Pygma
Pygma is a pre-seed accelerator and investment platform for Latin American founders building in fintech and Applied AI. It runs six-week cohort programs in NYC, Mexico City, and Bogotá, taking 1% equity per startup and now transitioning from accelerator to full fund model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Pygma does
Pygma is a pre-seed accelerator and investment platform that targets founders building in fintech and Applied AI for Latin American markets. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in New York with operational hubs in Mexico City and Bogotá, the company runs six-week cohort programs in which it takes a 1% equity stake — with no hidden fees or cap-table inflation — in exchange for hands-on co-building: pitch refinement, business-model work, market positioning, fundraising preparation, and warm introductions to its investor network. Across eight completed cohorts it has accelerated 148 startups, reporting a combined portfolio valuation of $602.7M and $39.3M cumulatively raised by portfolio companies.
The company's core product is the cohort program itself, supplemented by a Demo Week culminating event (now expanding to San Francisco for PY9), a content/newsletter distribution arm covering LatAm fintech signals, and a community platform hosted on Luma. Distribution is application-driven: a selective top-10% admissions process via Tally, top-of-funnel awareness through Substack, LinkedIn, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok, and bottom-of-funnel conversion into the six-week program. Pygma monetizes via equity rather than cash fees and is transitioning from an accelerator model to a full venture capital fund, with PY9 (launching August 2026) positioned as the last cohort under the current structure.
Pygma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pygma
- Legal name
- Pygma
- Website
- https://pygma.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pygma is a pre-seed accelerator and investment platform for Latin American founders building in fintech and Applied AI. It runs six-week cohort programs in NYC, Mexico City, and Bogotá, taking 1% equity per startup and now transitioning from accelerator to full fund model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pygma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Accelerator Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)
Keywords
Where Pygma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Pygma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Equity Investment: Pygma takes 1% equity in exchange for the 6-week acceleration program, which includes co-building support, mentor network access, and investor introductions. This is a transparent, aligned model where the accelerator's success is tied to the founders' success.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Standard Program — 1% Equity |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels10 records
Pygma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pygma operates a 6-week pre-seed accelerator program for fintech and Applied AI startups led by Latin American founders. The program takes 1% equity in participating companies in exchange for hands-on co-building support including pitch refinement, business model development, fundraising preparation, and US market entry strategy. The accelerator connects founders with operators, investors, and executives through its network, culminating in Demo Week events held in San Francisco and Mexico City. PY9 is the ninth and final cohort before the company transitions to a full venture fund model.
Product overview
Pygma is a pre-seed accelerator and platform for Latino founders focused on fintech and Applied AI. The company operates cohort-based acceleration programs (currently PY9, their ninth cohort) where they take 1% equity in exchange for 6 weeks of intensive co-building support. The core offering includes hands-on work on pitch materials, business models, market positioning, fundraising strategy, and sales/GTM execution. The program connects founders with a network of operators, investors, and mentors, culminating in Demo Week events. Pygma is transitioning from an accelerator model to a full fund, making PY9 their final cohort.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PY9 Accelerator Program A 6-week pre-seed accelerator cohort program for fintech and Applied AI startups led by Latin American founders. The program takes 1% equity and provides hands-on support including pitch refinement, business model development, fundraising preparation, US market entry strategy, deck and data room preparation, and warm introductions to operators, investors, and executives.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90 NPS rating from founders in 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Pygma
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pygma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Pygma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- DeelcoreDeel is a global HR and payroll platform partner providing portfolio companies with employment and contractor management solutions. Partnership likely offers Pygma portfolio companies preferential access to Deel's services for building global teams.
- Lowenstein SandlercoreLowenstein Sandler is a law firm providing legal advisory services. Partnership provides portfolio companies with access to legal counsel for fundraising, compliance, and corporate matters.
- GooglecoreGoogle partnership provides portfolio companies with access to Google Cloud credits, tools, and potentially AI/ML capabilities for building fintech and AI products.
- CartacoreCarta is an equity management and cap table platform. Partnership provides portfolio companies with tools for managing cap tables, valuations, and equity administration as they raise capital.
- Davalos MichelcoreDavalos Michel appears to be a consulting or advisory partner providing strategic guidance to portfolio companies, likely focused on Latin American market entry and growth strategies.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pygma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the largest global pre-seed/seed accelerator and was explicitly referenced by Pygma's founders as a benchmark ('Pygma is not far behind YC'). It offers a comparable cohort-based accelerator model, takes standard equity, and has expanded its reach into Latin America, making it the most consequential incumbent competitor.
- Techstars: Techstars is one of the world's most established accelerator operators with multiple vertical and regional programs, including fintech-focused cohorts. It operates a comparable 3-month mentor-driven accelerator model and frequently intersects with Pygma's fintech founder audience.
Direct peers
- Antler: Antler is a global early-stage accelerator with active presence in Latin America (notably Brazil and Mexico) and focuses on day-zero to pre-seed founders. Its cohort model, equity-for-program structure, and explicit regional LatAm push directly overlap with Pygma's positioning.
- 500 Global: 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) is a large global accelerator and VC with deep roots in Latin America. Its cohort-driven programs, fintech emphasis, and pre-seed equity-for-program model make it one of Pygma's closest direct comparables in the region.
- Plug and Play: Plug and Play runs vertical- and geography-specific accelerator programs (including fintech) and accepts equity in participating startups. Its corporate-partner-driven model and regional hubs closely parallel Pygma's three-hub structure (NYC/CDMX/Bogotá).
Regional players
- Magma Partners: Magma Partners is a Latin American VC/accelerator actively investing in pre-seed and seed fintech and SaaS founders across the region. While primarily a fund rather than a cohort-based accelerator, it targets the same LatAm fintech founder segment Pygma serves.
- ALLVP: ALLVP is one of Mexico's most established venture capital firms with deep fintech exposure across Latin America. It represents the institutional VC capital Pygma's portfolio companies are trying to access, making it both a feeder and competitor for top-tier deal flow.
- Kaszek Ventures: Kaszek is the largest LatAm-focused venture firm with a strong fintech portfolio and a regional brand that competes for the same founder mindshare. Its portfolio size and follow-on capacity create both a downstream LP-style opportunity and a competitive threat for Pygma alumni.
- Valor Capital: Valor Capital is a cross-border (US–Brazil) growth and venture firm with fintech emphasis and operational ties to US/LatAm markets. It represents a comparable cross-border thesis for LatAm founders targeting US scale, similar to Pygma's NYC–CDMX–Bogotá positioning.
- NXTP Labs: NXTP Labs is one of the earliest and most active early-stage accelerators in Latin America, running cohorts targeting technology and fintech founders across the region. Its long-running regional program and alumni network overlap directly with Pygma's LatAm fintech thesis.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pygma social profiles
Digital presencePygma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pygma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Pygma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pygma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments5 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pygma
What does Pygma do?
Pygma operates a 6-week pre-seed accelerator program for fintech and Applied AI startups led by Latin American founders. The program takes 1% equity in participating companies in exchange for hands-on co-building support including pitch refinement, business model development, fundraising preparation, and US market entry strategy. The accelerator connects founders with operators, investors, and executives through its network, culminating in Demo Week events held in San Francisco and Mexico City. PY9 is the ninth and final cohort before the company transitions to a full venture fund model.
Is Pygma a public or private company?
Pygma is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Pygma founded?
Pygma was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pygma based?
Pygma is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pygma make money?
One revenue line is on record: equity Investment.
Who are Pygma's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Y Combinator and Techstars. Direct peers are Antler, 500 Global and Plug and Play. Regional players are Magma Partners, ALLVP, Kaszek Ventures, Valor Capital and NXTP Labs.
Does Pygma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pygma.
What industry is Pygma in?
Pygma's product category is Startup Accelerator Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of FSANAAAA, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed).