CORFO
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1939
- HeadquartersSantiago, Chile
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
CORFO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CORFO
- Legal name
- Corporación de Fomento de la Producción
- Website
- https://corfo.cl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1939
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CORFO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Economic Development Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Public Administration (92)
- SIC
- Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (BPADACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD), Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF), Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA), Incentives, Grants & Program Administration (Auctions, Tenders, IRA/ITC/PTC Advisory) (EUAMAAAJ)
Keywords
Where CORFO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santiago
- HQ country
- Chile
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CORFO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
CORFO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CORFO (Corporación de Fomento de la Producción) administers government-funded economic development programs in Chile, including grants, subsidies, co-financing, R&D tax incentives, and equity-free funding for startups, SMEs, and strategic sectors. It operates startup accelerators (Start-Up Chile), SME digitalization support networks, venture capital facilitation platforms, and sector-specific programs targeting green hydrogen, critical minerals, mining, and agriculture. Programs are delivered through 16 regional offices, an online SGP portal, and authorized intermediary networks.
Product overview
CORFO (Corporación de Fomento de la Producción) is Chile's state-owned economic development agency that operates as a multi-platform ecosystem rather than a single unified product. The core portfolio includes acceleration programs (Start-Up Chile BIG Program, StartupLabs), data platforms (Data Innovación, Data Territorios), investment facilitation (Venture Capital Chile), and various support mechanisms for entrepreneurs and businesses. These platforms collectively support Chile's innovation ecosystem through funding programs, training tools (El Viaje del Emprendedor), human capital scholarships (Becas Capital Humano), tax incentives for R&D (Ley de Incentivo Tributario a la I+D), digital assistance networks (Fortalece Pyme), and technology transfer initiatives (IP-CFT 2030). The agency's offerings span startup acceleration, regional development, green hydrogen development, critical minerals innovation, and SME digitalization across Chile's 16 regions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Start-Up Chile BIG Program CORFO's public accelerator program providing acceleration tracks (Build, Ignite, Growth), co-financing ranging from CLP 15 to 75 million, mentorship, free workspace, and connections with large companies for tech startups worldwide.
- Corfo Conecta Platform that brings together the innovation ecosystem and generates community among entrepreneurs and innovators in Chile.
- Data Innovación Platform that provides information and analysis on innovation and technological development in Chile, supporting evidence-based decision-making.
- Data Territorios Platform developed by CORFO's Gerencia de Desarrollo Territorial that offers visualization and analysis tools for subnational socioeconomic activities, territorial dashboards, reports, and territorial fact sheets across Chile's regions.
- Venture Capital Chile Platform that drives investment and financing for innovative ventures, connecting entrepreneurs with venture capital opportunities.
- Becas Capital Humano Human capital scholarship program offering specialization courses to strengthen labor capabilities in strategic sectors, co-financed by CORFO.
- Red de Asistencia Digital Fortalece Pyme Digital assistance network that supports small and medium enterprises in their digitalization process and productivity improvement throughout Chile.
- Ley de Incentivo Tributario a la I+D Tax incentive law that allows companies to deduct part of their investments in research and development, promoting corporate R&D activities.
- El Viaje del Emprendedor CORFO's training tool that provides education to people at different stages of business development, guiding entrepreneurs through their journey.
- IP-CFT 2030 CORFO and Ministry of Education program that drives innovation and technology transfer in Professional Institutes and Technical Training Centers.
- Activa Empresarias Initiative by CORFO, ProChile, and UN Women that drives women-led enterprises by connecting them with new business opportunities.
- Programa Transforma CORFO program that articulates public and private actors to diversify the Chilean economy and advance sustainable and innovative productive development.
- StartupLabs CORFO's startup acceleration program providing support for emerging technology companies.
- Biblioteca CORFO (Library Catalog) CORFO's library catalog system (Koha) providing access to books, audiovisual materials, and collection resources including technology and innovation literature.
Quantifiable outcome
- 69 Chilean mining technology and innovation providers positioned in international markets through Export Mining Suppliers Portfolio, with interest from Peruvian mining companies and Brazil
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CORFO
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
CORFO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
CORFO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Corporación Alta LeycoreCorporación Alta Ley presented an updated Export Mining Suppliers Portfolio at PDAC 2026, incorporating 19 new companies to reach 69 technology and innovation providers for the mining sector, developed in collaboration with Chile's Ministry of Mining, ProChile, and Mesa Nacional para el Desarrollo de Proveedores.
- University of ConcepcióncoreUniversity of Concepción partnered with Corfo on a $5 million green hydrogen demand-side project for industrial green reagent production, integrating 1,000 tonnes/year of green hydrogen into chemical manufacturing processes for mining and pulp/paper industries in the Biobío region.
- Occidental Chemical ChilemajorOccidental Chemical Chile partnered with Corfo on a $5 million hydrogen demand-side project involving industrial green reagent production for mining and pulp/paper industries, integrating green hydrogen into chemical manufacturing processes in the Biobío region.
- Eka ChilemajorEka Chile partnered with Corfo on green hydrogen demand-side industrial applications, receiving $5 million in subsidies for projects integrating green hydrogen into chemical manufacturing processes for mining and pulp/paper industries in the Biobío region.
- Ministry of Mining (Chile)coreChile's Ministry of Mining collaborates with Corfo on the Export Mining Suppliers Portfolio developed with ProChile and the Mesa Nacional para el Desarrollo de Proveedores to position Chilean mining suppliers in international markets.
- ProChilecoreProChile collaborates with Corfo on the Export Mining Suppliers Portfolio to support international market positioning of Chilean mining technology and innovation providers, with two portfolio suppliers already attracting interest from Peruvian mining companies and significant opportunities in Brazil.
- Mesa Nacional para el Desarrollo de ProveedorescoreNational Mesa collaborating with Corfo, ProChile, and the Ministry of Mining on the Export Mining Suppliers Portfolio to develop and position Chilean mining suppliers in international markets.
- Almería Greenhouses (Spain)majorCorfo used Almería's greenhouse expertise to modernize intensive horticulture in the Arica and Parinacota region, with a technology mission bringing 10 horticultural companies to Almería in February 2025 to study production systems including pathogen-free soil practices, new greenhouse structures, and integrated pest management.
- Corteva (Agricultural Sciences)majorMajor seed and research company that established operations in the Arica and Parinacota region of Chile's Atacama Desert, developing resilient crop varieties under extreme conditions as part of the greenhouse modernization initiative supported by Corfo.
- Bayer (Crop Science Division)majorBayer's crop science division established operations in the Arica and Parinacota region to develop resilient crop varieties under extreme Atacama Desert conditions, collaborating with the greenhouse modernization ecosystem supported by Corfo.
- Fitó (Semillas Fitó)majorSpanish seed company Fitó established operations in the Arica and Parinacota region to develop resilient crop varieties under extreme Atacama Desert conditions as part of Chile's intensive horticulture modernization supported by Corfo.
- Fundación ChilemajorFundación Chile signed a strategic agreement with SOFOFA and announced its ChileFinland Platform focused on sustainable mining, forestry bioeconomy, and intelligent regional development as part of its 50th anniversary strategic roadmap, with the NEMa Technological Hub for New Energies in Magallanes.
- SOFOFA (Sociedad de Fomento Fabril)majorSOFOFA signed a strategic agreement with Fundación Chile and is connected with Corfo's ecosystem programs to promote technological innovation, productive sustainability, and industrial decarbonization in Chile.
- Ministry of Mining (Chile)coreChile's Ministry of Mining works with Corfo on critical minerals development, particularly lithium extraction through new concession contracts with SQM and Albemarle, supporting the country's position in global lithium production.
- Chile's National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCI)majorChile's National Cybersecurity Agency created through the Cybersecurity Framework Law, with Corfo supporting cybersecurity development initiatives to address an estimated shortage of approximately 28,000 cybersecurity professionals in Chile.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
CORFO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BNDES (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social): Brazil's national development bank and the closest functional peer to CORFO. BNDES deploys blended finance, grants, and subsidies to drive Brazilian economic development, innovation, and strategic sectors (renewables, critical minerals, industry) at national scale — a near-mirror of CORFO's mandate within Chile.
- COFIDE (Corporación Financiera de Desarrollo): Peru's state-owned development bank providing second-tier financing, structured credit, and blended finance for infrastructure, innovation, and productive development. Directly comparable in role, instruments (grants, co-financing, guarantees), and Andean regional context.
- Bancóldex: Colombia's development bank focused on productive financing, SME support, innovation, and internationalization — replicating CORFO's mandate at Colombian scale. Comparable in deploying blended finance and managing national innovation programs.
- BICE (Banco de Inversión y Comercio Exterior): Argentina's state development bank providing long-term financing for investment projects, SMEs, and infrastructure. Comparable instrument set and Latin American public-mandate profile to CORFO, though operating in a more macro-volatile environment.
- Findeter: Colombia's territorial development bank financing infrastructure, urban development, and productive projects. Comparable in deploying concessional finance for regional economic development alongside national innovation programs.
Broad incumbents
- KfW Development Bank: Germany's federal development bank and a direct financial partner to CORFO for hydrogen co-investment (€100M). Operates a far larger and broader global portfolio, but uses comparable blended finance, concessional lending, and program co-financing instruments that mirror CORFO's domestic mandate internationally.
- European Investment Bank (EIB): EU's multilateral development finance institution and a direct financial partner to CORFO (€100M for hydrogen). EIB's energy, climate, and innovation lending instruments directly overlap with CORFO's strategic sector programs, though EIB operates at supranational scale.
- IDB Invest (Inter-American Development Bank Group): Private-sector arm of the IDB Group providing blended finance, concessional lending, and technical assistance for development across Latin America. Directly relevant given Chile's IDB membership and overlap in sustainable infrastructure, innovation, and SME programs.
- CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean): Latin America-focused multilateral development bank financing infrastructure, climate, and productive development projects. Shares mandate and instrument set with CORFO and is an active financier across the same Andean and Southern Cone geographies.
Regional players
- BanEcuador / BanCoopéchad (analogous national development banks): National public development banks in neighboring Andean economies that mirror CORFO's domestic mandate of productive financing, SME support, and innovation programs. They serve as comparable regional benchmarks for program design and capital deployment intensity even though they do not directly compete in Chile.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CORFO social profiles
Digital presenceCORFO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CORFO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
CORFO subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CORFO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CORFO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments116 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CORFO
What does CORFO do?
CORFO (Corporación de Fomento de la Producción) administers government-funded economic development programs in Chile, including grants, subsidies, co-financing, R&D tax incentives, and equity-free funding for startups, SMEs, and strategic sectors. It operates startup accelerators (Start-Up Chile), SME digitalization support networks, venture capital facilitation platforms, and sector-specific programs targeting green hydrogen, critical minerals, mining, and agriculture. Programs are delivered through 16 regional offices, an online SGP portal, and authorized intermediary networks.
Is CORFO a public or private company?
CORFO is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was CORFO founded?
CORFO was founded in 1939. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is CORFO based?
CORFO is headquartered in Santiago, Chile, in the Latin America region.
Who are CORFO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BNDES (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social), COFIDE (Corporación Financiera de Desarrollo), Bancóldex, BICE (Banco de Inversión y Comercio Exterior) and Findeter. Broad incumbents are KfW Development Bank, European Investment Bank (EIB), IDB Invest (Inter-American Development Bank Group) and CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean). BanEcuador / BanCoopéchad (analogous national development banks) is listed as a regional player.
Does CORFO have an API?
No public API is recorded for CORFO.
What industry is CORFO in?
CORFO's product category is Economic Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADACAC, National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), with a secondary code of BPADAOAD, Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities. Its NAICS code is 9261 and its SIC code is 6111.