Y Combinator Has Its Sight on Latin American Startups

A few weeks ago, we shared the organizations that are leading Latin American startups’ early funding rounds, and Y Combinator was #1. This chart shows its entire history of funding in the region through what the organization calls “batches.” It opens two batches per year for startups to apply and receive Y Combinator’s support and funding.

As you can see, it has been accepting a record number of Latin American startups into its program during its last few batches. Y Combinator describes itself as an “accelerator” that arranges startups to receive funding from either individual or institutional investors such as venture capital firms. It also trains and advises entrepreneurs through its Startup School program.

Founded in 2005 by Paul Graham, Jessica Livingston, Robert Tappan Morris, and Trevor Blackwell, it’s one of the most successful startup accelerators in history. It has amassed more than 3,000 startups worth over $400B combined. Rappi, Beek, and Grin were among its first LatAm investments. And more recently, it welcomed Nowports and Yummy, among many others.

The increased attention from VC Firms is a massive step for Latin American startups, and it’s encouraging to see that the Silicon Valley mindset is spreading to the South. With the support of organizations like Y Combinator, we will see many more Latin American startups succeeding in markets worldwide. And, in case you are planning to apply, this essay by Paul Graham is a must-read.