Finance Forward Latin America 2020

Village Capital, in global collaboration with MetLife Foundation and PayPal, launched Finance Forward, a multi-year global coalition supporting entrepreneurs on four continents who are building tech-enabled solutions to place-based challenges in financial health, economic mobility, and community resilience. As part of Finance Forward, we will launch an investment readiness program in Latin America in 2020 with the regional collaboration of Moody’s Corporation.

“Fintech can be a powerful force for economic stability and mobility in Latin America” said Daniel Cossío, Regional Manager for Village Capital in Latin America. “We've already seen how this crisis has had the most devastating financial effect on the low income population. Now more than ever we need tech-driven innovation to help small businesses stay afloat and help families manage their income and support the region in what is bound to be a challenging recovery.”

Finance Forward Latin America 2020 will support selected startups through tailored engagements with financial institutions, corporates, investors, and experts in fintech/financial health in Santiago (Chile), São Paulo (Brazil), and Mexico City (Mexico). Startups will also engage in a rigorous feedback and evaluation process with a cohort of startups. At the end of the program, the top two startups selected from their peers will each receive a MetLife Foundation Social Entrepreneurship Grant of USD $50,000. An additional three USD $16,000 grants will also be available for the startups ranked third to fifth.

Village Capital’s investment readiness program has been ranked by others, such as the Global Accelerator Learning Initiative, as one of the best accelerator programs in the world. Finovate also named us the best Fintech Accelerator/Incubator in 2019. 

Applications for this program are now closed.

Please note that Village Capital is carefully monitoring the current global health situation and will modify the timings or format of the workshops if needed. At this time, we encourage all interested companies to complete their application regardless of the travel restrictions.

Benefits startups will receive

• Top two (2) peer selected startups will receive USD $50,000 in grant capital from MetLife Foundation

• Ability to network and receive mentorship from potential strategic partners, customers, and founders

• Ability to network and receive mentorship from prominent Latin American and U.S. investors

• Diverse and inclusive network of mentors and founders within financial health and Fintech

• Startups will receive a stipend for one (1) founder/C-suite member to travel to selected emerging fintech cities in different countries for workshops

• Twelve (12) days of interactive workshops tailored to help their company identify early milestones and prepare them for their next round of capital (if relevant)

• Access to an investment analyst who will coach them 1:1 on building a financial model, identifying unit economics, and on using financial metrics to drive both their business and investor diligence

• Participate in mock board meetings with representatives from financial institutions, corporates, fintechs, and investors that can help their organization scale

• Exposure on Village Capital’s program website and other communications collateral

• What is the main goal of the program? The program is designed to help startups identify early milestones and prepare for your next round of capital (if relevant). In short, through virtual and in-person workshops, we deliver a targeted, award-winning curriculum and provide countless connections to prepare startups for growth. 

• Do you require us to move to the cities of the program? No. We require one (1) founder/C-suite member to travel to the cities where the workshops will be held, only for the length of each workshop. We also require that the same founder/C-suite member participate in all activities of each workshop. Additional team members are welcomed to join the workshops. Startups will receive a stipend for one (1) founder/C-suite member to travel to the workshops.

• Do you take equity for participating in the program? No. Village Capital is structured as a non-profit and cannot take equity. If financial considerations prevent you from participating, please discuss this with us on a case-by-case basis.

Please reach out to daniela.guerrero@vilcap.com to learn more.