Why Do We Focus on Artisans and Gastronomy?

Traditional incubators often specialize in specific sectors. We started by supporting businesses from various industries, but we quickly realized that our greatest impact came from focusing on a few sectors with strong local identity and scaling potential.

That’s why we now work exclusively with native, ancestral businesses: traditional artisans and regional gastronomy.

1. Artisans: Ancestral Knowledge with Global Luxury Potential

Traditional artisanship in the Calchaquí Valleys is more than just culture; it’s an economic opportunity.

• Artisans use rustic looms, natural dyes, and pre-Columbian designs.

• Their pieces are valued in luxury markets, with ponchos already exported to Europe and the U.S.

• When a generation doesn’t practice their craft, millennia of knowledge are lost.

Without support, this value is lost. In Amaicha del Valle, one-third of households live in poverty, and 5-8% are in extreme poverty, according to the Secretariat of Public Management and Planning (2020).

Chaka supports artisans in professionalizing their businesses, connecting with premium markets, and positioning their products as luxury items, ensuring this ancestral knowledge generates sustainable income.

2. Gastronomy: Faster Income without Luxury Dependence

Traditional cuisine serves as an accessible entry point for women entrepreneurs.

• Requires minimal initial investment.

• Doesn’t rely on premium markets.

• Faces consistent consumer demand.

• Allows entrepreneurs to start generating income within the first month with proper support.

In the Calchaquí Valleys, informal work and seasonal employment are common. While the official unemployment rate was 3-6% in Tafí del Valle in 2010 (INDEC), many women lack stable income due to informal caregiving roles and unregistered work.

For them, gastronomy is often the fastest way to generate their own income and provide for their families.

3. Scaling Where We Can Make the Greatest Impact

Our focus is not just on products — it’s on women.

We choose these sectors because they are the most effective and scalable for helping women increase their income, formalize their businesses, and achieve economic autonomy.

At Chaka, we identify women with entrepreneurial talent and support their journey from micro-entrepreneurs to business owners. In gastronomy and artisanship, we see exceptional potential — sectors where they can stand out in the market with strong, differentiated products.

We’re not driven by volume. We’re driven by impact.

And in these sectors, the impact is tangible, measurable, and scalable.

Are you interested in investing in businesses that preserve ancestral knowledge and generate sustainable income?

Let’s talk.