From a very young age, Carlota Mateos has united entrepreneurship, the rural world and innovation with purpose. Founder of Rusticaeco-founder of PlenEat and now promoter of Ancla.lifeher trajectory demonstrates how territories can be transformed… and also how it is essential to take care of those who undertake.
As Pedro Abad, CEO of Asteo, pointed out during the interview, his profile offers “two equally inspiring angles: the entrepreneurial vision with purpose and a new look at the emotional well-being of the entrepreneur”.
Rusticae: a seal that changed rural tourism
In 1996, Carlota and her partner launched Rusticae, a platform that selects charming hotels in the rural world. The goal was clear: to connect travelers looking for authentic experiences with quality accommodations that showcased the local architecture, landscape and gastronomy.
Rusticae boosted new rural businesses, generated community among hoteliers and helped to professionalize a sector that was just beginning.
PlenEat: health, countryside and city on the same plate
Later, PlenEat was born, a revolutionary project: offering 100% organic corporate menus prepared in a central kitchen and served in companies. A model with triple impact:
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Urban health, thanks to a food without additives.
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Rural population fixation, supporting organic producers.
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Positive environmental impact, reducing chemicals in the food chain.
The pandemic slowed its growth, but left a profound imprint on how sustainable food can bring town and country together.
Ancla.life: taking care of the mind to be able to start a business
His current project, Ancla.life, addresses a subject so often silenced: the emotional exhaustion of the entrepreneur.
“We can’t run a marathon without training,” Carlota recalls. “The body holds up…until one day it breaks.”
The platform makes the problem visible, provides training in prevention, creates community, facilitates professional support and generates scientific studies on mental health in entrepreneurship.
Carlota’s story perfectly sums up what Pedro Abad pointed out in the episode: innovation, purpose and a powerful connection between the rural, the sustainable and the human.
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