When we think about our neighbors the first thought that comes to mind is our next-door neighbors right?

We might know their Saturday morning routine of walking their dog, picking up the newspapers, or their Friday night gatherings that make it difficult for us to sleep. But how much do you really know about them other than their basic routine? A similar concept can be applied to our neighbors that are just a couple miles away. Perhaps you never thought about Tijuana as your neighbors but based on the geographic location and proximity of our two cities it is not far fetched to understand that we share more neighborly characteristics that we once thought and now are coming to understand.

VIDEO: Interview with Mario Lopez from The Border Group

Mexico Present Market Opportunities for Startups

Mario Lopez was a bi-national leader before it was even "cool" to be bi-national. He saw the strategic potential of the border and decided to dedicate his passion and drive towards uniting two neighbors that connected in ways that needed to be highlighted. According to Mario, "Bi-national makes sense, its smart, it is what makes San Diego unique taking advantage of that uniqueness goes across the board whether you are a tech company or culture, arts, and food". Furthermore, people who take advantage of this cross-border relationship could be at the forefront of many potential opportunities to expand into the Latin American market.

I am in San Diego, why should I even care about Tijuana?

"We live in the worlds busiest border crossing; we are more connected to Mexico than most people know, not only because of the large Latino community but because culture, arts, technology, and money flow's across the border" Even though cross-border relationships is nothing new we are at the forefront of a fueling conversation of how we can leverage resources from both sides of the border to create a more powerful regional economy.

There is a lot of mis-information out there. Get informed, reach out and learn more about what is going on in this thriving ecosystem. There is a world of opportunity 20 min away related to innovation and technology.

Share wine, food and great ideas with your innovative neighbors. You will most likely find that you have more in common with them than you would have thought.

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@USDEntrepreneur