Impact Hub CDMX Launches Climathon 2025 Across Mexico

At a launch event in Mexico City, Impact Hub CDMX opened applications for its third annual Climathon, an entrepreneurial competition backed by CATAL1.5°T that promotes local climate innovation across Mexico. Running from September to November 2025, Climathon 2025 will connect more than 400 young Mexican entrepreneurs with sustainability experts and investors to help turn their projects into viable climate solutions. The competition will take place in seven cities across the country, each focusing on regional environmental challenges. Implementation support is being provided by Climate-KIC, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

The first Climathon will be held in Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico, from Sep. 19–20, focusing on the circular economy and industrial decarbonization. The second, in Mérida from Oct. 3–4, will address groundwater and cenote protection, along with sustainable waste management. Held the same weekend, Climathon Guanajuato will focus on reducing emissions and easing water stress. The fourth event, in Campeche from Oct. 10–11, will develop solutions for mangrove conservation and ecotechniques for water sanitation. Climathon Hermosillo, set for Oct. 15–16, will emphasize sustainable energy. The sixth event, taking place in Saltillo from Oct. 24–25, will also focus on sustainable energy, along with water scarcity and urban overheating. The final Climathon, to be held in Monterrey from Nov. 8–9, will continue the theme of sustainable energy.

First-place winners at each regional Climathon will receive MXN$10,000 (US$530) in seed capital, while second-place teams will be awarded MXN$5,000 (US$265).

Participants must meet five criteria: a demonstrated environmental commitment, a pledge to continue their project beyond the competition, an innovative mindset, strong knowledge of environmental issues, and alignment with local climate priorities. Previous winners include Kova (Climathon Oaxaca 2023), which developed artificial wetlands to treat wastewater; Sicomac (Climathon Progreso 2024), which created a water monitoring system for cenotes; and Chuúch Há (Climathon Campeche 2024), which designed a filtered firewood stove that reduces toxic emissions in rural communities. Applications for Climathon 2025 open on Aug. 5 and typically close 2–3 weeks before each regional event.

According to Mario Romero, Managing Director, Impact Hub CDMX, each edition of Climathon helps accelerate the transition to a net-zero society by fostering the co-creation of ideas, technologies, and entrepreneurial solutions. “Climathon has become a global community working together to address city-specific environmental challenges through local climate innovation,” he said during the July 31 launch.

Over its three-year history in Mexico, Climathon has engaged more than 300 participants—50% of whom were women—resulting in over 80 concrete projects. Winners have presented their solutions at international forums, and more than MXN$200,000 (US$10,600) in prize money has been distributed.

The competition is part of the broader CATAL1.5°T initiative, which aims to support the creation of 90 climate startups across Latin America to help businesses measurably reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next two decades. By 2045, the initiative targets the mitigation of 2 million tons of CO₂ emissions in the region. CATAL1.5°T is funded by EUR€10 million (US$11.42 million) from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Green Climate Fund, with an additional EUR€15 million (US$17.13 million) in private capital. According to Felix Steinberg, Project Director at CATAL1.5°T, the program aims to invest EUR€5 for every ton of CO₂ emissions avoided.

In addition to Mexico, CATAL1.5°T is organizing Climathons in eight Latin American countries in 2025: Argentina (Buenos Aires), Colombia (Medellin), Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo), Costa Rica (San Jose), El Salvador (San Salvador), Honduras (Tegucigalpa), and Peru (Lima). CATAL1.5°T’s ultimate mission is to help keep global warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.