The Costa Rican company Natural Sins, makers of fruit and vegetables snacks, is one of 60 semifinalists from more than 850 contestants in the La Idea Business Pitch Competition in the United States, Costa Rica’s Foreign Trade Promotion Office announced.
The company develops, manufactures and sells fruit and vegetable snacks made of pineapple, mango, star fruit, limes, oranges, coconut, kiwi, apples, pears, beets, pumpkins and carrots.
Of 60 semifinalists, up to 16 will be selected later this month to pitch their business ideas at one of two semifinal pitch events in New York and Bogotá, Colombia. Finalists will compete for up to $50,000 in grant awards, business support services valued at more than $100,000, and international promotion.
Participants from 14 countries were scored on sales and marketing strategy, management and partnership, social, economic, and environmental impact, financial position, and the strength of a two-minute video pitch.
“The semifinalists represent a diverse, successful small- and medium-sized business community including both existing businesses and new ventures from 10 industries,” the competition’s website stated.
La Idea was a key initiative of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who announced the creation of the program in November 2011.
It involves representatives from the U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, Boom Financial, Inter-American Development Bank, International Diaspora Engagement Alliance, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Small Business Administration, Univision Networks, WellSpace, Accion and FHI 360.
