Guadalajara is becoming one of the best places to build a startup, but most of the early-stage entrepreneurs we speak to aren't aware of the local tech resources that are available to help them.
With applications for the Guadalajara Founder Institute now open, we're excited to release the Guadalajara Startup Resource Guide, which is currently in Draft v1 below! It was developed by the Guadalajara Founder Institute and local leaders: Cindy Blanco, Javier Garcia Lemus, and Neil Shah.
This is just a draft, and while we spent many hours on this research, more input is needed. Please leave your comments on this collaborative Google document to help us complete the list. There are definitely omissions on this current version.
Are you looking to build a startup in Guadalajara? Then apply to the Guadalajara Founder Institute today!
Text version included below, for ease of searching:
Startup Stages
There is no one right way to build a technology company, but for the sake of simplicity we have outlined a basic, common, sequential framework.
1. Idea Stage
This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.
A. Inspire
- Guadalajara Startup Media: Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters)
- Inspirational Guadalajara Startup Events: Open, inclusive startup events that often focus on ideation. (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups)
B. Educate
- Best Practices: Beginner knowledge-sharing tech events. (i.e. beginner events that serve to educate more than inspire).
- Training & Feedback: Skill & Idea development events and startup bootcamps for entrepeneurs. (Includes comprehensive training programs, like Founder Institute, General Assembly, Lean Startup Machine, code camps, etc)
- Access Silicon Valley (Guadalajara)
- Agile Minds GDL
- AWS User Group Jalisco
- BEDU
- CIRO: Design Innovation Meetup
- Founder Institute
- Golang Guadalajara
- Google Cloud Developer Community Zapopan
- Guadalajara Startup: Idea to IPO
- Guadalajara Startup Businesses Meetup
- IJALTI
- Laboratoria
- Lean Startup Machine Guadalajara
- Product School Guadalajara
- StartupGDL
- Tec Gurus
- Tech Talk GDL
- Technovation Challenge Mexico
- Tiempo Development. Technology Meetup.
C. Validate
- Team Formation: Events for Finding Co-founders in Guadalajara. (i.e. tech networking events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching)
- Build First Product: Hackathons & product events in Guadalajara.
2. Launch Stage
In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step.
A. Start
- Establish: Guadalajara law firms & banks for startups
- Guadalajara Workspaces: Co-working and flexible workspaces for startups in Guadalajara.
B. Develop
- Formalize: Guadalajara accounting, development and HR tools for early-stage startups.
- Guadalajara Incubators: Groups that prepare companies for seed investment and provide advanced mentorship. (i.e. advanced knowledge sharing, later stage events and resources)
C. Launch
- Guadalajara Seed Accelerators: Seed funding mentor programs (Techstars-style programs that provide funding)
- Pitch & Demo Events: Tech events that showcase Guadalajara startups for investment.
3. Growth Stage
Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups.
A. Recognition
- Guadalajara Investor Networking: Events and groups that connect professional investors with founders.
- Major Media: Mainstream local business press that often showcase local startups.
B. Funding
- Guadalajara Angel Investors: Seed-stage investors and micro-vcs.
- Guadalajara Venture Capitalists: Series A and beyond
C. Growth
- Infrastructure: Office space, HR, local business insurance. (i.e. office space/ HR/ insurance providers for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
- Expansion: Guadalajara Growth accelerators and consultants. (i.e. programs and business consultants for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
4. Guadalajara Startup Success Stories
Successful homegrown companies that have raised significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce, or have achieved liquidity.
- 100 Ladrillos
- Contxto
- Digitt
- Getabed Suite
- Inkuvi
- Isibit
- Kueski
- Mifiel
- Paystand
- Truekx
- VoxFeed
- Wepow
- Wizeline
- Yotepresto.com
Supporters
To facilitate the steps, every ecosystem needs strong supporters.
1. Guadalajara Startup Leaders
Successful local founders who lead the ecosystem & frequently mentor newbies.
- Bismarck Lepe
- Carlos Calderón Cosío
- Cindy Blanco Ochoa
- Cristina Carvallo
- Daniel Pandza
- Diana Rodríguez
- Gustavo Adolfo Acosta Montiel
- Israel García Ballesteros
- Javier García Lemus
- Jovanna Nathalie Cervantes Guzman
- Mak Gutierrez
- Martin Moscosa
- Neil Shah
- Ruy Cervantes
- Victor Cortés
- Victor Treviño
2. Guadalajara Government Startup Resources
Public organizations that facilitate local economic development
- Cámara de Comercio de Guadalajara
- Ciudad Creativa Digital
- Consejo Estatal de Ciencia y Tecnología de Jalisco
- Fondo Nacional Emprendedor
- Plataforma Abierta de Innovación
- Programa Startup Building
- Reto Zapopan
- Secretaría de Innovación, Ciencia y Tecnología
3. Talent
Major local business or tech universities and employers that attract and retain local talent.
- Local Guadalajara Tech Universities (universities with prominent technical or business programs)
- Guadalajara Tech Employers
Learn more about the Startup Ecosystem Canvas here, and leave us your thoughts on the Guadalajara Canvas on this collaborative Google document (This is just a draft, and more input is needed!)
