LatAm Startups

Mariel Rivera is a high energy, dynamic and motivating leader. She is currently leading global partnership development for Aiesec, the global student-run organization, in the Americas. In her work, she is engaging with the startup ecosystem in North, Central and South America, coordinating a team of 50 regional development managers, with active partnerships with over 1,000 startups.

Mariel has co-founded several start-ups, starting during her time at university during which launched several concepts in the advertising and media industry. In 2012, she won the Social Responsible Young Entrepreneur award organized by the state of Sonora, securing funding for Publimagnet, a new advertising concept. Previously, she collaborated for two years as a consultant for the incubator center CITIE of the state of Sonora. Mariel is also the former Director of Tourism and Economic development for the Council of San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas. As part of this role, she initiated a partnership with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, founded the first Visitor and Resident office and managed investments towards the goal od leading to the first international flight to the area in 20 years.

In parallel, Mariel is deeply involved in non-profit work, sitting on the board of the local Rotaract branch for five years, organizing a large range of social entrepreneurship initiatives. Later she founded the local chapter of Aiesec in Hermosillo in 2013, giving leadership opportunities and service to hundreds of Youth in Sonora and Baja California States.

Mariel has a BA in Business Engineering from the Technological Institute of Hermosillo Sonora, and regularly speaks on entrepreneurship and partnership development internationally.