Startup México
An innovation ecosystem where some would least expect it
It’s true that inequality is quite visible in Mexico City. In the outskirts of some of the most affluent suburbs you’ll find some of the most impoverished. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t people working hard to change it.
We drive up (in a considerably inexpensive Uber) to a large gate in a modest part of town and state our case to the guard: we’re here for a tour.
Startup México is truly a super hub for entrepreneurs. With it’s three campuses across the country (and a fourth on the way), it houses over 100 members at any given time. You may’ve heard of a few of their incubator graduates, like:
- WeaRobot: exoskeletons for rehabilitation and motion assistance
- Social Me: real time access to world class expert advice
- MayoreoTotal.com: upgrades family owned C-stores with tech and inventory management
It was like walking into The Emerald City. What was once a warehouse for mobile phone accessories is now a playground for the mind. Without giving too much of the fun away, I can tell you that members enjoy amenities from an in-house cafeteria, to game tables to a full-fledged Fablab decked out with anything you’d need to build your physical prototype.
Possibilities are endless at SUM. Enroll in the Disruptive Business Academy to study design thinking, leadership and innovation. Submit your team’s idea to the startup incubator. Ditch the coffee house and make it your office. Everyone has access to a network of world renowned mentors, workshops and in-house legal and capital consulting.
As we stand on the rooftop among their urban garden you can see scattered skyscrapers in the distance. As with all good business decisions, SUM’s location is a strategic move. In addition to the obvious benefits, like more square footage to work with, the-long term added value is apparent. Look around you, dear sweet entrepreneur, this is how 80% of this country lives. This is who you’re building for. These are people whose problems we’re solving. This is your market.
Keep that other 20% in the back of your mind, like the buildings in the distance. One day you’ll hit that market too. Some day you’ll be that market, and more. Thanks in part to your expert advisors at Startup México.
CEO Marcus Dantus has built a solid track record of success leading startups since launching Mexico.com in 1996. He shared plans for future campuses in a few locations in Mexico and thoughts on expanding to South America and the US. Read his interview in International Finance Magazine.
At SUM you can currently apply to develop your IoT idea for the telecommunications giant Telcel. Mexico leads the pack in LATAM for the most ideas submitted by entrepreneurs to calls from large corporations and government agencies. Startup México is lighting a fire to the spark of Mexican innovation, and shining that light on the world.
Click here to learn more about Startup México. Follow @startupmexico and @mdantus on Twitter for updates.
