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Open Markets
Five years driving innovation and entrepreneurship in Mexico

2.6 Minutos
María José Salcedo
  María José Salcedo
Pictures of participants and Road to Innovate events
© FNF Mexico

The freedom to start a business is one of the most transformative forces in any society. When people have the opportunity to turn their ideas into businesses and solutions, they not only generate income but also strengthen the formal economy, drive innovation, and promote social and environmental progress.

With this conviction, Road to INNOVATE was born in 2020, a program that has consolidated itself as a true catalyst for entrepreneurship in Mexico. For five years, we have provided tools, mentorship, and support networks to innovative individuals who want to bring their projects to life, generating a positive impact on their communities.

The result has been the creation of a vibrant community committed to change. Over 1,200 people have submitted their ideas; 50 finalists have received specialized support, expanding their growth opportunities and connections with other ecosystems. We have taken Road to INNOVATE to cities such as Mazatlán, Mérida, Durango, and Mexico City, promoting sustainable business models with social impact across the country.

A central pillar of our work has been the strengthening of female leadership in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. From Monterrey to Oaxaca, we have created and participated in spaces to showcase and enhance women-led projects, especially in strategic sectors such as technology, sustainability, and social innovation.

This eBook is a living testimony of that journey. Here, we bring together the stories of entrepreneurs who, with creativity and determination, are building a better country. Beyond the achievements and figures, Road to INNOVATE is a space of freedom: a place where each participant can design their own path and become an agent of change.

We invite you to explore these pages and meet those who, with their ideas and efforts, are shaping the future. These are five years of innovation, inspiration, and entrepreneurship.

Generation Road to Innovate

Generation Road to Innovate

Road to Innovate is a program that, since 2020, has promoted entrepreneurship as a driver of economic and social change in Mexico. This publication celebrates its first five years, during which it has strengthened a vibrant community of entrepreneurs committed to innovation, sustainability, and social transformation.

With over 1,200 applications and 50 finalists, the program has served as a platform for entrepreneurs across the country to turn their ideas into impactful projects. It has also created spaces for mentorship, support networks, and visibility for business models with a social, environmental, and technological approach.

One of the central pillars of the program has been female leadership. From Monterrey to Oaxaca, Road to Innovate has provided space and tools for women entrepreneurs to scale their initiatives, many of which focus on technology, community impact, and sustainability.

This eBook features profiles of entrepreneurs who have transformed their environments across various sectors: education, financial inclusion, sustainable mobility, emotional health, the environment, smart agriculture, and more. Projects like Ardown, Piñuela, Terrasabia, MyBikeMX, and E-Fectivo, among others, showcase the diversity and richness of the solutions supported by the program.

Beyond the numbers, Road to Innovate represents a space of freedom and creation. For its participants, it has marked a turning point in their vision as leaders and change agents. It also stands as a testament to the strategic role of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, whose work has been key in strengthening Mexico’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

This journey celebrates not only past achievements but also the potential of entrepreneurship to build a more just, sustainable, and innovative future in Mexico.

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