ECOSYSTEM
Key Actors
and Initiatives
Chile offers a dynamic environment for entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups. New ventures have access to Public programs and actors, as well as other Public-Private Initiatives.
PUBLIC SECTOR
CORFO’s Entrepreneurship Department
CORFO’s Entrepreneurship Department aims to support high-potential innovative new businesses throughout the country. It promotes dynamic ecosystems for entrepreneurship, to ensure sustainable development and to solve local, national and global challenges. In this way it improves the quality of life and the productivity of the country. This Department has a number of functions, such as providing direct support to entrepreneurs and developing programs to support and strengthen the business ecosystem.
The Invierta Program exists to make funds available for dynamic entrepreneurs. Through this program, CORFO’s Entrepreneurship Department provides long term finance and support to private investor groups. The Early Stages Investment Funds, Angels’ Investment Networks and Equity Crowdfunding Platforms all help to improve entrepreneurs’ access to finance.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Start-Up Chile
Start-Up Chile is the first public sector business accelerator world-wide. A CORFO program, it accelerates tech-based ventures from Chile and other countries. Funds delivered by this public agency are equity-free, CORFO does not take a percentage of the venture’s shares in exchange.
Start-Up Chile has three financing support schemes: Build, Ignite and Growth. The Start-Ups are selected for each program based on their maturity. They may be at any stage from an idea to a go-to-market, or even seeking to expand to other countries.
On top of financial support, Start-Up Chile provides an entrepreneurs’ support network, offering contacts with corporations, investment funds, business mentoring and other benefits from being in the accelerator.
PUBLIC SECTOR
InvestChile
InvestChile is the Chilean Investment Promotion Agency. It supports foreign companies’ projects in Chile, delivering timely information to ease their decision-making for investment in our country.
The Agency’s services are aimed at providing free, specialized consultancy for fast, flexible project development. InvestChile delivers information about Chile, its economic and social environment, its legal framework and its foreign investment policies. It makes specific information available about how to start a business, and about the procedures and regulations which any investor must follow to invest into the country.
PUBLIC-PRIVATE ALLIANCE
ScaleX
ScaleX is in an alternative Stock Exchange, a joint venture between the Santiago Stock Exchange and CORFO. It is an easier market for start-ups and other ventures to get capital through a new platform, with regulations and processes better adapted to their needs. In this market, start-ups in their expansion stage can make their IPOs without needing to register with the financial regulatory authority. These opportunities enlarge financial opportunities, both local and international, and strengthen Chile as an Investment Hub.
The purpose of ScaleX is to promote entrepreneurship, investment and employment throughout the region, with an emphasis on innovation and technology for regional development. It also seeks to attract the interest of global investors and provides a strategic ally for other exchanges in the region.