Colombia is home to some of the richest biodiversity on the planet, and in its Amazon region, an entrepreneurial movement is flourishing that could transform both the economy and conservation. “El Camino de la Pantera,” an initiative by Pantera Makers with support from IDB Lab, was launched to support this effort: to incubate and accelerate bio-businesses that turn Amazonian knowledge and resources into value-added products without harming the ecosystem.

Out of a total of 721 applications, the program selected 138 bio-businesses across two cohorts—84 in pre-incubation and 54 in incubation—following a rigorous evaluation process using the Sabiscore model. One statistic that reveals the nature of this ecosystem: 85% of the applications came through personalized channels (facilitators, WhatsApp, or word of mouth), which speaks to highly engaged communities and deeply rooted networks of trust in the region.

The program is structured around three distinct phases: “Germination” for those with ideas for green businesses, “Expansion” for entrepreneurs with existing businesses who want to take them to the next level, and “Rooting” for those seeking to scale up businesses that already have strong roots. At the heart of the project is also an explicit commitment to women’s leadership as a driving force behind sustainable development in the Amazon.

The initial results are promising: bio-businesses with a regional identity, value propositions centered on biodiversity, and a community of entrepreneurs demonstrating that the rainforest can be a source of prosperity without ceasing to be a rainforest. Learn about all the findings in the full report.