That Daniel brought a chocolate-tasting board game to our recording session tells you everything you need to know about his love of play, double bottom-line businesses, and risk-taking entrepreneurs.

The sweets came from Chocolate Sero, one of Alterna’s portfolio companies, receiving both capital and technical assistance as a member of their vast social enterprise network. 

As we listened to the “snap” of the candy bar, savored and rated its color, flavor, and smoothness, we spoke about changing cultural mindsets to risk-embracing from risk-averting to bring more diverse founders into the mainstream, and the beautiful fact that a business can grow and add a social mission at any point in its lifecycle.

… and then we had ice cream – two double-impact flavors provided gratis from social enterprise pioneer Ben & Jerry’s: Ava DuVernay’s “Lights! Caramel! Action!” and Chance the Rapper’s “Mint Chocolate Chance.” 

Yes, we indulged.

Listen in for a sweet conversation about impact.

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About Daniel:

Daniel Buchbinder is the Founder and Director of Alterna, the premier center for social innovation and entrepreneurship in Central America. Since Alterna´s conception Daniel has leaded the launch of two social ventures that serve rural populations at the BoP, and the cultivation of the first generation of local entrepreneurs with social or environmental impact in Guatemala. He leads a fantastic international team of likeminded, top level professionals that share his passion to cultivate change from the ground-up.

Daniel devoted the initial years of his career to the consumer market as marketing executive at L´Oreal. This experience allowed him to comprehend the nitty-gritty of consumer marketing dynamics and to design solutions based on deep costumer understanding as well as apprehend the process of launching and managing brands and products for a wide array of customers in Latin America and Europe. He has consulted for private and public sectors in areas such as tourism, mining and the consumer market in Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Spain, Germany and the UK. 

How you can connect with Daniel:

Linkedin: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-buchbinder-6808b447/

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Sources and Websites from Episode 

https://alterna.pro/en/home/

Upcoming international impact investing conference:

https://www.inversiondeimpacto-ca.org/FLIICAC-2023-8edicion

Get your own chocolate tasting game:

https://www.cacaoembassy.com/?lang=en

And this episode’s ice cream sponsor

Ben & Jerry’s