On September 12, 2017, The Aspen Institute’s Latino’s and Society Program paired up with the Institute of the Americas in a forum dedicated to starting a conversation about unleashing the creative and economic potential of the US-Mexico Border.   

Dr. Carlos Martínez-Vela, VP of innovation at the Institute of the Americas and also member of Technology HUB’s advisory board, served as the first moderator. Ricardo Mora, CEO of Technology HUB, participated in the first discussion panel along with Regina Bernal, Entrepreneurship manager of The University of San Diego School of Business, and Guillermo Mejía Duclaud, Managing Director at Mexico Innovation Development Hub (MIND Hub) in Tijuana México.

The first panel’s discussion was about Innovating at the Border: Building an Inclusive Innovation Economy, and it highlighted examples of entrepreneurial success in the border regions. Ricardo Mora talked about how Technology HUB, along with its capital venture fund Saba Investments and Fab Lab Juárez are “Connecting Minds”, bringing the community together in a physical space where industry, entrepreneurs and companies –from both sides of the border– can collaborate and grow.


Other speakers in the event included the following:

Amb. Jamal Khokhar: President & CEO - Institute of the Americas 

Abigail Golden-Vazquez: Vice President & Executive Director - Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program 

Marcela Celorio: Consul General - Consulado General de México en San Diego

James Brown: Principal / Owner - Public Architecture / Bread & Salt

David Favela: CEO / Global Business Manager - Border X Brewing / HP Education Solutions

Jessie Zelayandia Estrella: Artist and CEO - Together we Rise


You can watch the full event below:



For more information about the Aspen Institute’s Latinos and Society program visit their website.

To learn more about The Institute of the Americas click here.

For more information about Technology HUB visit our website, like us on facebook or follow us on twitter.