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Se llama Bernardo Gamboa y es el cofundador del Building Latam Fest (BLF) 2026, un evento que tuvo sus inicios en Estados Unidos pero ahora desde Colombia busca integrar en un solo ecosistema a los constructores de las compañías más importantes de Latinoamérica, a los inversionistas que tienen su dinero en los fondos, a los emprendedores que con sus startups saben desarrollar innovación más rápido que las empresas tradicionales y a los corporativos que necesitan con urgencia vivir cambios eficientes en una sociedad que viaja a toda velocidad y que está poniendo la sostenibilidad por encima de todo. En esta conversación habla, también, de cómo usar la tecnología para la reconstrucción de Colombia tras el terremoto del 10 de agosto. Bienvenidos.
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00:00What happens when technology is introduced into one of the most important productive sectors of the economy?
00:06That's what today's Entrepreneurship and Leadership interview in El Espectador is about, and the guest who joins us.
00:18Bernardo Gamboa.
00:20Nice to meet you.
00:21How are you doing?
00:22Everything is great.
00:23Welcome to the El Espectador newsroom. I want to read it because I don't want to say it wrong.
00:26Here it is. From Build Tech Ventures and also from Building Latin Fest 2026. Did I say that right?
00:33She said it very well. Thank you very much. It's a pleasure to have her.
00:36Well then. Welcome to the El Espectador newsroom and this space dedicated to Entrepreneurship and Leadership.
00:40And you might ask, what's that all about? What is Building Latin Fest and what is Build Tech Ventures?
00:47Well, it won't be me, of course. It'll be him.
00:50But let's say it's uniting two sectors that are crucial today.
00:54And it's about technology and construction. They're putting on a big event.
00:58So let's start with the basic question.
01:00Bernardo, what is the Building Latin Fest 2026?
01:06Well, Building Latin Fest 2026 is the third event we've held in Latin America.
01:14with the purpose of generating an ecosystem around innovation, around technological adoption in the construction sector.
01:27It is probably one of the economic sectors that generates the most jobs, the most income, and let's say it's one of the
01:33more assets within a country's GDP.
01:35But it is the sector that lags furthest behind in technological adoption.
01:38Oh, really?
01:38Yes, yes. Really, from what one sees, for example, in investment and investment in entrepreneurship,
01:43Investment in Latin America, particularly in the construction ecosystem,
01:49It doesn't even reach 1% of Venture investors.
01:54That's very little.
01:55That's practically nothing.
01:56To understand the dimensions, that's very little.
01:58It's very, very little. All sectors: financial, education, health, trade sectors,
02:06because they all have a very high level of technological adoption.
02:08However, in construction we continue to have very, very low adoption rates of technology, let's say.
02:13And above all, we continue to believe strongly in instinct and the experience gained over the years.
02:19of those who manage the companies.
02:21I like that a lot because, well, in my years as an economics editor, which was about 10 years ago.
02:27back,
02:28What they always told you at DANE was that the economic sector that most links other sectors
02:35of the economy
02:36It's the construction sector. If I'm not mistaken, it's one of 37 or 38 sectors of the economy.
02:41So, I want to ask you how technology enters a sector as traditional as construction.
02:47Well, let's say technology, first I want to differentiate that technology is not just digitization.
02:52Let's say, there's too much technology in the sector, too many areas to get into.
02:57Let's say, one of the most important and relevant issues is prefabrication and modularization.
03:04Let's say it's like making construction much faster and more efficient in controlled systems.
03:10so that the quality is much better and they can be transported and built much faster.
03:14The whole issue of robotization, doing preparatory work so that when the workers arrive to carry out the work
03:24You can see everything already marked, the materials placed, the uprights put in place, so that the construction is much more efficient.
03:31And obviously, there's a lot of talk about digitization and all this AI stuff.
03:39I think the biggest challenge this industry faces is that it probably has the most information.
03:44But the one that uses the information it has the least, yes.
03:47So there you have it, that's interesting. So, let's see, they're bringing an event together, Guatemala and Peru, if I'm not mistaken.
03:54The first one was in Peru in 2024 and the next one was in Guatemala in 2025.
03:58And now it's at the end of September and they're bringing him to Bogotá, it's going to be at the University of the
04:03Andes.
04:03So, what do they hope to achieve in those two days of sales?
04:07It is also where private equity funds and other players in this industry come together.
04:12It really caught my attention, I want to ask him about it right now.
04:14And that's because there are many international brands, but few local ones.
04:18Then capital funds are raised, which is the people who put up the money.
04:21The big brands that do construction.
04:24Entrepreneurs and startups that are moving, I feel, the industry and other relevant players.
04:29I hope that also, for example, the governments or the national government.
04:31Tell us more about the event.
04:32Well, the event, I would say that the event has two main objectives.
04:36One, that an ecosystem as dispersed as the entrepreneurial construction system
04:42It begins to be identified and begins to converge as if on a single axis
04:47or in a single, let's say, Latin American ecosystem.
04:51That's like the first and second ones, where actors come from other regions of the world.
04:56to tell us what they've learned and what works and what doesn't.
05:01So, let's say those are the two objectives.
05:03To create an ecosystem and make visible an ecosystem, let's say, or a world of entrepreneurs that is very dispersed
05:10to all actors, builders, developers.
05:13And on the other hand, we who are here in Latin America,
05:18We see what has happened in the world, what has worked for them and what hasn't worked for them.
05:21That's interesting, and that's what makes one think, for example, of Singapore.
05:24And one says, these people, let's say, who put technology at the service of construction
05:28And they practically built the country or rebuilt it around technology and the exploitation of resources.
05:33How can technology be viewed today?
05:37And you said it very well, beyond digitization.
05:39In the construction of a country like Colombia.
05:44Well, let's just say there's a fundamental challenge that Devin mentioned earlier,
05:50which is the issue of state participation and the regulatory issue.
05:54Let's say that in order for certain types of buildings to be constructed at a certain speed,
05:59A regulatory framework that allows for much of that is required.
06:03But I think it's one of the areas where the most progress has been made in the regions.
06:08with all this talk of prefabrication and modularization,
06:10I think all the cement industries throughout the region are very involved in that.
06:15And the other is to be very efficient in construction and to anticipate,
06:21Let's say, to the problems with a source of information for making much more, let's say, accurate decisions.
06:28You just said something that really caught my attention, and that's it.
06:30one of the industries that produces the most information but uses it the least.
06:34I want you to tell us about that.
06:35And why do I want you to talk to us about that?
06:37And I imagine myself in a play where almost all the masters
06:42And the site manager and others communicate via WhatsApp.
06:45But that data is nowhere to be found.
06:47In other words, it's an audio recording and someone is capturing that data.
06:50and putting them at the service of a more optimized work
06:53where resources are, let's say, better utilized and less money is spent.
06:59Tell us about that.
07:00Well, construction has three basic tools for controlling the work schedule,
07:07the budget and logistics of the project.
07:10And all of that has a weekly report, a daily report, a monthly report.
07:14And there is complete traceability on that.
07:17However, when it comes to doing the next project,
07:19Nothing that happened in the previous one is visible.
07:21And it's like starting the project from scratch.
07:24And they do it on paper and on what really, let's say,
07:28It's not what was expected to be done, but what was already known to be possible.
07:34Let's just say it's one of the big conversations I've had with many players in the ecosystem
07:38That's why they continue to do work programs,
07:41Why do they continue to make budgets based on the desire to fulfill it at a certain value?
07:48and at a time when there is evidence that it is impossible at that value and at that time.
07:54So, what I'm getting at is, I was a manager and president of several construction companies.
08:00And in the end we never used the old budgets, we never used the values from the previous era.
08:07And today, then, the great challenge is how to truly put it to use
08:13without actually creating a very large gap,
08:16Because the gap between what one wants to do and what one has actually been able to do is
08:20very large.
08:21Listen, Bernardo, let's get back to the event, and it is,
08:23Why are there so many foreign brands and no local brands?
08:26And how did they manage to convince the Andes and ultimately the speakers?
08:30I understand that many are coming from abroad, he just said so.
08:32so that they would be here in Bogotá at the end of September?
08:36Well, there's a reason for this, it's, let's say, the origin of the Big Link Datam Fest.
08:41It was a network that existed in the United States where we had several companies
08:45or interested in the Latin American ecosystem.
08:48We had a space where we met with entrepreneurs and people in the region,
08:53In Miami, once a year too, but obviously Latin America didn't have the visibility
08:59that Europe or the United States could have, so they moved the event to Boston.
09:03with a different format and we're left...
09:05It became North America.
09:06So we said, well, it's our turn to do something
09:10And obviously we were there, Leonard, which is the innovation arm of the Vinci Group in France,
09:16There was Cementos Progreso, there was a CEM, Cementos Facas Mayo,
09:20The Corona Organization was here in Colombia and we started looking into how to do the event
09:25And in the end, well, let's just say that since we're the managers of this and the sponsors,
09:30So in the end we believe in creating ecosystems,
09:34We believe this is the next step in the region and that it needs to be created and further consolidated.
09:39And that's why we ended up being several, let's say, outside entities.
09:44However, I believe that there is, let's say, a very big challenge in Colombia in particular.
09:50And the thing is, let's say, the entrepreneurial ecosystem, construction is very distant in the industry.
09:56They all seem to be doing a lot of closed innovation.
10:01Everyone has problems, and everyone tries to solve them in the best way possible.
10:05But most try to do it with closed innovation, from within.
10:09And it's forgotten that there are already a number of industry solutions outside.
10:13Let's say, the challenge of closed innovation is that it becomes a company-specific solution.
10:19And that benefits the company a lot, but it doesn't benefit the industry.
10:22And what we really want is for it to be an industry solution.
10:26Bernardo, you, who know, obviously give us that background that you know the construction industry very well.
10:32Tell us what happens when technology and innovation enter the industry.
10:37to a traditionally, let's say, analogous industry, if you will, and I'm happy with the comparison.
10:44Well, it's a huge challenge because the technology becomes something that isn't approved.
10:52So, let's say, there's a lot of it; people are very content with what they've already seen.
10:57with what has already worked for you, so you know it's very intuitive
11:02and that decisions are not necessarily supported by verifiable information and data,
11:08Well, in the end, people feel very comfortable making decisions with this.
11:11And this is not only in Latin America or in Colombia in particular,
11:14In the United States it's the same, let's say, when this whole 360 camera thing started,
11:20digitization information with photographs to achieve project progress
11:27and measure how the projects were progressing, since the superintendents of the works in the United States
11:31They said, but that's no use to me at all.
11:33I was going to walk around with a gas canister on my head taking pictures, and it was a process.
11:37But once they start to see results, and especially when it's made easier for them,
11:41And I think the key here is to facilitate decision-making.
11:45Let's say, this is an industry where you have to be making decisions.
11:49constantly involved in many things on a daily basis,
11:52And if one has the data and if one has, like, the reliable source of what is happening
11:57passing,
11:57because it makes making decisions much easier.
11:59Sure, Bernardo, I want you to give me examples.
12:01Tell us about specific examples that you know of from abroad, I'm sure.
12:05Well, we're precisely talking about how it's been done abroad,
12:08How beautiful this part of America looked,
12:12But they're taking the event up north.
12:14And then you are left out and you make the decision to organize it here.
12:19But tell me about cases like a startup that's actually doing something.
12:23that he has done something, that you say, this probably changed,
12:28Let's say that to some extent, such a traditionally analog industry
12:32which works almost project by project without looking at the data backwards.
12:37There's one that has surprised me a lot; it's a company called Schedule Validator.
12:42It's a startup whose product is to take work programs that are made for an hour
12:51and with best practices be able to diagnose the work program
12:56and to know if that program will actually be useful for tracking a project or not
13:01and whether it's actually a useful tool or not.
13:05The most important thing, let's say, is that nowadays part of my professional work involves disputes and dispute resolution.
13:12disputes,
13:13So all I see is the amount of problems because of today's programs
13:16They are never fulfilled, but when you get into the details it's because they are poorly done.
13:21Because the project manager doesn't know the tools, they are, let's say, very easily manipulated.
13:27So what this tool has allowed is for people who are on a project
13:32that have nothing to do with programming and day-to-day operations can send the program to a
13:38platform,
13:39The platform tells him, that program is useless, it only meets 50% of the requirements.
13:45And that program can't be used, it needs this, this, this, it needs these things done to it
13:50And since it's the most important tool, it should at least be done well.
13:54And that it is understood, above all, that whoever is going to apply it understands where its shortcomings and problems lie.
14:01Let's say, that's one and there are others, let's say, that here in Colombia, well, there's Spivey,
14:08which is also closely linked to the event, but it's a platform, and now that you mentioned it,
14:13Edwin, these days everything is done via WhatsApp, so, well, let's say, they started talking about drones,
14:21drone flights to begin surveying point clouds for the projects,
14:26They identified what was happening and began to see that there were many problems with quality.
14:31So, if there was a problem on a site, then it was a WhatsApp message to someone,
14:35A voice message to someone, well, that's not recorded, nobody knew who or where the problem was.
14:41Then, they began to link all these communications to their platform.
14:44And let's say there's already some knowledge being passed on, and especially that if there's a problem in the future,
14:51So, let us know what was resolved and how that quality problem was corrected.
14:55Well, there they are, there you see that indeed, when, let's say, the resource of people who think quickly is used,
15:00Suddenly he thinks, no, of a model as long-term as corporate ones, like organizations,
15:06you can find faster solutions.
15:08You mentioned something earlier and spoke about internal innovation,
15:11And the thing is, corporations, let's say, large companies, have those internal innovation teams,
15:16but they end up innovating only for themselves.
15:19In contrast, today's model, the startup model,
15:22It's somewhat of a startup that is capable of offering solutions for the entire ecosystem,
15:26for the entire industry.
15:28Do you see that as possible?
15:29Obviously, I imagine that's partly why the event is being recounted.
15:33But do you see that as possible?
15:34That a startup can offer solutions to the industry
15:38and not just a company offering a solution to itself.
15:43That's what's happening today.
15:45Let's say, that's what has happened in the United States.
15:48What is happening in Colombia is not unlike what has happened in other regions.
15:53But they have already begun to take steps in the direction of open innovation
15:57and above all, innovation for industry.
16:00American companies did exactly the same thing.
16:04They invested a significant amount of money in developing their own project management software,
16:08their own software for quantifying work, for making tenders.
16:12And at the end of the day, they understood that it's 200 companies trying to make 200 solutions.
16:19Exactly.
16:19So, ultimately, what is the challenge of this open innovation?
16:23The fact is that in these 200 companies, the manager or executive wants to see the information in a different way.
16:32Let's say that these solutions do need to have some kind of flexibility regarding the reporting.
16:37And on the control panel, but the platform and how the algorithms and how everything works,
16:46Well, it's essentially the same for all of them.
16:49It's just that people like to give information in different ways.
16:51or has a preference for viewing some type of information over others.
16:56Well, that's interesting.
16:57Now, you know about investment, investment funds, and capital funds.
17:03I want you to talk to us about that, and that is what role investment funds play.
17:06capital funds in an industry that moves many millions
17:10in whatever denomination one chooses to use, millions of dollars, millions of euros,
17:14millions of pounds, millions of pesos.
17:16And that's how investment is coming into all this volume, into this entire ecosystem
17:24which seeks to integrate large corporations, startups, investors, investment funds,
17:31The State in an ecosystem that wants to be, it seems to me, more modern.
17:37Look, I think this sector has one fundamental characteristic, and that is that
17:42It is a sector where investors need to know the construction industry.
17:46In other words, the idea that an investor who invests in fintech is going to get into construction is unrealistic.
17:52No, let's say one of the most important roles this ecosystem has
17:55For investment and to raise capital, they are, let's say, the CBCs.
17:59corporate venture capital funds.
18:02And that's how it has developed in the United States.
18:05Let's say there aren't many funds, but many have invested in construction.
18:09But there aren't many that focus on construction.
18:13So, let's say, as venture capital.
18:14There are already many CBCs, and most of them have been led by industrial companies.
18:22That is, by cement companies, by manufacturers of construction supplies,
18:26The drywall ones, because in the end they're the ones who have, let's say,
18:30They have always had the resources to innovate.
18:33Then they began to consolidate with other actors in the ecosystem.
18:38to obtain resources and start fundraising.
18:41And one of the, let's say, important attractions of the event
18:45We're going to bring in Holcim's corporate venture from Switzerland,
18:50We're going to bring in, well, one of the important sponsors of the event is Leonard,
18:55As I said, the innovation arm of the French Van Cee group,
18:57which is probably the world's first non-Chinese construction company.
19:02And so that they can tell us what that role of the CBC is,
19:06Because, as I said, it's very difficult for me as an investor to tell Edwin,
19:12Hey, come on, give me some money to invest in construction,
19:16we're going to create a little fund there to invest in,
19:17But the thing is, I don't know anything about construction, I don't understand much.
19:20So let's say that this business is very much geared towards those who invest,
19:24It's something that has to have an important link with construction.
19:27and it has to have it, let's say, as a focus.
19:30Now, I'd also like to clarify a little bit about the event,
19:34While it has a construction focus, what we're really positioning it for is...
19:39It's like technology-based solutions for the life cycle of an asset,
19:43Let's say, an infrastructure asset, a real estate asset,
19:46an industrial asset, because ultimately they go hand in hand,
19:49In other words, what is done in the design will affect the operation
19:53and the maintenance of the asset.
19:55Whatever is done in construction, the same applies.
19:58The construction processes therefore affect the design.
20:01So, let's say, while the construction is like the,
20:05Let's say, from an investment point of view,
20:07the largest amount in an asset,
20:09Ultimately, it's the entire cycle that we want to carry out.
20:12What Bernardo just said,
20:14That thing about the last 30 seconds is the reason why
20:17from a capital fund that is unfamiliar with that sector,
20:19He shouldn't get involved in investing in a sector like that.
20:23Listen, Bernardo, we are in times of reconstruction.
20:26August 10th was obviously the earthquake and that changed the country.
20:31According to the government of the new administration at the Casa de Nariño
20:3530 trillion pesos are needed to rebuild the country
20:39and almost a third of the country was affected in one way or another.
20:44And you're talking about construction and you're talking about innovation,
20:46resource optimization.
20:47So I'd like you to tell me a little bit about how you see that reconstruction.
20:51of the country, taking into account that nowadays it is possible to be more efficient
20:56in the use of resources,
20:57More external capital can be obtained,
20:59International people can come here to contribute their knowledge,
21:03which perhaps was not what happened in 1999.
21:08It was compared there,
21:09But I believe that today the conditions are different.
21:11Tell us about that.
21:13This was a challenge,
21:14Let's say that in the middle of organizing this event, the earthquake occurred.
21:20and in the end it becomes clear,
21:22Let's talk about how this technology will actually be able to help accomplish this task
21:26much easier.
21:28Speaking of technological solutions,
21:30There are technological solutions where building inspections can already be carried out.
21:33in a much easier way,
21:35with data and can have a very quick report.
21:38It's not going to replace engineers or anything like that.
21:41but it gives a very,
21:43very,
21:43very fast and very close to what,
21:45Let's say the diagnosis of the building's damage can be done in a matter of hours.
21:52Let's say that what we want here is precisely to bring all these solutions
21:57so that people can see what's available and how those solutions can help make this happen faster.
22:03I believe there are two issues here,
22:05speed and cost.
22:07Let's just say that this has those challenges.
22:10I think the issue of prefabrication and the issue of modularization
22:13And these construction solutions help to rebuild in a much faster way.
22:19and much more efficient,
22:21Well, it's another way that technology can lead to a much faster process.
22:29and much more organized in this whole issue of reconstruction in the different cities.
22:34And probably a little cheaper,
22:36No?
22:36I mean,
22:36It is no longer,
22:37let's say,
22:38the cost that one was considering,
22:39Well, because there's already technology involved.
22:41There is technology involved and there are production processes,
22:46that is to say,
22:46It is no longer,
22:47It's not that manual.
22:48Let's say the great,
22:49the great,
22:52let's say,
22:52One of the major challenges facing technology adoption in our countries is the issue of...
22:58labour.
22:59The supposed lower cost or value of labor here compared to other countries.
23:06That's not so much the problem,
23:07but the inefficiency is very high.
23:09That is to say,
23:09Colombia's construction efficiency is one-sixth that of the southern United States.
23:16So,
23:16Well, if the cost of labor is a quarter,
23:19but productivity is a sixth,
23:21well, it's still more,
23:23Construction is still more expensive here than in other countries.
23:26So I think that's what we're looking for,
23:30let's say,
23:30It is precisely through these events that we can give a rational explanation to what is happening and look for faster ways to
23:36construction,
23:37more efficient ways to make all these solutions visible.
23:42I am sure that this solution,
23:44let's say,
23:44The assessment of damage to buildings in Colombia is not well known.
23:48No.
23:49There are many forensic experts,
23:50many engineers who are going to do surveying.
23:52But these are instruments that communicate with a platform,
23:56And that platform, with its entire database, diagnoses the type of fissure and the type
24:02of damage,
24:03He's doing a kind of preliminary analysis,
24:05but much faster.
24:06Well, we need that technology.
24:08Bernard,
24:08obviously here in Colombia to rebuild the country after the earthquake of August 10th.
24:13It's time for The Pitch.
24:15Some out-of-the-box questions,
24:16looking for answers outside the box.
24:18Here we go with The Pitch.
24:25Well,
24:25Bernard,
24:26If you had the opportunity to change a business rule,
24:29Which one would it be and why?
24:33If all the rules are so established that it's very difficult to see the world of the
24:38business without rules.
24:39I think you simply wanted it more than a change of rules.
24:45One thing that is sorely lacking in business is transparency.
24:49There is a significant information imbalance between the various actors, and this lack of transparency contributes to that imbalance.
25:00the quality of information that the parties have in a business.
25:04Bernard,
25:05You told us, president of companies,
25:06today in an investment fund,
25:08also behind the event.
25:10I want you to tell us what that typical mistake was that you probably made among the biggest ones,
25:17but from whom he clearly learned the most.
25:21I believe that one of the biggest mistakes I made was not doing my master's degree much earlier.
25:28I had many opportunities and I got very involved in the business,
25:33in the day-to-day work of construction and on construction sites,
25:36and I had that field master's degree.
25:40But I failed to make that more opportune decision to get much more out of it.
25:49Bernard,
25:49What is that dream business?
25:51But precisely because of the number of projects it has had to develop along the way,
25:55has it been unable to develop, plan, or implement?
25:59What is that business you dream of and that you will probably one day achieve?
26:04I believe that with Build Tech Ventures I took that small step towards something I wanted to do,
26:09let's say,
26:10to influence this industry in a different way,
26:15that is to say,
26:15not managing a resource,
26:17not running a company,
26:18but providing solutions with different characteristics and giving corporations the opportunity to see what is happening.
26:25I think it's that little step I took,
26:27I gave it briefly,
26:29or I'm doing something else,
26:30let's say,
26:32due to circumstances,
26:34But I do want to take that step again after this Building Latin Fest.
26:39I see him as an entrepreneur too,
26:42there at that Building Latin Fest,
26:44How difficult is it to start a business after having experienced the model in the United States?
26:48After seeing that they take almost all of the knowledge to Boston and do it there,
26:52and they have to practically start from scratch in Peru,
26:56in Guatemala and now in Colombia.
26:59I believe that finding solutions to start a business in this industry is not difficult.
27:06The problem and the challenge is scaling them up.
27:09Most startups in this industry are bootstrap-based.
27:14that is to say,
27:14have grown apart from what they are doing,
27:17And at the end of the day, when they reach the investment stages,
27:22even in pre-seed stages,
27:24They already have a significant track record.
27:26The problem this sector faces is scalability.
27:31and scalability is partly because corporations don't see investing as an important role,
27:37They don't see that mistake of investing in the entrepreneur,
27:40And if they don't like the solution,
27:42They simply discard it.
27:43but they don't help her develop it.
27:45I believe that's where the bottleneck of this industry lies.
27:50And the last out-of-the-box question,
27:52looking for answers outside the box,
27:54Well,
27:54Bernard,
27:54How is your mental health?
27:56Finally, after doing these types of events,
27:57You said it,
27:58The earthquake hit us right in the middle of things,
28:00They're bringing in people from outside,
28:02people,
28:03well,
28:03named Holcim,
28:04which is one of the largest in the world,
28:06How is your mental health amidst doing business in such a difficult scenario as the current one?
28:12There is an answer to this.
28:14I believe that all those who,
28:15let's say,
28:16This construction business and this construction industry are not for everyone.
28:19And I think those of us who have been here for many years are here because we are exposed to continuous failure.
28:26let's say,
28:26When I see the projects, I know one wins in bids.
28:33well,
28:34one in five or six projects,
28:36When projects are won, there are too many circumstances in the day-to-day,
28:40Let's say it's a sector where one is constantly facing all kinds of challenges,
28:49well,
28:49let's say,
28:50This isn't the first earthquake I've experienced.
28:51I was there,
28:52But we had a project in Pisco,
28:54when the Pisco earthquake,
28:55and the people who worked with us there in Pisco,
29:03which was right in the town of Pisco,
29:05fortunately,
29:05Let's say there were no injuries to people,
29:09But it was something truly of impressive dimensions,
29:14And we put the entire company at the disposal of the municipal government of Pisco so that they could do everything,
29:22Let's say the complete clearing of all areas and that they could begin the work of
29:29reconditioning,
29:30But this is the first time.
29:32This is not the first time,
29:33And the truth is,
29:35Something happens every day in this industry.
29:37a rain,
29:40a collapse,
29:41It's a challenge every day.
29:43Well,
29:44We conclude with this question.
29:45And it's Bernardo,
29:47an invitation to an event that may sound technical,
29:51which may sound,
29:51let's say,
29:53medium small due to the number of actors,
29:55but it has a gigantic impact,
29:57and especially to find out if someone suddenly has a startup,
30:02that has some kind of information,
30:04which may be changing one or many businesses in the industry you are in,
30:09And in this case, it means that we close this interview by taking the opportunity to tell people
30:16and why an event that is seemingly small has such a significant impact on society.
30:22Well,
30:22I think that here,
30:24And you mentioned it,
30:26It is an industry that,
30:27let's say,
30:28It affects the entire productive sector,
30:30I mean,
30:31Anyone wanting to open a commercial space to run a hamburger stand,
30:36because it is influenced by what happens in the development of its premises,
30:41all talent management topics,
30:44of resource,
30:45financial management,
30:47because it is fundamental in this industry.
30:48So,
30:49What I would like is,
30:51Those who have any interest in knowing what is happening,
30:54to understand what builders are looking for,
30:58What are corporations looking for to innovate?
31:01to find solutions to the challenges they face every day,
31:05the day they go and look around and start looking,
31:08There's going to be a major pitch competition,
31:11We had 120 startup applications for the pitch competition,
31:15of those in a first pre-selection process,
31:18There were about 50 left and 10 have already been selected to be here in Colombia
31:23doing their pitch competition.
31:25So,
31:25It's not enough that they come and see what's happening in the industry,
31:28and not only in the construction industry,
31:30but in parallel,
31:31a fintech associated with construction or resources,
31:34talent management associated with companies or the service sector.
31:37Well, Bernardo Gamboa was there,
31:39Bernard,
31:40Give me your hand.
31:41Listen,
31:41Thank you so much for the conversation and for telling us about a topic that we regularly discuss.
31:44let's say,
31:45We don't play many,
31:46Precisely because it's an industry that one feels is very closed off,
31:48But again, it impacts the whole of society.
31:50Bernardo Gamboa was there,
31:51I'm reading it because I don't want to make a mistake.
31:53from Build Tech Ventures,
31:54and also from Building Latin Fest 2026.
31:57Bernard,
31:58thank you.
31:58Thank you so much.
31:59I hope many people attend this.
32:00But above all, more entrepreneurs should enter a sector that cuts across the entire economy.
32:05more than 36 subsectors of the economy,
32:07according to DANE.
32:08Remember that this interview is saved on El Espectador's entire digital platform.
32:12It has an open version on YouTube for those who consume us through social media.
32:17and it also has a subscriber version at www.elespectador.com
32:22slash economy,
32:23entrepreneurship and leadership.
32:24See you next time.
32:26See you soon.