Developing digital skills is crucial for the growth and consolidation of SMEs. In Chile, according to the report “Digitalization of Work in Chile” by the National Chamber of Commerce, 70% of workers claim to have an intermediate level of digital knowledge. However, this figure drops to 48% among adults aged 35 to 65.
With the goal of supporting the development and strengthening of SMEs across the country, Mercado Libre partnered with Fundación Luksic to train entrepreneurs in its network. During the program’s closing event, participants attended workshops on how to use Mercado Libre’s platform, along with advanced digital tools and resources to help them scale their businesses.
“At Mercado Libre, we are committed to driving the growth of entrepreneurs and SMEs in Chile, as they are the heart of our company. We provide them with our knowledge, technology, and tools to help them succeed in digital commerce and advance with confidence. We understand the various challenges they face daily, and we offer a comprehensive digital ecosystem to guide and support them,” said Javier Pérez, Commercial Development Manager at Mercado Libre.
Currently, over 35,000 businesses, SMEs, and entrepreneurs sell on Mercado Libre Chile, making it an accessible and secure platform for thousands of entrepreneurs to build a successful business.
“At Fundación Luksic, we are committed to strengthening the training of Chilean entrepreneurs because we believe that this is the key to helping their businesses take off. Through this partnership, participants will be able to improve their commercial strategies and increase their sales,” said Cristián Schalper, Director of Entrepreneurship at Fundación Luksic. The organization has supported over 15,000 entrepreneurs across different regions of Chile through its programs.
A Women-Led SME That Empowers Women
Mónica Lobos, Soledad Mur, and Constanza Mur, founders of Petit Loup (Instagram: @petit_loupchile), run a small business specializing in baby accessories, bedding, nursing pillows, maternity essentials, crib sets, and tipi tents.
In recent years, they won funding from Sercotec and were selected for the Impulso Chileno program by Fundación Luksic, where they received financial support, training, and mentorship.
“With the prize, we were able to buy construction materials to improve and expand our workshop, allowing us to hire more staff. Thanks to this, we increased our sales by 25% and are now proud to employ three women who have helped us scale and strengthen our business,” the entrepreneurs shared.
Following the partnership between Fundación Luksic and Mercado Libre, Petit Loup will start selling its products on the e-commerce platform this year. “Being part of this initiative is a great opportunity. We are looking to expand, and one of our weak points has been online sales since we primarily work with wholesale orders,” said Soledad.
