Top 25 Grants for Early-Stage Startups in South America in 2025
Navigating the startup landscape in South America can be challenging, but a plethora of grants are available to support early-stage startups. These grants offer essential funding and resources to help fledgling businesses thrive. Here is a curated list of the Top 25 Grants for Early-Stage Startups in South America in 2025.
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1. Government Initiatives in Colombia and Chile
Description: Governments in Colombia and Chile provide various grants, tax benefits, and support programs to encourage startups. Focus: General support for tech startups. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Early-stage tech startups in Colombia and Chile. Focus Area: Various sectors. Learn more on ProColombia or CORFO
2. 500 Global Flagship Accelerator
Description: A four-month accelerator program providing seed funding, mentorship, and access to a global network. Focus: Early-stage startups. Grant Amount: $150,000 investment for a 6% equity stake. Application Deadline: Rolling basis. Eligibility: Early-stage startup founders. Focus Area: Multiple sectors. Learn more about 500 Global
3. Visa Everywhere Initiative
Description: An annual program for technology startups that leverage Visa’s products. Focus: Technology startups in the payment and commerce sectors. Grant Amount: Varies ($10,000 to $100,000). Application Deadline: Annual, varies. Eligibility: Technology startups integrating with Visa's network. Focus Area: Fintech. Learn more about Visa Everywhere Initiative
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4. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Grants
Description: Grants for businesses that help the community or strengthen local economies. Focus: Economic development. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Businesses that create jobs or develop projects to strengthen local economies. Focus Area: Community development and economic growth. Discover EDA Grants
5. Build to Scale (B2S) Program
Description: Administered by the EDA, focusing on organizations that scale technology-driven businesses. Focus: Technology-driven businesses. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Organizations developing technologies supporting regional economic growth. Focus Area: Technology and regional growth. Learn more about B2S Program
6. The Joy Grant for Women
Description: Financial aid for women entrepreneurs worldwide. Focus: Women-led small businesses. Grant Amount: $5,000. Application Deadline: April 30th, 2024 (Check if renewed for 2025). Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs running small businesses. Focus Area: Various sectors.
7. Impact Finance for Global Value Chain
Description: Financing and technical assistance for SMEs in the agriculture, energy, and mineral sectors. Focus: SMEs in the commodity sector. Grant Amount: Up to $1.5 million. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: SMEs in agriculture, energy, and mineral sectors. Focus Area: Agriculture, energy, and minerals.
8. Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Programs
Description: IDB supports various initiatives aimed at innovation and development in Latin America. Focus: Innovation and specific sectors like education and sustainability. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Organizations and startups within specific sectors. Focus Area: Various sectors including education and innovation. Explore IDB Programs
9. Inter-American Foundation (IAF) Grants
Description: Grants for grassroots groups in Latin America and the Caribbean. Focus: Community development projects. Grant Amount: $25,000 to $400,000. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Grassroots groups in Latin America and the Caribbean. Focus Area: Community development. Learn more about IAF Grants
10. Startup Chile
Description: A public accelerator created by the Chilean government to attract early-stage, high-potential entrepreneurs. Focus: Global early-stage startups. Grant Amount: Up to $40,000 equity-free funding. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Startups with less than three years of existence. Focus Area: Various sectors. Discover Startup Chile
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11. FONDO EMPRENDER (Colombia)
Description: A fund by the Colombian government to support entrepreneurs in their business initiatives. Focus: Early-stage ventures. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Colombian entrepreneurs aiming to start or expand a business. Focus Area: Various sectors. Learn more about FONDO EMPRENDER
12. Innpulsa Colombia
Description: Supports innovation and entrepreneurship through funding and mentorship programs. Focus: Innovation-driven enterprises. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Entrepreneurs with innovative projects. Focus Area: Various sectors.
13. Finnova (EU-Latin America)
Description: Supports innovative projects in Latin America and Europe through various funding programs. Focus: Innovative projects. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Innovative companies in specific sectors. Focus Area: Various sectors. Explore Finnova
14. ANII (Uruguay)
Description: Grants and funding opportunities for innovative projects in Uruguay. Focus: Innovative projects. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Uruguayan startups and projects. Focus Area: Various sectors. Learn more about ANII
15. Start-Up Peru
Description: Support for innovative startups in Peru through funding and incubation programs. Focus: Innovative startups. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Peruvian startups with innovative ideas. Focus Area: Various sectors.
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16. Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) Programs
Description: Various funding programs to support startups and innovative businesses in Brazil. Focus: Innovative businesses. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Brazilian startups and businesses. Focus Area: Various sectors. Discover BNDES Programs
17. InQuickRoots Accelerator (Brazil)
Description: Accelerator program providing funding and mentorship for early-stage startups in Brazil. Focus: Early-stage startups. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Brazilian startups. Focus Area: Various sectors.
18. SEED (Startups and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development)
Description: Program by the Government of Minas Gerais, Brazil, providing funding and support to startups. Focus: Startups and ecosystem development. Grant Amount: Up to $80,000. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Startups with a scalable business model. Focus Area: Various sectors. Learn more about SEED
19. Torque Accelerator (Argentina)
Description: Accelerator program providing funding and mentorship to Argentine startups. Focus: Early-stage startups. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Argentine startups. Focus Area: Various sectors.
20. Argentine Entrepreneurs Law Program
Description: Provides grants and support to entrepreneurs in Argentina to foster business growth. Focus: Business growth. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Argentine entrepreneurs. Focus Area: Various sectors.
21. Corfo (Chile) Seed Capital
Description: Funding program by the Chilean government providing seed capital for startups. Focus: Startups. Grant Amount: Up to $30,000. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Chilean startups. Focus Area: Various sectors. Discover Corfo Seed Capital
22. Endeavor Catalyst
Description: Co-investment fund that supports high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Focus: High-impact entrepreneurs. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: High-impact startups. Focus Area: Various sectors. Learn more about Endeavor Catalyst
23. IDB Lab (Inter-American Development Bank)
Description: Supports innovation and entrepreneurship in Latin America through funding and programs. Focus: Innovation and entrepreneurship. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Innovative startups and projects in Latin America. Focus Area: Various sectors. Explore IDB Lab
24. Wayra (Telefonica Open Future)
Description: Accelerator program by Telefonica, providing funding and support to innovative startups. Focus: Innovative startups. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Startups in tech and innovation sectors. Focus Area: Various sectors. Learn more about Wayra
25. Acceleration Program by Startup México
Description: Accelerator providing funding and mentorship to Mexican startups. Focus: Mexican startups. Grant Amount: Varies. Application Deadline: Varies. Eligibility: Early-stage tech startups in Mexico. Focus Area: Various sectors. Discover Startup México
Embarking on your startup journey in South America has never been more promising. Keep these grants in mind while planning your next big move!
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FAQ
Q: What opportunities are there for early-stage startups in Colombia and Chile from government initiatives?
A: Governments in Colombia and Chile are actively supporting early-stage tech startups through funding, tax benefits, and support programs.
Q: What is the 500 Global Flagship Accelerator?
A: It is a four-month accelerator program in Palo Alto providing seed funding of $150,000 for a 6% equity stake, along with mentorship and access to a global network. Learn more about 500 Global.
Q: Can startups in the payment and commerce sectors apply for the Visa Everywhere Initiative?
A: Yes, this annual program supports technology startups with products or services that integrate with Visa’s network, offering grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Discover Visa Everywhere Initiative.
Q: What kind of businesses are eligible for the Economic Development Administration (EDA) Grants?
A: EDA Grants support businesses that help the community or strengthen local economies, with varying grant amounts and deadlines. Visit EDA.
Q: What is the Build to Scale (B2S) Program?
A: Administered by the EDA, this program targets organizations that scale technology-driven businesses, offering varying grant amounts. Learn more about Build to Scale.
Q: Is there a grant specifically for women entrepreneurs?
A: Yes, the Joy Grant for Women offers USD 5,000 to women entrepreneurs running small businesses.
Q: What support does the Impact Finance for Global Value Chain offer?
A: This program provides financing and technical assistance for SMEs in agriculture, energy, and mineral sectors with grants up to USD 1.5 million.
Q: What are the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Programs?
A: IDB supports initiatives aimed at innovation and specific sectors like education or sustainability across Latin America. Learn more about IDB.
Q: What kind of projects does the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) Grants support?
A: IAF grants support grassroots community development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, with grants ranging from $25,000 to $400,000. Discover IAF.
Q: Are there startup accelerators in Latin America?
A: Yes, various accelerators in Latin America provide funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities for early-stage startups.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
