Coming out of the pandemic, entrepreneurship levels across Latin America and the Caribbean have led Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) to label LatAm a “hothouse of new entrepreneurship” and innovation.
In particular, sectors such as financial technology (fintech), artificial intelligence (AI), agriculture technology (agtech) and social impact entrepreneurship are driving a lot of the innovation found today in Latin America.
Many of these growing companies are either led by or incredibly supported by young entrepreneurs and innovators. This despite the fact that the median age of Latin America is getting older.
According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, “in 1950, the median age of Latin America and the Caribbean’s population was 18; by 2024, that value had risen to 31 years of age; and by 2050, it is forecast that the median age will be approximately 40.”
With these changing demographics in mind, Latin America Reports is taking a look at 40 of the most impressive and influential people under 40 in the business community in Latin America who are making the region more competitive globally.
Angela Acosta, Morado (Colombia)
Angela Acosta is a pioneer in the beauty tech business, channeling her passion for innovation and impact into her work.
She is the CEO and founder of Morado, a tech company dedicated to empowering beauty businesses across the globe, starting with Latin America.
Morado is supported by prominent investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, H20 Capital Innovation, Tiger Global Management, QED Investors, FEMSA Ventures, Latitud, Village Global, amongst others, who believe in Acosta’s vision.
The company supports over one million women-led beauty businesses by providing access to financial services and excellent growth opportunities.
A graduate of the Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, Acosta is making waves in the beauty tech industry.
Matias Gath, Pulppo (Argentina/Mexico)
Mathias Gath is the co-founder of Latin America’s first tech-enabled real estate broker, Pulppo.
Having worked for several years as an entrepreneur as well as in real estate, he has now shifted his focus to revolutionizing the property broker industry in Latin America.
With Pulppo, which was accelerated at Y Combinator in 2022, Gath aims to create a Shopify for real estate brokerages, covering everything from automatic property listings, analytics and a CRM tool.
The goal is to make the process of selling a house easier for brokers across Latin America.
Gath previously was country manager in Argentina for Spanish delivery giant Glovo, after his startup, Kadabra – the first on-demand delivery platform in Argentina – was acquired by the Spanish firm in 2017.
He currently resides in Mexico City and was also a recipient of the IESE 40 under 40 award.
Carolina Huaranca Mendoza, First Close Partners (Peru)
Carolina Huaranca Mendoza is a Peruvian-American venture capitalist and advocate for diversity in technology and entrepreneurship. She is the co-founder of First Close Partners, a company that supports venture firms led by underrepresented managers globally to diversify the venture capital landscape.
Previously, as a Principal at Kapor Capital, she played a pivotal role in investing in early-stage tech companies like Uber, Twilio, and Career Karma, and established the firm’s first formal strategy for investing in diverse emerging managers.
As a Lightspeed Venture Partners Scout, she also focuses on investing in tech-enabled companies that empower low to moderate-income communities in the Americas, with particular interest in fintech, employment, and community-building sectors.
Carolina acts as a board member of Latinas In Tech and a Venture Capital mentor with HBCU.vc, a non-profit organization connecting and equipping the next generation of ethnic minority technology innovators and venture capital investors.
Leonardo Arango, One Way Ventures (Colombia/U.S.)
Leonardo Arango is an LP and Venture Partner at One Way Ventures, a firm co-founded by immigrants that invests solely in immigrant tech founders in the United States and Canada.
Having immigrated to the U.S from Colombia himself at the age of seven, Arango works to invest in tech founders and early-age start ups shaped by the immigrant experience. He’s invested in such startups as Claritype, Debbie, and Provision, among many others.
Before joining One Way Ventures in 2021, Arango studied in the U.S. and went on to work with some of the most recognized names in Venture Capital, including Sequoia and Polymath Ventures.
He also served as an investor at Balyasny Asset Management, where he focused on late-stage private investments.
Lastly, Arango also serves as a board member at SomosVC, a non-profit organization working to emphasize the presence of Latinos/as in venture capital.
Renzo Costanzo, Viatik (Uruguay)
Renzo Costanzo is a young entrepreneur and tech enthusiast currently based in Montevideo, Uruguay. At only 19 years of age, Renzo co-founded Viatik, Uruguay’s long-distance carpooling startup.
Viatik connects people to share travel costs between cities, allowing passengers to save up to 50% and enabling drivers to offset up to 100% of their fuel expenses.
With over 170,000 community members and more than 90,000 users in Uruguay, Viatik is expanding into Argentina and has helped reduce more than 165 tons of CO2 emissions.
Viatik was one of 15 projects selected from amongst 3,000 in Latin America, the United Kingdom, Spain and the US to participate in the Santander Explorer Trip to Valencia.
As Viatik’s CEO, Costanzo is driven by his mission to make mobility more humane, accessible, and sustainable for everyone, turning his lifelong dream of creating tech solutions into a reality that transforms society.
Odille Sánchez, Tec de Monterrey (Mexico)
Odille Sánchez is the leader of the Tech and Scientific-based Entrepreneurship Center of Excellence at Tecnológico de Monterrey, one of the region’s leading universities.
The center has helped to support some of Mexico’s most promising startups, and it recently announced a new partnership with the Global Accelerator Network (GAN), a spinoff company from Techstars.
Led by Sánchez, the center has also created accelerator programs for some of the top municipalities and large corporations operating in Mexico, including Daikin, Coramino (from the José Cuervo Foundation), as well as the state of Jalisco.
Her work researching startup ecosystems has been presented to universities and governments in places like the United States and Brazil, and she has also been named as a startup mentor at Techstars and The Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia.
Andres Sarrazola, Stealth Startup/Ayenda (Colombia)
Andres Sarrazola is a Colombian entrepreneur and CEO of Stealth Startup, a company whose aim is to help startups in stealth mode launch and scale.
Amongst other things, the company assists founders, recruiters and job seekers to connect all parties to help promising startups scale their teams effectively and rapidly.
His “stealth” approach to helping to grow companies involves helping businesses develop their ideas in the early stages, without the pressure of competition, the media or market disruptions.
Sarrazola has long been a successful entrepreneur, of course, having served until 2025 of the startup he founded, Ayenda, an innovative hotel reservation platform for Latin America.
Under Sarrazola’s leadership, the company expanded to over 280 properties and secured more than $20 million in funding from prominent investors, including SoftBank and 500 Global.
Mariana Costa Checa, Laboratoria+ (Peru)
Mariana Costa Checa is a skilled Peruvian social entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Laboratoria+, a nonprofit organization that empowers women from underserved backgrounds in Latin America to build careers in technology.
Laboratoria+ offers intensive bootcamps in web development and UX design, followed by job placement support. With operations across Peru, Mexico, Chile, and Brazil, the organization has trained over 3,500 women.
Her commitment to inclusive innovation has earned her numerous accolades. In 2016, she was named one of the BBC’s 100 Women and shared a panel with Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.
She was featured in the Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list in 2022, and received the Change Agent Abie Award from AnitaB.org. She is also an Ashoka Fellow and has been honored by organizations such as Google.org, McKinsey & Company, and the Project Management Institute for her impactful leadership.
Beyond her work with Laboratoria+, Costa Checa serves as an independent director at Engie Energía Perú and has been featured as a speaker at global forums, including TEDxPlaceDesNationsWomen.
Lucas Bonatto, Wabee AI (Brazil)
Lucas Bonatto is a Brazilian software engineer and entrepreneur specializing in machine learning infrastructure. His numerous ventures have contributed much to the field of AI automation.
Alongside his previous position as Director of AI at Semantix, he has been involved in various projects, most recently founding Wabee AI, empowering people to build safe, AI-powered applications.
He is also the founder and former CEO of Elemeno AI, a company established in 2021 that provided an end-to-end MLOps platform to streamline the development and deployment of AI models. Elemeno AI was acquired by Semantix, a leading Latin American data platform provider, in February 2023. Following the acquisition, Bonatto took on the role of Director of Engineering for AI and ML at Semantix, contributing to the development of large-scale machine learning platforms.
Since leaving this position in 2024, he has been involved in new ventures. Most recently, he founded Wabee AI, empowering people to build safe, AI-powered applications using natural language.
Bonatto holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS) and was asked to be a Mentor for startup founders at the University of Southern California’s incubator program in 2023.
Alejandro Perez, Fracttal (Colombia)
Alejandro Perez is an esteemed electronic engineer and senior programmer with over 15 years of experience. His entrepreneurial journey began in 2008 in the biomedical sector.
Since then, Perez co-founded Fracttal, a software development company which offers a fully mobile management solution that integrates asset management software, IoT, and artificial intelligence.
The platform swiftly gained international prowess after its conception in 2014 and boasts an extensive client portfolio including Renault, Burger King, Acciona, Unilever, Iberostar, Veolia, FedEx, Oxxo, 3M and Coca-Cola.
He was recently invited to speak at the Impact Entrepreneurship Center of EAFIT University in Medellín, Colombia.
Lucía Gallardo, Emerge (Honduras)
Lucía Gallardo is a serial entrepreneur and innovation strategist. She is the founder and CEO of Emerge, a company dedicated to designing inclusive, human-centered technologies that address global challenges such as migration, inequality, and climate change.
Additionally, she co-founded Dona un Libro, Cambia una Mente, a non-profit committed to crafting original children’s education content to gently address pressing social issues plaguing Central America.
Hailing from Honduras, Gallardo serves on the boards of Blerify, FinRamp, Rainforest Partnership and WE Global Studio.
She has presented on global stages at the WEF Sustainable Development Impact Summit, Bloomberg, Consensus, and Money 20/20, where she is the only person to ever simultaneously be an inaugural winner of their Rise Up and Amplify Fellowship Cohorts, among others.
Throughout her impressive career she has also been nominated for the Global SDG Awards and Newsweek’s Blockchain Impact Awards.
Rebecca Fischer, Divibank (Brazil)
Rebecca Fischer is the co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Divibank, a Brazilian fintech company offering non-dilutive, revenue-based financing to startups and small-to-medium enterprises.
Since its creation in 2020, Divibank has provided entrepreneurs with alternative financing options beyond traditional bank loans or venture capital.
Fischer’s innovative approach addresses a critical gap in the Brazilian financial ecosystem, and is driven by her passion for empowering entrepreneurs to achieve sustainable growth.
She boasts over nine years of experience in Digital Marketing, Communications Strategy, and E-Commerce and a series of successful inbound and outbound campaigns across various channels.
Roberto Peñacastro, Leadsales (Mexico)
Roberto Peñacastro is the co-founder and CEO of Leadsales, an innovative startup focused on providing a specialized CRM for WhatsApp and social networks, with a direct impact on tripling sales.
Originally from Queretaro, Mexico, Peñacastro is a passionate and visionary entrepreneur with an outstanding track record in the industry. His innate ability to lead teams and find effective solutions to business challenges distinguishes him as a leading figure in the entrepreneurial world.
The co-founder has been recognized for his participation in prestigious accelerators and programs, such as SkyDeck Batch 14 S22, Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund, and StartX S23, among others.
His dedication to philanthropic causes and his commitment to business development have earned him the recognition of Forbes Mexico, being highlighted as one of the 30 Promising Businesses of 2024.
Laura Hernández, Source Meridian (Colombia)
Laura Hernández is a passionate leader in talent development and project management within the tech space, specializing in providing solutions to some of the largest healthcare companies.
Based in Medellín, and with over six years of experience in management and team building, Hernández excels at leading high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and driving professional growth.
She is known for her ability to connect with people on a personal level, inspiring them to excel and contribute to the organization’s success.
At Source Meridian, a software company specializing in life sciences and healthcare technology in the U.S., Hernández also advises companies on certifications such as SOC 2, HITRUST, and HIPAA, while actively contributing to projects focused on business expansion, creating a strong company culture, and developing products that have a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.
Committed to sustainable growth, she participates in recruiting top talent who align with the company’s values and vision.
Andres Guzman, Startup Chihuahua (Mexico)
Andres Guzman is the co-founder and CEO at Startup Chihuahua, a technology-based entrepreneurship initiative in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.
The organization fosters science, technology, and innovation strategies in order to help increase the region’s standing as a global competitor in these fields.
In addition to Startup Chihuahua, Guzman also leads the Center for Innovation and Economic Development for the state.
Throughout his career, Guzman has supported the development of more than 1,000 Mexican companies and startups from various positions.
He has been recognized as a global leader by the U.S. State Department and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), as well as being selected to be an international ambassador for the Harvard College Project for Asian and International Relations and a technology facilitator for the Wadhwani Foundation in Latin America.
Guzman has been a key actor in driving innovation in northern Mexico and has a self-proclaimed passion for creating a positive impact and fostering growth.
Facundo Carrill, CONICET (Argentina)
Facundo Carrillo is an applied Artificial Intelligence Researcher at The National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), based in Argentina.
In his professional career, Carrillo has been involved in various initiatives that bridge technology and social impact, demonstrating a commitment to leveraging innovation for the betterment of society.
In 2018, he co-founded the Sigmind, a mental health care company that combines the best in neuroscience and artificial intelligence to create tools that extract objective and quantitative metrics from people’s speech to support mental health professionals to diagnose and monitor patients.
He is the recipient of several honours for his innovative work with Sigmund including the Project Management Institute’s Future 50 leaders, the Samsung Innova award, Banco Nación’s Innovative Entrepreneurship Competition, and an honour in the “Entrepreneur” category in the MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 in Latin America.
Certainly informed by his PhD in computer science from Buenos Aires University, Carillo’s work offers solutions to mental health challenges through the thoughtful application of technology.
Ximena Aleman, Prometeo (Uruguay)
Ximena Aleman is an entrepreneur and fintech innovator, serving as co-founder and co-CEO of Prometeo, Latin America’s leading open banking API platform. Established in 2018, Prometeo offers a unified API that connects over 200 financial institutions across 11 countries.
Originally trained in journalism, Aleman transitioned into the fintech sector after recognizing the infrastructural challenges hindering financial innovation in Latin America.
Aleman’s contributions to fintech have garnered significant recognition. She was named one of IUPANA’s “Disruptoras 2020” and received the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from the Association of MBAs (AMBA) in 2022.
In 2024, FinTech Magazine listed her among the “Top 100 Women in Fintech.” Additionally, she serves as a WeFinTech Ambassador, advocating for gender equity and increased access to capital for women-led startups in Latin America.
Juan Manuel Lemus Rangel, Apunajaa (Colombia)
Juan Manuel Lemus Rangel is a Colombian entrepreneur and innovator recognized for his contributions to sustainable technology. He is the co-founder of Apunajaa – Agua por la Guajira, a company dedicated to providing clean water solutions for rural communities in Colombia.
Apunajaa’s flagship innovation is an air-to-water generator that uses solar energy and thermal batteries to extract potable water from atmospheric humidity, addressing water scarcity in arid regions.
Lemus Rangel was honored as one of the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 Latin America in the “Inventor” category for his work with Apunajaa. The project was deemed one of the ten most innovative initiatives worldwide from the Global Impact Challenge of Entrepreneurship.
He is also an advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. He has shared his expertise as a speaker at various events, including at Universidad ICESI in Cali, Colombia, where he discussed innovative solutions for water access in rural communities.
Harold Barber, Escala 24×7 (Argentina)
Harold Barber is a professional with extensive experience in the technology and consulting sectors.
He currently serves as Director of Operations at Escala 24×7, a leading cloud computing solutions company and a leading Amazon Web Services (AWS) partner in Latin America.
In his role, Harold leads technical and business teams for the development and operation of solutions, as well as the Legal and Finance teams, ensuring the successful delivery of cloud projects for clients across diverse industries.
Barber has over 10 years of experience developing and operating technology businesses in multiple Latin American countries.
He studied Computer Engineering and holds certifications in various information technologies, including AWS and Google Cloud.
Ricardo Tannus, Catena.work (Brazil)
Ricardo Tannus is the co-founder of Catena.work, a platform that connects companies with qualified candidates within 72 hours, streamlining the hiring process.
The inquisitive Brazilian entrepreneur began testing formats of connecting people after moving to England in 2016 and had some success with one model in particular.
With the arrival of the pandemic, however, his work was paused. In 2022 Tannus, having returned to Brazil, created Catena.work by experimenting with a model that combines growth hacking with hunting.
Today, the company has facilitated over 500 hires, working with more than 200 companies.
They have received awards from SEBRAE, Inovabra, and 100 Open Startups, among others.
The company will participate in Web Summit Rio 2025 as an exhibiting startup after being selected by Sebrae for Startups.
Cecilia Retegui, Zolvers (Argentina)
Cecilia Retegui is an Argentine systems engineer and entrepreneur dedicated to leveraging technology for social impact.
After earning her degree from the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional and an MBA from UCEMA, she spent 16 years leading a software company that she co-founded. In 2013, she co-founded Zolvers, an online platform connecting households with certified domestic workers and maintenance professionals.
Operating in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia, Zolvers has facilitated employment for over 180,000 workers, promoting formal labor practices and financial inclusion through services like microloans and banking access.
Retegui’s work has earned her recognition, including the Marianne Award and inclusion in Endeavor’s network of high-impact entrepreneurs. Her commitment to improving the lives of domestic workers exemplifies the transformative power of technology when applied thoughtfully to address societal challenges.
Stanley Salvatierra Berrios, Deep Micro Systems (Bolivia)
Stanley Alexander Salvatierra Berrios is a Bolivian electrical engineer and entrepreneur recognized for his innovative applications of artificial intelligence (AI) to address societal challenges. He co-founded Deep Micro Systems, a startup that developed low-cost, open-source AI products aimed at enhancing urban safety.
In recognition of his impactful work, Salvatierra was honored in 2019 as one of MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 Latin America in the “Inventor” category.
His contributions extend beyond traffic safety; he also developed AI tools designed to detect electoral fraud, demonstrating a commitment to leveraging technology for broader societal benefits.
Currently, Salvatierra continues to advance AI-driven solutions as a core contributor to Besage.ai and co-founder of Demsbo.com. His expertise encompasses large language models, deep learning, and embedded systems, with a focus on optimizing AI for both cloud and edge computing environments.
David Alejandro Trejo Pizzo, Carbo Energy (Argentina)
David Alejandro Trejo Pizzo is an Argentine entrepreneur and physicist specializing in sustainable energy technologies.
He is the founder and CEO of Carbo Energy, a company developing redox flow batteries that utilize waste chemicals to provide eco-friendly, large-scale energy storage solutions.
The technology aims to support the integration of renewable energy sources by offering scalable and cost-effective storage options.
Before Carbo Energy, Trejo Pizzo co-founded Nydro Energy, a platform enabling users to trade surplus electricity, which was successfully acquired.
His academic background includes research on memristors and resistive communications, contributing to advancements in energy storage and artificial intelligence hardware.
Trejo Pizzo has been recognized for his innovative work in the energy sector, including participation in the Techstars Sustainability Paris Accelerator. He actively engages in discussions on sustainable development and the future of energy through various platforms, sharing insights on the intersection of technology and environmental stewardship.
Angela Castillo Llinas, OneSignal (Colombia)
Angela Castillo Llinas is a Colombian entrepreneur and product leader with a strong background in brand management, e-commerce strategy, and marketing technology.
She co-founded HelloGuru, a no-code AI platform that enables companies to build internal tools without extensive programming knowledge. As COO she played a pivotal role in developing the company’s product and operational strategies.
Currently, Castillo Llinas serves as a Senior Product Manager at OneSignal, focusing on AI, monetization, and user data. She is also an advisor and investor at Vector, which specializes in contact-based marketing, and a mentor for Latinas in Tech.
Her diverse experience includes roles at Drift, where she was Chief of Staff, and Anheuser-Busch InBev, where she held the position of Chief Product Officer for Marketing Technology.
Her commitment to innovation and leadership in technology-driven solutions earned her recognition as one of MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 in Latin America as well as an invitation to act as a speaker and mentor at the Founder Institute.
Maite Muñiz Telleria, Truora (Mexico)
Maite Muñiz Telleria is a Mexican entrepreneur and product leader. She is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Truora, a Latin American startup specializing in digital identity verification and fraud prevention solutions.
Founded in 2018, Truora has expanded its operations across multiple countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Chile, offering services such as background checks, continuous identity verification, and biometric validations through APIs and web services.
She holds a Bachelor ‘s Degree in Economics from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México.
Under her leadership, Truora has gained recognition for its innovative solutions and rapid growth. The company was part of Y Combinator’s Winter 2019 batch, which provided a platform for scaling its services across the region.
She continues to advocate for gender equity in tech and has been featured in various publications and podcasts, sharing insights on product management and scaling startups in Latin America.
Maite Muñiz Tellería participated as a featured speaker at Venture Café Monterrey during the Demo Day for the Founders Institute Summer Batch 2022.
Daniel Lloreda, HTwenty (Colombia)
Daniel Lloreda is the co-founder and General Partner HTwenty, an early-stage venture firm that invests primarily in Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A technology startups operating across Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market.
The firm crosses borders, maintaining a presence in Miami, Mexico City and Bogotá.
The experienced entrepreneur boasts a demonstrated history of working in the venture capital and private equity industry. He works closely and actively with visionary entrepreneurs, helping them to take their companies to new heights.
According to his company website, he’s executed over 25 global technology investments in excess of $100 million. Some notable investments from HTwenty’s portfolio include Justo, Farmu and Tül, and according to Contxto, the second fund they raised was backed by Scott Shleifer, co-founder and partner of Tiger Global Management; Sebastián Mejía, co-founder and president of Rappi; Fabián Gómez, co-founder and CEO of Frubana; Roger Laughlin, co-founder of Kavak; and the founders of iFood and Mercê do Bairro.
Lloreda also acts as an investor and his expressed attraction to pitches that tell a story have helped to ensure fruitful ventures and relationships that cultivate growth.
Walter Daniel Mata Martínez, WAS Co (Mexico)
Walter Daniel Mata Martínez is the founder of WAS Co, a company which repurposes plastic waste and debris as building material.
The innovator from Monterrey, Mexico was named as an MIT Innovator Under 35 in Latin America and as Inventor of the Year (2022) by the MIT Innovators Under 35 Awards for his eco-friendly enterprise.
Since 2017, both Mata and his company have been nominated for several accolades in the fields of technology and ecological progress.
They have also been the recipient of several prizes, including the Accelerate 2030 México award in 2021.
Mata’s initiative has enabled the construction of both social housing and industrial buildings in an eco-conscious way.
Pierpaolo Barbieri, Ualá (Argentina)
Pierpaolo Barbieiri is the founder and CEO of Ualá, a fintech company that has expanded its services to Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia, aiming to become the largest bank in Argentina.
He also founded the venture capital firm 17Sigma in 2021 which invests in early-stage startups across Latin America, particularly in pre-seed and seed rounds.
As founder of the organization, Barbieri spearheads initiatives to support disruptive and innovative Latin American entrepreneurs in order to build a fairer future for these companies.
An alumni of both Harvard and Cambridge University, the skilled entrepreneur is a prominent figure in the startup ecosystem and is deeply committed to advancing financial inclusion in Latin America.
Ualá was recently the focus of a 2025 Harvard Business School Case Study titled “Hyperscaling Dreams: Ualá’s Path from Startup to Fintech Champion” undoubtedly due to its rapid growth and success.
Naveen Sharma, UnDosTres (Mexico)
Naveen Sharma is the co-founder of UnDosTres, a Mexican Fintech company. Since its creation in 2015, it has become a trusted destination for online mobile recharges, TAG recharges and movie tickets.
Hoping to revolutionise the way people pay for products and services, Sharma was part of the team that founded the company which has become Mexico’s chosen platform for online transactions.
In June 2022, UnDosTres secured $30 million in a Series B funding round led by IDC Ventures, with participation from IGNIA, Dalus Capital, Telegraph Hill Capital, AI8 Ventures, and Benber LP.
Although originally from India, the majority of Sharma’s professional career has unfolded in Latin America where he continues to contribute to the entrepreneurial landscape.
Inés Benson, InvGate (Argentina)
Inés Benson is an Argentine entrepreneur and linguist who has developed tools to enhance communication in Latin America. According to MIT Technology Review, she founded Guará, a free Android keyboard application that recognizes regional Spanish dialects, particularly Argentine Spanish, to prevent autocorrect errors that often arise from standard Spanish language settings.
Building on this, she also created Dora, an AI-powered tool that analyzes oral presentations, providing feedback to improve speech delivery and converting speech into text. Dora is utilized by call centers and government agencies in Argentina and Chile to enhance communication effectiveness.
Benson’s work addresses the challenges posed by linguistic diversity in Latin America, offering solutions that respect regional language variations.
In recognition of her contributions, Benson was named one of MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 Latin America in 2019.
Camilo Martínez Fernández, Leal (Colombia)
Camilo Martínez Fernández is the co-founder and CEO of Leal, a Bogotá-based customer loyalty and data analytics platform serving over 8,000 merchants across Latin America. Leal offers AI-powered tools that help retailers personalize marketing, improve customer retention, and boost sales through data-driven insights.
Under Martínez’s leadership, the company has expanded its operations to eight countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Guatemala.
Prior to Leal, Martínez co-founded IMPULSE Travel, a Colombian social enterprise that promotes sustainable tourism by connecting travelers with local communities.
Martínez’s work with IMPULSE Travel has also earned international acclaim. The company was honored in the “Peace, Social Justice and Strong Institutions” category at the SDGs Global Startup Competition organized by the World Tourism Organization.
Philippe Magno, FOZ (Brazil)
Philippe Magno is a Brazilian entrepreneur and innovator recognized for his contributions to assistive technology and social inclusion. He is the co-founder of the HandsFree Institute, a pro bono startup that develops technology enabling individuals with restricted mobility, such as tetraplegic or amputee doctors, to control smartphones and tablets using head movements.
His progressive initiatives earned him a place in the MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 LATAM list.
In 2018, Magno co-founded FOZ – Center for Innovation in Health and Education, an institution dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in health and education. He currently serves as the Head of Innovation at FOZ.
Magno’s work has garnered significant recognition. In addition to his inclusion in the Innovators Under 35 LATAM list, he was named in Forbes Brazil’s Under 30 list in 2018. He has also been featured in various media outlets for his innovative approach to assistive technology and his commitment to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.
Jose Peña Manjarrés, Flycrew (Colombia)
Jose Peña Manjarrés is the co-founder and COO of Flycrew, a platform launched during the pandemic to help fitness enthusiasts and professionals transition to virtual training environments.
Prior to Flycrew Peña Manjarrés co-founded Cafeeina, a digital marketing agency specializing in growth hacking strategies for startups and businesses.
Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Peña Manjarrés is an advocate for transparent business practices and knowledge sharing.
He has contributed to various publications and podcasts, discussing topics such as micromobility in Latin America, the impact of fake news, and strategies for international business expansion.
At the beginning of his career, he was selected as a Global Shaper belonging to a group of leaders under 30 by the World Economic Forum. He is also a mentor at the UC Anacleto Angelini Innovation Center.
Demian Brener, OpenZeppelin (Argentina)
Demian Brener is a distinguished Argentine entrepreneur and engineer, recognized for his pivotal role in advancing blockchain security.
As founder and CEO of OpenZeppelin, now a world leader in securing blockchain applications and smart contract systems, he has contributed to the operation of secure applications.
The company has expanded globally, employing over 30 professionals across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with clients including Microsoft.
In 2019, Brener was honored as one of MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 Latin America, a testament to his impact on the region’s technological landscape.
His work addresses the challenges posed by volatile currencies and centralized banking systems, aiming to empower individuals through decentralized financial solutions. He is also an accredited Endeavour Entrepreneur.
Ruth Álvarez-DeGolia, Mercado Global (US/Guatemala)
Ruth Álvarez-DeGolia is a prominent social entrepreneur and the founder and executive director of Mercado Global, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering indigenous women artisans in Guatemala through access to global markets.
The company, which was founded over 21 years ago, has grown from a small nonprofit working with a dozen artisans to a thriving enterprise that supports over 700 artisans across 30 communities under her leadership.
In recognition of her impactful work, Álvarez-DeGolia has received several prestigious honors. She was named one of the “World’s Best Emerging Social Entrepreneurs” by Echoing Green and she was featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine as one of “15 People Who Make America Great,” underscoring her significant contributions to social change and economic development.
Ruth’s dedication to ethical fashion and sustainable development continues to inspire and drive positive change, making her a notable figure in the realm of social entrepreneurship.
Dr. Jaime Andrés Pérez Taborda, NAN0UPAR Research Group (Colombia)
Dr. Jaime Andrés Pérez Taborda is a Colombian physicist and innovator recognized. He is celebrated for developing low-cost, sustainable water quality monitoring technologies tailored for rural communities in Colombia.
Currently, Dr. Pérez Taborda serves as an assistant professor at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and as Director of the NAN0UPAR Research Group. His research focuses on energy harvesting, nanomaterials, and environmental monitoring, aiming to develop innovative solutions for sustainable development.
He has authored numerous scientific papers and is cited in various academic journals.In addition, he is the co-founder and President of the Colombian Society of Physics Engineering.
Julián Ríos Cantú, Eden (Mexico)
Julián Ríos Cantú is the co-founder and CEO of Eden, the leading radiology and imaging platform in Latin America. Since dropping out of university to pursue Eden in 2018, the young entrepreneur has only continued to grow more successful.
After his mother’s painful three-time battle with cancer, Ríos resolved to save lives through developing exceptional products that improve diagnostic practices and helping those who might find themselves in a similar situation.
In 2018 the company was named one of the 30 most promising businesses by Forbes magazine. In the same year Ríos became the second Latino entrepreneur to receive the prestigious Thiel Fellowship.
Ríos himself has received various honours, including two Cannes Lions Awards in 2021, Mexico’s Presidential Medal for Scientific and Technological Breakthroughs, and the Global Student Entrepreneur Award by EO.
An accomplished innovator, he has been invited as a guest lecturer at the Harvard-MIT Innovation Laboratories.
Natalia Jiménez Aristizabal, Lulo (Colombia)
Natalia Jiménez Aristizabal is the co-founder and CEO of Lulo, a fully digital bank based in Colombia. Jiménez began her career in digital ventures and social development projects across Latin America and Southeast Asia.
As one of the founding members, she led the creation and scaling of one of Colombia’s most innovative fintechs. She hopes to drive change in the region with Lulo, which empowers its users through blockchain, stable and crypto coins, and regenerative finance.
Before this venture, she was a member of the Colombian diplomatic mission in Indonesia, collaborating with Bizcom Indonesia to deliver tech workshops. She also volunteered with the NGO Roshan Learning Centre teaching digital literacy to teenagers in refugee camps as well as working with the She Loves Data organization, centering women in the tech industry.
Jiménez has been recognized among Forbes Colombia’s Top 20 CIOs of 2024 and received the STEM Inspiration Award at the Latam Inclusive Tech Awards. She has also delivered a TEDx talk on innovation in banking through creativity and empathy.
Gerry Giacomán Colyer, Clara (Mexico)
Gerry Giacomán Colyer co-founded Clara, the leading end-to-end corporate payment solution for companies in Latin America. Clara has been remarkably successful, reaching a valuation of USD $1 billion in less than a year.
A graduate of both Yale University and Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Mexican Entrepreneur launched a comprehensive platform that includes corporate credit cards, expense tracking, and B2B payment solutions, offering a way for companies to manage their finances more efficiently.
His solutions have attracted investments from prominent firms around the world, including Coatue, DST Global, Monashees, and Kaszek.
Currently, Clara’s operations have expanded across Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia, serving over 13,000 businesses.
In recognition of his contributions, Coyler was appointed as the first venture partner by Picus Capital, where he mentors and supports emerging entrepreneurs in Latin America’s tech ecosystem.
Isabel Pulido, NanoFreeze (Colombia)
Isabel Pulido is a Colombian entrepreneur and co-founder of NanoFreeze, a startup pioneering sustainable refrigeration solutions through bio-nanotechnology.
Her work has received much recognition, including being named “Inventor of the Year” in the MIT Innovators Under 35 LATAM awards. NanoFreeze was also a finalist at the Startup World Cup in 2023.
NanoFreeze has developed a gel-based refrigeration system capable of maintaining temperatures all whilst reducing energy usage by 50%, lowering carbon emissions. This technology is particularly impactful in transporting perishable goods and medical supplies to remote areas lacking reliable electricity.
Under Pulido’s guidance, NanoFreeze has attracted attention from major corporations and investors, participating in acceleration programs by AB InBev, Coca-Cola, and Johnson & Johnson.
Pulido is committed to integrating technological invention with social impact, positioning her as a leading figure in sustainable technology within Latin America.
Disclosure: This article mentions clients of an Espacio portfolio company.
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