In recent years, Latin America has cemented its status as a critical node in the global innovation economy. Following a challenging “venture winter” in 2023-2024, the region has seen a resilient rebound. By late 2025, venture funding in the region climbed to $4.1 billion, driven by a maturity in the ecosystem that prioritizes sustainable growth over growth-at-all-costs.
Behind this resurgence is an evolving network of incubators, accelerators, and “company builders” that are no longer just teaching the basics of business but are actively shaping industries like biotech, agrifoodtech, and AI. This article updates the landscape of startup support in Latin America for 2026, highlighting the new heavyweights and the strategic shifts defining the region’s future.
The Landscape Shift: From Generalists to Specialists
The era of the “one-size-fits-all” accelerator is fading. In 2026, the most successful programs are those that offer specialized vertical expertise (like deep tech or climate) or distinct operational philosophies (like “pre-founder” nurturing).
The Power Players
1. 500 Global (Formerly 500 Startups): The Regional Anchor
Rebranded as 500 Global, this giant remains a cornerstone of the ecosystem. Far from just an accelerator, it has evolved into a multi-stage venture firm.
- Latest Data: 500 Global has now invested in over 300 Latin American companies. Their portfolio companies have created more than 18,000 direct jobs across the region.
- 2025 Initiative: In 2025, they launched the “Release Before Ready” hackathons across the region to push founders to validate products faster.
- Focus: While maintaining a broad thesis, recent cohorts have shown a heavy tilt toward AI-integrated solutions and fintech infrastructure.
2. Start-Up Chile: The Public Policy Gold Standard
Fifteen years in, the Chilean government’s program remains the world’s leading public accelerator, having survived multiple political administrations with its prestige intact.
- Impact: The program has supported over 3,000 startups (up from 2,000 in previous reports).
- Valuation Milestone: The collective valuation of its portfolio has surpassed $2 billion, with alumni companies raising over $1.2 billion in capital.
- Evolution: Start-Up Chile has refined its “Ignite” and “Growth” tracks to better serve later-stage companies, ensuring they don’t just start in Chile but scale from there.
3. Platanus Ventures: The “Y Combinator” of LatAm
If there is a new star in the ecosystem, it is Platanus Ventures. Based in Santiago but regional in scope, it has become the most desirable early-stage check for technical founders.
- The Model: Known for its developer-friendly culture and high bar for technical talent.
- 2025 Activity: In its recent cohorts (including the 6th batch in 2025), selected startups received $100,000 in investment.
- Why It Matters: Platanus has filled the gap left by global accelerators pulling back, creating a fiercely loyal alumni network that rivals Silicon Valley’s best.
4. Latitud: The “Pre-Everything” Partner
Latitud has redefined incubation by targeting the “pre-founder” stage—talented individuals who haven’t yet started a company.
- The Approach: Through its Fellowship program and Fund II, Latitud identifies top talent before they even have a pitch deck.
- 2025 Update: Their H1 2025 cohort featured founders from Brazil, Mexico, and Peru building “AI-first” vertical SaaS solutions. They are effectively the “common application” for entering the LatAm tech ecosystem.
Corporate & Specialized Powerhouses
Wayra (Telefónica): The Open Innovation Engine
In 2024, Wayra executed a massive strategic shift, unifying all of Telefónica’s innovation initiatives under a single “Open Innovation” banner.
- Reach: Wayra has invested in over 1,100 startups globally.
- Strategic Shift: Moving beyond simple acceleration, Wayra now acts as a direct conduit for startups to sell services to Telefónica’s millions of clients. Their 2025 presence at the 4YFN conference showcased 24 active portfolio companies, emphasizing deep integration with the telecom giant.
GridX: The Deep Tech Pioneer
Based in Argentina but operating globally, GridX is the region’s premier “company builder” for biotechnology.
- The Model: They match scientists with business entrepreneurs to turn lab research into investable startups.
- Stats: As of 2026, GridX has created over 90 science-based startups with $41.5 million in assets under management (AUM).
- Trend: They are driving a “Life-Compatible” revolution, funding projects that use biology to solve industrial problems, a sector that is proving resilient to economic downturns.
ACE Ventures (Brazil): From Accelerator to VC
Formerly known as ACE Startups, the Brazilian powerhouse has restructured. It split its operations into ACE Cortex (corporate consulting) and ACE Ventures (investment), moving away from the traditional “school-like” acceleration model to a pure VC structure.
- 2025 Activity: ACE Ventures remains highly active in Brazil’s B2B sector, with 5 notable investments in 2025 alone, focusing on logistics and fintech efficiency.
Parallel 18 (Puerto Rico)
Backed by the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust, Parallel 18 continues to punch above its weight as a bridge to the U.S. market.
- 2024 Impact Report: Alumni companies have generated $502 million in cumulative revenue.
- New Vertical: The launch of BioLeap focuses specifically on life sciences, capitalizing on Puerto Rico’s strong pharmaceutical infrastructure.
Emerging Trends for 2026 and Beyond
- The Rise of “Climate & AgriFoodTech”: While general funding fluctuated, agrifoodtech remains robust. In Q1 2025, investment in Brazilian agrifoodtech grew by 32%, driven by the need for climate-resilient agriculture. Accelerators are increasingly prioritizing “green” metrics alongside financial ones.
- Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) Maturity: Corporations are no longer just sponsoring demo days; they are becoming key liquidity providers. Wayra’s evolution and the rise of CVCs in Brazil suggest a future where startups are built with corporate exits in mind from day one.
- The “Technical Founder” Premium: Programs like Platanus and specialized tracks at Google for Startups are placing a premium on founders who can code and build their own AI models, shifting leverage away from purely business-oriented founding teams.
The Latin American startup ecosystem has graduated. It is no longer just a collection of copycat business models but a sophisticated engine producing deep tech, biotech, and AI solutions. For entrepreneurs, the support network is more fragmented but also more potent: whether you are a scientist in Buenos Aires (GridX), a coder in Santiago (Platanus), or a pre-idea visionary in Mexico City (Latitud), there is now a specialized partner ready to back you.
Photo of the portrait: Depositphotos
