The Coramino Fund, co-founded by entrepreneur Juan Domingo Beckmann and renowned American entertainer and entrepreneur Kevin Hart, announced the arrival of its grant program in Mexico thanks to a strategic alliance with Tecnológico de Monterrey and the José Cuervo Foundation.
So far, the fund has distributed more than $1 million in grants in the United States and its expansion into Mexico is focused on helping early-stage entrepreneurs in the region of Tequila, Jalisco.
“At Gran Coramino, we know hard work tastes different, which is why we’re dedicated to giving back to hard-working entrepreneurs in the place that has crafted our tequila for generations,” said Juan Domingo Beckmann, co-founder of Gran Coramino Tequila alongside Kevin Hart.
Together with Tecnológico de Monterrey, one of Mexico’s leading universities, and the Fundación José Cuervo (José Cuervo Foundation), which supports the country’s social, cultural, environmental and economic development, the initiative will give aspiring entrepreneurs access to a rigorous program.
There are around 8.6 million entrepreneurs in Mexico, most of whom seek support for their projects, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Report 2022-2023 (GEM).
Last year, Jalisco ranked first in the country in terms of new companies created, many focused on the services and construction sectors, in addition to being located in the capital, Guadalajara.
With the arrival of The Coramino Fund, the idea is to also support rural entrepreneurs focused on solving environmental and social problems in the region.
Entrepreneurship training
The beneficiaries of the program will work on the creation and expansion of innovative technological solutions to expand their business projects and make their industries more sustainable and responsible.
The partnership “allows us to continue our legacy of supporting aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses at the heart of our journey,” said Beckmann.
The selected ventures will work on solutions ranging from transforming wastewater, the result of the tequila manufacturing process, to converting plastic waste into fuel, to also using technology to track high-performance athletes.
Among the beneficiary companies are:
- Agrar.ia, founded by Gustavo Armando Chávez Oceguera
- Barra, founded by Luis Enrique Vázquez de la Paz
- Ecovinaza Solutions, founded by Danay Carrillo Nieves and César Eduardo Najar Almanzor
- ErgoMax Flow, founded by Edna de los Dolores Meza Villalpando
- Guardiola Productos del Campo, founded by Carlos Esteban Guardiola Márquez
- Health Performance Pro, founded by Ana Paola Aranda Luelmo and Roger Antonio Gutierrez Baldizon
- Low-Cost Automated Guided Vehicle, founded by Gerardo José Escobar Del Cid
- mi-BiomarK, founded by Keila Sarai Cáceres Espíndola
- NefroControl, founded by Juan Carlos Diaz
- PilotLab Solutions, founded by Ernesto Reyes Villegas
- PyroReactor, founded by Emmanuel Aguirre Reynoso
- Semillas Urbanas México, founded by Jacqueline Castañeda and Pamela Gisel Hernández Jiménez
- Terrasabia, founded by Edgar Alejandro Gonzalez Jauregui
- TOPAGRO, founded by Rafael Hinojosa Hinojosa
- VisionCity Analytics, founded by Alan Gabriel Romero Pacheco
- Yeiyá Travel, founded by Juan Pablo Eng Goon Lozoya
- Xalisper-Tech, founded by Miranda Posos Parra
Luis Almanza, Director of the Entrepreneurship Institute at Tecnológico de Monterrey, explains that this will allow them to connect students as well as professors and entrepreneurs.
“At Tecnológico de Monterrey, we strive to be one of the world’s most entrepreneurial ecosystems – connecting students, professors, founders, innovators, and investors to create lasting and positive impact,” said Luis Almanza, Director of the Entrepreneurship Institute at Tecnológico de Monterrey.
Last year, the publication AFROTECH reported that The Coramino Fund distributed $500,000 to Black and LatinX entrepreneurs, and in total, they have distributed more than $1 million in grants in the U.S. to date.
Juan Domingo Beckmann is one of Mexico’s most recognized entrepreneurs, also owning 30% of the famous José Cuervo tequila brand.