Swiss EP and SIPPO: Building Synergies for Agroexport Innovation

SIPPO, the Swiss Import Promotion Programme, has long worked to strengthen the capacity of organizations that promote exports from Peru. Its systemic approach mirrors that of Swiss EP, the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program, though with a different focus: while SIPPO supports export promotion institutions, Swiss EP builds startup ecosystems. In late 2025, these two Swiss-funded programs found a natural point of convergence.

PromPerú’s agricultural exports division approached SIPPO with an initiative: to organize a hackathon that would generate innovative solutions for specific challenges faced by small agro-exporters. These challenges: Traceability and sustainability, Market intelligence, Channel digitalization, and Circular economy and efficiency, reflected the pressing needs of SMEs often overshadowed by the larger players. SIPPO, recognizing that startups could provide agile answers, turned to Swiss EP for guidance.

Swiss EP’s role was to validate the approach and ensure the hackathon would be designed for impact. The team asked: Is a Hackathon the best way to surface solutions? How can we structure the process to maximize results? Drawing on its expertise, Swiss EP connected SIPPO and PromPerú with their international expert, Eric Cardeña, Senior Partnership Success Manager at Startup Grind and Partner at Leapstart, and Eduardo Hernández, Partner at Leapstart, to help shape the event. The fit was immediate, and together they designed a three phase program:

1. Pre event preparation: PromPerú and SIPPO worked with selected startups to refine their proposals and align them with the needs of the agro-exporters.
2. Hackathon pitch event: After receiving 70 applications, only 10 startups were selected to present their solutions to the agricultural exports challenges.
3. Post-event pilot program: The winning startups would move forward to test their solutions directly with agro-exporters, in the search of venture client relationships.

“These startups brought an innovative and agile perspective to addressing challenges in the agri-export sector. Through solutions powered by artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, digital platforms, and traceability tools, they enhance operational efficiency, decision-making, and compliance with international standards. In addition, they promote sustainability and accelerate innovation through rapidly deployed pilot projects, reducing risks and strengthening the sector’s overall competitiveness."
Katia Rosas, Business Consulting and Training Executive at PROMPERÚ

Beyond identifying innovative solutions, the initiative fostered valuable connections between startups and the export sector. “Being part of the PROMPERÚ network has greatly helped us increase adoption among small exporters by building greater trust in their products and services”, said Bryan Villafuerte, CEO of Green ID, a startup that participated in the Hackathon.

The momentum generated by the hackathon laid the foundation for a longer-term effort: Innova Exporta, a platform designed to promote collaboration between startups and agro-export companies.

“The collaboration between SIPPO and Swiss EP was instrumental in combining their expertise in business development and innovation. As PROMPERÚ launched its first open innovation initiative for the agro-export sector, Swiss EP’s experience within the startup ecosystem helped shape an effective methodology to connect startups with Peruvian agro-export companies. This partnership led to the creation of Innova Exporta, a platform that fosters collaboration, open innovation, and the development of innovative solutions to strengthen the competitiveness of Peru’s export sector.”
Maria Isabel Rodriguez, Export Promotion Manager at SIPPO

For Swiss EP and SIPPO, the initiative demonstrates the value of combining complementary strengths. By bringing together institutional support, sector expertise, and entrepreneurial innovation, the partnership created a model that extends far beyond a single event. Camila Cordero, Country Manager of Swiss EP in Perú mentions: “What makes this model work is the intentional sequencing: SIPPO brings systemic export promotion, PromPerú brings sectoral challenges, and Swiss EP bridges them with startup expertise. Together this creates initiatives that none of the actors could achieve alone.”

By bridging the gap between startups and agroexporters, the initiative positioned innovation as a driver of competitiveness in Peru’s agroexport sector. It also highlighted how systemic support - connecting programs, institutions, and entrepreneurs - can generate durable impact across industries.