Incubadora CON VALORES

Imagine a world where business professionals and successful entrepreneurs actively share their knowledge with vulnerable communities, empowering them to build sustainable businesses that transform their lives.

That is precisely the vision of Incubadora CON VALORES: a disruptive non-profit organization based in Valencia, Spain, that builds bridges between the business sector and the social sector worldwide.

Globally, access to a source of income is undoubtedly a key factor in guaranteeing many other fundamental rights, including equality, housing, and overall well-being. In today’s competitive job market, entrepreneurship is often the only path to economic stability, especially for marginalized communities. However, entrepreneurs from socially excluded groups often embark on this journey without the specialized business knowledge or support they need.

Our mission is to empower people at risk of exclusion by providing them with the tools, training, and mentorship necessary to create sustainable livelihoods. Our programs include in-person and digital incubation, post-incubation support, and personal development training. We use agile learning methodologies and provide mentoring from over 6,384 experienced business professionals, emotional support tailored to the specific challenges of our target groups, and dynamic networking spaces.

Since October 2019, we have expanded our reach from Spain to Latin America, Africa, and Asia, incubating 7,205 entrepreneurs and generating economic opportunities in 78 countries. Our growing CON VALORES global family is a support network where entrepreneurs connect, share experiences, and find both professional and emotional encouragement throughout their entrepreneurial journey.

In 2022, we took another step in our commitment to inclusion by launching CON VALORES HUB —a free global network that helps social impact organizations grow and access funding, regardless of their size, experience, or legal status. This platform offers capacity-building activities, including training in fundraising and project management, networking opportunities, and other essential resources for organizations in the social sector. In just two years, the network has grown to 7,171 members from 164 countries.

As we continue working to improve the lives of marginalized populations, we have built partnerships with NGOs, business associations, universities, and public institutions around the world.

Incubadora Con Valores goes beyond simply creating, identifying, and fostering livelihood opportunities. Our approach is specifically designed to support individuals in difficult circumstances—those who often face a lack of training, experience, and financial resources, and who deal with complex emotional challenges. Our program was originally designed and continuously refined over the years to be implemented with a human-centered approach, addressing these unique realities and considering the significant barriers our entrepreneurs face. Recognizing the difficulties of people living in socially vulnerable contexts, we work to empower them and help them overcome these challenges by complementing the technical resources we offer with emotional support and by creating a sense of family to help them face both personal and entrepreneurial challenges along the way.

Our beneficiaries include groups such as women, youth, and people with disabilities. Notably, 61% of our entrepreneurs are migrants or have experienced human mobility.

At the core of the CON VALORES intervention model lies a focus on the sustainability and continuous growth of entrepreneurs. To support them in consolidating and expanding their businesses, we have developed post-incubation activities and services that connect them with commercialization and training opportunities. We collaborate with the business sector to integrate our entrepreneurs as suppliers in their value chains, with a strong emphasis on promoting socially responsible and impactful procurement practices. The results of our post-incubation program contribute to local and regional trade, generating positive effects on local economies.

With this disruptive, business-based model, we give entrepreneurs the opportunity to create their own ventures, freeing themselves from the limitations and demands of the traditional job market. We promote the creation of initiatives that generate a positive impact on the local environment and provide innovative solutions to unresolved challenges—such as housing for migrants, intercultural dialogue among ethnic groups, preservation of traditional crafts, and other areas we have already addressed with more than 4,000 entrepreneurs.

All these results have been documented and validated through several Erasmus+ projects such as Joint Venture, Senior+, Level Up, Social Seed, and Dragging, where we have explored and developed the connection between public administration needs and entrepreneurs to foster social procurement on aligned topics. For example, Joint Venture focused on the idea of joint partnerships between NGOs and entrepreneurs who need capital, space, or simply tools to develop their business ideas.

This model proposes an innovative approach that adds social value to the products and services offered by companies and to the activities carried out by NGOs. Other related projects such as Green Future or Mothers Can focus on training sustainable and socially aware entrepreneurs in rural environments and on reconciling work and family business models, respectively.

MAIN AREAS OF EXPERTISE

1. Business Incubation Program:

We support women, migrants, and other groups at risk of exclusion in creating sustainable businesses through comprehensive training, mentoring, networking, and access to digital tools that improve business management. We have designed 12-week incubation models supported by professionals from the business sector, leveraging our extensive capacity to attract experienced mentors who provide practical guidance, professional expertise, and strategic support. Our methodology is specifically designed to address the challenges faced by vulnerable entrepreneurs and transform barriers into opportunities for sustainable growth.

2. Post-Incubation Support:

We continue assisting entrepreneurs by connecting them with companies to promote social procurement, identifying new funding opportunities tailored to their individual needs, and strengthening their skills through continuous training. Additionally, we facilitate their integration into a global entrepreneurial ecosystem that fosters idea exchange and collaborative growth for sustainable expansion.

3. Entrepreneurial Capacity Building:

We offer continuous training in technical and soft skills, such as leadership, financial education, and sustainable business practices, using agile, human-centered methodologies that encourage critical thinking, local problem-solving, and long-term business growth. Our approach combines practical learning with innovative digital tools that enable participation regardless of geographical location.

4. Personal Development and Growth Program:

We provide guidance and practical tools to help individuals manage emotions, transform habits, and live with purpose. The program consists of 13 three-hour sessions held within a supportive community of participants facing similar experiences, fostering meaningful connections that strengthen and empower their lives. Human connection, trust, belonging, and mutual support are core components of our methodology and play a fundamental role in participants’ personal and entrepreneurial journeys.

5. Proximity Social Economy: Bridging Business and Social Impact

A cornerstone of our model is the deliberate integration of the business sector into the social entrepreneurship ecosystem. By connecting established business mentors with entrepreneurs facing situations of vulnerability, we create a space where commercial relationships are built on genuine empathy and shared purpose. This proximity dissolves institutional barriers and transforms traditional procurement dynamics, making social purchasing a natural and frictionless outcome of authentic human connection. Through sustained engagement, business leaders develop a deeper awareness of social entrepreneurship as a driver of economic inclusion, becoming active allies rather than passive observers — ultimately contributing to a more equitable and resilient local economy.

6. Inclusive Economic Development and Cross-Sector Collaboration:

We create long-term economic opportunities for people excluded from traditional systems by bringing together five key social actors: public administrations, NGOs, businesses, and citizens. Through this collaborative ecosystem approach, we promote sustainable hiring practices, facilitate social procurement opportunities, strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, and advocate for inclusive policies that generate shared social and economic value.

7. Mentorship and Digital Innovation:

We develop AI-based tools for entrepreneurial mentoring, including chatbots and digital mentors. These tools facilitate learning and provide guidance to entrepreneurs during incubation and post-incubation phases, especially through blended and mobile learning approaches that promote digital inclusion. Our highly digitalized methodology, involving 93 digital tools, enables meaningful engagement and personalized support for entrepreneurs regardless of location, while fostering strong relationships within our global ecosystem.

8. Marketing and Dissemination:

We provide our entrepreneurs with visibility and promotion of their business initiatives through our social media platforms, partner networks, and international projects. They are also invited to all our events, as well as to specialized workshops and webinars related to their businesses and personal experiences. Through these activities, we also raise awareness among businesses and institutions about inclusive entrepreneurship and the value of supporting entrepreneurs from vulnerable backgrounds.

9. Capacity Building for NGOs:

Through our CON VALORES Hub, we facilitate knowledge exchange and training on funding opportunities, project cycle management, and sustainability for social impact organizations. These sessions are conducted in collaboration with sector experts and donors. What began with individual entrepreneurs has evolved into an environment specifically tuned into bolstering NGO’s capacity to multiply social impact.

10. Experience in International Projects:

We have participated in several Erasmus+ projects (such as MIGRACTION, Moms Back to Work, GameYES, and Transform) addressing migrant integration, gender equality, and inclusive education. These experiences have strengthened our capacity to coordinate projects, share knowledge, and scale social innovations, improving the effectiveness of our programs and expanding global opportunities for our entrepreneurs.

11. Global Community and Knowledge Exchange:

Our key differentiating factor is the global community we have built around entrepreneurship, inclusion, and social impact. Through a worldwide network spanning 164 countries, entrepreneurs and organizations from every continent can gain access to a living knowledge bank composed of business professional mentors, fellow entrepreneurs. This ecosystem promotes collaboration, peer learning, international networking, and the exchange of opportunities across borders.

Our team is composed of 35 professionals in areas such as business development, communications, management, fundraising, and international affairs, all working every day to create better conditions for our entrepreneurs.

Additionally, ICV works with high-level business professionals who contribute their expertise in areas such as finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, innovation, and legal consultancy as corporate volunteers. Our network of over 400 Spanish companies provides a solid base of high-quality volunteers and partners who regularly support our projects and activities