InnovAction 2.0 is a regional innovation competition and support program aimed at empowering young social and economic entrepreneurs – especially those from Afro-descendent, Indigenous, people with disabilities, and other marginalized communities – in Latin America and the Caribbean. The program will center on initiatives that address environmental resilience at different levels and sectors, by increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions and/or protecting and managing natural resources. Innovations, new technologies, and nature-based solutions can help lessen negative impacts for marginalized communities.  

InnovAction is a special category of the Talent and Innovation Competitions of the Americas (“TIC Americas”) a success-proven, annual program that has operated uninterruptedly since created in 2007. The InnovAction 2.0 challenge drives inclusive growth by accelerating current and new initiatives or businesses to increase the socio-economic participation of vulnerable groups. InnovAction 2.0 is organized by the Young Americas Business Trust (“YABT” or Organizer) in coordination and with sponsorship from the Inter-American Foundation (“IAF”or Co-Organizer), and assistance from national partners.

InnovAction 2.0 will identify and award innovative solutions and new business models that increase energy efficiency, reduce emissions and enhance the protection of natural resources. Additionally, through the virtual training platform, Business Opportunity Online Training Camp (BOOT Camp), coordinated by YABT, young entrepreneurs can connect with industry experts to develop strategies for designing and implementing their business solutions. In this way, the program serves as a business development support platform providing skills-building, mentorship, and visibility opportunities, helping young entrepreneurs to establish, operate and potentially scale micro and small enterprises.

The term InnovAction was coined in 2001, by YABT founder Roy Thomasson and by Dr. Jaime Amsel, a widely recognized innovation and organizational development specialist. They identified that, even though there was extensive theoretical documentation and material for teaching innovation techniques, there was a lack of practical, hands-on curricula or material to ensure innovation occurs. They developed a practical training curriculum that YABT has used for over a decade in Business Labs workshops.