MEXpreneurs Podcast

This is a special episode in the MEXpreneurs Podcast for 3 main reasons: first 9 months of MEXpreneurs, finale of season 1 of the MEXpreneurs Podcast, and 3 previous podcast guests, Mayra Hurtado, Antonio Anguiano, and Walter Mata, who have played an active role in building MEXpreneurs, joined us once again. First, on October 31st, 2024, we celebrated the first 9 months of MEXpreneurs since the launch on February 1st this year. It has been like a birth of a child. During these first 9 months, the MEXpreneurs community was born, attracting now over 50 Mexican tech startup founders worldwide who joined us as guests in the MEXpreneurs Podcast and/or who physically met us in the in-person MEXpreneurs Founder Meetups that we have hosted across 7 different cities around the world: Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico, Seattle in the US, and Madrid, Lisbon, Paris, and Berlin in Europe. In addition, we have now identified over a 100 Mexican tech startups globally, which we have listed in the Mexican tech startups directory available through the MEXpreneurs website. Connections and partnerships have started to emerge as a result of this and we are very excited about those in the future. Second, this episode 42 represents the finale of season 1 of the MEXpreneurs Podcast. Since February 1st this year, we’ve released, non-stop, one new episode every Thursday, featuring one Mexican tech startup founder. Actually, each founder has had two episodes on a row. In the first episode they’ve shared about their founder journey, how they got where they are today, their ups and downs and learnings in between. In the second episode, some also brought in their co-founders to talk about their startups, their traction, the people behind them, and their priorities for the next months. In total we have featured 20 Mexican tech startups from 14 different countries across 18 different industries. In case you haven’t listened to them, all episodes are available via Spotify, Apple Podcast, and YouTube. Finally, in this episode we are joined again by 3 Mexican tech startup founders who participated as guests during the first season: Mayra Hurtado, Co-Founder & CEO of Prelude Health in based Singapore, Antonio Anguiano, Co-Founder & CEO of Greenny in based in Paris, France, and Walter Mata, Founder & CEO of WAS Company based in Monterrey. Mayra joined us in episodes 18 and 19, Antonio in episodes 20 and 21 and Walter in episodes 22 and 23. Check out their episodes in case you haven’t. Each of them has also played an active role in the development of the MEXpreneurs community since they joined us in the podcast. Therefore, in this episode they shared with us their experience at MEXpreneurs so far as well as the potential that they see for this community moving forward. Learn more: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-season1finale https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-preludehealth https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-greenny https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-wasco https://www.mexpreneurs.com/impact

Marc Freudenberg from The Uncommon Lab, a Material Science startup based in Guadalajara, Mexico, joins us again to talk about his startup and team. The Uncommon Lab develops innovative B2C products that apply scientific principles from tribology and material sciences. It is a spin-off of the Interlub Group, a leader in specialized industrial lubricants founded in 1984 by Marc’s dad, Peter Freudenberg. The Uncommon Lab brings Interlub’s expertise to consumer markets. Since its launch, it has seen strong traction in Mexico primarily via Baking Alchemy, a non-stick baking and cooking product. It has achieved nearly 100,000 followers on social media, partnered with over 100 distributors throughout the country, and won awards such as “Empresas Excepcionales”. As CEO of The Uncommon Lab, Marc is responsible for the overall company vision, leadership, strategy, and go-to-market. In addition to Marc, there is a small dedicated team primarily focused on marketing and sales, including building the brand, establishing partnerships, and selling Baking Alchemy’s products. The Uncommon Lab also leverages Interlub Group’s infrastructure, especially its research and development and product teams, through which they continue to improve and expand their product portfolio. Content: 03:40 Tribology, the scientific discipline behind The Uncommon Lab products 05:00 The origin of The Uncommon Lab as a spin-off of the Interlub Group 07:30 The products lines launched by The Uncommon Lab and the logic behind them 11:50 Baking Alchemy and its traction 17:30 The team behind The Uncommon Lab 20:30 The priorities of The Uncommon Lab for the following months 24:00 Marc’s best advise for aspiring founders: building a brand in B2C Learn more: Marc in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcfreudenberg/ The Uncommon Lab in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theuncommonlab The Uncommon Lab website: https://theuncommonlab.com.mx/ Interlub Group in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/interlubgroup/ Interlub Group website: https://interlubgroup.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-theuncommonlab Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Marc Freudenberg is Founder and CEO of The Uncommon Lab, a Material Science startup based in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Uncommon Lab develops innovative B2C products that apply scientific principles from tribology and material sciences. It is a spin-off of the Interlub Group, a leader in specialized industrial lubricants founded in 1984 by Marc’s dad, Peter Freudenberg. The Uncommon Lab brings Interlub’s expertise to consumer markets. Since its launch, it has seen strong traction in Mexico primarily via Baking Alchemy, a non-stick baking and cooking product. It has achieved nearly 100,000 followers on social media, partnered with over 100 distributors throughout the country, and won awards such as “Empresas Excepcionales”. Marc is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico. Due to his German and Mexican family, he has spent significant time in both Germany and Mexico, studying economics and business in Hamburg and Berlin. After gaining valuable experience working at fast-growing German startups, Marc returned to Mexico to apply his knowledge in the family business. He later took over the role of General Manager of the Metal Forming division of Interlub and founded The Uncommon Lab. He is passionate about entrepreneurship and international business, which is reflected in the creation of new businesses and the global expansion that Interlub is experiencing. Content: 03:10 Marc’s background and his different roles at The Uncommon Lab, at Interlub Group, and as university professor 05:20 His connection to Germany and his studies in Hamburg and Berlin 07:10 Marc’s experience working at fast-growing German startups like Rocket Internet 08:30 The rationale for moving back to Mexico 11:30 His trajectory inside the Interlub Group 14:40 Interlub’s expansion from B2B to B2C, including the different products under The Uncommon Lab 19:10 The origin of Baking Alchemy 20:50 Marc’s international exposure from Mexico 23:20 His best advise for aspiring founders: focus on the minimal viable market Learn more: Marc in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcfreudenberg/ The Uncommon Lab in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theuncommonlab The Uncommon Lab website: https://theuncommonlab.com.mx/ Interlub Group in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/interlubgroup/ Interlub Group website: https://interlubgroup.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-theuncommonlab Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Gabriel Garza from DocTour, a Telemedicine startup based in Cancun, Mexico, joins us again to talk about his startup and team. Gabriel, together with Guillermo Loyo, are the founders of DocTour. DocTour started with a mission to address the healthcare needs of international tourists visiting Mexico by offering affordable telemedicine consultations. The platform has since expanded to offer comprehensive corporate health services, white-label solutions for insurance companies, and a new focus on managing chronic diseases. DocTour is also working on a new social impact project that will provide free telemedicine consultations for children and families in rural areas of Mexico, bringing much-needed healthcare to underserved communities. Gabriel is Managing Director and Guillermo is Operations Director. Both are originally from Mexico. Gabriel is based in Porto Alegre, Brazil, while Guillermo is based in Cancun. Gabriel is responsible for the overall company vision, leadership, strategy, go-to-market, and partnerships. He leads DocTour remotely from his home base in Brazil. You can learn more about Gabriel and his professional journey through the previous podcast episode. Guillermo is responsible for the operations of DocTour, working directly with customers and partners, and managing DocTour’s medical staff. Guillermo is a certified doctor, specialized in telemedicine. Before DocTour, he worked at multiple hotels and resorts in Cancun attending international travelers. Content: 03:10 Overview and evolution of DocTour, a digital medical services company 05:10 The origins of DocTour and the challenges international tourists face when requiring medical attention 11:40 The traction from DocTour, including awards and recognitions and new lines of business 14:40 DocTour’s growth strategy 19:50 The team behind DocTour 23:30 Current priorities from DocTour 27:10 Gabriel’s best advise for aspiring founders: find the problem Learn more: Gabriel in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-alejandro-garza-caro/ DocTour in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/doctour/ DocTour website: https://www.doctour.app/home/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-doctour Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Gabriel Garza is Co-Founder and Managing Director of DocTour, a Telemedicine startup based in Cancun, Mexico. DocTour started with a mission to address the healthcare needs of international tourists visiting Mexico by offering affordable telemedicine consultations. The platform has since expanded to offer comprehensive corporate health services, white-label solutions for insurance companies, and a new focus on managing chronic diseases. DocTour is also working on a new social impact project that will provide free telemedicine consultations for children and families in rural areas of Mexico, bringing much-needed healthcare to underserved communities. Gabriel is originally from Monterrey, Mexico, and is based in Porto Alegre, Brazil. With a background in international commerce and economics, he worked at global companies like Cemex and managed large-scale projects across multiple countries before transitioning to entrepreneurship. Gabriel also spent time in France, where he completed two master’s degrees and developed a passion for sustainable development and social impact. He later moved to Brazil for family reasons and has lived there for more than 8 years. His passion for leveraging technology to make healthcare more accessible, combined with his strong belief in social responsibility, drives the innovative solutions he continues to develop at DocTour. Content: 04:30 The multiple cities inside and outside Mexico where Gabriel lived since an early age 07:30 The two Master’s degrees that Gabriel completed in France 10:10 Gabriel’s international experience at Cemex with a focus on business processes optimization 14:00 His transition to consulting after Cemex 15:00 Gabriel’s relocation to Brazil and his first business in language translation 17:00 The origins of DocTour 23:30 Gabriel’s connection to Mexico 25:20 His best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Gabriel in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-alejandro-garza-caro/ DocTour in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/doctour/ DocTour website: https://www.doctour.app/home/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-doctour Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Dario Casanova from SolarX, a FinTech startup based in Austin, USA, joins us again together with his co-founder, Eddy Hernandez, to talk about their startup and team. SolarX is a crowdfunding platform that connects investors with opportunities in the solar energy sector, allowing anyone to invest in solar projects with as little as US$10. By providing industrial companies with solar energy at no upfront cost, SolarX helps them reduce their energy expenses while offering investors attractive returns. Since its inception, SolarX has gained traction by successfully delivering projects across Mexico and is now expanding into Colombia, attracting interest from international investors. Dario and Eddy are both Co-CEOs. In addition, Dario is Chief Operations Officer while Eddy is Chief Technology Officer. They are both originally from Monterrey, Mexico. Since SolarX is a two-sided platform, Dario is primarily responsible to win solar energy projects with industrial companies and to create strategic partnerships with key players in the renewable energy ecosystem, including technology providers, service companies, and more. You can learn more about Dario and his professional journey through the previous podcast episode. On the other side, Eddy is responsible to bring investors onboard, both institutional and retail investors, who invest in the solar energy projects, and to develop the technology to scale and grow the platform. Prior to SolarX, Eddy worked at a B2C e-commerce startup after completing his undergraduate degree in computer science. Content: 03:20 The two-sided crowdfunding platform that Dario and Eddy are building at SolarX 05:30 The alternatives that industrial companies have to adopt and finance renewable energy 08:30 SolarX vision of the future 11:00 The traction of SolarX so far, including new waste-to-energy technology 17:15 The team behind SolarX 21:50 SolarX priorities for the upcoming months 27:50 The best advise for aspiring founders from Dario and Eddy Learn more: Dario in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dario-casanova/ Eddy in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddyhdzg/ SolarX in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solarx-app/ SolarX website: https://www.solarx.app/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-solarx Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Dario Casanova is Co-Founder, Co-CEO and Chief Operations Officer of SolarX, a FinTech startup based in Austin, USA. SolarX is a crowdfunding platform that connects investors with opportunities in the solar energy sector, allowing anyone to invest in solar projects with as little as US$10. By providing industrial companies with solar energy at no upfront cost, SolarX helps them reduce their energy expenses while offering investors attractive returns. Since its inception, SolarX has gained traction by successfully delivering projects across Mexico and is now expanding into Colombia, attracting interest from international investors. Dario is originally from Monterrey, Mexico. He has a strong focus on entrepreneurship. This includes exploring several business ideas and starting a solar panel installation business together with his brother. He also gained valuable experience working at his family’s diverse businesses, ranging from construction to large-scale industrial projects. His passion for innovation, coupled with a deep commitment to sustainability and a strong desire to leave a lasting impact for future generations, drives his work at SolarX. Content: 03:40 How Dario’s dad inspired him to leave something behind and be a change agent 06:20 Dario’s experience in his dad’s multiple projects and businesses 08:00 The different business ideas that Dario explored during his college studies 11:20 BRUDERGREEN, the solar panel installation business he started with his brother in Monterrey 14:40 How SolarX started when BRUDERGREEN expanded from the residential to the industrial sector 18:00 Why SolarX was incorporated in Austin 20:40 The work Dario continues doing in Mexico 22:30 Dario’s best advise for aspiring founders: co-founders, pivoting, and market problems Learn more: Dario in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dario-casanova/ SolarX in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solarx-app/ SolarX website: https://www.solarx.app/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-solarx Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Pedro Luraschi from Hal9, a Generative AI startup based in Seattle, USA, joins us again together with his co-founder, Javier Luraschi, to talk about their startup and team. Hal9 is transforming the way businesses interact with artificial intelligence by enabling companies to create AI coworkers and virtual assistants that can automate tasks, analyze data, and provide insights in real-time, all without the need of advanced technical expertise. Since its inception, Hal9 has rapidly expanded its client base across multiple industries, including technology, healthcare, and finance, with a strong presence in both the USA and Latin America. Javier is CEO and Pedro is Chief Operations Officer. In addition, they are siblings. Javier is responsible for the overall strategic vision of Hal9. He leads the company’s direction in product, go-to-market, and fundraising. Javier is a seasoned software and data engineer. Before Hal9, he worked at SAP, Microsoft Research and RStudio, now Posit, where he developed expertise in data engineering, cloud computing, and building scalable AI solutions. Pedro leads the operations at Hal9, overseeing product and business development, as well as the Hal9 consulting and professional services. You can learn more about Pedro and his professional journey through the previous podcast episode. Content: 03:50 The opportunity and challenges companies face with AI chatbots to become more productive 08:20 The distinction between AI chatbots, AI agents, and AI co-workers 12:40 The benefits and use cases of AI chatbots for professionals with different backgrounds and companies of different sizes 15:50 Hal9’s traction and the positive impact they have generated 21:00 The team behind Hal9, their origin story, and their own use of AI chatbots 30:10 Hal9’s priorities in the following months with a special focus on customer acquisition and customer feedback 33:50 The best advise from Pedro and Javier for aspiring founders Learn more: Pedro in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/poraschi/ Javier in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javierluraschi/ Hal9 in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hal9/ Hal9 website: https://hal9.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-hal9 Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Pedro Luraschi is Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of Hal9, a Generative AI startup based in Seattle, USA. Hal9 is transforming the way businesses interact with artificial intelligence by enabling companies to create AI coworkers and virtual assistants that can automate tasks, analyze data, and provide insights in real-time, all without the need of advanced technical expertise. Since its inception, Hal9 has rapidly expanded its client base across multiple industries, including technology, healthcare, and finance, with a strong presence in both the USA and Latin America. Pedro is originally from Mexico City. With a diverse background in mechatronics, robotics, and philosophy, Pedro has been a maker, educator, and lifelong learner. Over the past decade, he has founded multiple companies focused on emerging technologies, including robotics and AI, and has been a mentor to young entrepreneurs across Mexico. Content: 03:00 Pedro’s roles as a maker, lifelong learner, and educator and the difference between entrepreneurs and makers 09:00 His exposure to the maker movement 17:00 How Pedro got into robotics since a young age 23:00 The role that education, particularly STEM, has played in Pedro’s career 28:00 The multiple companies that Pedro has started 36:00 Pedro’s connection to Mexico 40:00 His best advise for aspiring founders and makers Learn more: Pedro in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/poraschi/ Hal9 in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hal9/ Hal9 website: https://hal9.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-hal9 Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Mauricio Lezama from Vivere Stays, a Travel Tech startup based in Madrid, Spain, joins us again to talk about his startup and team. Mauricio, together with Tobias Jörk and Berta Vilardell, are the founders of Vivere Stays. Vivere Stays is dedicated to empowering small and independent hotels with advanced technology solutions, allowing them to compete on a level-playing field with larger chains. Its platform provides these hotels with tools for efficient revenue management, dynamic pricing, and improved guest experiences. Since its launch, Vivere Stays has expanded its portfolio to over 1,500 properties across Spain and Europe and has established partnerships with leading Property Management Software vendors like Misterplan, Avirato, and Apaleo. Mauricio is CEO Spain and Chief Sales Officer, Tobias is CEO Germany and Chief Financial Officer, and Berta is General Manager. They all met at OYO, an Indian multinational hospitality chain, where Mauricio was Head of Sales, Tobias was Managing Director of Spain and Germany, and Berta was Head of Revenue for Europe. Mauricio is originally from Mexico. He is responsible for Vivere Stays business end-to-end across Spain as well as all sales and commercial aspects of the company. You can learn more about Mauricio and his professional journey through the previous podcast episode. Content: 03:50 The challenges that hoteliers of small, independent hotels face with revenue management to have the best rates at the right moment 08:20 Vivere Stays’ focus on supporting small, independent hoteliers and its partnerships with other players in the ecosystem across Europe 10:20 The traction from Vivere Stays so far, the co-creation process with hoteliers and Property Management Software vendors, and initial focus in Spain and Germany 14:10 The team behind Vivere Stays and their joint work with customers 18:10 The mix of expertise and profiles among Vivere Stays’ founders 19:50 Main priorities from Vivere Stays for the next months including product development and partnerships 21:30 Mauricio’s best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Mauricio in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricio-lezama-luna/ Vivere Stays in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viverestays/ Vivere Stays website: https://viverestays.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-viverestays Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Mauricio Lezama is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Vivere Stays, a Travel Tech startup based in Madrid, Spain. Vivere Stays is dedicated to empowering small and independent hotels with advanced technology solutions, allowing them to compete on a level-playing field with larger chains. Its platform provides these hotels with tools for efficient revenue management, dynamic pricing, and improved guest experiences. Since its launch, Vivere Stays has expanded its portfolio to over 1,500 properties across Spain and Europe and has established partnerships with leading Property Management Software vendors like Misterplan, Avirato, and Apaleo. Mauricio is originally from Mexico City. He has a diverse background with experience in the telecommunications, automotive, and hospitality industries and across corporates and startups. He moved to Spain in 2006 during his bachelor studies, seeking new opportunities and a fresh start in a dynamic environment. What began as a six-month plan turned into nearly 20 years as he built his career and family in Spain, eventually leading him to co-found Vivere Stays. Content: 03:00 Mauricio’s passion for sales and how he developed his sales skills 05:50 His first steps into entrepreneurship thanks to his parents 07:30 Why Mauricio moved to Spain and his career since then across corporates and startups 13:30 Mauricio’s sales leadership roles at different startups 17:20 Why Mauricio decided to start Vivere Stays 22:10 Mauricio’s connection to Mexico 23:30 His best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Mauricio in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricio-lezama-luna/ Vivere Stays in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viverestays/ Vivere Stays website: https://viverestays.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-viverestays Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Ricardo Garcia from Virtetic, a Health Tech startup based in Melbourne, Australia, joins us again together with his co-founder, Raphael Mayer, to talk about their startup and team. Ricardo and Raphael, together with Geremy Cao, Jing Mu, and Carine Lim, are the founders of Virtetic. Virtetic is revolutionizing the rehabilitation process for individuals who have experienced limb loss through immersive virtual reality and advanced game-based interventions. Their innovative platform helps patients prepare mentally and physically for prosthetics, making the recovery journey more efficient, empowering, and ultimately more human-centered. Virtetic has quickly gained awareness in the global healthcare community and is currently collaborating in initial trials with leading clinics and early adopters across Australia and Europe, showing significant improvements in patient outcomes. Ricardo is CEO and Raphael is CTO. They both met at the University of Melbourne during their PhD studies in prosthetics. Ricardo is originally from Mexico. He is responsible for the overall company vision, leadership, strategy, and fundraising. You can learn more about Ricardo and his professional journey through the previous podcast episode. Raphael is originally from Austria. He leads product development and all technology aspects around Virtetic’s product. Prior to Virtetic and his PhD, he worked at Ottobock, a global leader in prosthetics and orthotics for people with mobility challenges. Content: 03:40 The main challenges that people who have lost a limb face in their recovery process 05:40 How Virtetic’s technology is solving these challenges 12:10 Virtetic’s vision on how they are going to change the world 13:30 Their traction and the feedback they’ve received so far 18:10 The team behind Virtetic and their origin story 22:20 Virtetic’s priorities for the next months 27:10 The best advise from Ricardo and Raphael for aspiring founders Learn more: Ricardo in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rigaro/ Raphael in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelmariamayer/ Virtetic in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtetic/ Virtetic website: https://www.virtetic.com.au/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-virtetic Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Ricardo Garcia is Co-Founder and CEO of Virtetic, a Health Tech startup based in Melbourne, Australia. Virtetic is revolutionizing the rehabilitation process for individuals who have experienced limb loss through immersive virtual reality and advanced game-based interventions. Their innovative platform helps patients prepare mentally and physically for prosthetics, making the recovery journey more efficient, empowering, and ultimately more human-centered. Virtetic has quickly gained awareness in the global healthcare community and is currently collaborating in initial trials with leading clinics and early adopters across Australia and Europe, showing significant improvements in patient outcomes. Ricardo is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico. He is an entrepreneur and researcher with a deep commitment to improving lives through technology. He holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Mechatronics and a PhD focused on human prosthetics. Ricardo has lived and worked in several countries, including Canada, Japan, Germany, and currently in Australia. In Australia he has been based for over 10 years, where he completed both his master’s degree and PhD at the University of Melbourne and where he met his co-founders with who he started Virtetic. Content: 03:30 Ricardo’s journey as researcher in prosthetics 05:30 His multiple professional experiences which led him to become a researcher 09:10 The type of research Ricardo has done and its connection to entrepreneurship 11:10 Ricardo’s international and multicultural experiences that drove him to move to Australia 16:20 His transition from researcher to entrepreneur 20:40 How Virtetic combines many disciplines Ricardo experienced during his career 21:30 His connection to Mexico 22:30 Ricardo’s best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Ricardo in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rigaro/ Virtetic in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtetic/ Virtetic website: https://www.virtetic.com.au/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-virtetic Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Rubén López from Nanofacile, a BioTech startup based in Montreal, Canada, joins us again to talk about his startup and team. Nanofacile’s vision is a world free of disease, a world where everyone can be healthier. To achieve this, Nanofacile helps biotechnology innovators to simplify and de-risk the development of nanomedicine therapies and validate in days instead of weeks the efficiency of their therapy. Since its foundation in 2023, Nanofacile has raised over $300,000 Canadian dollars for research and development and has won the backing of the Government of Quebec and prestigious Canadian biotech and startup institutions such as V1 Studio, Centech, District 3, and McGill Dobson Center for Entrepreneurship. While Rubén in his role as CEO oversees the company end-to-end, he has built in Montreal a multidisciplinary team with expertise in biology, chemistry, microfluidics, drug delivery systems, and more. In addition, he secured key collaborators and advisors with extensive experience in biotech and startups. All together they combine the main skills and connections required for a biotech venture like Nanofacile to succeed. Content: 03:00 The challenge biotechnology innovators face with therapy encapsulation and how Nanofacile is solving it 07:50 Nanofacile’s vision to empower these innovators worldwide to accelerate the treatment of the most pressing diseases of the patients they are serving 11:30 How Nanofacile also enables the targeted delivery of therapies to reduce their side-effects 13:10 Nanofacile’s traction up-to-date, including product development, fundraising, and first pilot 16:00 The core team, mentors, and advisors behind Nanofacile and their origin story 21:30 The R&D intensity of biotech startups like Nanofacile and how this shapes team dynamics 24:00 Nanofacile’s priorities in the next 6 months, with a focus on product launch and scaling 27:40 How Nanofacile is democratizing R&D and enabling researchers to develop next-generation therapies 28:50 Rubén’s best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Rubén in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-lopez-nanofacile/ Nanofacile in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nanofacile/ Nanofacile website: https://www.nanofacile.bio/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-nanofacile Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Rubén López is Founder and CEO of Nanofacile, a BioTech startup based in Montreal, Canada. Nanofacile’s vision is a world free of disease, a world where everyone can be healthier. To achieve this, Nanofacile helps biotechnology innovators to simplify and de-risk the development of nanomedicine therapies and validate in days instead of weeks the efficiency of their therapy. Since its foundation in 2023, Nanofacile has raised over 300,000 Canadian dollars for research and development and has won the backing of the Government of Quebec and prestigious Canadian biotech and startup institutions such as V1 Studio and CenTech. Rubén is originally from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechatronics and a master’s degree in engineering sciences which led him to work at different companies across Mexico and abroad in technical roles and learn from great leaders. He later moved to Canada to pursue a PhD in nanoparticles, where he identified the potential of this technology for the rapid development of nanomedicine therapies. These findings, plus his exposure to startup and entrepreneurial ideas, led him to later start Nanofacile. Content: 03:00 Rubén passion to solve complex, multidisciplinary problems, especially related to biology and engineering 04:50 His professional journey across different cities in Mexico, Germany, and Canada 08:50 Why Rubén decided to move to Canada eight years ago 10:50 Rubén’s first company and why he decided to close it and transition to work at different corporations 15:50 Why he decided to start his second company, Nanofacile 19:00 The main differences between Rubén’s first and second companies 22:00 His connection to Mexico 25:30 Rubén’s best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Rubén in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-lopez-nanofacile/ Nanofacile in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nanofacile/ Nanofacile website: https://www.nanofacile.bio/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-nanofacile Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Mario Hernandez from IMPESA, a FinTech startup based in San Jose, Costa Rica, joins us again to talk about his startup and team. IMPESA is an innovator of electronic payment solutions for banks. Its flagship product, Monibyte, allows business customers of corporate banks to manage and control the way their credit cards are used. Transactions over US$2.7 billion have flowed through IMPESA’s solutions. IMPESA has developed partnerships with leaders in the financial industry such as Visa and PayPal. In addition to Costa Rica, the startup is present in five countries across Central America and the Caribbean and it recently opened its Mexican branch as part of its international expansion. While Mario in his role as CEO oversees the company end-to-end, he has brought together a robust team covering all key capabilities required to build a successful FinTech company. This includes former bankers like himself, as well as product and technology experts. Most of IMPESA's team is based out of Costa Rica, but also has local representatives in each of the five countries outside Costa Rica where it operates. Content: 02:50 IMPESA’s north star to make payments easier and help banks innovate 07:10 The challenges that banks face to innovate and how IMPESA adds value 12:20 IMPESA’s portfolio and growth strategy across LATAM 18:40 How IMPESA’s partnership with VISA changed the trajectory of the company 22:30 The team behind IMPESA 24:30 IMPESA’s priorities in the next months, starting with its expansion in Mexico 27:00 Mario’s best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Mario in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-hernandez-5a6b8510/ IMPESA in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impesa/ IMPESA website: https://impesa.net/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-impesa Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Mario Hernandez is Founder and CEO of IMPESA, a FinTech startup based in San Jose, Costa Rica. IMPESA is an innovator of electronic payment solutions for banks. Its flagship product, Monibyte, allows business customers of corporate banks to manage and control the way their credit cards are used. Transactions over US$2.7 billion have flowed through IMPESA’s solutions. IMPESA has developed partnerships with leaders in the financial industry such as Visa and PayPal. In addition to Costa Rica, the startup is present in five countries across Central America and the Caribbean and it recently opened its Mexican branch as part of its international expansion. Mario is originally from Monterrey, Mexico. He then moved to Costa Rica, where he has developed most of his professional career. He had an outstanding corporate career as a banker, working at major financial institutions such as Scotiabank and Grupo LAFISE, the latter where he reached the top role of CEO. The complexity for banks to innovate and his fascination for tech led him to later start IMPESA. Content: 03:00 Mario’s roles as a banker, teacher, and family man 06:00 The multiple places where Mario has lived, including Mexico, Costa Rica, USA, and Canada 10:00 How Mario evolved from a manufacturing engineer to a banker 14:30 Why Mario decided to leave his successful corporate career to become an entrepreneur 18:40 The value of professional experience before becoming a founder 23:00 Mario’s connection to Mexico 26:30 His best advise to aspiring founders Learn more: Mario in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-hernandez-5a6b8510/ IMPESA in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impesa/ IMPESA website: https://impesa.net/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-impesa Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Hernan Arber from Soundwork, a Music Tech startup based in Netanya, Israel, joins us again together to talk about his startup and team. Hernan, together with Edvin Alper and Vitold Shelin, are the founders of Soundwork Soundwork is reinventing the music industry’s supply chain through AI and Web3 to create a scalable, transparent, and collaborative platform for musicians, producers, and fans alike. Soundwork’s ecosystem includes three main pillars: a sound NFTs standard, a marketplace, and an AI-powered API for developers. Soundwork recently launched its fully bootstrapped MVP, including a Web3 marketplace, a white paper, and the tokenomics. Hernan is CEO, Edvin is Chief Business Development Officer, and Vitold is Chief Operations Officer. They are all based in Israel. Hernan was born and raised in Mexico. Edvin and Vitold are originally from Lithuania but moved to Israel at a young age. Hernan is responsible for the overall company vision, leadership, strategy, fundraising, and product development. You can learn more about Hernan and his professional journey through the previous podcast episode. Edvin leads go-to-market, including partnerships with key players in the music industry, primarily music labels. He is also the founder of Function Loops, another Music Tech and sound design company launched in 2011 which develop sounds and production tools for DJs, producers, musicians, and beatmakers. Edvin’s experience and network have been key in the creation of Soundwork. Finally, Vitold is responsible for Soundwork’s operations end-to-end. He is also an experienced tech executive and serial entrepreneur. Content: 03:30 The reward mechanism for music creators being built by Soundwork 07:10 Why music creators are currently not rewarded proportionally 09:00 How Soundwork is empowering music creators to be better rewarded and its “secret sauce” 13:40 The big milestones that Soundwork has achieved so far 18:50 The team behind Soundwork and what makes them the right mix to succeed 24:00 Soundwork’s founders origin story 29:00 The top priorities for Soundwork during the next months 32:40 Hernan’s best advise for aspiring founders: 3R’s Learn more: Hernan in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hernanarber/ Soundwork in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundworksounds/ Soundwork website: https://soundwork.io/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-soundwork Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Hernan Arber is Co-founder and CEO of Soundwork, a Music Tech startup based in Netanya, Israel. Soundwork is reinventing the music industry’s supply chain through AI and Web3 to create a scalable, transparent, and collaborative platform for musicians, producers, and fans alike. Soundwork’s ecosystem includes three main pillars: a sound NFTs standard, a marketplace, and an AI-powered API for developers. Soundwork recently launched its fully bootstrapped MVP, including a Web3 marketplace, a white paper, and the tokenomics. Hernan is originally from Mexico City. He is an expert in AI, Web3, and blockchain, as well as a music producer, DJ, and a serial entrepreneur. He studied software engineering at the ITAM in Mexico before moving to Israel. In Israel, he first led technical teams at fast-growing startups and then started working as a consultant. He also founded multiple companies and professional communities such as EOS Israel. These experiences later led him to start Soundwork. Content: 04:00 Hernan’s career as musician and DJ in Mexico 05:15 His transition from musician to software developer in Israel 07:00 His introduction and first steps in crypto and blockchain, including the foundation of EOS Israel 09:20 Hernan’s music solo project: AirNaN 11:40 The initial idea behind Soundwork based on the “building blocks” in music 14:50 Why Hernan decided to move from Mexico to Israel 22:30 Hernan’s rationale to become a tech startup founder 27:00 His current connection to Mexico 31:40 Hernan’s best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Hernan in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hernanarber/ Soundwork in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundworksounds/ Soundwork website: https://soundwork.io/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-soundwork Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Walter Mata, Founder and CEO of WAS Co., a science-based ConTech startup based in Monterrey, Mexico, joins us again together with his co-founders, Sergio Posadas, Daniel Cano, and Ricardo Terrazas, to talk about their startup and team. WAS Co. develops sustainable and advanced materials derived from the waste and by-products generated by the construction, mining, and plastic industries. They currently have two main products: a clinker substitute for cement and concrete production under the brand “Earth Tech Materials”, as well as auxiliary materials used in construction under the brand “Polycrete”. These products are environmental-friendly, have higher performance, and are more affordable than their conventional counterparts. WAS Co. established partnerships with leading cement and mining corporations across the Americas and Europe. This led them to establish a company in Canada to scale their technology and serve customers in North America. Similarly, they are about to open another legal entity in Peru to address the Latin American market. Walter is CEO, Sergio is Chief Operating Officer, Daniel is Chief Technology Officer and Co-CEO of the business unit Earth Tech Materials, and Ricardo is Co-CEO of the business unit Polycrete. They are all originally from Mexico and are currently based across different locations between Mexico and the USA. While Walter originally founded WAS Co., Sergio, Daniel, and Ricardo joined later as co-founders, bringing new energy and critical expertise and connections to the company. Walter is responsible for the overall company vision, leadership, strategy, go-to-market, and fundraising. You can learn more about Walter and his professional journey through the previous podcast episode. Sergio is responsible for transforming the company vision and strategy into a reality, working across teams and functions to make things happen. Daniel overlooks all product and technology development aspects in the company plus the end-to-end leadership of the Earth Tech Materials business unit. Finally, Ricardo leads the Polycrete business unit. Similarly to Daniel, Ricardo leads the business unit end-to-end. Content: 05:00 The global environmental challenges related to the construction industry that WAS Co. is tackling 08:30 Why WAS Co. collaborates with leading cement companies vs competing with them 10:15 How WAS Co. is transforming a problem of the plastic and mining industries into a solution for the construction industry 12:40 What is currently being done with the waste from plastic and mining industries and the impact in the environment 14:10 How the products from WAS Co. are used in cement and construction value chain in Mexico and abroad 18:40 The importance of being both “environmental-friendly” and “wallet-friendly” 22:15 The role and origin story behind each founder 28:50 Why WAS Co.’s team has the right mix to make this venture successful 32:30 Priorities from WAS Co. in the next months 35:00 The best advise from Walter, Sergio, Daniel, and Ricardo for aspiring founders Learn more: Walter in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waltermatamtz/ Sergio in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-posadas-105880163/ Daniel in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-canoj/ Ricardo in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-terrazas-135036235/ WAS Co. in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wascomexico/ WAS Co. website: https://www.wascompany.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-wasco Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Walter Mata is Founder and CEO of WAS Co., a science-based ConTech startup based in Monterrey, Mexico. WAS Co. develops sustainable and advanced materials derived from the waste and by-products generated by the construction, mining, and plastic industries. They currently have two main products: a clinker substitute for cement and concrete production under the brand “Earth Tech Materials”, as well as auxiliary materials used in construction under the brand “Polycrete”. These products are environmental-friendly, have higher performance, and are more affordable than their conventional counterparts. WAS Co. established partnerships with leading cement and mining corporations across the Americas and Europe. This led them to establish a company in Canada to scale their technology and serve customers in North America. Similarly, they are about to open another legal entity in Peru to address the Latin American market. Walter is originally from Monterrey, Mexico. He has received multiple recognitions for his entrepreneurial journey, such as Forbes “30 under 30” in Mexico, as well as MIT’s “30 Innovators under 35” in LATAM. He studied a bachelor’s degree in business creation and innovation at the Universidad de Monterrey and is a self-taught chemist. His thesis to graduate from his bachelor led him to research sustainable materials to reduce the pollution and greenhouse emissions from the construction and mining industries. This is what later gave birth to WAS Co. Content: 03:50 Why Walter taught himself chemistry, how this led to major awards, and their importance to boost his credibility and overcome his young age 08:20 His philosophy to do good to the environment by doing business 09:40 How Monterrey’s ranking in the Top 10 most polluted cities in the world led Walter to the construction industry 11:40 The revolution he started with WAS Co. to replace conventional construction materials with sustainable alternatives 16:20 How WAS Co.’s sustainable raw materials benefit the mining industry and the cement industry 18:20 Prediction from Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, about who will be the next 1,000 unicorns 20:00 Why Walter decided to go all-in and build WAS Co. right after his bachelor's degree 25:50 Walter’s international experience with WAS Co. 29:45 His best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Walter in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waltermatamtz/ WAS Co. in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wascomexico/ WAS Co. website: https://www.wascompany.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-wasco Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Antonio Anguiano from Greenny in France joins us again to talk about his startup and team. Antonio, together with Aditya Channe, are the founders of Greenny, a ClimateTech startup based in Paris, France. Greenny helps companies to accelerate their carbon footprint reduction by placing gamification at the core of employees' ecological engagement. Through the Greenny app, employees track their steps and earn tree-planting rewards, which contribute to reducing the company's carbon footprint. In just a few months, Greenny has partnered with 7 companies, onboarded 350 users, and achieved the reforestation of 343 trees, compensating 257 tons of CO2. Antonio is CEO and Aditya is Product Manager. Antonio is Mexican, based in France. He is responsible for the overall company leadership, strategy, go-to-market, and fundraising. You can learn more about Antonio and his professional journey through the previous podcast episode. Aditya is originally from India and is also based in France. Due to his background in product management and computer science, he is responsible for the entire product lifecycle, including strategy, development, and implementation, as well as all technical aspects behind Greenny’s app. Prior to Greenny, he held multiple Product-related roles at different startups across India, USA, and France. He also established in France after completing a master’s degree in digital transformation at the Montpellier Business School. Content: 04:30 The challenges that companies face to reduce their carbon footprint 06:30 Why gamification is critical to engage employees 09:30 The mission of Greenny to make corporate social responsibility simple 12:20 Greeny’s traction since they started last year 16:35 The team behind Greeny and how they are leveraging tools like AI and low-code to scale 20:40 Why solving climate change is such a powerful mission and why tech people should get involved 22:00 The iterative process Greeny has followed to validate product-market fit 23:40 The key priorities for Greeny in the next 6 months 24:40 Antonio’s best advises for aspiring founders Learn more: Antonio in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonioanguiano2481632/ Greenny in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenny/ Greenny website: https://www.greenny.io/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-greenny Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Antonio Anguiano is Co-Founder and CEO of Greenny, a ClimateTech startup based in Paris, France. Greenny helps companies to accelerate their carbon footprint reduction by placing gamification at the core of employees' ecological engagement. Through the Greenny app, employees track their steps and earn tree-planting rewards, which contribute to reducing the company's carbon footprint. In just a few months, Greenny has partnered with 7 companies, onboarded 350 users, and achieved the reforestation of 343 trees, compensating 257 tons of CO2. Antonio is originally from Aguascalientes, Mexico. He is a proud father, an outdoor enthusiast, and also a digital product strategist. During his career, he has supported multiple early-stage startups to find product-market fit and scale internationally. This has led him to work and travel around the world, especially across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. His university studies led him to France, where he later settled. His extensive experience in startups combined with his drive to tackle climate change for the benefit of future generations led him to start Greenny. Content: 04:00 Antonio’s role as digital product strategist 06:00 His experience helping early-stage startups internationally 08:10 Antonio’s personal and professional trajectory, including moving to France and the evolution of his skillset 14:45 His mission-driven approach to “solve the case” at startups as fast as possible 18:10 What led Antonio to start Greenny, his first company 21:35 Why Antonio focused on climate change 26:15 How Antonio is still connected to Mexico 28:20 Antonio’s best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Antonio in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonioanguiano2481632/ Greenny in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenny/ Greenny website: https://www.greenny.io/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-greenny Our supporters for this episode: https://skyflare.com/mexpreneurs https://partnershipleaders.com/

Mayra Hurtado from Prelude Health in Singapore joins us again together with her co-founder, Dr. Sarita Kumble, to talk about their startup and team. Prelude Health is a FemTech startup based in Singapore. Hormony is the flagship product of Prelude Health. Hormony enables women to measure, monitor, and manage their hormone health and wellness throughout perimenopause. Hormony's key innovation is the world’s first and only rapid saliva test that women can use in the privacy of their homes to measure their hormone levels with the support of a mobile app. Prelude Health has established global R&D and commercial partnerships, has received industry awards in Singapore, London, and the US, and was recognized with the Golden Cheetah Award at the Femtech Lab accelerator in London. Mayra is CEO and Sarita is Chief Scientist Officer. Mayra is Mexican, based in Singapore. She is responsible for the overall company leadership, strategy, go-to-market, commercial partnerships, and fundraising. You can learn more about Mayra and her professional journey through the previous podcast episode. Sarita is a seasoned biotechnology professional originally from India and based in San Francisco in the USA. At Prelude Health, she leads technology and product development, as well as technology partnerships. Prior to Prelude Health, she co-founded Pictor, a startup developing and commercializing miniaturized blood testing systems. She also held multiple professorship and leadership positions at universities and biotech companies across New Zealand and the USA. Sarita’s mission is to empower women by providing them with tools to prevent disease and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Content: 03:30 The challenges women face in their transition to menopause 06:25 The personal experience and learnings from Mayra and Sarita with perimenopause 10:05 How Prelude Health differs from other solutions in the market 20:00 The vision from Mayra and Sarita on how women will experience perimenopause in the future 22:45 Milestones and traction of Prelude Health until today 28:10 How Mayra and Sarita met and the team they’ve built 34:40 Prelude Health priorities in the next 12 months 37:30 The best advise from Mayra and Sarita for aspiring founders Learn more: Mayra in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mghurtado/ Sarita in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarita-kumble-8971a934/ Prelude Health in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/findhormony/ Prelude Health website: https://findhormony.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-preludehealth Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Mayra Hurtado is Co-Founder & CEO of Prelude Health, a FemTech startup based in Singapore. Hormony is the flagship product of Prelude Health. Hormony enables women to measure, monitor, and manage their hormone health and wellness throughout perimenopause. Hormony's key innovation is the world’s first and only rapid saliva test that women can use in the privacy of their homes to measure their hormone levels with the support of a mobile app. Prelude Health has established global R&D and commercial partnerships, has received industry awards in Singapore, London, and the US, and was recognized with the Golden Cheetah Award at the Femtech Lab accelerator in London. Mayra is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico. After completing her bachelor's in international business in Mexico and her first professional experiences, she moved to Singapore to study an MBA at the Nanyang Technological University Singapore, one of the top technology universities in Asia. After her graduation, she worked at startups as well as at corporates such as Adidas, where she had a 10-year tenure. Her experience in marketing and e-commerce led her to start Commerce Blue, a digital marketing agency, before starting Prelude Health. Content: 03:10 Mayra’s vision to leave something for people to build on 05:40 Her professional journey, from her bachelor to her transition to Asia 09:50 Why Mayra moved to Singapore 12:35 Why she decided to leave her corporate career at Adidas 14:55 Mayra’s experience with perimenopause and the genesis of Prelude Health 16:55 Her next steps after Adidas, including starting Commerce Blue 20:50 How Mayra met her co-founder to start Prelude Health 23:20 Mayra’s contribution to Mexico 27:10 Her best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Mayra in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mghurtado/ Prelude Health in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/findhormony/ Prelude Health website: https://findhormony.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-preludehealth Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Sebastián F. Guerrero from Freela in the United Arab Emirates joins us again together with his co-founder, Ary Molchadsky, to talk about their startup and team. Sebastián and Ary, together with Rodrigo Yeo, are the founders of Freela, a Future of Work startup based in Dubai, UAE. Freela is a self-management platform that features the tools and perks freelancers need to run their daily business routine, acting as the freelancer's back office. It is built by freelancers for freelancers. Freela serves customers across Mexico, the Middle East, and other emerging economies. The company was founded in 2023 and four months after its go-live, it reached 3,500 users. It also participated in prestigious accelerator programs such as the LSE Generate Incubation in the UK, Pygma in Colombia, and the Founder University by Jason Calacanis in the US. It also completed its pre-seed round, raising over US$400k. Sebastián is CEO and Ary is Chief Product Officer. While Sebastián and Rodrigo are the two original founders of Freela, Ary joined later as a re-founder, giving a new boost to the startup. Sebastián is responsible for the overall company leadership, strategy, go-to-market, and fundraising. Ary leads product, customer success, and partnerships. In addition, Rodrigo is Chief Operations Officer. He is responsible for operations and data analysis. Content: 03:40 The growth of the freelance community globally 06:05 Why loneliness and back-office are such big pains for freelancers and how Freela is solving them 09:45 Freela’s vision and its “secret sauce” 12:45 The challenges that freelancers face across their journey 16:30 Freela’s evolution and traction, from its beginnings in 2020, its pivots, and relaunch in 2023 20:15 The team set-up behind Freela and the evolution of the founding team 25:40 Freela’s priorities in the next 12 months, including some major announcements 31:00 The advise from Sebastián and Ary for aspiring founders Learn more: Sebastián in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justseb/ Ary in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arymolchadsky/ Freela in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freelasite/ Freela website: https://www.freela.site/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-freela Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Sebastián F. Guerrero is Co-founder and CEO of Freela. Freela is a Future of Work startup based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Freela is a self-management platform that features the tools and perks freelancers need to run their daily business routine, acting as the freelancer's back office. It is built by freelancers for freelancers. Freela serves customers across Mexico, the Middle East, and other emerging economies. The company was founded in 2023 and four months after its go-live, it reached 3,500 users. It also participated in prestigious accelerator programs such as the LSE Generate Incubation in the UK, Pygma in Colombia, and the Founder University by Jason Calacanis in the US. It also completed its pre-seed round, raising over US$400k. Sebastián is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico. His parents introduced him to the Middle East and other fast-growing emerging economies from an early age. He studied marketing in Mexico and later worked for a branding agency, which allowed him to lead the agency's expansion into Dubai. In parallel, Sebastián started his entrepreneurial journey, first as a founder of the Centro de Asesoría Escolar y Tecnológica, CAET, a social impact high school in Mexico, followed by Freela and other ventures. Content: 03:20 Sebastián’s first experience in Dubai 07:00 His early years in Guadalajara, including becoming a rugby national player, a marketer, etc. 11:30 His first marketing role as a brand strategist and the opportunities that derived from there 14:30 Launching CAET, his first venture 17:15 The creation of a startup hub, which led him to Dubai and to Freela and the ups and downs 23:40 The challenge of moving abroad and starting a business at the same time 26:50 Sebastián’s contribution back to Mexico and Latin America 27:30 His best advise to aspiring founders Learn more: Sebastián in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justseb/ Freela in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freelasite/ Freela website: https://www.freela.site/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-freela Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Dylan Roman from NIU NIU joins us again to talk about his startup and team. NIU NIU is an e-Waste recycling startup based in Mexico City. NIU NIU is the Operating System of e-Waste. Through the use of AI, NIU NIU maximizes critical mineral recovery, like Lithium, Cobalt, and Rare Earths, while minimizing the environmental and social impact of e-Waste management. It also accelerates the recovery of essential resources from post-consumption and post-industrial electronic scrap. In addition, via image recognition and through its platform, NIU NIU classifies and distributes e-Waste, which is then transformed into key materials needed for electric vehicles production and energy transition. Dylan, together with Maximilian Wolf and Erube Flores, are the founders of NIU NIU. Dylan is CEO, responsible for the company overall, with a special focus on go-to-market and fundraising. Maximilian is CFO, responsible for financial and administrative processes between all entities. Finally, Erube is CTO and is focused on technology development and operations, working directly onsite at e-Waste recycling sites. Content: 03:00 How NIU NIU is connecting the main actors in the e-waste sector 06:00 The challenge with e-waste recycling and why proper disposal of e-waste is so important 10:30 NIU NIU’s vision to create a clean and fair supply of critical minerals 12:15 NIU NIU’s traction and major milestones 16:25 Why e-waste refineries are mainly based in developed economies 18:50 NIU NIU’s use of AI and image recognition 21:30 The team behind NIU NIU and their origin story 27:00 Their key priorities for the next 12 months 32:00 Dylan’s best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Dylan in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanroman/ NIU NIU in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theniuniu/ NIU NIU website: https://niu-niu.io/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-niuniu Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Dylan Roman is Co-founder and CEO of NIU NIU. NIU NIU, is an e-Waste recycling startup based in Mexico City. NIU NIU is the operating system of e-Waste. Through the use of AI, NIU NIU maximizes critical mineral recovery, like Lithium, Cobalt, and Rare Earths, while minimizing the environmental and social impact of e-Waste management. It also accelerates the recovery of essential resources from post-consumption and post-industrial electronic scrap. In addition, via image recognition and through its platform, NIU NIU classifies and distributes e-Waste, which is then transformed into key materials needed for electric vehicles production and energy transition. Dylan is originally from Mexico City. He studied at the Colegio Alemán in Mexico, which led him to move to Germany to study his Bachelor in Energy and Process Engineering. He then worked as a researcher and consultant for different companies like Siemens and government institutions like ProMexico, GIZ, and USAID, which allowed him to travel the world and gain a deep understanding on the issues and business opportunities in renewable energies and pollution. In addition, he joined startups in fields like sustainable finance and big data analysis, before starting NIU NIU. Content: 03:10 Dylan’s early years between Mexican and German cultures 06:05 His choice to study engineering as a way to have a hands-on impact and first work experiences and exposure to entrepreneurship 09:00 Dylan’s first company in Germany focused on crowdfunding in Europe and financing projects in energy efficiency and renewable energies in Latin America 13:55 Closing his first company and joining a startup to measure impact of European banks in Latin American microfinance institutions 16:10 Leaving the startup and transitioning to consulting on waste and business model innovation for international agencies like GIZ and USAID 18:50 His focus on an electronic waste project and the genesis of NIU NIU 22:00 Establishing NIU NIU in Mexico and the company setup between Mexico and USA 26:30 NIU NIU’s international reach and opportunity 30:00 Dylan’s best advise for aspiring founders: try things out, be curious and perseverant Learn more: Dylan in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanroman/ NIU NIU in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theniuniu/ NIU NIU website: https://niu-niu.io/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-niuniu Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Jovan Rebolledo from SkySpec joins us again together with his co-founders, Nao Honda, David Chew, and Brandon Booker, to talk about their startup and team. SkySpec is a SpaceTech startup based in Tokyo, Japan. SkySpec is focused on satellite and aerial-driven Earth observation, combining real-time satellite images with AI monitoring. Through its technology, SkySpec helps businesses, governments, and other organizations in the real-time monitoring of oil spills and wildfires, as well as in the optimization of high voltage electricity grids. SkySpec is currently building pilots for power companies, has produced two patents, won an entrepreneurship contest in Japan, was selected in an acceleration program in Australia, and is participating in the XPRIZE Wildfire, a global competition for wildfires recognition. Jovan is CEO, Nao is Chief Experience Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, David is Chief Technology Officer, and Brandon is Chief Operations Officer. Jovan is Mexican. He is responsible for building the company and dealing with every aspect from fundraising to technology creation. Nao is Japanese. She is developing SkySpec’s user interface. Prior to SkySpec, she was a user interface expert for over 18 years at PFU, a subsidiary of Ricoh, a Japanese multinational corporation. David is from Malaysia. He is responsible for the space data and related technologies, as well as for the AI integration. Before SkySpec, David held leadership roles at companies and universities in Japan and Malaysia in the Space and Transportation industry. This included him leading in 2017 a Japanese team of graduate students in the Space X Hyperloop Competition which reached the finals. Finally, Brandon is from the USA and brings deep expertise on emerging environmental contaminants, petroleum monitoring, and spill response. Content: 03:45 The convergence of climate change issues, AI advancements, and space industry affordability 04:55 How SkySpec can optimize prevention and remediation of wildfires and oil spills 07:45 Optimization of power grids via SkySpec technology 08:30 The innovative approach from SkySpec combining space data with AI and making it accesible for users 15:35 SkySpec’s traction up-to-date at a global level 18:30 Their origin story and how Jovan brought the team together 23:00 Why the founders have the right mix of skills and experience for SkySpec to succeed 24:05 SkySpec’s priorities in the next 12 months: customer acquisition, technology development, fundraising 30:00 Their best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Jovan in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jovandavid/ Nao in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nao-honda-24b5a537/ David in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cvk33/ Brandon in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-b-15bab9197/ SkySpec in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyspectech/ SkySpec website: https://skyspec.tech/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-skyspec Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Jovan Rebolledo is Co-founder and CEO of SkySpec. SkySpec is a SpaceTech startup based in Tokyo, Japan. SkySpec is focused on satellite and aerial-driven Earth observation, combining real-time satellite images with AI monitoring. Through its technology, SkySpec helps businesses, governments, and other organizations in the real-time monitoring of oil spills and wildfires, as well as in the optimization of high voltage electricity grids. SkySpec is currently building pilots for power companies, has produced two patents, won an entrepreneurship contest in Japan, was selected in an acceleration program in Australia, and is participating in the XPRIZE Wildfire, a global competition for wildfires recognition. Jovan is originally from Xalapa, Mexico. He is an innovator, scientist, and engineer focused on the application of exponential technologies to solve the world’s greatest challenges. He has more than 20 years of experience in AI research and applications. He is a serial entrepreneur who has founded companies across Mexico, USA, Japan, and other countries in different domains like SpaceTech, EdTech, and Drones, all having exponential technologies at their core. He is also a fellow and a faculty member of the Singularity University, a US-based global organization focused on exponential technologies. In addition, Jovan leads Exponential Japan, a Japanese consultancy helping clients like SONY to succeed in the creation of new disruptive business models leveraging exponential technologies. Content: 03:20 Jovan’s roles as a future creator, innovator, inventor, scientist, and engineer 05:30 His North Star: accelerate the progress and positive impact from exponential technologies in humanity and in the world 06:15 What are exponential technologies and why they are key to solve our world’s greatest challenges today 09:25 “Exponential Development Goals” as a continuation to the current Sustainable Development Goals 12:15 Jovan’s introduction to computers and entrepreneurship (e.g. a “Mexican Facebook”) in Xalapa 16:35 His tenure at Laguna Verde, the only nuclear powerplant in Mexico, and his experience with cutting-edge technologies 17:15 Jovan’s first exposure to the Silicon Valley 18:30 Why and how Jovan moved from Mexico to Japan to focus on robotics and AI at the Kanazawa University 22:55 Jovan’s participation in the inaugural Graduate Studies Program in 2009 (GSP09) at the Singularity University in the US 27:15 Why Jovan chose entrepreneurship vs other career paths 29:45 His contribution back to Mexico from Japan in fields like entrepreneurship and AI 32:00 Jovan’s best advise to aspiring founders Learn more: Jovan in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jovandavid/ SkySpec in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyspectech/ SkySpec website: https://skyspec.tech/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-skyspec Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Juan Carlos Elizalde from LightEd Play joins us again together with his co-founder, Pamela Elizalde, to talk about their startup and team. Juan Carlos and Pamela, together with Luis Eduardo Barragán, Arturo Cortés, María Fernanda Torres, and Ivan Pérez, are the founders of LightEd Play, an Ed Tech startup based in Mexico City. LightEd Play keeps the mind active and makes learning a fun experience through Artificial Intelligence and Gamification. Its lighthouse product, Zoombers, is an app for children in elementary and middle school which changes emotions towards mathematics into positive and happy moments and also fosters the development of STEM competencies and 21st-century skills. Zoombers is helping thousands of students at schools across Mexico, Latin America, USA, and Spain. LightEd Play has received multiple international awards and recently established a legal entity in the USA as part of its international expansion strategy. Juan Carlos is CEO and Pamela is Art Director. In addition, they are siblings, brother and sister. Juan Carlos is responsible for the overall company leadership, strategy, and go-to-market. Pamela leads user experience, user interface, and graphic and brand design to make Zoombers fun and appealing for children. In addition, Luis Eduardo is responsible for the technology back-end and cloud infrastructure, Arturo for the videogames conception and creation, Ivan for the math curriculum and the AI engine development, and Maria Fernanda for customer success and building relationships with schools. Together, all six founders cover the critical domains to build and scale an EdTech venture like LightEd Play. Content: 04:30 The fear for math and how LightEd Play is solving it and turning it into an engaging experience 08:10 How fun and personalization are key in this new experience, both for children and teachers 12:50 The evolution of the math class powered by Zoombers 14:55 How the role of teachers and parents evolves and expands beyond the classroom 17:40 Zoombers impact in key education metrics 21:50 The positioning of Zoombers in the Ed Tech space and its “secret sauce” 25:30 Why six founders, the contribution of each one, and the extended team 29:10 Traction of LightEd Play in Mexico and abroad, including its USA expansion 32:15 Growth as the key priority for the next 12 months 35:00 Juan Carlos’ and Pamela’s advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Juan Carlos in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-carlos-elizalde-moreno-37063b9/ Pamela in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-elizalde-2935a59/ LightEd Play in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zoombers/ LightEd Play website: https://lightedplay.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-lightedplay Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Juan Carlos Elizalde is Co-founder and CEO of LightEd Play, an Ed Tech startup based in Mexico City. LightEd Play keeps the mind active and makes learning a fun experience through Artificial Intelligence and Gamification. Its lighthouse product, Zoombers, is an app for children in elementary and middle school which changes emotions towards mathematics into positive and happy moments and also fosters the development of STEM competencies and 21st-century skills. Zoombers is helping thousands of students at schools across Mexico, Latin America, USA, and Spain. LightEd Play has received multiple international awards and recently established a legal entity in the USA as part of its international expansion strategy. Juan Carlos is originally from Mexico City. He is a software engineer and right after graduating from university he started his first company, BitWorks, a software development firm. Juan Carlos founded BitWorks together with two of his university classmates, Luis Eduardo Barragán and Arturo Cortés. They later created their first product, Mi Auxiliar Contable or MAC for short, an accounting system. Soon after they launched Illumina, which then became Zoombers and expanded the team with three additional co-founders, including María Fernanda Torres, Ivan Pérez, and Juan Carlos’ sister, Pamela Elizalde. Juan Carlos is currently focused on scaling LightEd Play, although Bitworks and MAC continue running in parallel. Content: 03:20 Juan Carlos’ passion for education and the challenges he realized in math learning 06:40 How he and his initial co-founders started in college building a solution combining fun and learning 08:20 Their entrepreneurial journey after college graduation: a software development company, an accounting product, an educational product 10:40 Why he, as a software engineer, decided to start a software development company right after college 13:40 How they built services and products, their pivots, and how they combined them to stay in business 16:45 The milestones leading to LightEd Play: Ilumina, European investors, Zoombers 17:55 The evolution of the software development company and accounting product 20:00 How he managed to build a portfolio of services and product companies with software development at the core 26:00 His impact in education beyond business 27:30 Juan Carlos’ advise to think international from the beginning Learn more: Juan Carlos in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-carlos-elizalde-moreno-37063b9/ LightEd Play in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zoombers/ LightEd Play website: https://lightedplay.com/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-lightedplay Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Erika Giorgana from Pitribe joins us again to talk about her startup and team. Erika is Founder and CEO of Pitribe, an HR Tech startup based in London, UK. Pitribe is an Agile HR Management System for corporations to streamline their core human resources processes and to build an agile culture. Pitribe is used by over 20 large corporations across Europe and the Americas including Fortune 100 companies. Pitribe is a solution developed in-house at Humand, a UK-based strategy and business transformation consultancy. Erika is both the CEO of Pitribe and Humand and is currently, in parallel, managing Humand’s successful consulting business while also building Pitribe as a rising tech startup. Content: 03:00 Why companies are becoming simpler, faster, and closer to the consumer and the market gap that gave birth to Pitribe 06:55 The challenges big corporations, “the elephants”, are facing to evolve vs startups, “the leopards” 08:50 Why big corporations should aim to become “elephopards” 11:15 The limitations of existing core HR management systems (HRMS) to support this transformation 12:45 How Pitribe integrates with the tech stack of big corporations 17:40 How Pitribe is ending with the “line manager monarchy” 19:20 Pitribe’s customer base, how it started within Humand, and is now ready to fly on its own 22:50 How Pitribe and Humand as organizations are evolving 25:45 The benefits of Pitribe growing inside Humand 26:50 Pitribe’s priorities for the next 12 months 28:55 Erika’s best advise for aspiring founders: solve a problem that resonates with you at a personal level Learn more: Erika in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-giorgana-b5804516/ Pitribe in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pitribe/ Pitribe website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pitribe/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-pitribe Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Erika is Founder and CEO of Pitribe. Pitribe is an HR Tech startup based in London, UK. Pitribe is an Agile HR Management System for corporations to streamline their core human resources processes and to build an agile culture. Pitribe is used by over 20 large corporations across Europe and the Americas, including Fortune 100 companies. Erika is originally from Mexico City. She is married and is the proud mom of three children. Erika had a 14-year tenure at Unilever, a multinational corporation behind leading consumer brands such as Dove, Knorr, and Ben & Jerry’s. At Unilever, she held multiple HR-related roles across Mexico, Latin America, and Europe. This led her to understand the importance for large corporations to evolve into agile and people-centric organizations and to start her entrepreneurial journey. Content: 02:45 Erika’s roles as mom, wife, and entrepreneur helping organizations become more human 04:30 Why companies are becoming purposeful, high-impact, human systems 07:00 Erika’s North Star to be light so others can shine 08:15 Her professional journey in HR at Unilever and the foundation of Humand, Erika’s consulting company 10:00 Why building her own business vs continuing her corporate career 11:40 How Erika came up with the ideas behind Humand and Pitribe 16:00 Erika’s initial business hypothesis and its validation 17:50 How new companies are being built following an agile mindset 19:40 Erika’s career abroad in Latin America and UK 21:30 Her connection to Mexico 23:50 Erika’s advise to pursue entrepreneurship if you have a big idea and have done an initial validation Learn more: Erika in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-giorgana-b5804516/ Pitribe in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pitribe/ Pitribe website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pitribe/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-pitribe Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Juan Ocampo from Skyflare joins us again together with his co-founders, Zaher Mazuq and Claudia Nagel, to talk about their startup and their team. Skyflare is a cybersecurity startup from Berlin, Germany. It was founded in 2021 with the mission to make e-commerce safe for webshop owners. Last year, the company saved over 600,000 euros in marketing expenses to their more than 40 B2B customers through their click fraud protection solution. Zaher is CEO, Claudia is CFO, and Juan is COO. Zaher is originally from Israel. He moved to Germany in 2017 to become the CTO of KIWI, a PropTech market leader in the DACH region in access systems for residential buildings. Before KIWI, he worked at IBM and developed security solutions for banks. Claudia is a German serial entrepreneur, tech investor, and holds a Professorship in Logistics. In 2018, she founded High Rise Ventures, which invests in early stage PropTech startups. Before High Rise, Claudia founded KIWI, worked for a decade at McKinsey, and founded other ventures in e-commerce and B2C. Juan is originally from Mexico. He moved to Berlin in 2013 to study a Masters degree. He then joined KIWI, where he met Claudia and Zaher and raised through the ranks during 5 years, starting as a working student all the way to becoming Head of Operations. He later continued working with Claudia at High Rise as Venture Development Manager before co-founding Skyflare. Content: 03:00 Skyflare’s mission to make every webshop secure, especially the small ones 08:00 The role Skyflare’s plays in the cybersecurity stack of their customers, starting with click-fraud protection 12:00 The initial ideal behind Skyflare based on the founders’ struggles with online shopping 15:00 The “Aha! Moment” who brought the founders together to start Skyflare 17:35 Why every euro spent in AdWords by a startup matters 18:30 The role from each founder and why they are deliberatively building a small team of max 10 people 22:20 Why the founders are the winning mix to make Skyflare a success 24:30 Skyflare’s priorities for the next 12 months: fundraising, customer acquisition, and integrations 26:10 The trust-based hiring process used to build the team and culture 28:30 Their top advise for aspiring founders building small, high-performing startup teams Learn more: Juan in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ocampojuan/ Zaher in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaherm/ Claudia in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ing-claudia-nagel-0b66395/ Skyflare in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyflare/ Slyflare website: https://skyflare.com/en/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-skyflare Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Juan Ocampo is Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Skyflare. Skyflare is a cybersecurity startup from Berlin, Germany. It was founded in 2021 with the mission to make e-commerce safe for webshop owners. Last year, the company saved over 600,000 euros in marketing expenses to their more than 40 B2B customers through their click fraud protection solution. Juan is originally from Mexicali, Mexico. He moved to Berlin in 2013 to study a Master degree at the Technische Universität Berlin. He then entered the German startup scene, holding multiple roles as VC investor, startup founder, lecturer, and researcher with focus on proptech, real estate, Internet of things, and e-commerce. Juan is passionate about initiatives in the intersection of technology, education, and diversity. Content: 02:30 Juan’s work in the intersection of technology, education, and diversity 06:45 His transition from Mexico to Germany 15:00 Juan’s entry in the Berlin startup scene at KIWI, an IoT startup 17:25 How Claudia Nagel, KIWI’s Co-Founder, became Juan’s sponsor, opening new career possibilities 22:40 Juan’s 5-year career cycles and his evolution from startup operator to startup investor in PropTech 28:40 His connection to Mexico inspiring younger generations to pursue a path on technology entrepreneurship 31:20 His best advise for aspiring tech startup founders: resilience, who to take advise from, and reading Learn more: Juan in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ocampojuan/ Skyflare in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyflare/ Skyflare website: https://skyflare.com/en/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-skyflare Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Alan Ramos is Founder and CEO of Libre Foods. Libre Foods is a biotech startup from Barcelona, Spain, which is reinventing meat with fungi. Libre was founded in 2021, has raised over three million euros in venture capital, and launched the first fungi-based bacon in the European Union. Alan is a solo-founder. This fascinating, especially considering that Libre is a biotech startup and that Alan does not have a technical background. This is not the typical setup you would expect at a biotech startup. Nevertheless, Alan’s determination and his unwavering commitment towards Libre’s mission led him not only to overcome these constraints, but also build a great team from the beginning, cope with the ups and downs of every fast-growing startup, and achieve major milestones during the last 3 years. Content: 02:30 Intro to Libre 03:20 How fungi-based food can outperform animal-based food 04:55 Libre's mission to reinvent meat with fungi and biomass fermentation and to fix the food system 09:30 History of FoodTech, alternative proteins, and Libre's journey so far, including latest grant won to double-down on R&D 13:50 Why Alan chose to be a solo-founder in biotech despite being a non-technical founder 18:15 Libre's leadership team evolution 22:05 Priorities for Libre in the next 12 months 27:30 His best advise for aspiring tech startup founders: have a clear why Learn more: Alan in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-ivan-ramos/ Libre Foods in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/libre-foods/ Libre Foods website: https://www.librefoods.co/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-libre Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Alan Ramos is Founder and CEO of Libre Foods. Libre Foods is a biotech startup from Barcelona, Spain, which is reinventing meat with fungi. Libre was founded in 2021, has raised over three million euros in venture capital, and launched the first fungi-based bacon in the European Union. Alan is Mexican-American, born in Laredo, Texas. After his bachelor in the US, he moved to Taiwan. He then worked and travelled during 3 years across 20 countries in Asia. During this timeframe, he became vegan, which led him to move to Germany to work at the ProVeg Incubator, the world's first accelerator program for plant-based, fermentation-enabled, and cultured-food startups. After 2 years and securing his initial investment, he moved to Spain to start Libre. Content: 02:30 Alan Ramos and his different roles as a plant-based advocate, an environmentalist, and a social entrepreneur 05:20 His humanities background, his search to have a large-scale impact, and how he chose food as a way to help as many people as possible and the environment 08:10 Moving from the US to Asia and how this shaped Alan's career to focus on both what the planet needs and what people want 12:50 Germany as a gateway to business, entrepreneurship, and startups in the early days of the alternative proteins industry 20:15 Focusing on fermentation and fungi as a path towards protein sovereignty 24:10 Moving from Berlin to Barcelona driven by Spain's strong food culture and biotech talent 26:00 Connection and potential of Mexico and Latin America in alternative proteins and food transition 27:55 His best advise for aspiring tech startup founders: just get started Learn more: Alan in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-ivan-ramos/ Libre Foods in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/libre-foods/ Libre Foods website: https://www.librefoods.co/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-libre Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Today we have Humberto Martínez, Rodrigo Martínez, and Tom Leenders with us. They are the founders of Nerit’e, an agricultural technology startup from Aachen, Germany, which was founded in 2022 and has raised 800,000 euros in private and public investment. Humberto is CEO, Rodrigo is Chief Operations Officer, and Tom is Chief Technology Officer. Humberto and Rodrigo are brothers, originally from Queretaro, Mexico, who moved to Aachen in 2022 to build Nerit‘e. Tom is from Germany, is a mechanical engineer, and he joined Nerit’e after working at BMW and at his own startup. Content: 02:20 Intro to Nerit'e and their mission to diagnose soils to keep them healthy 05:00 How big is Nerit'e today 06:05 The roles of Humberto, Rodrigo, and Tom at Nerit'e 08:50 The benefits of building Nerit'e in Germany 11:00 How the founders' mix impacts the chances of success of Nerit'e 14:00 Their journey as founding team 18:15 Priorities for Nerit'e in the next 12 months 22:45 Culture at Nerit'e 25:50 Their best advise for aspiring founders Learn more: Humberto in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humberto-martinezbarron/ Rodrigo in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigo-martinez-barron/ Tom in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-leenders/ Nerit’e in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nerit-e/ Nerit’e website: https://nerite.tech/ Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-nerite Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Today we welcome Humberto Martínez, Co-Founder and CEO of Nerit’e. Nerit’e is an agricultural technology startup from Aachen, Germany, which was founded in 2022 and has raised 800,000 euros in private and public investment. Humberto is originally from Querétaro, Mexico. He moved to Aachen in 2022 together with his brother to build Nerit’e after winning the first place in the Falling Walls competition in Mexico, completing a mentoring program at RWTH Aachen University in Germany, and securing their initial funding. Content: 02:15 Humberto Martínez and his personal mission to use technology to tackle major problems in our world today 04:30 Humberto's career which led him to shape his mission 06:40 His connection to agriculture, from his early years to the impact of COVID 09:00 The realization of the problem with soil nutrients detection 12:10 The opportunity to move to Germany together with his brother to start Nerit’e 17:15 Bringing onboard a third co-founder from Germany 19:55 Humberto's connection to Mexico and turning it into a competitive advantage for Nerit’e 23:25 Best advise for aspiring Mexican tech startup founders: fall in love with the problem Learn more: Humberto in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humberto-martinezbarron/ Nerit’e in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nerit-e/ Nerit’e website: https://nerite.tech Episode page: https://www.mexpreneurs.com/podcast-nerite Our supporter for this episode: https://www.partnershipleaders.com/

Welcome to the first episode of the MEXpreneurs Podcast!Sergio G. Chavez, MEXpreneurs Founder and Podcast Host, is joined by Kattya Cruz, a Mexican tech startup founder in BioTech based in Germany as well as Head of Marketing at MEXpreneurs.Sergio and Kattya talk about the origins and vision in MEXpreneurs, the Mexican tech startup founders who will be presented in the podcast, the team behind MEXpreneurs, and how to participate.Content:00:35 Welcome00:55 Kattya Cruz and building a BioTech startup in Germany04:05 Origins of MEXpreneurs05:25 Vision of MEXpreneurs10:15 Mexican tech startup founders who will be presented in the MEXpreneurs Podcast13:45 People behind MEXpreneurs16:40 How to participate in MEXpreneurs

The MEXpreneurs Podcast presents the stories of Mexican tech startup founders who are building world-class, fast-growing companies and having a positive impact at a large scale.