Being at Biopark is a great opportunity because new companies are constantly arriving, and they come with a brand that needs a marketing agency to create a logo, website, and everything necessary to position them in the market,” reflects Shemnom López Serrano, general director of the Chilean company Sócrates, showcasing the company’s focus on the opportunities the Ecosystem offers.

For over 30 years, Sócrates has operated in Chile in the technology sector, offering services in innovation, projects, development, artificial intelligence, and marketing. It was through a recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – ProChile, that a new chapter began in the family’s journey, arriving in Brazil to expand and find new opportunities. “We had almost everything ready to set up a company in Curitiba, and when we received the email from ProChile to learn about Biopark, we did a market study and discovered we would have a prosperous future if we opened an international company based in the Technological Park, and that’s exactly what we did,” highlights Serrano.

Biopark’s business supervisor, Brenda Noamann, who participated in the negotiations for Sócrates’ arrival, explains that the Ecosystem Program was presented to the company shortly after the initial Biopark–ProChile contact. “Biopark was designated by the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a trusted place for their internationalization here in Brazil, due to the infrastructure, mentorship, and all the support the Technological Park offers. In a meeting, we explained the requirements, compensation, and benefits. During their first visit, they mentioned struggling with issues related to tax documents, CNPJ, and housing due to the bureaucracy in our country. In this regard, we helped the Sócrates family come to Toledo through the necessary documentation to set up the company,” says Noamann.

In just four months, Sócrates grew by 110% at Biopark. The company also has clients in Chile, Colombia, the United States, and Switzerland, with over two thousand projects delivered. In addition to the five family members currently working, they expect to hire two more designers and one programmer this year. “Today, Sócrates is a company that I believe has grown and consolidated very quickly. They were able to interact with other companies and make extensive use of the tools Biopark offers, such as coworking, WhatsApp groups for sending promotions, and they know how to leverage the support from multipliers. Sócrates is a success story for us and a success of the ProChile initiative,” concludes Noamann.

Serrano explains that the benefits include the bridge to new contacts, assistance with document processing, and support through diagnostics that address the company’s needs. “Today, Biopark is the place where you can invest both your time and your company and its services, allowing you to grow exponentially in just a few years. I believe that soon the Technological Park will explode, grow massively, and the people who work here will grow in the same way. Biopark’s growth strategies are spot on, and the idea of helping other companies grow within a well-established location is something you won’t find everywhere. Having the opportunity to meet so many companies, big or small, helps us grow as a company and as the Sócrates family,” concludes Serrano.

Coming to Brazil

Shemnom López Serrano was the first to arrive in Brazil. After spending two years as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he decided to return because of the culture, receptivity, and hospitality he found here. The political and economic situation in Chile were also factors that influenced the decision.

Next came his twin sisters, Sharon and Shanny. In addition to Curitiba, the siblings visited Florianópolis before the Chilean family arrived at Biopark. Later, on December 19, their father, Sócrates Lópes Baquedano, the general director of the company, and his wife Sandra, arrived in Brazil. “I have the philosophy of jumping into the pool first and then seeing if there’s water. And for my part, at the Technological Park, I found peace, security, and quality of life for my family. I love challenges, and what’s happening at Biopark is real because every day there are new developments, new technologies, and of course, new clients,” concludes Baquedano.

For the company’s founder, Biopark means progress because it focuses on regional development through education, research, and business generation. “Since we founded Sócrates, it was with the purpose of being a legacy for our children so they could work together and stay united. Biopark’s proposal will allow us to make our long-cherished dream of internationalizing our company much faster than if we had done it on our own. Moreover, Toledo is a city that offers the security and tranquility we haven’t experienced in Chile recently.”