Santiago Zavala grew up observing first-hand the difficulties entrepreneurs face. As he watched his parents start a series of small businesses in Mexico City, he learned a critical lesson: having a partner who offers encouragement and advice is critical to the success of any enterprise.
When he joined the U.S.-based venture capital firm 500 Startups, he knew he could use that knowledge to guide technology start-ups in Latin America. “Here in Latin America, we don’t have a lot of role models for new tech companies,” says Zavala, who is 31.
So, he launched 500 Luchadores, a fund to help the region’s tech entrepreneurs scale up. In addition to investing seed money, 500 Luchadores also serves as a start-up accelerator, formalizing and facilitating support for entrepreneurs to expand their operations and secure additional financing.
Initiatives like 500 Luchadores are essential for a vibrant start-up ecosystem in Latin America. These programs are cultivating a new generation of entrepreneurs who are growing the region’s digital economy, promoting inclusiveness, and providing access to better services.
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