Juan Martín Rodríguez, born in Argentina, holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and serves as Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at IAE Business School, as well as director of its Investors Club. He completed an MBA at the Business School of Universidad Austral and complemented his education with academic programs at the Politecnico di Milano and Harvard Business School.
Rodríguez has built a professional profile centered on innovation and entrepreneurial development. He leads NAVES, a training and acceleration program for entrepreneurs promoted by IAE. In partnership with Banco Macro, the initiative provides structured mentorship, seminars, and access to networks for entrepreneurs across Argentina, particularly those based outside major metropolitan areas.
He has maintained a strong institutional connection with Universidad Austral. In 2018, he was appointed academic coordinator of WISE, a program created in collaboration with BID Lab and the IAE Center for Entrepreneurship. WISE focuses on increasing the participation of Latin American women in STEM fields, integrating entrepreneurship with scientific and technological disciplines.
Rodríguez also teaches in the policy and management area at IAE Business School and has delivered lectures at business schools across Latin America. His work has extended internationally, including program development linked to Silicon Valley ecosystems. He has contributed to innovation initiatives in cooperation with multinational companies and participated in the creation of an Argentine-Chinese Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, focused on bilateral research and applied projects.
Juan Martín Rodríguez: The virtualization boom during the pandemic with NAVES
In 2020, global lockdowns accelerated the adoption of remote work and digital education. IAE Business School transitioned NAVES into a fully virtual format, significantly expanding participation. According to Rodríguez, the online model generated record enrollment figures. The program’s impact was such that the Youth 20 (Y20), the official engagement group of the G20 for young leaders, recognized NAVES as a model initiative for international replication.
NAVES provides comprehensive training and mentoring, culminating in regional competitions where selected ventures are awarded. Rodríguez has explained that outcomes vary: some startups are acquired, others discontinue operations, and some re-enter the program for refinement.
What has Rodríguez said about the entrepreneurial environment in Argentina?
As a specialist in entrepreneurship, Rodríguez has addressed structural challenges facing Argentine startups. He has identified internal management issues and limited access to financing as key factors behind business failure. He has also pointed to macroeconomic volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and exchange rate instability as structural constraints affecting entrepreneurial ecosystems.
NAVES has become the flagship initiative reinforcing Rodríguez’s leadership in Argentina’s entrepreneurship landscape. He emphasizes the program’s national reach, structured training stages, and competitive regional selection process. Through teaching, mentorship, and public engagement, Rodríguez has positioned himself as a reference figure in Argentine entrepreneurial development, acknowledging both the opportunities and the inherent risks of launching ventures in the country.
