FUNDES Catalyst

WE ARE SOCIAL VENTURES BUILDERS

Innovations to go beyond subsistence entrepreneurship in Latin America.

WE ARE CATALYST

The first impact venture studio dedicated to empowering subsistence entrepreneurs in LATAM.

Traditional entrepreneurs have the power to transform their community, their habitat, and the world around them. But they remain excluded from innovative services that could help them reach their full potential.

FUNDES Catalyst works to bring the best technology solutions and human connections directly to the millions of traditional entrepreneurs who need them.
WE

bring our partners closer to the reality of MSMEs through smart data.

develop the best strategies to align business goals and impact proposals with MSMEs and entrepreneurs.

implement projects on the ground using the right methods, the best practices with the highest standards.

Impact through innovation

We design, develop and launch innovative tech solutions to solve the fundamental business problems of traditional entrepreneurs at scale. We turn them into change agents for their community and habitat.

Expertise

Our proposal leverages human networks, logistics, and training, three key areas of FUNDES’ expertise.

Ideation + -
We conceive and design innovative products and services for micro and small businesses.
Incubation + -
We apply a repeatable and customized process to transform ideas into fundable projects.
Investment + -
We use venture philanthropy funding to scale our projects and make them self-sustaining.
Digital & E-Learning Platforms
B2B white label learning platform for microbusinesses
Marketplace of Digital Solutions for merchants
Delivery Services
Shopkeepers-led Community Group Buying App for BOP-Consumers
Delivery Service Linking Organic Producers to Traditional Grocery Stores
Micro-franchises
Micro-franchise for Beauty Professionals
Microfranchise of waste pickers associations with optimized collection routes

Our social innovation methodology

At the intersection of human-centered design, frugal innovation, and agile development, we have developed a unique approach to creating sustainable products and businesses. We are agnostic by nature. We believe in facts, human networks, technology accessibility, and sustainable business models to scale our long-term impact.

Our porfolio

We are designing a portfolio of innovative and complementary solutions to solve the root business problems of microbusinesses.

Last Mile Delivery

Increase shopkeepers’ income, offer low income families discounts through a community group buying app.

About

Location: Mexico
Sector: Foodtech
Product: Community Group Buying
Stablished in: 2021

Key Metrics

  • 2,000 shops
  • 7,140 BOP consumers & families
  • Monthly growth of 30%
  • 9% Average commissions earned by shop
  • 15% Average ticket saving for BOP Consumers

Last Mile Delivery

Making healthy products accessible to all through an integrated local value chain.

About

Location: Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Mexico
Sector: Foodtech / Agrotech
Product: Farm-to-store logistics
Stablished in: 2018

Key Metrics

  • 2,000 active shopkeepers
  • 9,000 smallholder farmers
  • 75,000 consumers reached/ month

E-Learning Platforms

Upskilling microbusinesses through a curated e-learning platform dedicated to their needs.

About

Location: Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile
Sector: EdTech
Product: White Label E-learning
Stablished in: 2017

Key Metrics

  • 80,000 MSEs registered
  • 15,000 active users in 7 countries
  • 7 allied corporations and governments
  • 17% average monthly sales difference between non-adopters & adopters
  • 75% of users had improved the way they manage the business

E-Learning Platforms

Connecting local artisans with the digital marketplace through a micro-content platform.

About

Location: Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico, Peru
Sector: EdTech
Product: E-learning Platform and Marketplace
Stablished in: 2021

Key Metrics

  • 400 active users

Micro-franchises

Enabling beauty professionals increase income by joining a unique micro-franchise model.

About

Location: Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico
Sector: Micro-franchises
Product: Microfranchise Model
Stablished in: 2016

Key Metrics

  • 600 active women haidresser
  • 20-25% Average income increase
  • 33-41% median earnings increase
  • 237 jobs created

Micro-franchises

Improving the livelihood of waste pickers through an inclusive recycling ecosystem.

About

Location: Cartagena, Colombia
Sector: Recycling
Product: Collaborative network
Stablished in: 2020

Key Metrics

  • 503 waste-pickers
  • 197 waste-generators linked to the network (10.000 consumers)
  • 21 Collection Centers

Supported by the Wealth Inequality Initiative by Julius Baer Foundation and Fondation Botnar

Merkomuna

Merkomuna delivers group discounts to low-income families. We are a social commerce platform that allows BOP consumers to buy discounted everyday goods from local merchants in groups with their friends.

  • Launched in 2021.
  • Connecting with 700 mom & pop shops.
  • Currently scaling its activities in Mexico. 
  • Scaling our activities: elea foundation.

EcoBodegas

EcoBodegas makes healthy food accessible to all Latin American consumers by connecting small farmers with mom & pop shops. We are a triple bottom line distribution platform dedicated to fighting malnutrition at scale while transforming the traditional food sector from farm to store.

  • Launched in 2018.
  • Connecting 10,800 agroecological farmers with 1800 local stores.
  • Currently scaling its activities in Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, and Mexico.
  • Supported by the Leopold Bachmann Foundation and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

EcoBodegas

EcoBodegas makes healthy food accessible to all Latin American consumers by connecting small farmers with mom & pop shops. We are a triple bottom line distribution platform dedicated to fighting malnutrition at scale while transforming the traditional food sector from farm to store.

  • Launched in 2018.
  • Connecting 10,800 agroecological farmers with 1800 local stores.
  • Currently scaling its activities in Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, and Mexico.
  • Supported by the Leopold Bachmann Foundation and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

Enko Solutions

Enko enables governments, NGOs, and businesses to train and empower MSEs in their ecosystem: customers, partners, suppliers, and more. We are a fully customizable e-learning platform targeted at micro and small businesses.
  • Launched in 2017.
  • Connecting more than 75,000 users with 16 modules about personal development, sales, marketing, administration, and finance. 
  • Currently scaling our activities in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile. 
  • Supported by Visa Social Impact.

Pymental

Pymental connects community entrepreneurs to the digital economy. We are a gamified learning platform and marketplace based on profiling MSEs.

  • Launched in 2021.
  • Connecting beauty professionals, restaurateurs, and artisans with gamified learning experiences.
  • Currently scaling our activities in Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico, Peru. 
  • Supported by Argidius.

Pymental

Pymental connects community entrepreneurs to the digital economy. We are a gamified learning platform and marketplace based on profiling MSEs.

  • Launched in 2021.
  • Connecting beauty professionals, restaurateurs, and artisans with gamified learning experiences.
  • Currently scaling our activities in Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico, Peru. 
  • Supported by Argidius.

Reciclamos Juntos

Reciclamos Juntos transforms recycling value chains into equitable economies. We are a collaborative network of waste-pickers connected to waste producers and processors.

  • Launched in 2020.
  • Connecting more than 200 waste generators, 500 recyclers, 1,200 children, and several collection points, as well as FMCG companies.  
  • Currently scaling our activities in Colombia. 
  • Supported by the Wealth Inequality Initiative by Julius Baer Foundation and Fondation Botnar

Waste is Opportunity and Life

A recycling network to bolster the vulnerable

Our Donors & Investors

Econecta

Econecta is the network that connects authentic experiences to protect nature. We are a sustainable tourism solution that provides access to e-commerce, local tourism routes, and skills development.

  • Launched in 2020.
  • Connecting with 400 services providers. 
  • Already implemented in México. 
  • Supported by Fomento Social Banamex.

Econecta

Econecta is the network that connects authentic experiences to protect nature. We are a sustainable tourism solution that provides access to e-commerce, local tourism routes, and skills development.

  • Launched in 2020.
  • Connecting with 400 services providers. 
  • Already implemented in México. 
  • Supported by Fomento Social Banamex.

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