Our founder, Alicia Castillo Holley, is a serial entrepreneur, passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation and venture capital. Her views about prosperity inspire and motivate individuals to be actors and not spectators of their lives.

Her vast experience as an entrepreneur, researcher, lecturer and investor in four continents create a holistic approach that is unique, versatile and results driven.

Since 1998, Alicia has started nine companies and one non-for-profit, raised over US$7 Mill in private equity; consulted, mentored, or coached over 500 business owners or executives helping them create and implement innovation-based business models.

She played an active role in the development of Venture Capital in Chile during her 6 years stay, starting Chilean first Center for Entrepreneurship at the Universidad Adolfo Ibanez and Chilean first Privately held Seed Capital Fund.

Throughout one of her companies, she has also trained over 4000 people and spoken in front of large and small audiences in the areas of wealth creation, venture capital, entrepreneurship, innovation, and change management.

She and her companies have also been associated with several international groups researching and developing entrepreneurial skills (IDRC - Canada, PUC-Rio Brazil, UAI - Chile, and several universities around the world).

She participates in several international non-for profits in education and social entrepreneurship.

Note from Alicia, yes you can address me as Alicia. 

I'm not here for what I've done but for what I can do... yet I decided to add a Ridiculum to satisfy people's curiosity and cut introductory meetings short. I answer questions on Linkedin.com every now and then and keep a NFP group in Spanish.

Ridiculum - Short Bio - Highlights

As a former scientist in plan physiology, she was at the age of 16, the youngest presenter of a graded paper at National Convention of Agricultural Agronomists in Venezuela. Four years later, she was the youngest researcher presenting an authored paper at the First Latin American Congress of Electron Microscopy, in Bogota, Colombia.

Prior to graduating as Valedictorian (1st place) on Agronomy Engineering, she had already published 8 graded research papers, and started two informal ventures. She continued her scientific career pursuing a Masters of Science, graduating with honors - Magna Cum Laude, whilst managing the New Product Development Department for a Bayer-Shell's joint venture, lecturing at the largest University in Venezuela and learning German.

As a single mother, she was selected as a fellow and moved to the US to pursue an MBA at Babson College.

In 1996, Alicia returned to Latin America to promote entrepreneurship. Within 4 months, she launched Chilean’s First Center for Entrepreneurship at the Universidad Adolfo Ibañez and within 3 years Chilean’s First Seed Capital Fund. 

She has been the lead researcher for two large programs, which involved extensive participation from the public and private sector, funded by the International Development Research Center - Canada, and Intec- Corfo - Universidad de Tarapaca.

Alicia has been a guest speaker and lecturer in Australia, the United States, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Canada.

In August 2005, she relocated to Perth, Western Australia to retire and work on philanthropic activities. In 2006, concerned about the challenges of innovation-based companies in the region, she created a Group that would focus specifically on the needs of fast-growing globally oriented firms in IT and Biotech. 

EDUCATION

MBA Babson College - Fellowship

Engineering Agronomy - UCV (valedictorian)

Master of Science (Magna Cum Laude) - UCV

Landmark Education - USA

Australian Institute of Company Directors - GAICD

The Alicia Castillo Wealthing Group supports efforts in entrepreneurial education and is part of the Founders Fund at Babson College.