[Santiago, Chile – October 14, 2025] — NESsT, a global impact investor and venture philanthropy organization, and MetLife Foundation have forged a two-year alliance to strengthen the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Chile. This initiative aims to pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future by supporting social enterprises that create quality jobs, enhance financial inclusion, and promote environmentally responsible practices in underserved communities.
The program is designed to support high-potential initiatives that already have initial sales and a proven social mission. Selected entities will gain access to soft loans, tailored strategic support, training with specialists, and mentorship provided by professionals from MetLife Chile. With this support, NESsT will help these organizations consolidate their operations, grow sustainably, and more accurately measure their social and environmental impact.
"In South America, income inequality remains a critical challenge: the top 10% of the population holds more than 50% of the region's wealth," said Gonzalo San Martín, NESsT Country Director in Chile. "This alliance aims to reduce that imbalance by investing in organizations that generate formal jobs with decent wages, especially for women and older adults, while also promoting environmental responsibility and financial education."
The initiative represents a significant step in expanding NESsT's work in the region, which currently supports 11 projects in Chile in sectors such as sustainable agriculture, circular economy, and labor inclusion.
An inspiring example is Nowü Hogar, a circular economy enterprise that is part of this initiative, which transforms recovered materials into sustainable and customizable furniture. Since its founding in 2017, it has benefited more than 3,000 artisans through donations of supplies and training in carpentry and financial education, boosting their independence and ability to generate stable income.
"We firmly believe that social initiatives have the power to transform realities and open new opportunities for those who need it most," said Alejandro Battocchio, Marketing and Communications Manager of MetLife Chile. "With this alliance, we not only provide financial support and mentorship but also reaffirm our commitment to building a safer and more inclusive future, where progress goes hand in hand with sustainability."
This union reflects a shared vision between NESsT and MetLife Foundation: social entrepreneurship as a scalable and self-sustaining engine to drive inclusive mobility and purposeful development.
About NESsT
NESsT invests in enterprises that create quality jobs for underserved communities while sustaining the planet. Since its founding in 1997, NESsT has invested over $41M and trained and supported over 37,000 entrepreneurs across 50 countries. It has accelerated and financed more than 300 enterprises, in total sustaining more than 129,000 formal jobs and improving the lives of 3.4 million people from under-represented communities around the world.
About MetLife Foundation
At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to driving inclusive economic mobility. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and provide grants aligned to three strategic focus areas – economic inclusion, financial health and resilient communities – while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its inception, MetLife Foundation has contributed over $1 billion to strengthen communities where MetLife has a presence. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.