Google's Launchpad Accelerator for LatAm startups closes in Miami

Contxto – In Miami, Google alongside TheVentureCity are wrapping up Launchpad Accelerator, a program for Latin American startups. During the event 19 startups from 10 countries will exchange experiences and meet with various investors.

Startups party with Google and TheVentureCity in South Beach

Launchpad Accelerator kicked off in Mexico City from April to June of this year. Then it traveled south to Córdoba, Argentina. In the final leg of its journey, the program will end up in Miami connecting startups with investors.

During this week, the nine startups that had partaken in Google’s 2019 Launchpad Accelerator will meet and greet the 10 startups from TheVentureCity’s Growth Acceleration Program. Everyone will receive mentoring as well as share insights. Plus meet-ups with investors are also part of the plan.

This culminating event may take place in the United States but it’s a fantastic opportunity to bring a little more Latin America into the world.

Miami: sun, surf, and startups from Latin America

Latin America is a big part of Miami.

The metropolitan area of Miami alone has more than 2.5 million Hispanics—the strange way the US Census likes to bunch together Latin Americans, Latinos, and Spaniards. Of these more than 60 percent are foreign-born. Moreover, the city’s airport has the largest number of routes and available seats to Latin America and the Caribbean.

This gateway to the south is buzzing with startup activity. It’s estimated that there are 247.6 startups per 100,000 people. It also ranks high in Latino entrepreneurship in the United States and it’s also hosts eMerge Americas, a major tech-centered event linking Latin America and the United States.

All things considered… I’m not uncomfortable considering Miami an honorary LatAm hub.

Meanwhile, from Puerto Rico to Patagonia, Google is in hot pursuit of accelerating the growth of Latin American startups.

-ML