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/