Ivonne Rodríguez recently led a talk titled “From Applied Research to Entrepreneurship: How to Turn an Idea into a Business?” on November 6. During the session, she discussed key aspects of transforming ideas into real ventures.
Rodríguez began her journey in bio-entrepreneurship as a biology student at the University of Costa Rica. What started as a class project evolved into BioFun, a biotechnology business focused on reducing emerging contaminants in water bodies, especially pharmaceuticals and compounds that threaten aquatic ecosystems and public health.
She highlighted several lessons from her experience. First, Rodríguez emphasized that initial resources vary for everyone based on context, making each entrepreneurial path unique. She advised against comparing oneself to others’ journeys.
Second, she stressed the importance of prioritizing the problem being solved over other motivations such as financial gain or simply developing an idea. According to Rodríguez, keeping the problem at the center can open up new opportunities and guide decision-making throughout the process.
The third point centered on building a compatible team with shared goals. She noted that investors often look for three essential roles within a team: someone who creates, someone who manages, and someone who sells. Commitment, assertiveness, respect, and patience are important qualities for maintaining healthy team dynamics. While conflicts are inevitable during entrepreneurship, Rodríguez said these qualities help teams overcome challenges.
Once these elements are established, seeking funding becomes necessary for growth despite its challenges. Rodríguez encouraged practicing pitching ideas repeatedly to improve this skill.
Concluding her talk with the phrase “afraid of success,” Rodríguez acknowledged that fear is part of pursuing new ventures but encouraged attendees to persist until their ideas become tangible solutions. “This process will be scary; it will be full of challenges and learning while exploring the unknown. However, despite fear, we must keep moving forward until our ideas stop being just ideas and become the solutions we seek,” she said.
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