Organization · Accelerator

Start-Up Chile

Start-Up Chile is a government-backed accelerator program established in 2010, designed to attract global entrepreneurial talent and foster innovation in Chile. It provides equity-free funding, mentorship, and resources to startups at various stages of development.

AcceleratorFunderProgram hostPublisher

Overview

What Start-Up Chile does

What Start-Up Chile is

Start-Up Chile is a government-backed accelerator program established in 2010, designed to attract global entrepreneurial talent and foster innovation in Chile. It provides equity-free funding, mentorship, and resources to startups at various stages of development.

How it participates in the startup ecosystem

The current public profile supports funder and program host and publisher capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.

Operational profile

Organization status and context

Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.

Operational status
Active
Organization type
Accelerator
Founded
Founded in 2010
Approximate age
About 16 years
Structured capabilities
Funder · Program host · Publisher
Last reviewed
March 27, 2026
What Accelerator means

An accelerator is a structured, short-term program designed to speed up a startup's progress toward product-market fit, traction, fundraising, or scale.

Open the glossary entry

Official channels

Find Start-Up Chile elsewhere

Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.

Capability profile

Start-Up Chile as a funder

Investment thesis

Start-Up Chile accelerates technology-based startups through equity-free funding and extensive support, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Chile.

Focus narrative

Start-Up Chile invests in technology-based startups at various stages, offering equity-free funding, co-working space, and access to a network of mentors and investors. The organization focuses on high-impact startups that can contribute to both the local and global economy, providing tailored support through its distinct program tracks: Build, Ignite, and Scale.

Value beyond capital

Start-Up Chile provides significant value to its portfolio companies through equity-free funding, mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities. The program also offers visa support for international founders, facilitating their relocation to Chile and integration into the local startup ecosystem.

Terms and economics

Typical check
$12,000–$90,000
Sweet spot
$30,000

Focus and fit

Stages
Friends and Family · Angel · Accelerator · Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+ · Series A · Series A+ · Series B · Series B+ · Series C · Series C+ · Series D · Series E · Series F · Growth Equity
Regions
Global · Latam

Availability

Currently deploying
Yes

Portfolio and track record

Recorded portfolio count
1,960
Recorded notable exits
Cabify, Opendoor, Meliuz, NotCo, Fintual, and Betterfly

Portfolio context

Notable portfolio companies include: Notco: AI-driven plant-based food alternatives. Lab4u: Mobile lab for scientific education. SimpliRoute: Logistics optimization software. CaoPack: 100% biodegradable and edible packaging. BioAI: AI-driven drug discovery for enhanced medical care.

Capability profile

Start-Up Chile as a program host

Program thesis

Start-Up Chile accelerates startups by providing support and resources to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Chile.

Focus narrative

Start-Up Chile invests in technology-based startups at various stages of development. The organization provides equity-free funding, co-working space, and access to a network of mentors, investors, and corporate partners. Its focus is on high-impact startups that can contribute to the local and global economy.

Value and support

Start-Up Chile offers equity-free funding, co-working space, and access to a network of mentors, investors, and corporate partners. The program also provides advisory teams, workshops, pitch training, and visa support for international founders.

Terms and economics

Indicative investment
$90,000
Indicative equity
0%
Stipend
$12,000

Format and cadence

Typical duration
16 weeks
Format
In Person

Availability

Application state
Accepting

Focus and fit

Stages
Pre-seed · Seed
Regions
Global · Latam

Alumni and track record

Alumni context

Notable alumni include Notco, which utilizes artificial intelligence to create plant-based food alternatives; Lab4u, offering a mobile lab for scientific education; and SimpliRoute, providing logistics optimization software for businesses.

Capability profile

Start-Up Chile as a publisher

Editorial focus

Start-Up Chile is a public policy initiative that aims to attract global talent to Chile by supporting technology-based, innovative, scalable, and high-impact startups. It offers various programs tailored to different stages of startup development, including Build, Ignite, and Growth, providing essential resources and guidance for entrepreneurs from diverse industries and nationalities.

Audience value

Start-Up Chile offers equity-free grants to startups, removing the common barrier of equity dilution. This unique model attracts ambitious entrepreneurs from around the world, providing them with the resources needed to build and scale their businesses in a supportive environment.

Format and cadence

Content formats
blog

Availability

Guest pitch state
Not currently accepting

Flagship work and coverage

Flagship properties

Start-Up Chile operates several programs: Build (pre-acceleration), Ignite (acceleration), and Growth (scaling), each designed to support startups at different stages of their journey. Additionally, it maintains a blog that shares insights on technology trends and updates about its initiatives.

Notable coverage

Start-Up Chile has been recognized as the world's first public startup accelerator and is a leading accelerator in Latin America. It has inspired over 50 countries to create similar programs, demonstrating its effectiveness as a model for government-backed startup acceleration.

Common questions

What to know about Start-Up Chile

Upseed classifies Start-Up Chile under the Accelerator organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, program host, and publisher capabilities.

Next step

Keep comparing startup organizations

Return to the organization index or continue through a verified sector, place, peer, or program connected to this profile.

Source and update disclosure

Know what this page is based on

Source basis

Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.

Last reviewed

March 27, 2026

Known limits

Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.

Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.