(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Day Two: Talking Entrepreneurship in Cuba
Being an entrepreneur in Cuba is a little like being a Martian.
So says Idania Del Rio, a graphic designer and illustrator in Havana. She’s also a cuentapropista, a Cuban self-starter joining hundreds of thousands of her countrymen and women working to build a business. Their ranks are growing, even if Cuba remains a complicated environment for entrepreneurs like Idania. Connectivity is scarce and the internet is limited. Entrepreneurs everywhere have to be adaptable and resourceful, yet based on what I’ve seen here, Cubans are especially adept.
As Idania pointed out, Cubans are creative and can make something from nothing. So it’s a good fit!
Clandestina, her design shop in Old Havana has D.I.Y.-vibes and sells pillowcases, t-shirts, and hats that represent Cuban culture. She’s passionate about the arts. So sometimes she deploys her skills to design posters for films and major Cuban institutions. Her work has taken her abroad, including to New York, Seattle, and Paris.
We met here in Havana, at an entrepreneurship summit (in a cerveceria!) where President Obama is met with Cuban entrepreneurs who are changing how their country works.
Currently the private sector here employs about one-third of the labor force, a share that includes private farmers and co-ops, licensed entrepreneurs, and joint ventures. Until recently it was basically impossible for cuentapropistas like Idania to get businesses off the ground — for centuries actually, the obstacles have been pretty onerous.
But that’s starting to change, with thanks in part to President Obama’s decision to change course in the U.S. relationship with Cuba more than a year ago. And that’s good news for Idania. It’s good news for “Papito” Valladares, the owner of ArteCorte, a barbershop in Havana, who’s working with his community to help other entrepreneurs get off the ground. It’s good news too for Indhira Fernandez, who built a Yelp-like app that’s designed to work offline — which may seem counterintuitive but is actually how a lot of people have to use the internet down here.
And at the end of the day, it’s good news for all Cubans.
That’s why President Obama has worked to transform our relationship with the Cuban people and why he’s here:
“[Entrepreneurship] is about self-determination — the opportunity to put your own talents and skills to use in a way that belongs to you and fulfills you. It’s the belief that even if you don’t have much — maybe just a kitchen, or a sewing machine, or a car — if you’re willing to work hard, you can earn your own way. It’s the spirit of youth — because so many talented, creative, driven young men and women — like those of you here — are itching to go out and make your mark on the world. And it’s an investment in the future, because as we’ve seen in America, businesses that start small — even in a garage — can grow into the most successful, dynamic companies in the world, changing the way we work and live and connect with each other. That’s the spirit of entrepreneurship. That’s what we’re encouraging here today.”
As the relationship between our countries begins to evolve, businesses in the U.S. are presented with the historic opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge with Cuban entrepreneurs. Startup meetups are already happening all across the country. And, just like their counterparts in New York or California, these meetings are quickly becoming hubs to connect and share valuable tips on how to build and grow a successful company.
At the entrepreneurship event, AirBnB CEO Brian Chesky shared how they are building upon the tradition of Cuban casa particulares (think Cuban bed and breakfasts) in order to introduce their service to the country. As a result, over 4,000 Cubans are already hosting guests. Companies like Stripe are making it possible for Cubans to easily incorporate U.S. companies, by helping them set up U.S. bank accounts in order to accept payments from customers around the world.
All in all, there will be a greater exchange of goods and culture and technology. Opportunities for Cubans who benefit from high levels of literacy and education will multiply. And the steps President Obama announced yesterday — to connect more Cuban entrepreneurs to the internet, to facilitate an exchange of ideas with startups in America — will only reinforce this dynamism.
Having been part of a number of startups myself, I know the challenges that face entrepreneurs trying to make their mark. I understand the incredible stakes — personal, emotional, financial — and how the long hours and life-encompassing commitment can make anybody feel like they’re marooned on the solitary planet of their work. And although Cubans face challenges in terms of connectivity, I have no doubt that the cuentapropistas I met yesterday will continue to find creative and industrious ways to persevere in pursuit of their goals.
As ties deepen between the United States and Cuba, and as opportunities for cooperation expand, I think we both stand to feel a little less alone in our work — a little less like individual Martians, in Idania’s telling — and more unified in the pursuit of new opportunities. Innovations await.
