Nathan Lustig

Ep 21 Rocio Fonseca, Empowering Female Entrepreneurs and Startups in Latin America

Category : Chile, Crossing Borders Podcast
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rocio fonseca - empowering female entrepreneurs

No matter where you live in the world, it can be difficult for female entrepreneurs to succeed, but in Latin America it’s especially true. In this episode of Crossing Borders, I speak with Rocio Fonseca, Executive Director of Start-Up Chile.

We talk extensively about her first startup, what it was like starting a tech business in Chile in the early 2000s, why she moved to the US to study at MIT and work in Silicon Valley, why she came back to Chile to join Start-Up Chile, and the variety of programs within Start-Up Chile, including S-Factory, which focused exclusively on helping female entrepreneurs.

We wrap up the conversation talking about where she sees Start-Up Chile heading in the next 5 to 10 years.

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Panama: Investments Make For a Bright, Sustainable Future

Category : Latin America Startups and Investing, Panama
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Home to the famous 48-mile canal, Panama is a central location for import and export, serving as a connector to ports and cities worldwide. Panama has free trade agreements with many countries, including the United States. Its population has surpassed 4 million and continues to grow along with the average wage, which is currently US$1,238 per month.

Taking after its neighboring country, Costa Rica, Panama uses 65% renewable resources for its energy supply. The financial sector plays an important role in Panama’s GDP. Thanks to sizeable investments, Panama’s economy has prospered, leading to installations of Metro lines and significant city renovations. 2016 marked one of its biggest foreign investments, rolling in at US$5.2 billion.

Panama is a prime country for foreign investment and considered a “Tax Haven” by many governments because it does not tax income generated outside of Panama. For income generated inside the country, all of the normal business deductions are available, and income tax rates are low. (more…)

Ep 20 Thomas Allier, The Startup Growth Curve of a Latin American Travel Search Company

Category : Colombia, Crossing Borders Podcast
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Every startup has a growth curve. It looks different for each company depending on many factors, and my guest on this episode says founders need to push their company through its growth curve as fast as possible.

Thomas Allier left his home in Paris, France to found a startup in Colombia. It’s not the normal path of a Latin American company but his decision paid off. His company – Viajala – is now the largest discount flights search engine in Latin America. You’ll enjoy this conversation.

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Ep 19 Andres Barreto, International Business Strategy That Cuts Cost and Increases Profit

Category : Colombia, Crossing Borders Podcast
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andres barreto - vc and international business strategy

The term International Business Strategy is typically used to describe U.S. or Western companies looking to maximize profits through offshoring or outsourcing, or extending their sales into foreign markets. But Andres Barreto is doing things in the opposite direction. He’s working to encourage Latin American startups to focus on the U.S. market and scale there, as well as encourage US companies to look to Latin America for the talented engineers and developers they need. But instead of outsourcing, they’re building integral startup teams in Latin America.

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