Sport Entrepreneurship, a collaboration between IDEA, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Ministry of Sports, began on October 30, 2023, and ended on February 26, 2024. Since 2012, the IDEA unit has been offering a variety of workshops on different topics to train our small entrepreneurs and provide them with the necessary tools to be successful. Our entrepreneurs need to formalize their businesses and reduce the informal economy. Through these workshops, IDEA shares information and knowledge with those who want to become entrepreneurs to start a business.

The Sport Entrepreneurship workshop is for those who want to dedicate themselves to commercial sports activities. The workshop outlined a strategic initiative to promote commercial activities in sports by cultivating a culture where sports and business intersect and impact the economy of Aruba and the region. Through innovation, economic growth, and professional capacity development promotion, this project contributes to the evolution of the sports industry. It also creates a more dynamic and vibrant landscape for sports-related businesses.

This project explained what Sport Entrepreneurship entails, its scope, and current trends in this industry. It discussed: 

• Various ways to identify business opportunities in the sports industry;
• how to create a marketing and sales plan for their sports-related business; 
• everything related to financial management in the business, including budgeting;
• forecasting, and financial reporting;
• all legal and ethical issues related to Sports Entrepreneurship; 
• the use of technology and innovation; 
• leadership skills and team-building exercises to help participants grow in their businesses; 
• sustainability and environmental responsibility. 

Finally, participants developed the knowledge and skills to integrate sports tourism opportunities into their Sport Entrepreneurship projects. It can include starting a sports travel agency, organizing sports events for tourists, or promoting sports events as tourist attractions.

IDEA selected a team of prominent experts for the workshops, including experts from various government departments, institutions, and the private sector. The diverse combination of their backgrounds brought extensive knowledge to the workshops. During the workshops, 18 participants invested efforts in developing their entrepreneurial skills in the sports sector. Of the 18 participants, 13 obtained the certificate, demonstrating their dedication by attending 70% or more workshops. Additionally, 5 participants completed between 50% and 68% of their participation.

Two participants attended 100% of the project. They participated in all nine workshop topics, totaling 18 workshops over 22 days. They are Mr. Jeremy Boekhoudt of 'Sports4U Triathlon Academy' and Ms. Niurca Vrolijk of 'Cemedar Centro Medico Deportivo Aruba'.

The participants who received their certificates and transcripts are Veronica Camara, Monica Pimentel, Giovanni Bermudez, Alexis Sierra, Naomi Vrolijk, Eugene Farro, Dillon Willems, Donovan Millan, Francis Maduro, Niurca (Gina) Vrolijk, Dr. Ricardo Vargas, Adrick Croes, Michael (Glennon) Eights, Ashwin Laaf, Jeremy Boekhoudt, J.A. Albee de Sousa Fernandes Perna, Rosemarie Maduro, and Darwin Rodgers.