Strengthening Leadership and Scaling Nature-Based Solutions: MAR-Leadership Build & Connect 2023
Photo: Sureste Sostenible A.C.
The 2023 cohort of the MAR Leadership (MAR-L), Build & Connect Program, supported by the Summit Foundation, the Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund), and implemented by Sureste Sostenible, was successfully launched to empower environmental leaders and promote nature-based solutions entrepreneurship in the four countries of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) region: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.
As part of the broader MAR+Invest initiative—supported by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), bringing together partner organizations like the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN), Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HRHP), New Ventures, and Viwala— the program seeks to mobilize private capital and develop financial solutions that de-risk investment for businesses that generate positive impact on the MAR and its coastal communities, making it easier to access funding.
New conservation-driven market initiatives are emerging in the region with the potential to transform ecosystems and economies; however, these solutions often face immense barriers blocking the attraction of capital.
In the conservation sector, efforts are often constrained by a limited capacity for market-based initiatives, patient capital, and a lack of entrepreneurship and investment ecosystems. These gaps are further compounded by challenges in the investor sector, like the lack of investment, high-risk country profiles deterring international investment (except in Mexico), climate risk raising capital costs, high monitoring and evaluation costs, and few incentives for green and blue financing. As a result, the entrepreneurial ecosystem, along with innovators working toward reef-positive solutions, faces the lack of business development support and grants, complex and costly impact monitoring requirements, and restricted access to appropriate financing tools.
To directly respond to these barriers, the 2023 Build & Connect cohort selected early-stage, high-potential initiatives from across the MAR region that embody innovation and community leadership.
Key Components and Mentoring Strategy
The program was a 10-month journey that provided training for 21 leaders from the MAR who introduced 14 innovative business projects aimed at driving ecological, economic, and social change. Four of them are active projects, and the teams are highly committed to their success, having agreed in 2025 to continue strengthening their capacities to further develop and strengthen their business models.
Training covered financial tools, leadership skills, impact measurement, storytelling, business model canvas, and others.
More than 6,300 people have directly and indirectly benefited from the projects developed by the 2023 cohort. These efforts resulted in 25 collaborations and multiple exchanges of information and know-how among participants.
Creating a network of leaders who exchange knowledge and collaborate toward common goals.
Credits: Moments by Amaya Juan.
Future in Progress: The Growth of the Build & Connect Projects
Throughout the training, the 14 projects received monthly business mentoring to ensure continuous refinement. Following this process, the six most promising projects—selected for their coral-positive impact and business potential—benefited from a tailored business Acceleration Program provided by MAR+Invest’s partner, New Ventures. In addition, four virtual sessions connected participants with the MAR Leadership community, engaging 65 leaders from different generations to foster regional collaboration for reef conservation.
These 14 projects spanned diverse areas such as coral reef tourism restoration, invasive species control, waste management and recycling, artisanal souvenirs and jewelry made from invasive species, and sustainable food production. Eleven of these projects are women-led, highlighting the significant role of female entrepreneurs in the MAR conservation movement.
Key outcomes included identifying common challenges among the leaders and setting goals for the next 6-12 months, such as consolidating business strategies, forming partnerships, and launching products to market. Leaders also planned to generate profit within two years. The feedback session revealed that 100% of the participants felt the program strengthened their leadership and networking skills, with 81.3% rating it as “highly good.”
MAR-L 2023 Graduation and Strategic Outlook
A significant milestone of the program was the graduation of 16 leaders of the MAR-L 2023 cohort. Eleven of these leaders attended the four-day in-person graduation event in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, from March 12th to 15th, 2024, alongside key stakeholders from the conservation and business sectors. Participants received expert feedback on their project pitches, improving their communication with potential investors and donors. The event marked the culmination of a year-long process under the MAR+Invest initiative, which supports commercially viable projects that contribute to coral reef conservation. Currently, four of these projects have secured clients and are being implemented, helping to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.
The MAR Leadership Build and Connect 2023 program empowered change agents across the MAR region to transform nature-based solutions into impactful, market-ready ventures. The cohort focused on launching a targeted mentorship initiative for five selected participants from the 2023 cohort who are actively advancing nature-based solutions or positive-impact projects in the environmental sector. This selection was based on the scalability, implementation progress, and investment potential of their initiatives. The mentorship provided tailored technical, strategic, and financial guidance to help them accelerate their projects.
Strengthening Regional Collaboration for Lasting Impact
A user-friendly Monitoring & Evaluating System (M&E) was also designed to track the progress of MAR-L leaders, measuring the impact of their projects on the reef ecosystem and local communities. This centralized database already contains information on over 100 leaders and includes more than 50 indicators, exceeding initial expectations. The system combines qualitative and quantitative measures, providing a well-rounded assessment of the program’s effectiveness.
In all cohorts, the program’s strong focus on soft skills development significantly strengthens the fellows’ leadership, communication, and negotiation abilities, with 100% of participants reporting improvements in their leadership capabilities.
By integrating leadership training, strategic fundraising, and robust data management, this collaborative effort between MAR Fund and Sureste Sostenible has created a solid foundation for lasting environmental impact through local leaders and entrepreneurs— who are key to unlocking durable solutions for the Mesoamerican Reef. By mentoring early-stage initiatives, the program enhances the capacity of local actors to develop and implement nature-based solutions that restore reef ecosystems, mitigate environmental pressures, and foster sustainable livelihoods. Supporting leaders at this critical early phase increases the chances that their ventures will scale, attract investment, and generate long-term benefits for both communities and marine ecosystems.
Together, we are building a future where nature-based solutions evolve into thriving, impactful businesses that benefit both people and the planet.
In-person workshops for the development of technical and soft skills of the MAR Leadership Build & Connect 2023 cohort, Puerto Morelos, México. Credits: Sureste Sostenible A.C.