Irene Arias Hofman, CEO of the Inter-American Development Bank Lab, spoke at a Harvard forum on supporting early-stage entrepreneurship in Latin America through venture capital. The event marked the return of the Harvard Kennedy School Latin America conference after five years, focusing on the transformative potential of Latin American cities. Hofman emphasized the need for innovative financing and public-private partnerships to foster sustainable development. She noted the IDB Lab’s recent $400 million funding approval and its tailored approach to building entrepreneurial ecosystems across diverse countries, highlighting the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing governance practices for entrepreneurs.