Over the past 20 years, Ecuador has suffered major natural disasters, hyperinflation, the collapse of the banking sector and political tumult. Its economy is largely dependent on the export of oil and on money transfers from Ecuadorians working abroad.

In spite of recent efforts to stabilize the economy, unemployment levels remain high, and a third of the population lives below the poverty line. To improve the quality of life for Ecuadorians at the base of the economic pyramid, TechnoServe and its partners implemented a successful business plan competition model. The program helped the country's nascent entrepreneurs turn good ideas into thriving small and medium businesses that generate jobs while increasing the supply of high-quality, affordable goods and services. The program focused on businesses in the fields of energy, food, health, housing, basic services and information technology.