Acceleration Program

Third cohort

Photography by Valentina Cucchiara

Photography by The Ocean Agency

About the MAR+Invest Acceleration Program

The MAR+Invest Acceleration Program supports the growth of reef-focused business and early-stage companies in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) region and its dependent communities. Our goal is to drive innovative solutions for the main threats to coral reefs: lack of wastewater and solid waste treatment, overfishing, and climate change.

Business solutions must have operations in at least one of the MAR countries: Mexico (Quintana Roo), Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.

The program will support the selected projects through personalized training, development of impact indicators and measurement systems, strategic partnerships, and access to financial solutions.

Acceleration Program 2025 THIRD COHORT

Meet the entrepreneurs selected for the 2025 third cohort of the MAR+Invest Acceleration Program.

A.S.H. Limited (Belize)

Sustainable, natural and reef-safe skincare cosmetics with organic Aloe vera. Their circular economy model ensures sustainability from organic farming to eco-conscious packaging.

Their chemical-free sunscreen prevents water pollution from ingredients linked to coral bleaching and hormonal effects in marine life.

Corua (Mexico)

Mineral, biodegradable, and reef-safe sunscreens, with 100% natural formulas. Packaged in recyclable aluminum and PET.

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Ecologistic Bacalar (ALAK) (Mexico)

Ecologistic is an initiative operated by the nonprofit organization Alak, focused on the transportation and proper management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Bacalar and Chetumal, Quintana Roo. They provide a comprehensive service to tourism establishments to prevent pollution. In addition to collection, they recover inorganic waste and produce large-scale compost, which they market to hotels, restaurants, and local farmers.

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Saving Our Sharks (Mexico)

In collaboration with the Kab Xok Cooperative, they transform shark fishing into sustainable tourism through snorkeling, diving, safaris, and educational programs—preventing the death of approximately 20,000 sharks per year.

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Reservaciones La Ceiba (Honduras)

A digital platform that connects tourists with 50+ community-based sustainable tourism enterprises in protected areas, reinvesting part of the income into conservation and environmental funds.

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Río Wildlife (Guatemala)

Community-based ecotourism in Río Dulce National Park, Guatemala, offering wildlife watching, hiking, and sport fishing, while protecting biodiversity and training the community in sustainable practices.

It reduces pressure on ecosystems connected to the Mesoamerican Reef by offering economic alternatives to extractivism, particularly illegal fishing. It promotes responsible sport fishing, monitoring of key species, and environmental education.

#tideMéxico (Mexico)

A circular economy initiative that transforms plastic into reusable products while promoting access to drinking water without PET bottles through H2OLA Water stations, as well as community Eco-Hubs that serve as waste collection centers and promote environmental education by recovering waste and preventing it from reaching the ocean. It is a partnership between the Swiss company #tide Ocean Material and the Mexican company Maritime Procurement Services.
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Water Offsets (México)

Water Offsets is a WaterTECH company that provides comprehensive water treatment and reuse solutions. Through proprietary technologies with advanced nanomaterials, they combine hardware, software, and artificial intelligence to reduce wastewater pollution and promote circular water use, saving up to 70–80% in industrial and tourism operations.
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Testimonials

I loved the Launching trip to Cozumel, we met excelent partners and all the activities that we did were really constructive, this is the first and only acceleration program in which I have participated in an activity like this. In conclusion I enjoyed each part of the launch trip.

I love that this program focuses on the responsibility of citizens through private companies, who are the ones who live in the community, know its real problems. That is a change in mentality, instead of waiting for NGOs to come to solve problems, citizens take responsibility for the impact within their environment through private companies, which benefit the most from the community. That is the true model that can work in the long term.

One of the best acceleration programs we have participated in, impact focus was outstanding, quality of mentors incredible and New Ventures team supportive, brilliant and inspiring.

The launch trip was fantastic! Excellent opportunity to get to know the New Ventures team, other participants and have lots of like minded people all in one space!

The coffee chat sessions were great! We had a Match with 3 of the startups and we already started with some collaborations. The launch trip was valuable. It was great to know other founders and also to meet the MAR+Invest team and allies.

I found it very enlightening working with my mentor, he was really helpful and always there when I had a question. I really enjoyed that I had the opportunity to meet everyone face to face, we also got to socialize and learn about the different projects.

Networking is crucial for small businesses looking for environmental impact, a lot of people are eager to work towards positive social and environmental impact, so taking advantage of it will be a game changer.