Grant Funds for Micro-Entrepreneurs
We provide grants to up-and-coming entrepreneurs to start or grow private business in Cuba.
We do this through two funds:
The Peter E Hildebrand Grant Fund for Urban Entrepreneurs
Named in honor of Dr. Peter Hildebrand, a brilliant and accomplished professor and economist who worked in 31 countries over 35 years. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 84.
This fund provides small grants to entrepreneurs in urban centers such as Havana. Examples of what we might fund include: business start-up costs, equipment, and/or training to help them succeed in the operation of their business.
"It is up to YOU to take action, before others from the outside impose their own ideas." – Peter Hildebrand
The José Bocourt Errasti Grant Fund for Rural Farmer Advancement and Entrepreneurship
Named in honor of José Bocourt Errasti (El Moro), a rural coffee farmer from Los Tumbos who loved and lived off the land. He fathered 8 children, some of whom continue the farming tradition today. He passed away in 2018 at the age of 90.
This fund provides small grants to individuals in rural areas that farm the land as a means of livelihood. Because there has been an exodus of younger generations from farming communities to nearby towns and cities, we prioritize young adults who choose to stay in rural areas and farm as a business. Examples of what we might fund include: equipment, training, and/or start-up costs to help them better farm and meet market needs.
"Entrepreneurs have a mind-set that sees the possibilities rather than the problems created by change."
– J. Gregory Dees –
How You Can Help
Donate or help us raise money to support up-and-coming Cuban entrepreneurs
Join our programming committee and help facilitate these awards
Serve as a mentor for a grant recipient
Your donation helps launch the dreams of emerging Cuban innovators—providing seed funding, training, and tools to turn bold ideas into sustainable businesses.
Together, we can fuel entrepreneurship, preserve cultural legacy, and build a stronger future for Cuba.
