StartCo 2026: Colombia Once Again Became the Epicenter of Latin American Entrepreneurship
The seventh edition of StartCo brought together more than 18,000 attendees and named Samay the winning startup.
Medellín once again provided the setting for a glimpse into the future of business in Latin America. On 16 and 17 April 2026, StartCo celebrated its seventh edition with figures that cement its place as the region’s most important startup event: more than 18,000 attendees, 340 participating startups and entrepreneurs from 10 countries, including Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, the United States, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia.
The big winner of this edition was Samay, which claimed the title of StartCo 2026’s winning startup after competing in the final investment round before an audience that voted live. Meanwhile, Tincadia was crowned the event’s top-ranked startup, an acknowledgment that reflects the ecosystem’s perception over the two days.
The format that sets StartCo apart from every other event in the region once again demonstrated its power: startups with validated products competing before hundreds of investors making offers in real time, accelerating decisions that would take months in other settings. The live voting brought the strongest proposals to the main stage, where founders had 15 minutes to change the course of their companies.
Colombia’s ecosystem consolidates its position in LATAM
The edition was supported by key sponsors such as RutaN, the Medellín Mayor’s Office, Comfama, Compensar, Bancolombia, AWS, Claro, Nido and EIA, who helped deliver an experience featuring showcases, speed meetings with venture capital funds, industry panels, and structured networking opportunities.
This edition featured 10 international and national speakers. Notable speakers included Guenther Steiner, former team principal of the Haas Formula 1 team, and Moishe Mana, founder of Mana Common, as well as leaders from AWS, NVIDIA, Bancolombia, and Claro, who discussed artificial intelligence, fintech, and the future of investment in Latin America.
Startuplinks’ participation in StartCo 2026
As part of the event, Startuplinks presented the report Medellín: The Innovation Engine of Colombia’s VC Ecosystem, a comprehensive analysis of venture capital, high-impact startups, investors, and exits that position the city as one of Latin America’s most dynamic tech hubs.
Among its key findings, the report notes that Colombia closed 2025 with US$224 million invested across 62 rounds, ranking fourth in the region after Brazil, Mexico, and Chile. The report also documents at least 15 exits in Medellín, predominantly through domestic and international acquisitions, with cases such as ePayco and Wompi illustrating the maturity of the local ecosystem.
Read the full report here.
StartCo comes to Mexico in November 2026
The next stop for Latin America’s largest startup auction is Mexico City. On 25 and 26 November 2026, StartCo will arrive in the Mexican market with the same formula that has drawn more than 90,000 people in Colombia: live investment deals, audience voting, VC Week with one-on-one meetings, and a stage where founders have 15 minutes to change the course of their companies.
The Mexico edition is expected to draw more than 2,000 attendees and feature more than 200 startups and the region’s most prominent venture capital funds. Startups interested in participating can apply now for a fee of $1,000 USD + VAT, while the general public can purchase tickets starting at $100 USD + VAT. More information here.
