Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Angie Ipsen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Angie , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

The idea for Holaimpact was born from a deep-seated belief in the power of language to connect people. As a native Spanish speaker in Colombia, I spent years studying English in school and university, even investing in private courses to improve my skills, yet I struggled to reach a conversational level. Eventually, I left everything behind and moved to Ireland, hoping immersion would be the final step to fluency. The most significant progress came as I traveled across Europe, Asia, and the United States, where I was exposed to different accents and cultures. This experience made me realize that language education alone—whether in Colombia or abroad—has limitations. What truly makes a difference is immersion: practicing in real-life situations with both peers and native speakers.

However, not everyone has the resources to relocate for language learning. The missing piece for many learners is access to real-time conversation in a safe, affordable, and accessible online environment. This gap isn’t just an issue for English learners; it’s a universal struggle for anyone trying to master a language. Language learners often lack meaningful spaces to practice, whether for personal growth, travel, or career advancement.

This understanding was the seed of HolaImpact. I envisioned a platform where learners could engage in immersive, authentic conversations with native speakers, bridging the gap between theory and real-world application. This approach not only provides meaningful practice but also empowers native speakers to gain financial independence.

In late December, I knew it was time to act. On January 1, 2024, I made a commitment to move forward, even with just a basic webpage to outline the concept. I began searching for ways to spread the word and validate my idea. That’s when I found EforAll and entered their Pitch Contest, where I shared my vision for the first time and won first place. This success validated the potential of HolaImpact and gave me the confidence to take the next step. Inspired, I joined the EforAll accelerator program, where I had the incredible opportunity to work with mentors and specialists across various business areas, all of this free of charge. Each week, I learned about essential aspects like finance, marketing, branding, and legal compliance, turning my initial idea into a sustainable business model.

Building Holaimpact required more than theoretical knowledge. I had to define a clear target market, identify customer segments, set up a basic website, develop a minimum viable product (MVP) to test the concept, and create a free offering to build an email list and engage potential customers. These steps were challenging, but with each one, I felt the potential for impact growing. Today, Holaimpact is ready to launch, with a waitlist of customers eager to connect with native Spanish speakers.

Our initial focus is on Spanish, but my vision extends to include English, French, and Mandarin, with a goal of impacting lives around the world.

What excites me most is that Holaimpact fills a unique gap in the market by blending language learning with social impact. This approach not only offers learners an engaging path to fluency but also creates a dignified income source for women in vulnerable communities. It’s a business with a mission, and each step has made it clearer that Holaimpact has the power to empower people on both sides of the conversation.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Natalie, a proud Latina originally from Colombia, and I’m deeply passionate about entrepreneurship, languages, personal growth, and creating positive community impact. As the founder of HolaImpact, my journey began from a desire to make language learning not only more accessible but also socially impactful. I understood the transformative power of language in opening doors, and I wanted to bridge a gap I had experienced myself.

Around the world, there are countless resources—both free and paid—that teach languages. But what many learners find missing is an accessible and effective way to practice with native speakers, especially through natural conversation, a crucial step in building fluency and confidence.

Holaimpact was born from this need, providing a space where Language learners can refine their language skills through meaningful, one-on-one conversations with native speakers. However, it’s more than just a learning platform; it’s a mission-driven community. My goal was not only to help language learners but also to empower initially native Spanish-speaking women from vulnerable communities around the world. Through Holaimpact, these women become conversational community tutors, using their unique skills as native speakers to build a dignified income and gain invaluable personal development.

What sets Holaimpact apart is this dual mission of education and empowerment. Unlike traditional learning platforms, we address the often-overlooked final stage of language mastery—conversational practice with native speakers—while fostering economic empowerment for our tutors. Each conversation on our platform is an opportunity for cultural exchange and connection, creating a space where both learners and community tutors grow.

I am most proud of how Holaimpact is not just another educational resource but a community committed to progress and social impact. We connect cultures, empower individuals, and strive to create a future where learning and personal growth are accessible to everyone. To those who join us, HolaImpact represents a way to connect, learn, and grow beyond traditional methods and into a supportive, globally-minded community.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Securing the initial capital for HolaImpact was a blend of creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience. I had limited financial resources and had to find ways to make progress without extensive funding. My journey started with the decision to create a basic website on my own, which I funded with personal savings. This website was essential to start presenting Holaimpact as more than just an idea and helped me establish a small but visible online presence.

Soon after, I came across the Pitch contest by EforAll and decided to apply. This competition was pivotal, as it provided an opportunity to share my vision for Holaimpact with others, gain visibility, and potentially secure funds. Winning first place was a transformative moment for me and for Holaimpact. Not only did it validate my idea, but it also provided seed funding that helped me cover essential startup costs like website upgrades, marketing materials, and the creation and test of a minimum viable product (MVP).

As I progressed, I applied for their accelerator program, where I gained mentorship, guidance, and additional small grants. With each step, I reinvested earnings into growing the platform and refining the model, focusing on strategies that would build a sustainable foundation. This incremental approach allowed me to launch Holaimpact with limited resources while remaining committed to our mission of empowering Spanish-speaking women and creating a unique, socially impactful language-learning platform.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building an audience on social media is a journey of authentic connection, learning what resonates with followers, and refining our message over time. I initially focused on LinkedIn, as I saw it as the best platform to test the waters by posting videos and articles. It was a strong starting point where language learners and community-minded individuals actively engage. My goal has been to build awareness for HolaImpact’s dual mission: helping language learners achieve fluency while empowering native Spanish-speaking women to gain financial independence.

Starting wasn’t easy, but I took the leap and shared Holaimpact’s story, mission, and purpose, explaining the positive impact we aim to create. This helped potential followers see not just what HolaImpact offers but why we exist. I also shared practical Spanish-learning tips, user success stories, and cultural exchange insights, inviting followers to engage with our posts. This approach turned followers into a community that resonated with our mission of social impact. Though it’s still the beginning, here’s my advice for anyone starting to build a social media presence:

Lead with Your Mission: If your brand has a purpose, make it clear. People connect with stories and impact, not just services.

Be Consistent: Post content regularly that aligns with your values and that your audience finds helpful or inspiring. Consistency builds familiarity and trust.

Engage Actively: Respond to comments, ask questions, and encourage discussions. This builds community and helps you learn directly from your audience.

Show Progress and Milestones: Share even small wins or challenges along the way. This humanizes your brand and gives people a reason to root for you.

Over time, I hope this approach will turn our followers into a thriving community that grows with us as we expand HolaImpact’s mission, we believe that language learning is more than just vocabulary and grammar. It’s about connection, culture, and conversation. That’s why we want to brings people together through Spanish, offering a safe and supportive space to practice, improve fluency, and build confidence.

Here’s why HolaImpact stands out:

Real Practice with Real People
Mastering conversational Spanish doesn’t happen in a classroom— it happens through authentic, real-world conversations. With HolaImpact, you’ll engage in natural dialogue with native speakers and learners alike, strengthening your fluency through meaningful exchanges.

Cultural Exchange & Social Impact
Language is the gateway to understanding. At HolaImpact, we not only improve your Spanish skills but also foster a global community, where cultural exchange happens organically. Meet new people, share stories, and experience the power of language to connect the world.

How It Works
Scheduling a conversation is easy. Simply visit our website www.holaimpact.com and book a free session, where you’ll engage in a relaxed, yet impactful, conversation with one of our trained community tutors. This isn’t just about practice—it’s about creating lasting connections that accelerate your learning journey.

Why It Works
Our platform emphasizes real conversations with real people. You won’t just memorize phrases; you’ll dive deep into practical usage, increasing your fluency and confidence in a way that traditional language learning methods can’t match.

Join us as we reimagine language learning. Ready to take the next step? Book your free session today and start mastering Spanish through conversation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.holaimpact.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holaimpact
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holaimpact
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/holaimpact