Boostcamp 2025

We understand that entrepreneurial ecosystems are not strengthened by enthusiasm alone, but by judgment, structure, and honest conversations. Under this conviction, Boostcamp 2025 became an initiative that goes beyond a single event: a space designed to align founders, corporates, investors, and strategic allies around the real challenges of building scalable startups from markets like the Dominican Republic.

Over two days, more than 200 participants engaged in spaces that reflected the different stages of the entrepreneurial and capital journey—from early formation and validation to corporate innovation and investment.

Boostcamp: three spaces, one shared vision

Boostcamp 2025 was structured around  three complementary components, each with a clear purpose:

• BoostU Summit, focused on vision, learning, and strategic reflection, designed for university students interested in entering the startup, innovation, and venture capital ecosystem.
  
  
• Founders Day, aimed at startups in stages of growth and regional expansion.
  
  
• Corporate & Investor Day, centered on investment, corporate innovation, and scaling.

Rather than operating as independent agendas, these spaces were intentionally connected, building a shared narrative around how startups with real growth potential are created, structured, and financed—and how this, in turn, contributes to the development of both the local and regional ecosystem.

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Founders Day: Growth Edition

Founders Day was designed for founders who have already moved beyond the idea stage and are now facing more complex decisions: tackling the real dilemmas of growth—those that emerge once there is a product, users, initial revenue, and pressure to scale.

The conversations revolved around key questions that most startups at this stage inevitably face:

• When does a product truly reach product–market fit, and when does it only seem like it has?
  
  
• What mistakes tend to repeat when companies grow without focus or structure?
  
  
• How can founders correctly read the metrics that truly matter and avoid decisions driven by vanity metrics?
  
  
• What differentiates a promising project from a company that is sustainable over time?

These questions were not approached from a theoretical perspective, but through the firsthand experience of founders, operators, and ecosystem actors who have lived through—and successfully navigated—these inflection points.

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Panels focused on execution, not rhetoric

The Founders Day panels focused on execution, decision-making, and real trade-offs. Conversations openly addressed:

• Growing sales without having clear processes in place.
  
  
• Hiring teams before fully understanding the business model.
  
  
• Scaling operations without having validated unit economics.
  
  
• Mistaking early traction for true scalability.

One message was consistent throughout: scaling without structure tends to amplify problems, not results.

It was also emphasized that validating quickly is important, but understanding what to validate, when, and for what strategic purpose is even more critical. Not every form of validation leads to the right kind of growth.

Another key takeaway was that growth should not be driven by external pressure—from the market, the ecosystem, or the “grow fast” narrative—but by a clear strategy aligned with the company’s business model and stage.

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The idea was reinforced that:

• Not all startups should scale at the same pace.
  
  
• Not all growth is healthy growth.
  
  
• Choosing not to scale yet is also a strategic decision.

The close, intimate format of Founders Day enabled something essential: honest conversations. Founders shared mistakes, difficult decisions, uncomfortable pivots, and lessons that are rarely discussed in public settings.

The value of the space was not only in the content, but in the shared experience—listening to other founders face similar challenges, validating one’s own questions, and leaving with greater clarity about the next steps.

Corporate & Investor Day: capital, innovation and strategic decisions 

The Corporate & Investor Day opened a fundamental conversation for the Dominican ecosystem: how to invest and how to innovate responsibly in emerging markets.

One of the central themes was understanding venture capital beyond the hype. Topics discussed included:

• The power law and why not all startups are designed for VC funding.
  
  
• The importance of financial discipline in early stages.
  
  
• The role of founders in building investment-ready companies—not just pitch decks.

The message was clear: capital accelerates, but it does not replace poor execution or a weak strategy.

These conversations helped ground expectations and raise the level of understanding around how venture capital truly works in the region.

Another key focus of the day was corporate innovation, particularly in highly regulated industries. Through real-world cases, it became clear that innovation is not just about adopting technology, but about redesigning processes, structures, and mindsets.

Connections that build the ecosystem

Beyond the content, Boostcamp 2025 was a space for intentional connection. Founders engaged directly with investors, corporates explored pilot opportunities, and relationships with local and regional allies were strengthened.

These interactions—honest, contextualized, and strategic—are what allow the ecosystem to move beyond the event itself and translate into real collaboration.

At Boost AC, we remain committed to creating spaces that elevate the conversation, professionalize the ecosystem, and connect the right actors at the right moment.

Boostcamp 2025 was not an ending, but a starting point for new conversations, partnerships, and opportunities.

We keep building. And we continue driving the growth of the Dominican entrepreneurial ecosystem with a regional vision