Latin America and the Caribbean’s innovation ecosystem is increasingly connected to global markets, capital, and networks. For high-potential ventures and investors across the region, strengthening these cross-border connections can open new opportunities for growth, knowledge exchange, and collaboration.
IDB Lab and Mana Tech are building on this opportunity through a new collaboration aimed at strengthening connections between the innovation and venture capital ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean and the United States.
“Latin America and the Caribbean already have high-quality entrepreneurs, funds, and innovation ecosystems. The opportunity is to build stronger connections with U.S. markets, capital, and strategic partners. We believe Miami can play a unique role as a connection point between both ecosystems, and this collaboration with IDB Lab allows us to begin building those bridges in a more systematic way,” said Charly Esnal, CEO of Mana Tech.
The collaboration will build on the complementary experience and networks of both organizations. IDB Lab brings decades of engagement with entrepreneurs, venture capital funds, investors, and innovation ecosystems across Latin America and the Caribbean, while Mana Tech brings strong connections within Miami’s innovation and investment ecosystem, as well as experience supporting international ventures seeking to expand into the U.S. market.
The work will initially focus on two interconnected areas. Strengthening cross-border capabilities and connections. IDB Lab and Mana Tech will explore ways to strengthen ecosystem capabilities and foster stronger links among ventures, investors, corporations, and other ecosystem actors across Latin America and the Caribbean and the United States. This includes exchanging insights on the barriers companies face when accessing new markets and exploring approaches that can strengthen their connections to relevant networks, capital, co-investment opportunities, and potential partners. The collaboration will also explore Miami’s potential as a strategic connection point between the innovation ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean and U.S. markets, capital, and strategic partners.
Venture capital, market intelligence, and knowledge exchange. IDB Lab and Mana Tech will explore opportunities for collaboration related to the venture capital ecosystem, including the exchange of information on investment trends, fund managers, and relevant opportunities in the region. The organizations will also share experiences, market intelligence, and knowledge to help identify areas of mutual interest and further opportunities for collaboration.
“Stronger connections between venture capital ecosystems can help expand opportunities for entrepreneurs, fund managers, and investors across Latin America and the Caribbean. This collaboration with Mana Tech will allow us to explore how market intelligence, networks, and connections to capital can help bring our region’s innovation ecosystem closer to new opportunities in the United States,” said Graham Macmillan, CEO of IDB Lab.
By fostering knowledge exchange and stronger cross-border connections, IDB Lab and Mana Tech aim to contribute to an innovation ecosystem in which entrepreneurs, investors, and other actors across the Americas can more easily connect, learn from one another, and explore new opportunities for growth.