Travesía al Éxito Empresarial - Apply here!

“Travesía al Éxito Empresarial” is a competition aimed at entrepreneurs with established businesses who are looking to take their company to the next level. by Plaza Las Américas and Banco Popular, with the support of WAPA-TV, where a retail business will have the opportunity to catapult its chances of success with benefits that include:

• A cart in Plaza Las Américas with no lease fees for one year
  • The winner will enjoy six (6) initial months with no lease fees and for the following six (6) months, will only contribute 10% of their monthly gross sales.
• $20,000 in seed capital, courtesy of Banco Popular
• Eight (8) personalized business mentoring sessions
• Access to the Next 2027 post-acceleration program
• Guidance from Banco Popular to identify other sources of support or financing options.

The competition is open to entrepreneurs residing in Puerto Rico, over 21 years of age, with existing businesses that have been operating for 2 to 6 years, and with a minimum of two (2) years of sales experience that validates the need for their product and their production capacity. Participating businesses must not be franchises, subsidiaries, or have operated in a shopping mall within the last 12 months.

The product of the business initiative must be compatible with the operation of the carts at Plaza Las Américas and complement the mall's existing stores. The following concepts will not be considered in the competition: jewelry, beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), clothing, footwear, pet supplies, cell phone accessories, and any type of services.

How to participate?

From August 3 to September 16, 2026, entrepreneurs who meet the requirements can submit their proposal to participate in this initiative, which has successfully boosted several small businesses in Puerto Rico. Participants must submit their entries electronically only by accessing the entry form at this link: First Round, before 11:59 PM on September 16, 2026.

Selection Process

A panel of judges will evaluate the proposals received and select a maximum of ten (10) semifinalists. After an interview with the judges, five (5) finalists will be chosen. Before presenting their business plans, these finalists will participate in a preparation workshop to help them in this phase of the competition.

The five (5) finalists will have the opportunity to participate in the “Journey to Success Showcase” event on October 16 and 17, 2026, where they will gain real-world experience selling their products in a shopping mall, which will help them further refine their business plans.

Rules

To view the Competition Rules, access 

Frequently Asked Questions about the Journey to Business Success

1. Who can participate in this competition?

Participants must be legal residents of Puerto Rico and at least twenty-one (21) years old. Only one business per participant or family unit is allowed.

Participants must own at least 51% of the shares of the business and hold managerial leadership positions within it.

2. What type of business can be proposed?

The product must be compatible with the operation of a cart in Plaza Las Américas and complement the shopping center's store offerings. The business must have been operating for 2 to 6 years.

The business must be established exclusively in Puerto Rico and cannot be a franchise or subsidiary of another company established inside or outside of Puerto Rico. The business cannot have operated in any shopping center in Puerto Rico during the past 12 months.

3. How can I participate in this competition? What are the participation requirements?

Participants must submit their entry electronically only by accessing the link to the entry form on this page, before 11:59 PM on September 16, 2026.

A series of guiding questions will guide you through the required analysis elements, which include: (1) Product and Company Description, (2) Potential Market, (3) Prospective Customer, (4) Competitive Analysis, (5) Business Model and Sales Projections, (6) Management Team, (7) Concept Validation, (8) Marketing Plan, and (9) Operations.

Business proposals submitted by this date will be evaluated by a panel of judges who will select a maximum of ten (10) semifinalists. The 10 semifinalists will have the opportunity to present their businesses and products to the jury on October 2, 2026. From there, the jury will select five (5) finalists who will be notified by text message, email, or phone call.

The finalists will participate in a mandatory workshop on October 9, 2026, followed by the “Travesía el Showcase" on October 16 and 17, 2026.

This event is a real-world sales experience at Plaza Las Américas, which will allow the 5 finalists to validate their products with the public and refine their business plans.

Finally, the five finalists will present their business proposals in an interview with the jury on November 9, 2026. Both the workshop and the interview are mandatory.

4. Is it necessary to submit a business plan?

Only the finalists must submit a complete business plan following the established parameters and formats, which will be explained to them. October 30, 2026, is the deadline for finalists to submit their Business Plan.

5. What would my commitments be to Plaza Las Américas as a finalist or winner of this competition?

Finalists' Commitment:

The finalists commit to participating in the videos and presentations coordinated by the sponsors for promotional events. During the 16th and On October 17, 2026, you commit to participating in the "Journey to Success Showcase" event at Plaza Las Américas, where you will have the opportunity to gain real-world sales experience in the shopping center, helping you refine your business plan. You must also attend the workshop on October 9, 2026, and the interview with the judges on November 9, 2026.

For further questions, please write to infotravesia@plazalasamericas.com