Nicolás Zilic Biel

Pleased to announce that Forte Global has just launched in Peru - our sixth market. And we're also scaling up in current markets, including Colombia. As always, our goal is to be the backbone... the platform... the operating system... that enables world-class talent development. We make it super easy for any funder of education/training (whether governments, foundations, multinationals, or companies) to contract based on, track, verify and pay for outcomes - without the usual headaches and complexity. In Peru, we're working in partnership with Es Hoy to launch "ElevaTech" - a program to provide AI-focused digital training to disadvantaged Peruvians who would not otherwise have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. The focus of the AI training is on Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Data Engineering. AI will lead to massive job displacement over the next decade, but also create massive opportunities for those with the rights skills to take advantage of it. We're proud to help Peruvians thrive in this new AI era. Alejandro Jimenez T. Carolina Echeverri Hernández Ana Maria Roldan Arango Laura Torre Sergio Claux Mora

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The future belongs to those who dare to build deep tech. And in Latin America, more of them are rising every day. According to the Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, our region’s deep tech ecosystem is now valued more at $8B, with over 340 active startups as of 2023. In recent years, VC investment in the sector has grown 44x. But at Draper Cygnus, this growth is a confirmation of our thesis. We’ve spent the last decade backing founders who chose the harder path. People building from science, not hype. From conviction, not consensus. Startups like Skyloom Global, Stämm, Splight, Lemon, and Novo Space. All driven by teams that are turning deep science into real-world solutions for energy, health, space, climate and beyond. Behind every case, there were founders who chose the non-obvious path. Who decided to build deep tech in an industry where access to capital, talent and validation wasn’t easy. And yet, they moved forward. Investing is about walking alongside those who turn science into impact. This is just the beginning. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned along the way, it’s this: conviction, when sustained over time, becomes your greatest differentiator 🚀 #DeepTech #VentureCapital #DraperCygnus

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Guama secures $1.5M to redefine credit access in Colombia Colombian #fintech #Guama, founded by Maria Paula Pinzón, Alfredo J. Prieto, and Víctor Julio—all former Nubank executives—has raised $1.5 million in seed funding led by Peru’s Salkantay Ventures, with participation from Story Ventures, Hustle Fund, and Techstars. The startup is tackling one of the country’s biggest financial gaps: access to credit for individuals without a prior credit history. Since its launch, Guama has received over 75,000 applications and currently serves more than 6,000 active customersacross 95% of Colombia’s departments, processing 152,000+ purchases worth COP 6.5 billion (US$1.6M). Its flagship product, the “Guamacard,” offers entry-level credit lines starting from COP 200,000 (about US$50), functioning not just as a financial tool but also as a platform for financial education. By leveraging open banking and AI, Guama designs personalized credit solutions that empower underserved Colombians to participate in the formal financial system. The new capital will strengthen its proprietary infrastructure and fuel its goal of surpassing 100,000 users within the next 18 months. With Nubank alumni at the helm and strong investor backing, could Guama become the next major force in financial inclusion across Latin America? The article on Fortune in the first comment.

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Most LATAM founders believe VCs evaluate businesses purely on merit—revenue growth, profitability, team strength, market traction. While these factors matter, they're missing the fundamental driver behind every VC decision: VCs don't invest in good businesses. They invest in power law outcomes. For a $300M fund targeting a 3x return, that’s $900M+ in proceeds from just one or two deals. If they own 15% at exit, you’re looking at $6B+ valuations. This often explains why: A profitable niche business might get passed over for a scaling startup in a larger market Growth metrics sometimes weigh more heavily than current profitability Market size becomes a critical evaluation criterion The implications for LATAM founders: ✓ Frame your addressable market strategically. VCs often look for large market opportunities, though the specific size varies by fund and stage. ✓ Balance growth and unit economics. While rapid scaling matters, sustainable growth paths are increasingly valued. ✓ Understand portfolio construction. VCs typically expect a small number of investments to drive outsized returns. ✓ Evaluate funding fit. Different capital sources (angels, revenue-based financing, debt) may align better with your business model and growth trajectory. VCs aren’t being irrational—they’re doing their job. But as founders, you need to understand the game you're playing. Swipe right for more insights into our LATAM fundraising episode or comment “FUNDRAISING” and we’ll send you the full breakdown 🔗

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