The Dominican Republic's longest-running startup showcase is marking a decade. The 10th Entrepreneurs Fair opened on Thursday at the Downtown Center in Santo Domingo, and this edition carries real money behind the slogan "Your project can be the next big story" — prizes of up to RD$3 million (roughly US$50,000) are on the table for the best ideas.
The opening ceremony drew some of the country's biggest business names: Tourism Minister David Collado, entrepreneur José Luis "Pepín" Corripio, and veteran business leader Ligia Bonetti, all of whom reaffirmed their backing for the fair's core mission — turning raw business ideas into functioning companies.
What makes the fair more than a prize contest is the free support on offer. Participants get access to legal, financial and advertising advice, plus hands-on help with company formation, marketing, social media and promotional strategy. There's a full programme of conferences and panels, product exhibitions, and free booths reserved for selected entrepreneurs — meaning attendees can walk away with contacts, coaching and a storefront, not just inspiration.
The event also stages the selection of the Pepín Corripio Award for Dominican Entrepreneur, which recognises business owners for innovation, perseverance and their contribution to the national economy.
For travellers, the takeaway is a side of Santo Domingo most visitors never see. While the capital's Zona Colonial gets the postcard attention, events like this show off the city's modern commercial heart around Downtown Center, a shopping and business hub in the eastern part of the city. If you happen to be in town while the fair is running, entry-level exhibitions and panels can be a genuinely interesting window into the Dominican Republic's fast-growing small-business scene — and the country's tourism ministry's involvement signals how seriously the government ties entrepreneurship to the visitor economy.
Even if you miss this edition, the fair has now run for ten consecutive years, so it's a reliable annual fixture worth checking dates for if Santo Domingo is on your list.
