our mission
The Havanada Catalyst Fund empowers Cuban entrepreneurs with the material support, mentorship, and global connections they need to build resilient businesses that transform communities. We are committed to fostering a sustainable private sector in Cuba rooted in social impact, resilience, and innovation. By investing in both business growth and personal development, we strengthen entrepreneurs as leaders and create lasting bridges between Cuba and the international community.
Many talented Cuban entrepreneurs face barriers to material support, mentorship, and international support, limiting their ability to grow businesses that benefit their communities. Our purpose is to remove these obstacles by providing material resources, training, and global connections, empowering local leaders to build resilient, socially responsible businesses that create lasting impact.
An Emerging Private Sector in a Difficult Context.
Cuba’s private sector is still young, with no precedent since private businesses were abolished in 1968 and only limited opportunities emerging in the past 15 years. Today, entrepreneurs face enormous challenges: an economic crisis, extreme difficulty obtaining materials and equipment, limited banking systems, disrupted supply chains, lack of formal training programs, and only recent access to mobile internet since 2018. These barriers prevent many promising businesses from scaling and reaching their potential.
Now is a critical moment. Despite these challenges, Cuban entrepreneurs are driving creativity, resilience, and community-based solutions. The Havanda Catalyst Fund exists to support them—providing resources and opportunities that the entrepreneurs can’t currently access. By doing so, we help create pathways for Cuban businesses to grow, thrive, and contribute to a stronger future for Cuba.
Funding with Purpose, Training with Impact
We don’t just give material support — we build pathways for long-term success.
PROVIDE material support
Support as many cuban entrepreneurs as quickly possible.
DELIVER TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP
Offer annual training programs and match entrepreneurs with mentors.
EXPAND MARKET ACCESS
Facilitate local and international market access opportunities to cuban entrepreneurs.
Foster long term relationships
Catalysing relationships between cuban entrepreneurs and international supporters
Promote Social Impact
Ensure that supported businesses integrate community benefits into their business model.
Strengthen Resilience
Provide business leadership and management training to cuban entrepreneurs.
Building Hope, Dignity, and Cooperation Across borders
Our guiding principles
Local Business Leadership.
Initiatives are shaped and carried out by local participants who determine their own priorities. Our role is supportive and facilitative, ensuring projects reflect real community needs.
Transparency and Accountability.
All activities follow clear procedures and documented oversight, with regular reporting to maintain the highest standards of compliance and integrity.
Community-Oriented Impact.
We support efforts that produce practical improvements in daily life, strengthen local capacity, and expand opportunities for individuals and families.
Practical Problem-Solving.
We work entirely within existing legal and regulatory frameworks, adapting to real-world constraints and focusing on solutions that are achievable, sustainable, and responsible.
Political Neutrality.
Our work is nonpartisan and non-advocacy. We do not take positions on political systems, policies, or government actions. Our sole focus is constructive community-level cooperation that benefits people regardless of political perspectives.
Long-Term Partnership.
We aim to build durable working relationships rooted in professionalism, mutual respect, and shared problem-solving.
Our Approach
We provide material support, training, and technical guidance to emerging small businesses and community-based projects. The objective is practical: to help local entrepreneurs and project leaders develop stable, useful initiatives that meet everyday needs.
Our support focuses on easing daily burdens, strengthening skills, and enabling responsible growth at the small-enterprise and community level.
The expanding small-venture sector plays an important role in meeting local needs. By reinforcing local capacity, we help reduce strain on existing systems and broaden opportunities for individuals and communities.
Our work is grounded in a simple principle: constructive, people-centered engagement transcends politics and produces outcomes that benefit everyone involved.
Selection and Funding Process
We focus on a clear, supportive process that empowers entrepreneurs at every stage:
apply
Cuban entrepreneurs submit proposals for their businesses or initiatives to the fund. Applications highlight the idea, potential impact, and community value.
select
Our review committee evaluates applications based on feasibility, innovation, and social impact. Selected projects move forward to receive support.
FUND
Donors can give in two ways:
adopt a project
Choose a specific entrepreneur or initiative to directly support.
general fund
Contribute to a pooled fund that distributes resources across multiple projects.
support
Selected entrepreneurs don’t just receive funding — they also gain ongoing mentorship, training, and global connections. This ensures they have the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to strengthen and scale their businesses.
report
We provide transparent updates to donors and highlight the progress of funded projects, showcasing the impact of their contributions.
Board & Committee
Our board brings together experienced professionals and entrepreneurs committed to supporting Cuba’s next generation of innovators. They provide oversight, strategic direction, and accountability to ensure the fund delivers measurable, lasting impact.
Be Part of the Story.
Every donation fuels an idea, every project transforms a community, and every entrepreneur represents Cuba’s resilient future.