Startups
214
Grow Smarter in Cali
Build your startup in a city that offers top talent, lower costs, and access to Latin American markets.
Operated by 
Growth Rate
104.3%
Total Funding
$16.7M
Ecosystem Highlight
Fastest Growing City
#1 in Colombia
At over 104% ecosystem growth, Cali is the fastest growing city in Colombia, and the fastest among LATAM top 20 cities.
“The growth of our ecosystem is driven by the extraordinary talent of our entrepreneurs, the true protagonists of progress, and the continued support of institutions like ours, which believe in them and walk alongside them. Today, Cali is moving forward with strength and earning its place on the global map.”
Maria del Mar Palau
Executive, President Cali Chamber of Commerce
Latest Opportunities & Events
Capital Summit – Cali 2025
A high-impact event focused on smart capital, investment rounds, and startup scalability. Featuring pitch competitions, workshops, and curated investor–founder meetings.
Available until:
September 3, 2025
Acelera Región Cali
Accelerate your startup’s growth. Apply now to join Acelera Región and access nine months of mentoring, capacity-building, investor connections, and visibility.
Available until:
Ongoing
Valle Impacta
Transform your venture with Valle Impacta, accelerate scale and market readiness through expert advisors, investor access, and cross‑sector collaboration.
Available until:
Ongoing
Recent Startup Ecosystem News
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Our Partners
Ecosystem Stakeholders
Meet with the key players driving this vibrant startup ecosystem.
Notable Startups
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Contact UsTop Achievements of the Cali Startup Ecosystem
Rankings provided by
Among LATAM Cities with 2–10 Million People
#7
Cali ranks among the top innovation ecosystems in Latin America for cities with a population between 2 and 10 million.
Global Rank Change since 2020
+65
Cali’s startup ecosystem posted one of the biggest climbs in the global top 300, rising 65 spots to 212th.
Ecosystem Brand Value – South America
#4
Cali stands out among South American cities for its high level of visibility, branding and maturity.
Key Benefits of Joining Cali Startup Ecosystem
Strategic Location & Competitive Advantage
As Colombia’s key Pacific Coast hub, Cali offers access to Latin American markets, high-quality bilingual talent, and lower competition than mainstream cities, ideal for both local founders and international investors looking to enter the region.
Rapidly Expanding Ecosystem
Cali’s startup scene is gaining momentum with new ventures, coworking hubs, and innovation-driven institutions. Its community is actively growing, creating momentum and visibility in the region and beyond.
Focused Sector Strengths and Cluster Development
Cali is home to well-established industry clusters, like health, agribusiness, logistics, and creative industries, making it easier for startups to plug into value chains, find early customers, and scale with sector-specific support.
Key Statistics
Foreign Investment
USD $110M
In 2024
Digital Economy Companies
800+
In Cali
Operating Data Centers
23
In 2025
Cali Ecosystem Landscape
Taxes and Incentives
- Zonamerica is the Colombia's first free trade zone dedicated to services and technology and is located in Cali.
- The Economic Growth Law introduced, among others, a new employment deduction according to which employers may deduct 120% of the salary payments made to employees who are under 28 years of age.
- Bancoldex - The Colombian Business Development Bank provides compensated credit lines in Valle del Cauca, in cooperation with the Mayor's Office.
- Fondo Emprender SENA is a seed capital fund created by the national government and assigned to the National Apprenticeship Service (SENA).
- The Creatic Technological Development Center - aims to develop applied research projects and technology transfer, to meet the needs of the productive sector, through the implementation of innovation processes for productive and social transformation in the Colombian Southwest and the country.
Investor Landscape
- ProColombia is Colombia’s official investment platform that brings a large amount of foreign direct investment into the region. Basing a startup in Cali will allow startups to benefit from this inflow of FDI.
- Invest Pacific is an initiative created by the cooperation of the public and private sector to promote investment in the Cali region.
- Valle INN Fund is an entrepreneurship program that provides advice and support to startups who are in the ideation stage of a business or that are just entering the market.
- Several national and regional VC funds actively invest in Cali-based startups, including Progresa Capital, Fondo Emprender, Andeo, SIMMA, and Marathon Ventures.
- Angel investing is strong via the Red Pólux network, alongside national partners like Innpulsa Colombia.
- VCs, unicorn founders back Truora with new investment round, a startup that helps LatAm businesses onboard users via WhatsApp
Ecosystem Milestones
2025
Cali becomes the official venue of the 105th version of the Procolombia Macrorrueda, a trade promotion event.
Epic Angels, the largest investor network in Asia-Pacific, arrives in Cali, managing to mobilize more than U$ 73,000 in just two weeks for the winning startup of Capital Summit 4.0
2024
2024
NIDO and its Meetups are born as a commitment of the ecosystem to train, inspire and connect technology entrepreneurs in Cali.
The Cali Chamber of Commerce organizes the first Capital Summit, as an epicenter for investment.
2020
2016
Cali becomes home to Colombia’s first services-focused Free Trade Zone - Zonamerica.
Octopus Force is founded as a Technological Development Center officially recognized by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
2014
2008
Establishment of the Start-Upcafé as an incubator for technology-based and innovative enterprises.
Launch of the Entrepreneur Fund, administered by Colombia's National Training Service (SENA).
2002
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