A white man wearing a black t-shirt in which is written "AMAZ" and "Idesam". He has short curly hair, moustache and short beard, with a few white hairs in his beard. He is smiling and his background there are some trees and plants, but they are a little blurred, as the camera focused on Mariano.
Ashoka Fellow since 2023   |   Brazil

Mariano Cenamo

IDESAM
Working in the heart of the Amazon for 20 years, Mariano is dedicated to building, supporting, and investing in a new generation of entrepreneurs and impact businesses committed to the sustainable…
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This description of Mariano Cenamo's work was prepared when Mariano Cenamo was elected to the Ashoka Fellowship in 2023.

Introduction

Working in the heart of the Amazon for 20 years, Mariano is dedicated to building, supporting, and investing in a new generation of entrepreneurs and impact businesses committed to the sustainable development of the region.

The New Idea

After a long and successful career at the head of IDESAM, the NGO he founded in 2004, Mariano created AMAZ Aceleradora de Impacto (AMAZ Impact Accelerator), dedicated to forming and amplifying businesses that aim to solve the most relevant social and environmental problems in the Amazon. ByRead more

The Problem

The Amazon biome is home to the largest tropical rainforest in the world, with a rich diversity of fauna and flora and a high level of endemism. The biodiversity of the Amazon plays a fundamental role in global systems, exerting a strong influence on the carbon cycle and, consequently, on climateRead more

The Strategy

Mariano is an articulator of networks and social entrepreneurs and has been fundamental to the ecosystem of renewable and sustainable bioeconomy development in the Amazon. His work has created the necessary foundations for the emergence of a new economy in Brazil, encompassing improvements inRead more

The Person

Mariano grew up in São Paulo in an Italian-Brazilian family, with a grandfather who migrated from Italy in the 1940s. His family always traveled to the beach or the countryside and, during these trips, his love and interest in nature grew.

So he decided to study Forestry Engineering. During aRead more