Tec announces winner of 2025 Hult Prize Mexico

Tec de Monterrey has hosted the Hult Prize Mexico, in which over 30 teams from different universities in Mexico participated.

The Monterrey campus was buzzing with excitement, nerves, and a lively atmosphere as it hosted one of the 20 global semifinals of the Hult Prize, which advances one team to the global finals.

On May 9 and 10, the Carreta Pavilion welcomed entrepreneurs who presented their projects to judges and aimed to represent Mexico in the international final, with the Tec’s CELAL-MEX team winning this round.

“This recognition of our students reaffirms our commitment to Tec’s 2030 vision of educating transformative leaders with purpose,” said José Manuel Aguirre, Director of Entrepreneurship for the Monterrey Region.

Globally, the 2025 Hult Prize challenged more than 200,000 students to develop ideas and solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The winner is... CELAL-MEX!

This team, consisting of students José Manuel Contreras and José Adrián Contreras from the Tec’s Monterrey campus, won first place in the national semifinal of the 2025 Hult Prize.

Their startup focuses on the production of sustainable raw materials from waste.

They aim to transform agribusiness waste into inputs for other industries.

The team will travel to London in September to participate in the Global Accelerator. There, they will receive intensive training from expert mentors and aim to become one of six teams to present their project for the 1-million-dollar prize.

“This recognition reaffirms our commitment to educating transformative leaders with purpose.” – José Manuel Aguirre

Six teams compete in national semifinal

On May 10, six finalist projects were presented to a jury, which selected the winner.

During the hour-long break, while the judges decided on the winner, the teams relaxed together and La Carreta was filled with activities, which even included karaoke.

The six finalists of the Hult Prize Mexico were:

• Yayis Flowers

This is a project that transforms waste flowers into profitable products such as essential oils, candles, and incense.

• Brainwave

This is a portable device enabling real-time detection of myoclonus to monitor degenerative diseases.

• Prospera Financial Services

This provides young people with financial education, access to credit, and financial history.

• Mi BiomarK

This tool provides early diagnosis for different diseases.

• Enfinem

This is a device that guides people through CPR in real time.

• CELAL-MEX

This project extracts cellulose from pineapple, carrots, and agave to produce sustainable raw materials.

About Hult Prize

Hult Prize is a foundation that supports new companies that emerge from universities aiming to solve social problems.

Each year a challenge is launched in conjunction with the UN and former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

The final event is held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, USA.

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