Technology Business Accelerator (TechBA)

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A bi-national business acceleration program sponsored by the Mexican government helping innovative Mexican technology SMEs access international markets through offices in global innovation hubs.
What are the main aims and objectives?

TechBA aims to accelerate the international expansion and competitiveness of Mexican technology-based SMEs by providing them access to dynamic innovation ecosystems abroad, targeted support to validate and scale products, and connections to investors, partners, and markets. The program addresses key barriers Mexican firms face in global market entry, such as lack of international networks, limited foreign market knowledge, and commercialization expertise. It intends to foster high-growth, globally competitive firms by leveraging diaspora networks and bi-national cooperation, driving job creation and economic development through strategic sector focus on aerospace, biotech, IT, energy, and clean technology.

How does the program work?

TechBA selects high-potential, innovation-driven Mexican SMEs that demonstrate readiness to enter competitive foreign markets. With offices in Silicon Valley, Austin, Seattle, Montreal, Vancouver, Madrid, Michigan, and Arizona, TechBA offers an intensive acceleration program lasting approximately one year. This includes onboarding induction, a one-month bootcamp concentrating on business model validation and customer acquisition, followed by highly tailored business development and market entry advisory services.

Participating firms receive mentorship, regulatory and legal advice, marketing strategy enhancement, investor preparedness training, and connection to a global network of diaspora business leaders, venture capital, strategic partners, and customers. TechBA utilizes "Red de Talentos," a Mexican diaspora professional network, to foster mentoring and business linkages. Graduates participate in closing events showcasing their innovations to investors and corporate audiences.

Eligibility criteria focus on innovative Mexican SMEs with proven market traction and leadership committed to international scaling. The acceleration model is distinguished by its deep integration in global innovation hubs, as well as its emphasis on business model sharpening, strategic international market entry, and leveraging Mexican transnational networks to overcome export barriers.

What is the overall cost?

While exact financial data is limited, TechBA operates with an estimated annual budget of around $1 million USD per office, funded primarily by Mexico’s Secretary of Economy through the bi-national non-profit Fundación México-Estados Unidos para la Ciencia (FUMEC). With eight offices globally, the estimated annual program budget is approximately $8 million USD.

How was it implemented?

Originating from the 2002 U.S.-Mexico Partnership for Prosperity under President Vicente Fox, TechBA was designed collaboratively by Mexico’s Secretary of Economy and FUMEC to address the gap in internationalization support for Mexican tech SMEs. In 2004, official visits to Silicon Valley catalyzed establishing TechBA’s first office in 2005 in San Jose.

The initial U.S. office focused on utilizing Silicon Valley’s ecosystem assets and Mexican diaspora to support participant firms. Success and demand led to gradual expansion of offices across the United States, Canada, and Spain throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.

Implementation involved securing government funding, setting up physical offices, hiring international business development specialists, codifying the acceleration curriculum, and building diaspora networks for mentoring and investment. The program continuously refined its model based on participant feedback, geographic sector strengths, and the evolving needs of Mexican SMEs. TechBA became a flagship example of Mexico’s international innovation collaboration.

What impact has been measured?

By 2010, TechBA had supported approximately 1,500 Mexican companies, including accelerating 55 companies in Silicon Valley alone in its first 2.5 years. Participant firms generated over $100 million USD in direct sales in the U.S., with $600 million USD in indirect economic activity.

What lessons can be learned?

There are calls for TechBA to adopt more rigorous evaluation methods and establish a regular independent assessment. This would help to provide useful quantitative and qualitative data on the programs services, allowing administrators to focus the instrument and improve its efficacy. Additionally, some say that TechBA offices should change their funding process. Currently, offices receive a standard sum for each company they take into the program. This policy saw the program’s budget grow 35% between 2005 and 2012. TechBA could reorient its funding distribution to a results-based approach that rewards effective mentorship and networking. The Inter-American Development Bank recommends a system of “impact indicators” that would guide resource allocation to regional offices.

Notes + Additional Context

Beginning in 2004, this program initially focused on internationalizing Mexican companies that possessed scalable models. The first office, located in Silicon Valley, became operational one year later. Over the course of the next few years, more locations were developed as part of the TechBA program: Austin (2005), Madrid (2006), Montreal (2006), Detroit (2008), Phoenix (2008), Seattle (2010), and Vancouver (2010). Just this year, TechBA opened a new office in Medellin, Colombia. In 2010, the program expanded to include regional activities within the country. Now, companies can access the TechBA network as they grow nationally, with an eye to eventually spread their brand overseas. 

SMEs make up 99% of Mexican enterprises, provide 72% of all jobs in the country, and contribute 52% of total GDP (World Bank). While roughly 25% of SMEs participate in the export market, they make up only 6.7% of national exports (World Bank). TechBA aims to address this disparity. In 2000, Mexico developed an Entrepreneurial Development Plan (EDP) which provided extensive programs to support the creation of small businesses. Over the next 6 years, the number of SMEs receiving government assistance increased nearly twenty-fold. TechBA was implemented to help guide these businesses to the next level of expansion: accessing overseas markets.

CURATED BY

Cristina Fernandez

Director for Knowledge + Programming
Global Entrepreneurship Network
United States