The Ecosystem Building Program

By Bufete Mejía & Asociados

Honduras is moving to strengthen its entrepreneurial ecosystem through IGNITE & CONNECT, a technical cooperation programme approved by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on 19 August 2026. The initiative has a total budget of US$3 million, including US$1.5 million in non-reimbursable IDB financing and US$1.5 million in national counterpart contributions.

The programme is designed to address barriers that limit the development of startups and other businesses in Honduras. Its main areas of intervention include the adoption of digital tools and innovation, stronger coordination among organizations supporting entrepreneurs, and improved access to financing.

Rather than providing a direct investment in a single company or establishing a venture capital fund, IGNITE & CONNECT focuses on strengthening the conditions that enable businesses to emerge, grow and become more competitive. Its approach places the entrepreneurial ecosystem itself at the centre of the intervention.

The programme is associated with a consortium involving Tanager, Sube Latinoamérica and Impact Hub Tegucigalpa. These organizations operate in areas related to economic development, entrepreneurship and business support. Their involvement connects the initiative with organizations that work with entrepreneurs and other participants in the business ecosystem.

Digital adoption and access to finance are particularly relevant to smaller companies seeking to expand beyond their domestic markets. Improved digital capabilities can help businesses reach customers, develop new products and manage operations, while access to financing can support investment in technology, productive capacity and commercial expansion.

The initiative also comes amid broader efforts to promote digital transformation and innovation in Honduras. Other programmes supported by international development institutions have focused on connectivity, digital services and the development of entrepreneurial capabilities. IGNITE & CONNECT complements this wider agenda by concentrating on the relationships and support mechanisms that help businesses turn ideas into viable commercial activities.

The programme's public documentation does not yet establish detailed targets for the number of startups to be supported, the sectors to be prioritized or the amount of financing that individual businesses may receive. Its expected impact will therefore depend on the specific activities implemented, the organizations reached and the results achieved during execution.