Guatemalan startup BecaLab is recognized by MIT in Innovators Under 35 Latin America 2025

Choosing the right career or educational path can be challenging, and poor decisions often lead to demotivation or even academic failure. BecaLab is changing this reality in Latin America by providing students with personalized guidance and access to international scholarships through an innovative digital platform.

The Challenge of Academic Choices in Guatemala

Education Policy and Data Center (EPDC) highlights that lack of academic advising often results in poorly chosen careers, which frequently leads to students dropping out.

In Guatemala, less than 30% of students who complete secondary school access higher education, according to The Global Economy. This gap underscores the need for tools that support informed decision-making and strategic educational planning.

BecaLab: An Intelligent Platform for Students

Founded by Ana Aquino, a 33-year-old Guatemalan entrepreneur, BecaLab acts as a smart matchmaker between students’ profiles and the most suitable opportunities.

By integrating artificial intelligence, gamification, and career guidance, the platform democratizes access to international scholarships and helps students build clear academic plans.

"We want young people to understand why higher education is essential, design a strategic path, and enjoy the educational journey without relying on luck or improvisation", explains Aquino.

Tools and Features

BecaLab offers several tools to optimize scholarship searches and educational guidance:

• Beca Bot: An AI agent that guides students throughout the application process.
• BecaSwipe: A Tinder-like experience for education, allowing students to swipe right to express interest in programs.
• BecaMatch Test: A $4.99 test that identifies opportunities best suited to each student’s profile.
• BecaLab+PLUS: A premium service providing downloadable resources, document review, and masterclasses.

From Personal Experience to Impact

Aquino’s motivation comes from personal experience:

"After finishing high school in Guatemala, my plan was simple: study, get a good job, and earn enough to live. Five years and 13 scholarships later, I realized that without a strategy, valuable years are lost."

Her social media advice quickly drew thousands of students seeking guidance, highlighting a structural gap that BecaLab now addresses.

Achievements and Reach

In its first three months, BecaLab attracted over 200 paying active users with a monthly retention rate above 60%. More than 5,000 students have received support through its methodology, securing 500 scholarships in international programs like Chevening, Erasmus Mundus, Fulbright, Swedish Institute, and Fundación Carolina, as well as at top universities such as Harvard, Columbia, and Cambridge.

"Our goal is to reach one million students in Latin America and the Caribbean, with special focus on rural, indigenous communities, and first-generation women students", says Aquino.

Leadership and Recognition

Ana Aquino holds a law degree from Universidad Rafael Landívar (Guatemala) and a Master’s in Governance and Human Rights from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), with a Fundación Carolina scholarship. She is also pursuing a Master’s in Development Management at Universidad Externado (Colombia) with an ICETEX scholarship.

Her leadership has been recognized by programs including YLAI Fellow (USA), Ignite at the University of Cambridge (UK), and Techstars Founder Catalyst Women by WeXChange and BID Lab. Recently, she was named one of the 35 Innovators under 35 in Latin America 2025 by MIT Technology Review in Spanish.