ALIAR is looking for 20 water and sanitation startups in LATAM for its 2nd call for applications
ALIAR is a program offering startups tackling water, sanitation, and solid waste challenges a USD $5,000 grant, mentorship, and two in-person trips to Monterrey.
Tecnológico de Monterrey, through its EGADE Entrepreneurship Center, has opened the 2nd call for applications for ALIAR, its incubation program for startups addressing water, sanitation, and solid waste challenges in Latin America. Applications are open until 7 October 2026 and the program is looking for 20 ventures from the region.
What is ALIAR, and why was the program created?
ALIAR did not emerge from an innovation lab or a planned institutional strategy. It was born out of the drought Monterrey faced in 2022, one of the worst water crises in its recent history, which galvanized ecosystem stakeholders to seek concrete solutions. Fundación FEMSA approached Tec de Monterrey with a direct question: What could they do to make a real impact on water and sanitation issues? The answer was ALIAR. BID Lab joined as a program funder, and since then the initiative has been run jointly by Tec, BID Lab, and Latimpacto.
"“We knew there were entrepreneurs with solutions that could have a very significant impact, but that many water utilities were not aware of them, both for financial and administrative reasons,” explained Yoshiko Sakai, Acceleration and Impact Manager at the EGADE Entrepreneurship Center and program lead.
Benefits of the ALIAR Incubation Program: US$5,000 grant, mentorship, and covered travel
ALIAR is a 4-month hybrid incubation program requiring approximately 4 hours per week. The 20 selected startups receive:
- A grant of up to USD $5,000 in cash, paid in up to two installments, with no equity or ownership stake required
- Workshops and training in business, technology, leadership, and impact
- Technical and business advice to validate and strengthen the business model
- Mentorship with support throughout the incubation process and follow-up on the Milestone Plan
- Networking with stakeholders in the region’s entrepreneurship and water management ecosystem
- Impact investment readiness in collaboration with Latimpacto
- Full coverage of travel expenses for two in-person events in Monterrey: the immersion Bootcamp and Demo Day, where startups present to partners, government agencies, and funds
What kind of startup should apply?
The program is aimed at early-stage ventures, from prototype (TRL 2 to TRL 6) to pre-commercialization, with teams of up to 20 people and at least one team member dedicated 100% to the project. Startups from across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Brazil, may apply.
The verticals are broad: IoT sensors for measuring flows and leaks, nanotechnology and biotech for wastewater treatment, the circular economy and waste valorization, and any solution with a positive impact on urban water. The only restriction is that the project cannot focus exclusively on water for agricultural use.
Results from ALIAR’s 1st incubation batch
The program’s previous edition produced impressive results: 7 out of every 10 startups left with a pilot finalized or a purchase intent. In addition, 60% of the ventures had women in leadership positions, and several Tec professors, researchers, and students participated with their own projects.
Notable ventures from Batch 1 include SmartSUS, from Mexico City and Aguascalientes, which is now running pilots with Tec de Monterrey and a water utility; Avokado and Matter of Trust LATAM, which advanced to ALIAR’s acceleration program; and Tambagro, which joined the CATAL1.5°T Acceleration Program.
How do I apply to ALIAR Program 2026?
Applications close on 7 October 2026. More information and apply here.
