Startup Unidos: Innovation Beyond Borders | Game-Changer

Last week I had the pleasure of chatting with Stephanie Bermudez, founder and CEO of Startup Unidos. She is a game-changer, and I believe you will learn a lot from our conversation.

Startup Unidos sees challenges at the border as opportunities to address social and environmental justice. SU spans across boundaries with a unique binational and bilingual approach that unites diverse networks from industry, government, academia, and grassroots movements to bring culturally-anchored entrepreneurship support and innovative workforce development to overlooked border communities.

Everything we do is rooted in passion and impact for the binational, bilingual culture of the Arizona USA and Sonora MEX region. From our branding to the structure of our programs, to where and how we market our services, our passion for the communities we serve is at the forefront of every touchpoint of our company.

As a result of this we have positioned ourselves as the only organization that has a consistent, culturally relevant approach centered around family and community in the interest of cross-border economic development. Our very business model celebrates and leverages our region’s unique history and people.

And since the need and desire for real, lasting change along the border continues to grow, we are passionately committed to empower emerging Latinx entrepreneurs to self identify, gain industry knowledge, connect to culture and community, solve local problems, innovate and prosper like never before.

Stephanie Bermudez, is an Ambos Nogales native and latinx innovator, who has invested 15 years in understanding the local culture, building relationships and earning the respect and loyalty of people and organizations at all levels of society. Her innovative ideas create cross-border communities and environments that expand on binational relationships to encourage collaboration and co-inspiration. She focuses on building up entrepreneurial communities and networks; including events, training, consulting and research that extends beyond Southern Arizona.

Stephanie displays unwavering commitment to make an impact and is passionate about taking her experiences and shaping binational business opportunities with Mexico and the United States. She is actively working with startups and aspiring youth across the Arizona-Sonora by developing and implementing Startup Unidos entrepreneurial and workforce education, capacity building and youth programs; such as, Waste Not: Borderlands Innovations in Food Waste Management, Emprende Amigo and Borderoots.

She is an honored community leader and has been recognized extensively throughout her career, most recent awards include; February 2020, Top 20 Woman of Impact by Tucson Lifestyle Magazine; March 2019 Minority Business Owner of the Year, Inside Tucson Business Women of Impact; October 2018 TENWEST Idea Funding, Larry Hecker and Sherry Hoskinson Bright Futures Award; December 2016 Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as 40 under 40 Woman of the Year.

Listen to our conversation below: