like GEM Chile, influencing policy and nurturing an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Support systems for budding entrepreneurs are robust, with initiatives like dLab facilitating sustainable innovation projects across disciplines. UDD's infrastructure spans over 16,500 square meters, providing ample resources for entrepreneurial endeavors. UDD actively engages with the community through programs like UDD Ventures, impacting over 17,900 individuals and attracting significant funding and recognition. UDD's student and faculty achievements underscore its commitment to innovation and social impact. Notable successes include victories in competitions like the Babson Student Challenge and the Avonni National Innovation Award, alongside significant funding raised by startups such as Broota and Bondup. Beyond fostering economic growth, UDD's entrepreneurial initiatives contribute to social development and environmental sustainability, leaving a lasting impact on society. UDD excels in entrepreneurship education, driving economic progress in Chile and beyond, fostering impactful ventures, and shaping the future of business and society. UDD’s concept is to train professionals who are entrepreneurs and innovators, committed to society, with a global vision and an approach that integrates perspectives from different disciplines. Prospective students identify entrepreneurship as the university's N°1 attribute.
CATEGORY WINNER
Americas Most Impactful University of the Year Award
Universidad del Desarrollo
CATEGORY WINNER Americas Most Impactful University of the Year Award
Universidad Del Desarrollo - Chile
""Innovative Education for Entrepreneurial Minds" "
Engage on social media
https://www.linkedin.com/school/universidad-del-desarrollo/mycompany/ (Official UDD LinkedIn account )
@UDD_cl (Official UDD Twitter account )
https://www.instagram.com/udd_cl/?hl=es (Official UDD Instagram account )
https://www.instagram.com/emprendimiento.udd/ (Official Instagram account of UDD’s Entrepreneurship Center)
(Official UDD YouTube account )
https://cl.linkedin.com/company/direcci%C3%B3n-de-emprendimiento-udd(Official LinkedIn account of UDD’s Entrepreneurship Center)
Summary
Key People
Ernesto Silva B.
First President and Co-Founder
Universidad Del Desarrollo
Federico Valdes
President
Universidad Del Desarrollo
Cristian Larroulet
Co-Founder and Professor
Universidad Del Desarrollo
Joaquin Lavin
Co-Founder and Professor
Universidad Del Desarrollo
Daniel Contesse
Vice President of Innovation and Development
Universidad Del Desarrollo
Florencia Jofre
Vice President of Undergraduate Studies
Universidad Del Desarrollo
Carlos Varela
Director of Entrepreneurship
Universidad Del Desarrollo
Matias Lira
Dean of the Business School
Universidad Del Desarrollo
Loreto Bravo
Director of Data Science Institute
Universidad Del Desarrollo
Carlos Osorio
Director of Entrepreneurship Institute
Business School,
Universidad Del Desarrollo
Acknowledgements
Universidad Del Desarrollo (UDD) in Chile views public-private alliances as crucial to achieving its social mission and ensuring the relevance of its educational project. Through these alliances, UDD sustains its excellence in teaching and research, while collaborating with other institutions to enhance its impact on society. In particular, UDD prioritizes alliances to promote entrepreneurship and support student ventures, empowering them to contribute to the well-being of their communities at the local, regional, national, and global levels.
Special thanks to:
- The Founders of Universidad del Desarrollo
- The Vice Presidency of Innovation team
- The Entrepreneurship Office team
- UDD’s Business School
- Babson College and the Babson Academy
- Stanford Technology Ventures Program and Prof. Tina Seelig
- Ashoka U
- Banco de Chile
- Chilean Government through its development agencies
- Organizations from the Chilean entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems
- Many others
Images
UDD Campus
UDD's Founders
Alumni UDD Pamela with his startup ALBA
technology-based entrepreneurship workshops
Babson Global Summit 2023 at UDD
Semana i
Entrepeneurship Team
National School Entrepeneurial Tournament "Impacto Emprendedor"
UDD's Entrepeneurs
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
In 1989, led by Ernesto Silva Bafalluy, a visionary group founded Universidad del Desarrollo, the first private university in southern Chile. In 1990, it opened its doors with 100 students enrolled in the Business Administration program. From its inception, UDD focused on entrepreneurship, fostering young minds to innovate with an ethical approach and the courage to face uncertainty.
Thirty years later, UDD includes 20,000 students distributed in 11 Schools among 5 campuses in both Santiago and Concepción. As seen, UDD's initial vision is still alive and evolving, as the story of Pamela Salazar demonstrates. She’s an industrial engineer alumni that founded uMov, creating “ALBA”, a kinetic-technological device that restores functionality to stroke patients. ALBA won the Avonni National Award for Innovation in 2021 and was also recognized internationally at the International Meeting of Universia Rectors. Also, just a couple of weeks ago, Pamela co-organized the biggest entrepreneurship festival in the south of Chile ‘MadeInnConce’.
Another impactful story is UDD's team of student ambassadors, members of the international Babson Students Network, who showcased their skills by rescuing and relocating Fatema Jalaly, an Afghan colleague, during the Taliban conflict. Fatema now teaches at UDD, enriching the academic community.
UDD has nurtured other remarkable entrepreneurs, including Federico Iriberry, co-founder of Broota, the first equity crowdfunding platform in LATAM.
The University hasn't only impacted individuals like the above but has created a network of innovators who continue to carry the torch of entrepreneurship, making a significant difference in Chile and the world.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
An entrepreneurial university requires strong leadership to foster a pro-entrepreneurship culture. At UDD, entrepreneurship is a fundamental value in our educational project and throughout the university, from its founding to the present.
People are key to building and sustaining an organizational culture that values entrepreneurship. Through them, our aim is to ensure that our commitment to entrepreneurship is not just an intention, but translates into concrete actions and results that transform our university and our engaged community over the long term.
It's essential to emphasize that we define entrepreneurship in a broad, cross-cutting way throughout the university, not limited solely to the traditional perspective of creating startups or businesses. At UDD, we view entrepreneurship as a mindset, a necessary skill to be developed by all students and future professionals. It's a 21st-century competence that is fundamental for every organization today.
We have gained valuable insights by forging partnerships with exceptional international universities and networks. For instance, we have a long-standing relationship with Babson College, a global leader in entrepreneurship education, and are now part of the Babson Collaborative network, where UDD is a “Circle of Influence” member. We have also collaborated with Stanford University through their Stanford Technology Ventures Program. Moreover, UDD is the only South American university designated as a Changemaker Campus by Ashoka, alongside over 40 other prestigious institutions worldwide.
By actively engaging with key national and international ecosystems, UDD has established a robust entrepreneurship and innovation environment that is fundamental to our success.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
UDD's 2021-2025 Institutional Strategic Plan, "Building the University of the Future," outlines an academic vision that stands out for offering a cohesive educational proposal that meets the challenges of the 21st century. For UDD, the University of the Future is characterized by an entrepreneurial spirit, a thriving and engaging innovation ecosystem, a culture that fosters continuous adaptation of our academic value proposition and processes, a commitment to training all students in 21st-century skills, an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, tackling the ongoing challenges of digital transformation, and providing a life-changing experience to our students.
Regarding entrepreneurship programming, our next steps are as follows:
- Work closely with the management of undergraduate and graduate degree programs to integrate more entrepreneurship education and support into their curriculum, going beyond our current across-campus programs.
- Address gaps in our growing entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem, such as in internationalization, access to private funding, and fostering more technology-based startups from our students.
- Expand and strengthen the UDD Founders network with a clear value proposition that fosters connection among community members and the university.
- Promote a venturing culture and increase student participation in entrepreneurship programs, while highlighting the impact stories of UDD startups and changemakers.
- Extend our outreach entrepreneurship programs to students from other higher education institutions, as well as high school students and teachers, to contribute to Chilean education and economic development.
- Establish UDD as a leader in entrepreneurship education in the Latin American region.
