Experience is also a degree in the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Another curious fact: the lower percentages of abandonment of entrepreneurial initiatives are concentrated in two sections of age: the youngest, between 18 and 24 years, but also the senior, between 55 and 64. «Whoever undertakes from The 50 accumulates a valuable contact agenda, as well as a maturity that is not learned in any business school. In addition, a more independent family organization is often available, because there are no longer economically dependent children at home, ”explain from the Ageingnomics Research Center, of Mapfre Foundation.

But, on the other hand, there are a number of challenges they must face. «One of the main ones is the need for training in key areas such as business management, financing and digitalization. Although many Senior professionals have extensive experience in their sector, Emprender demands specific knowledge in administration, strategic planning and adaptation to new market trends -explains Elsa Novo de Miguel, responsible for Employment and Green Entrepreneurship in Endesa Foundation. The lack of training in these aspects can hinder the development and sustainability of the business. Access to financing is another relevant obstacle. On many occasions, senior entrepreneurs may have more difficulties in accessing investors or credit lines, which can limit their growth capacity. To this is added the need to build a solid network of contacts and surround yourself with a team that complements its skills and contribute to the expansion of the business. In addition, entrepreneurship implies taking risks and facing a market in constant evolution. The ability to innovate, finding opportunities and establishing clear goals is essential to turn a project into a sustainable reality. such as that of digital channels ».

Endesa Foundation, through its generation project Savia, seeks to promote a cultural change on the collective of professionals who have been prematurely disconnected from their work and that is estimated at around 818,200 people. In collaboration with Máshumano Foundation and by the hand of 02:59 Films, the audiovisual producer of the feature film “grandparents” (Santiago Requejo, 2019), launches every year the +50 Awards Emprende that recognizes senior entrepreneurship with economic endowments between 20,000 and 33,000 euros. «In Spain, government and institutional support for senior entrepreneurs varies according to the Autonomous Community and it is not very common to find it. At the state level, there are general programs for the promotion of entrepreneurship, however, there are few that focus mainly on senior entrepreneurs. Only five autonomous communities offer specific aid. For example, Galicia has an autonomous employment promotion program that grants aid of 4,000 euros to unemployed over 52 years and 2,000 euros, increased by 15% for adults, ”explains Elsa Novo.

It is not strange, therefore, that more and more senior entrepreneurs approach this type of initiatives. In the case, for example of Yolanda Ruiz, 59 years. After developing his career for more than 25 years in executive positions in multinationals in the industry, consulting and education sectors, he decided to reinvent and found Spiquer, a technological startup of professional video recording. «It is a platform that guides the user throughout the process through templates with suggestions, facilitating the creation of quality content. In this way, Spiquer allows companies and professionals to create Elevator Pitch, CV video, pills, training, internal communication content, publications for social networks, web … among others, optimizing their way of transmitting key messages effectively. Functionalities such as Teleprompter To read while recording, automatic labeling with the data of the person speaking, subtitles in 100 languages, video funds, are some of the tools that are already being used by our clients in the public administration (employment and entrepreneurship), Large corporations, SMEs, universities and business schools, promoting its communication with a professional and accessible approach to any channel ».

One of the main difficulties Yolanda found was access to financing, since in many cases investors and institutions have more predisposition to support younger entrepreneurs. “There are also certain prejudices about the innovation capacity of senior professionals, when in reality the experience is a key asset to minimize risks and make successful strategic decisions,” he explains. In my case, it was not the first time that I led innovative projects within large companies, but the first time I started from scratch. Moving from a corporate structure with resources to a startup where you have to build everything from the base has been continuous learning ».

In the case of Ana Atienza, 54 years and licensed in Marketing, after more than 20 years working on behalf of his job, which led him to consider new professional options. «The conditions of the exit and my personal and family situation allowed me to launch me into the adventure of entrepreneurship. The situation of running out of work went from being a threat to an opportunity ». Thus was born toskygarden, a project whose mission is to fill the roofs of Madrid with green from two ways of action: vegetable covers and urban orchards. «In Madrid we have many green spaces, but they are not enough. I started studying the options of urban gardens, but a year ago, I began to study the cultivation of green roofs and ceilings in the US. The idea fascinated me ». After several months of analysis, advice and work, the Founder of Theskygarden presented her business idea to the Villaverde Company Initiative “This was the time when I realized that the project could have a future.”

In other cases, launching to undertake in senior age does have a direct relationship with the need to get ahead. It is what happened to Julio Estalella Otero, 58 years. Profession engineer, after a long career in the world of energy and infrastructure, such as other seniors of his age, his professional career in the energy and infrastructure sector concluded, which meant finding himself with a great change that I did not expect ‘the off -cutting syndrome’.

“No one took my phone, it was a moment of great disappointments because I realized that people were no longer there.” To this situation, the main reason for his restlessness was gathered to July: his four children, whom he had to continue feeding. Julio opted for gastronomic innovation and, after experimenting with different forms of fermentation, created his project Sauces still that revolve around the Mediterranean products, the vinegar and the odorous wine of Jerez and that is already giving great satisfactions.

“The sectors with greater opportunities for senior entrepreneurs in Spain are closely linked to the transformation of the labor market, driven by digitalization, artificial intelligence and, especially, the transition to a more sustainable economic model,” explains Elsa Novo. Hence, the new edition of the Savia Generation Awards incorporates this year the Green Entrepreneurship Award, with an endowment of 15,000 euros, to highlight projects led by senior entrepreneurs that promote real change in the field of sustainability.