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At Fuckup Nights, we partnered with Santander México to co-create Santander X Zone program : a three-day bootcamp built to supercharge the growth of high-potential startups. 

Beyond business advice, this program offered founders hands-on mentoring, high-impact growth strategies, and—most importantly—a safe space to talk openly about failure and learning with honesty and vulnerability. 

Every session was crafted to help startups build a growth mindset, strengthen their company culture, and create a supportive community where failures aren't setbacks—they’re starting points for innovation and collaborative leadership.

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A Program Custom-Made for Santander X Growth Zone

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For three intense days, we co-created experiences focused around organizational culture, innovation, and scalability, guided by industry experts. 

From building a team with shared values to understanding how to use Artificial Intelligence in the fundraising process, each session offered practical tools for startups.

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‍"It was an incredibly valuable experience—I learned a lot and made meaningful connections with amazing people." - Shared one of the attendees.

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Key Lessons to Accelerate Startups

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The Bootcamp was strategically designed to take a tour through essential topics that determine sustainable growth for expanding businesses. Over the three days, startups explored crucial areas such as:

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• Organizational Culture:
  With Laura Alamillo, we reflected on how the language we use shapes decision-making and accountability structures.
  
  If you have a "leadership team" you are implying that others are not leaders.
  
• Innovation Mindset:
  Azahara Azahara challenged everyone to rethink innovation.
  
  It's not just about technology, but about purpose: finding new ways to generate value, enhance processes, and improve customer experiences by always keeping the “why” at the core.
  
• Founder-led Sales:
  Fernanda (Fefe) Silva showed us that founders who create their own content have a seven times higher conversion rate.
  
  Today, selling is also communicating: decision makers research, compare and follow the real people behind brands before making decisions.
  
• Strategic Fundraising:
  We explore the six personality types that Venture Capital look for in entrepreneurs: Fighters, Operators, Accomplishers, Leaders, Engineers and Developers.
  
  
• Governance and Legal:
  Dr. José Barquet emphasized the importance of setting clear agreements early on capitalization, decision making, stock options and liquidity.
  
  A solid legal structure isn’t just protection—it's about aligning visions long-term.
• Talent and Team culture:
  The ideal team doesn't just execute—they grow with you.
  
  Ask yourself: If everyone at your company had the same values, attitudes, and talent as this candidate or team member, would it raise, maintain, or lower your standards?
  
  Measure talent by the impact on your company’s culture.
• AI and Productivity:
  Chava Vázquez shared practical tips for leveraging AI strategically.
  
  We learned that it's not enough just to use AI tools—you need to understand how algorithms think to achieve meaningful, differentiated results.
  
  A good prompt is as important as a good strategy.
  

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Each session was designed for founders to connect from vulnerability, challenge their vision and make strategic decisions.

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Spaces Where Growth Begins by Sharing Failures

At Fuckup Nights, we know that innovation thrives when we’re willing to be vulnerable, ask tough questions, and learn from each other. 

This collaboration with Santander X Zone created a safe space for startups to learn, connect and grow as a community. 

Through personalized mentoring and active networking, founders were able to generate strategic alliances, meet potential partners, and connect with experienced advisors.

Santander X and Fuckup Nights continue supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem by creating environments where failure becomes a driver for innovation, collaboration, and transformation—rather than something to hide.

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‍Learn more here about how to bring this event to your company.

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