Winner OF 2019
Rutopía
University:
- Tecnológico de Monterrey
Country:Mexico
Industry:
- Tourism
Supports these SDGs:
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Rutopia founders: Emiliano Iturriaga, Sebastian Muñoz, Leslie Pérez Sánchez & Diego Espinoza Siliceo
Preserving heritage & nature through tourism
In 2017, Sebastián Muñoz and Emiliano Iturriago set out to leverage Mexico’s rich biodiversity and create dignified job opportunities for rural and indigenous communities. From their vision, Rutopía was founded–a sustainable and community-based enterprise that bridges the gap between conscious travelers and local communities across Mexico.
With a mission to regenerate nature and culture, Rutopía curates rich and authentic experiences through the eyes of locals while supporting regional development, education, and conservation efforts. As the first tourism company in Mexico to earn a B Corp certification, Rutopía adheres to rigorous standards of sustainability, social impact, and transparency.
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Impact
To date, Rutopía not only preserved tradition but also built key connections, transforming tourism into a narrative of connection, environmental preservation, and inspiring new ways of exploring the world. To date, they have directly and indirectly created over 10,000 jobs, facilitating more than 5,375 unique experiences led by local hosts at protected natural sites. Rutopía’s virtuous cycle of economic growth and mission reaffirmation is reflected in their improved B Corp score, rising from 86.2 to 98.1, alongside achieving a host satisfaction rating of 9.1/20.
$2.48M
generated for local communities
4,339+
people receiving direct income
24.7K
travel days
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Imagine how the world could be if every leader, every decision-maker, experienced the world not just through reports and briefings, but through their own senses, standing on the ground that sustains us, engage with the people who are affected by their decisions, walking through the ecosystems from which the resources their companies depend on are coming from.
Emilano Iturriaga
Co-Founder & CEO