The new national report, led by EGADE Business School and the Eugenio Garza Lagüera Institute for Entrepreneurship, offers key insights and recommendations to strengthen the student entrepreneurship ecosystem.

By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL

More than half of Mexican university students intend to start their own business within five years of graduating, according to the latest GUESSS Mexico National Report, led by EGADE Business School and the Entrepreneurship Observatory of the Eugenio Garza Lagüera Institute for Entrepreneurship (IEEGL) at Tecnológico de Monterrey, with the support of Santander bank.

The national report, published in February 2025, is based on the tenth edition of the 2023 Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students' Survey (GUESSS)—an international study that collected data from over 226,000 students across 57 countries, aiming to inspire researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to continue strengthening student entrepreneurship worldwide.

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE ECOSYSTEM

In Mexico, the GUESSS 2023 study collected responses from over 3,100 students across more than 50 higher education institutions. The results reflect a strong entrepreneurial spirit flourishing within the country’s university ecosystem.

The report reveals that 22.7% of Mexican students plan to start their own business immediately after graduation, while 51.8% intend to do so within five years. Additionally, 28% of students incorporate entrepreneurship into their academic plans—significantly above the global average of 9.2%. These results position Mexico among the leading countries in student entrepreneurial intention.

Despite these encouraging figures, the report also identifies key challenges. While 42% of nascent entrepreneurs plan to launch their ventures during their studies, a considerable 84% lack prior entrepreneurial experience. Furthermore, only 19% of active student entrepreneurs have accessed entrepreneurial capital, indicating a clear opportunity to enhance funding alternatives and entrepreneurial education.

“The GUESSS Mexico Report shows a new generation of students who, with their creativity and risk-taking spirit, are ready to drive Mexico’s economic and social transformation," said José Ernesto Amorós, Associate Dean of Faculty and Research at EGADE Business School and lead author of the national report. "Strengthening training, mentorship, and access to entrepreneurial capital will be crucial to support them in materializing their projects," he emphasized.

The national report concludes with several recommendations aimed at fostering a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem. Among these, it emphasises the importance of enhancing practical training and mentoring programs, promoting the early development of entrepreneurial skills, expanding access to funding sources, and encouraging entrepreneurial projects within family businesses.

Authored by Geraldina Silveyra (Director of Training and Knowledge at the IEEGL), Andrés Alejandro Guzmán González (Research Dissemination Coordinator at the IEEGL), and Amorós, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the aspirations, challenges, and opportunities faced by university students across Mexico.

You can read the full GUESSS Mexico 2023 National Report here.