Colombia's Startup Ecosystem: “Everyone Believes They Can Build Something Big Here”
A look inside Colombia's Tech Startup Ecosystem with Sergio Claux Mora
When I landed in Medellín, I expected good coffee and colourful streets. What stood out was the pace. Colombia is now Latin America’s second-largest startup ecosystem and ranks 36th globally. There’s structure, urgency, and ambition.
To understand how this came to be, I sat down with Sergio Claux Mora, founder of Forte, a workforce training platform built on performance-based outcomes. He’s been part of Colombia’s tech evolution and has helped shape it from the inside.
From Scrappy to Serious
Sergio describes the early days of the ecosystem as chaotic but hopeful. Things began to change with one key moment.
Sergio: “Rappi changed everything.”
Founded in Bogotá in 2015, Rappi began with deliveries from corner stores and a simple idea: growth at street level. In the early days they set up a tent in Bogotá’s Plaza de Bolívar and handed out donuts to anyone who downloaded the app. It now operates in 400+ cities across nine countries and has a valuation of USD $5.25 billion.
Sergio: “It gave people belief. Now you meet 22-year-olds building with global ambition from day one.”
Early Rappi employees have now gone on to become founders, mentors, and investors, bringing experience back into the system.
Sectors on the Rise
The ecosystem reflects both national realities and global trends.
Fintech: Large segments of the population remain underbanked. Digital wallets, lending tools, and payment infrastructure are scaling fast.
Edtech: Bootcamps and training programs are helping Colombians plug into the global digital economy.
Proptech: Rising foreign investment and remote work are fueling real estate innovation.
Pet Tech & Health Tech: The pet economy is booming, Sergio mentioned ”there are more dogs and cats than kids in many homes—and services are catching up.”
Sergio: “There’s momentum in every direction. New sectors keep emerging.”
Local Support with Global Reach
Medellín’s government has played a steady role through Ruta N—a public innovation hub offering office space, events, and connections.
Sergio: “Every month, 400 people meet at 7am. Startups pitch, Government shares updates, Investors attend. If you need to talk to someone high up, you go. You show up. That’s how it works.”
There’s no red tape. Founders, corporates, government, and universities collaborate. Sergio points to this as a competitive edge: a coordinated ecosystem that welcomes competition and celebrates each other's wins.
What about Funding?
Venture investment tends to come later. Larger VCs hold back until traction is obvious.
Sergio: “A lot of early rounds are funded by family offices and well-connected individuals. They move quickly if they believe in you.
Mexico is Colombia’s strongest funding corridor. Startups often raise or expand there early. Brazil is considered more distant due to cultural and structural differences.”
But investor expectations have shifted. If you're breakeven, capital becomes optional. And if capital is optional, the mindset is you may not raise at all.”
Founder DNA
Sergio’s seen a certain type of founder rise across Colombia.
Resilient, shaped by volatility.
Globally minded, even when bootstrapped.
Comfortable with lean operating and urgency.
Sergio: “You grow up learning how to solve problems before you start a company. You’re used to working without money. When capital does arrive, you are careful and know exactly how to deploy it.”
He also notes that mid-level talent is a strength.
Sergio: “Colombia’s built on its middle class. People are bilingual, confident, and increasingly skilled. The mindset is strong, and social skills matter. You get things done through your network.”
Foreign founders are increasingly setting up shop in Colombia. Medellín offers affordability, quality of life, and access. Sergio has watched the country shift from being an unknown quantity to a strategic base.
Sergio: “Everyone believes they can build something big here. They want to prove it. And they help each other do it.”
Startups are launching weekly. Pitches, product launches, and hiring are constant. Colombia may be building quietly, but it's building with clarity.
Sergio paints a clear picture of an energetic hive of activity, freed from the recent bonds of corruption and crime and eyeing its place on the world stage. Colombians’ natural extroversion, confidence and resourcefulness are coming to the fore in their startup ecosystem.
Thanks so much to Sergio for his time and insights.