Start-Up Chile Seed Program: Get CLP 40 Million Plus Visa Support to Launch in Latin America

If you’re an international founder looking for a launchpad into Latin American markets, Start-Up Chile’s Seed program offers something rare: equity-free funding, visa sponsorship, and a soft landing in one of South America’s most startup-friendly ecosystems. We’re talking about CLP 40 million (approximately $45,000 USD) with no equity taken, plus housing stipends, work visas, and access to a global network of entrepreneurs.

This isn’t your typical accelerator where you give up 5-10% of your company for modest funding and three months of workshops. Start-Up Chile doesn’t take any equity. You keep full ownership of your company while getting the resources to establish a presence in Latin America, validate your product with regional customers, and build connections that can open doors across the continent.

The six-month program is designed specifically for international teams willing to relocate to Santiago. You’ll join a cohort of founders from around the world, all working to crack Latin American markets. Past participants have come from over 80 countries, creating a genuinely global community. Many have used Chile as a base to expand throughout Latin America, landing customers in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and beyond.

What makes this particularly valuable is the combination of funding and practical support. The money helps, but the visa sponsorship, housing assistance, and soft-landing services solve the logistical nightmares that usually derail international expansion. You won’t spend your first month in Chile figuring out where to live or how to get work permits - Start-Up Chile handles that so you can focus on building your business.

Opportunity Snapshot

What This Program Really Offers

Let’s break down what you’re actually getting beyond the headline numbers. The CLP 40 million comes as direct funding to your startup - not a loan, not an equity investment, but a grant you don’t need to repay. For many international startups, this funding covers living expenses for the founding team during the six-month program, basic operational costs, and initial market entry activities in Latin America.

The visa sponsorship is huge if you’re coming from outside Chile. Start-Up Chile works with immigration authorities to get you a one-year temporary work visa. This isn’t just tourist status - it’s a legitimate work visa that lets you legally operate your business in Chile. For founders from countries where getting Latin American work visas is complicated, this alone can be worth the application effort.

Housing stipends help offset the cost of relocating to Santiago. While you’ll still need to find your own accommodation, the program provides financial support to make it affordable. Santiago is significantly cheaper than San Francisco, New York, or London, so your funding goes further than it would in traditional startup hubs.

Beyond the money and logistics, you’ll get access to Start-Up Chile’s extensive network. This includes mentors who have built successful companies in Latin America, connections to potential customers and partners throughout the region, and introductions to investors interested in Latin American opportunities. Past participants consistently mention that these connections were more valuable than the funding itself.

You’ll also join a global alumni network of over 2,000 startups from 80+ countries. This network has produced multiple unicorns and hundreds of successful companies. Alumni actively help each other with introductions, advice, and partnerships. When you’re trying to enter a new market or raise funding, having alumni who can make warm introductions is invaluable.

The program includes workshops and mentorship focused on the specific challenges of building startups in Latin America. You’ll learn about regional business culture, regulatory environments, payment systems, customer acquisition strategies, and other practical topics that aren’t covered in Silicon Valley-focused accelerators.

Who Should Apply

This program is designed for international founding teams with scalable technology products who are serious about establishing a presence in Latin America. You don’t need to be profitable or have massive traction, but you should have a working product and a clear vision for how it fits into Latin American markets.

Early-stage startups (less than three years old) with technology products are the target demographic. If you’ve built a product that’s working in your home market and you’re ready to test it internationally, this program can provide the resources and support to make that happen. The “less than three years old” requirement is real - if your company is older, you won’t be eligible.

International founders willing to relocate to Santiago for six months are essential. This isn’t a remote program - you need to physically be in Chile for the duration. If you can’t commit to relocating your founding team (or at least key members) for six months, this isn’t the right opportunity. The program is specifically designed to bring international talent to Chile, not to fund remote teams.

You’re a strong candidate if you have a scalable technology product that can work across multiple markets. B2B SaaS, fintech, edtech, healthtech, marketplace platforms, and other tech-enabled businesses tend to do well. Pure service businesses or companies that require heavy local customization for each market are typically not a good fit.

Founders interested in Latin American markets should pay special attention. If you’ve been looking for a way to enter Latin America but weren’t sure how to start, this program provides a structured path. You don’t need to speak fluent Spanish (though it helps), and you don’t need existing customers in the region - the program is designed to help you establish that initial presence.

You must be willing to give back to the Chilean entrepreneurial community. The program requires participants to spend time mentoring local entrepreneurs. This isn’t just a checkbox - it’s a real commitment that reflects Start-Up Chile’s mission to strengthen the broader ecosystem. If you’re only interested in taking resources without contributing, you’re not a good fit.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

Here’s what actually makes a difference, based on conversations with past participants and people familiar with the selection process.

Show Genuine Interest in Latin America, Not Just Free Money: The weakest applications treat this as just another funding opportunity without demonstrating real interest in Latin American markets. Strong applications explain specifically why Latin America makes sense for their product, which markets they’ll target first, and how they’ll adapt their approach for the region. If you’re applying because you need funding and this happens to be available, it will show. If you’re applying because you’ve researched Latin American markets and see genuine opportunity, that will show too.

Demonstrate Traction and Validation: While you don’t need to be a rocket ship, you should have evidence that your product works and that people want it. This might be customers in your home market, user growth metrics, revenue (even if modest), testimonials, or pilot programs. The selection committee wants to fund startups that are likely to succeed, not pure ideas. Show that you’ve moved past the concept stage into actual execution.

Build a Compelling Market Entry Strategy: Don’t just say “we’ll sell in Chile and then expand.” Be specific about which customer segments you’ll target, how you’ll reach them, what your pricing will be, how you’ll handle payments and logistics, and what success looks like in the first six months. If you’re targeting B2B customers, identify specific companies you’ll approach. If you’re B2C, explain your customer acquisition strategy for Latin American markets.

Highlight Your Team’s Ability to Execute Internationally: The selection committee wants to know that your team can actually succeed in a new market with different language, culture, and business practices. Highlight any international experience your team has. If team members speak Spanish or Portuguese, mention it. If you’ve successfully entered new markets before, share that experience. If you have advisors or connections in Latin America, include them.

Address the Relocation Commitment Head-On: Some applicants are vague about their willingness to relocate, which raises red flags. Be explicit that you understand the six-month relocation requirement and that your team is committed to it. Explain how you’ll handle the logistics - who will relocate, how you’ll manage any operations in your home market, and what your plan is for after the program ends.

Show How You’ll Contribute to the Ecosystem: Remember that Start-Up Chile isn’t just writing checks - they’re building an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Explain how you’ll contribute beyond just building your own company. Will you mentor local entrepreneurs? Will you hire Chilean team members? Will you share your expertise in specific areas? Will you help connect other startups to opportunities in your home market? The more you can position yourself as a contributor to the ecosystem, not just a beneficiary, the stronger your application.

Make Your Video Application Compelling: The video component is important - it’s how the selection committee gets to know you as a person and team. Don’t just read your written application on camera. Use the video to show your personality, passion, and team dynamics. Explain why you’re excited about this opportunity specifically. Show your product if possible. Make it feel authentic and personal, not scripted and corporate.

Application Timeline

Here’s a realistic timeline working backward from the July 31, 2025 deadline. International applications can be complex, so start early.

July 15-30: Final review, video production, and submission. Don’t wait until July 31 to submit - aim for July 25 at the latest. This gives you buffer time for technical issues or last-minute problems. Record your video application and get feedback from others before submitting the final version. Review your entire application one last time. Make sure all questions are answered completely and all supporting materials are included.

June-July: Complete your full written application and gather supporting materials. This is when you write your detailed responses to all application questions. Be specific and concrete - avoid vague statements about “disrupting industries” or “changing the world.” Focus on what you’ll actually do in the first six months in Chile. Gather any supporting materials like pitch decks, product demos, customer testimonials, or traction metrics.

May-June: Develop your Latin American market entry strategy. This is when you should be doing serious research on Latin American markets. Which countries will you target first? What’s the market size? Who are your competitors? What’s the regulatory environment? How do payment systems work? What are customer acquisition costs? This research will form the foundation of your application and make your plans credible.

April-May: Research Start-Up Chile and past participants. Visit the Start-Up Chile website and read about their mission, values, and priorities. Look at past cohorts if that information is available - what types of startups get selected? Reach out to alumni if possible and ask about their experience. Understanding what Start-Up Chile is looking for will help you position your application effectively.

March-April: Assess your team’s readiness to relocate. Have honest conversations with your co-founders about the six-month relocation commitment. Can everyone relocate? If not, can the company function with some team members in Chile and others elsewhere? What about families, visas for dependents, and other personal considerations? Resolve these questions before investing time in the application.

Required Materials

Written Application: You’ll answer detailed questions about your startup, your product, your market, your team, and your plans for Latin America. Be specific and concrete in your responses. Use data and examples rather than vague statements. The written application is your chance to make a logical, evidence-based case for why your startup should be selected.

Video Application: A short video (typically 2-3 minutes) where you introduce your team and explain your startup. This is your chance to show personality and passion. Don’t just read your written application on camera - use the video to bring your story to life. Show your product if possible. Let your enthusiasm come through. The selection committee watches hundreds of videos, so make yours memorable.

Pitch Deck: A presentation that explains your business, market opportunity, product, traction, team, and plans. Keep it concise (typically 10-15 slides) and visual. Focus on the most important information - what problem you’re solving, how your solution works, why customers want it, and why your team can execute. Include any traction metrics you have.

Product Demo or Screenshots: If you have a working product, show it. This can be screenshots, a demo video, or a link to a live product. Seeing your product helps the selection committee understand what you’re building much better than descriptions alone.

Traction Metrics: Any evidence that your product is working and gaining adoption. This might include user numbers, revenue, growth rates, customer testimonials, press coverage, or other validation. You don’t need to be a unicorn, but you should have some evidence of traction.

Team Bios: Information about your founding team, including relevant experience, skills, and backgrounds. Focus on what makes your team capable of executing this specific opportunity. If team members have international experience, language skills, or relevant domain expertise, highlight it.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Having spoken with past participants and people familiar with the selection process, here’s what reviewers actually look for:

Product-Market Fit and Traction (35% of evaluation): Do you have a product that people actually want? The strongest applications show clear evidence of product-market fit, even if it’s early-stage. This might be customers, revenue, user growth, retention metrics, or strong qualitative feedback. Reviewers want to fund startups that are likely to succeed, and traction is the best predictor of future success.

Latin American Market Opportunity (30% of evaluation): Is there a real opportunity for this product in Latin America? Reviewers assess whether you understand the regional market, whether your product fits local needs, and whether your market entry strategy is credible. Vague statements about “huge markets” don’t work - you need specific insights about why Latin America makes sense for your particular product.

Team Quality and Commitment (25% of evaluation): Can this team actually execute? Reviewers look at relevant experience, complementary skills, and evidence of execution ability. They also assess whether the team is genuinely committed to relocating for six months and contributing to the Chilean ecosystem. Teams that seem hesitant about relocation or focused only on getting funding typically don’t get selected.

Scalability and Global Potential (10% of evaluation): Can this startup grow beyond Chile into a regional or global business? Start-Up Chile wants to fund companies that can become significant businesses, not just small local operations. Show how you’ll scale beyond your initial market entry, what your long-term vision is, and how Chile fits into that bigger picture.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Treating This as Generic Funding: The biggest mistake is applying without demonstrating specific interest in Latin American markets. If your application could be submitted to any accelerator anywhere with minimal changes, it’s too generic. Tailor your application specifically to Latin America and explain why this region makes sense for your startup.

Underestimating the Relocation Commitment: Some applicants seem to think they can participate remotely or send junior team members while founders stay home. That won’t work. The program requires meaningful relocation of the founding team. If you’re not prepared to commit to six months in Santiago, don’t apply.

Weak Market Research: Claiming there’s a huge opportunity in Latin America without providing any evidence or specific market insights is unconvincing. Do real research on your target markets and demonstrate that understanding in your application.

Ignoring the Community Contribution Requirement: The mentorship and give-back requirement is real, not a formality. Applications that ignore this or treat it as a checkbox rather than a genuine commitment miss an important part of what Start-Up Chile values.

Poor Video Applications: Recording a low-quality video at the last minute, reading from a script, or failing to show enthusiasm hurts your chances. The video is your opportunity to connect with reviewers as a person - use it well.

Vague Plans for the Six Months: Saying you’ll “explore opportunities” or “build partnerships” without specifics suggests poor planning. Be concrete about what you’ll accomplish in the six months - which customers you’ll target, what product iterations you’ll make, what metrics you’ll track, and what success looks like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need to speak Spanish? It’s not required, but it helps significantly. Many Chilean customers and partners will prefer to communicate in Spanish. That said, plenty of past participants have succeeded with limited Spanish, especially in tech sectors where English is common. If you don’t speak Spanish, explain how you’ll handle the language barrier.

Can we participate remotely? No, the program requires physical relocation to Santiago for the six months. This is a core requirement and non-negotiable.

What happens after the six months? You can stay in Chile and continue building your business, return to your home country, or relocate elsewhere. Many participants choose to maintain a presence in Chile while expanding to other markets. The one-year visa gives you flexibility to decide what makes sense for your business.

Can we bring family members? Yes, many participants bring spouses and children. You’ll need to arrange visas for dependents separately, but Start-Up Chile can provide guidance on the process.

How competitive is selection? Start-Up Chile receives hundreds of applications for each cohort and selects a limited number. Expect meaningful competition, but if you have a strong product, credible team, and well-thought-out Latin American strategy, you have a real chance.

Can we apply if we already have significant revenue or funding? The program is designed for early-stage startups, but having some revenue or previous funding doesn’t disqualify you. As long as your company is less than three years old and you meet other eligibility criteria, you can apply.

What if our product needs to be adapted for Latin American markets? That’s expected and actually shows good thinking. Use your application to explain what adaptations you’ll make and why they’re necessary. Reviewers appreciate founders who understand that what works in one market might need adjustment for another.

Will we have to pay taxes in Chile on the grant funding? Tax treatment can be complex and depends on your specific situation. Consult with a tax advisor familiar with Chilean and international tax law. Start-Up Chile can provide general guidance but can’t give specific tax advice.

How to Apply

Ready to take the next step? Here’s your action plan:

First, visit the official Start-Up Chile website at https://www.startupchile.org/ to access the complete program details, application portal, and any updates to requirements or deadlines. Make sure you’re working with the most current information.

Second, do serious research on Latin American markets for your specific product. Don’t skip this step - your market understanding will be obvious (or lacking) in your application. Talk to potential customers in the region if possible. Research competitors, pricing, distribution channels, and regulatory requirements.

Third, have honest conversations with your co-founders about the six-month relocation commitment. Make sure everyone is genuinely on board before investing time in the application. Discuss logistics like housing, families, and managing any operations in your home market.

Fourth, reach out to Start-Up Chile alumni if possible. Many are happy to share their experiences and provide advice on the application process. The alumni network is active and supportive - use it.

Fifth, start drafting your application early. Don’t wait until July to begin. The strongest applications are thoughtful and detailed, which takes time to develop. Plan to go through multiple drafts and get feedback from mentors or advisors.

Finally, make your video application authentic and compelling. Show who you are as a team, why you’re passionate about this opportunity, and what makes your startup special. Don’t overthink it - genuine enthusiasm and clear communication matter more than production quality.

For complete details and to access the application portal, visit: https://www.startupchile.org/

This program represents a genuine opportunity for international startups ready to establish a presence in Latin America. If you have a scalable technology product, a capable team, and genuine interest in the region, invest the time to prepare a strong application. The combination of equity-free funding, visa support, and ecosystem access can genuinely accelerate your path to becoming a regional or global player.