Cultivating resilience: StartupLab’s mission to support women entrepreneurs in Mexico
Mexico’s entrepreneurial landscape presents unique challenges for women, who often face both financial barriers and family responsibilities. Ana Greta Ibañez, founder of StartupLab, is helping women entrepreneurs — especially from disadvantaged regions — lead in sustainability and economic development. “Women in Mexico don’t just pursue entrepreneurship out of ambition,” she explains. “They’re obliged to support families and the future of whole communities.”
In Latin America, 53% of women feel pressure to support their family. “We live in a country where the system isn’t designed to support women,” notes Ibañez.
Founded over a decade ago as an incubator, StartupLab has evolved significantly. The organisation now provides women with access to digital tools and support systems, which can be difficult to obtain in Mexico.
This article is part of the Climate KIC series on shaping inclusive climate entrepreneurship and supporting women entrepreneurs. Together with Salesforce Foundation, we supported six women-led Entrepreneurship Support Organisations with flexible financial grants, capacity-building programmes and access to a supportive community, to scale and accelerate their impact on the ground.
Navigating a system built on barriers
For women founders in Mexico, there are limited opportunities for funding, networks and mentorship. StartupLab’s mission expands to offer solutions that address not only gender inequity but also the challenges of scale, access and support in a digital world.
“Our work isn’t about just giving financial support — it’s about opening the doors to opportunities women in Mexico deserve,” says Ibañez. The digital resources and mentorship offered through StartupLab’s initiatives don’t just equip women for today’s market; they build resilience for tomorrow. From rural Tabasco to bustling Mexico City, women are learning how to leverage digital tools for traditional sectors like agriculture and craft, scaling their businesses and ultimately strengthening local economies. Although inspired by Silicon Valley models, this vision isn’t a hand-me-down approach; it’s designed with the challenges and realities of Mexican women at the forefront.
Pioneering climate action through women-led enterprises
Ibañez’s vision for StartupLab intertwines economic empowerment with environmental responsibility — a critical combination for the country’s future. Her incubator sees women as key leaders in tackling the climate crisis. “We are natural stewards of the land and protectors of the home,” Ibañez reflects. “It’s only fitting that we stand up against patriarchy and conservative ‘macho’ attitudes to lead in solving the crisis that affects both.”
However, securing funding for climate-focused ventures remains a challenge, as investors often overlook early-stage projects led by women. According to Ibañez, this risk aversion overlooks the most urgent needs of our time: “if we ignore the role of women in climate resilience, we miss the chance to support the very projects that could protect our communities in the long run.”
Beyond the numbers: real stories of success
While analytics are crucial to growth, Ibañez’s views success as the ripple effect each business creates in its community. One beneficiary from the Tabasco region who began an artisanal beer brand — traditionally a male-dominated industry — leveraged StartupLab’s resources to expand her project into a family-run enterprise. For Ibañez, this story captures the essence of StartupLab’s mission. “When women succeed, their communities grow alongside. It’s a fundamental change, not just for them but for everyone around them.”
Stories like these highlight how StartupLab is helping women redefine their businesses and the expectations within their communities. These ventures are gradually reshaping local economies, encouraging environmental stewardship, and, perhaps most critically, shifting perspectives on gender roles in areas long dominated by oppressive views. “We’re building a new story for Mexico — one where women’s achievements are interwoven with the success of the land, the economy, and society,” says Ibañez.
Toward a systemic shift: The call for collaboration
“Despite the tangible impact of our actions, we can’t do this alone,” Ibañez states. “The success of these women-led businesses is proof of what’s possible, but to amplify it, we need partners who see the future through the same lens. “These entrepreneurs are brilliant at what they do, but they’re not necessarily experts in sustainability,” Ibañez observed. The journey to dismantle systemic obstacles requires the involvement of larger institutions — such as investors, NGOs, and government bodies — that can bring widespread change.
The message is clear: supporting women-led ventures is not just a gesture of equity, it’s a practical, urgent approach to building the foundations of a new world. With climate change bearing down and economic disparities widening, the need for transformative partnerships has never been more pressing to Mexico’s narrative — one woman-led business at a time.
About this programme
At Climate KIC, we’re committed to driving systemic change in inclusion across the climate innovation sector. Our programme, supported by CATAL1.5°T, Irish Aid, Green Hub and Salesforce Foundation helps partners identify gaps in their understanding of gender inequity and implement concrete actions for organisations to embed a gender lens into their everyday work.
We work with different partners and institutions to support our work on inclusive climate entrepreneurship. Contact us today to see how you can become a partner.
Contact now