Mi Primer Millón Jalisco 2026: Call for Entries, Prizes, and International Expansion

From a company just beginning to establish itself to a brand capable of competing domestically and abroad. This is the objective of “Mi Primer Millón,” the new business acceleration program driven by the Government of Jalisco, through the Ministry of Economic Development (SEDECO), which seeks to identify and support businesses with the potential to scale into larger enterprises.

The initiative includes a fund of 1.5 million pesos in direct subsidies, which will be distributed among the top three finishers: one million pesos for first place, 300 thousand for second, and 200 thousand for third.

Beyond the monetary prize, the program offers a path of business support to enable selected companies to professionalize their operations, strengthen their business models, and advance towards investment opportunities, retail and supermarket chains, as well as export markets.

What does “Mi Primer Millón” aim to achieve for Jalisco businesses?

The initiative stems from a specific need: to enable Jalisco companies that have already validated their product and overcome the initial stages of commercialization to take the next leap.

The call for entries is open to 30 companies that have surpassed their initial commercialization phase and have the conditions to accelerate their growth.

The program aims to prepare them to access:

• New retail and supermarket chains.
• Private investment.
• Larger national markets.
• Export opportunities.
• Business professionalization processes.
• Specialized mentoring and support networks.
• International markets, primarily the United States and Canada.

In this way, the program seeks to address one of the main challenges for SMEs: transitioning from having a commercially viable product to developing a business structure capable of sustaining accelerated growth.

How much money will the winning companies receive?

The financial incentive will be distributed among the three highest-ranked companies:

Place	Subsidy
First place	$1,000,000
Second place	$300,000
Third place	$200,000
Total Fund	$1,500,000

This funding represents the financial component of a strategy that also includes national and international mentoring and business support. The objective is for the capital to act as an accelerator for companies that already have a commercial base and the potential to significantly expand their market reach.

From a local company to an exporting brand in Jalisco

The program presents a vision that extends beyond traditional entrepreneurship. The intention is to identify businesses that already have a product and customers but need to strengthen their processes to compete in larger markets.

Among the objectives are the professionalization of operations, the strengthening of the business model, and the preparation of companies to negotiate with major buyers.

The opportunity to be incorporated into supermarket and retail chains is particularly relevant, as it represents a change in scale for participating companies. This implies higher production volumes, logistical capacity, quality standards, regulatory compliance, and a financial structure capable of meeting greater demand.

Added to this is the export perspective, with the United States and Canada as priority markets.

Which companies can participate in Jalisco?

The call for entries includes companies from sectors with potential for growth and commercial expansion, including:

• Processed foods and beverages
• Health and wellness
• Snacks
• Cosmetics and personal care
• Pet products and foods
• Dietary supplements
• Household items

The common denominator is that these are products with the potential to scale their commercialization and build brands with a presence beyond their domestic market.

The Goal: Transforming SMEs into Growth Engines

During the launch, the Governor of Jalisco, Pablo Lemus Navarro, highlighted the state’s entrepreneurial talent potential and the importance of strengthening micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) so they can evolve into larger companies.

The strategy aims for businesses currently operating with relatively small teams to increase their production capacity, generate employment, and eventually become exporting companies.

“Mi Primer Millón” is thus positioned as a tool to bridge the gap between having a good idea and building a scalable enterprise. The initiative also aims to connect promising companies with investment schemes, including angel investors, so that public funding can be complemented by private capital later on.

Jalisco Seeks to Expand its Base of Exporting Companies

The international component of the program is significant within a state economy characterized by a broad industrial, technological, agro-industrial, and services base.

For the selected companies, reaching the United States and Canada will not solely depend on having a competitive product. It will also require developing capabilities related to marketing, logistics, financing, compliance, and market strategy.

Therefore, mentoring is one of the core components of “Mi Primer Millón”: the objective is to guide companies through the process of preparing to compete in larger markets. The initiative aims for growth to encompass not just increased sales, but also the building of brands with the capacity for longevity and expansion.

What does “Mi Primer Millón” represent for Jalisco businesses?

The call for entries is based on a premise: Jalisco has businesses that have already demonstrated their products can sell, but they need capital, knowledge, and connections to advance to the next level.

With 30 participating companies and 1.5 million pesos in subsidies, the program focuses its efforts on companies in an intermediate stage: they have moved beyond the initial phase but still have considerable room for scaling.

The real challenge will be to convert this potential into sustainable growth, job creation, increased presence in commercial chains, and eventual exports.

With “Mi Primer Millón,” the Government of Jalisco aims to accelerate this process and transform local companies into brands capable of competing first in Mexico and then in international markets.

.The entry

first appeared on Líder Empresarial.