Starter Company

What Starter Company does

Startco (legal name: Starter Company) is a private Colombian event and ecosystem platform founded in 2018 in Medellín, operating what the company describes as the largest live startup auction in Latin America. The core offering is a two-day event that brings together early-stage startups, venture capital funds, corporates, and the general public in a single physical venue, structured around curated startup pitches, live audience voting, the "VC Week" of scheduled one-on-one investor-startup meetings organized by investment thesis, and a final investment round where top-ranked startups deliver 15-minute pitches. Across six editions hosted in Medellín, Barranquilla, and Bogotá between 2019 and 2025, Startco has aggregated 1,700+ startups, attracted 500+ investors per edition, and drawn 90,000+ cumulative attendees from 20+ countries.

The business model combines three revenue streams: a $1,000 USD + VAT startup application fee (including a stand, team entries, VC Week access, ranking participation, and a Starbook profile), a $100 USD + VAT general public ticket for both event days, and tiered corporate sponsorship (Unicorn, Serie A, Serie B, Seed) sold directly via WhatsApp and email. Named sponsors and partners include Bancolombia, BBVA, Claro Colombia, Davivienda, Comfama, Compensar, Oracle, AWS Startups, NVIDIA Inception, Procolombia, Ruta N, Endeavor, 500 Startups, and the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce. The company's technology stack is primarily event-operations infrastructure — including a live voting app and the Starbook startup profile directory — not a standalone SaaS product; the value proposition centers on physical concentration of high-signal dealflow in a single venue.

Strategic positioning emphasizes the rotating host city model across Colombian innovation hubs and a forthcoming first international edition in Mexico City in November 2026, with announced speakers including Waze co-founder Uri Levine, former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner, and Mana Common chairman Moishe Mana. The CEO and co-founder is Juan Gabriel Arboleda. The moat derives from accumulated ecosystem relationships with VCs, government entities, universities, and accelerators that compound with each edition, combined with a brand position reinforced by six editions of track record in the regional events market.

Name

Starter Company

Legal name

Starter Company

Website

https://startco.com.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Startco (Starter Company) operates Latin America's largest live startup auction, running two-day events that connect early-stage startups, VC funds, and corporates through curated pitches and one-on-one investor meetings. The Medellín-based company has hosted six editions in Colombia and is expanding to Mexico City in 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Conferences & Sales Kickoffs (MPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Meetings & Conferences (Internal/External Business Events) (MPAGAHAA), Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Live startup auctions
• Investor networking events
• Entrepreneurship conferences
• Venture capital meetings
• Startup pitch events

Headquarters

HQ city

Medellín

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Startup Application Fees: Startups pay an application fee of $1,000 USD + VAT to participate in the auction, which includes a stand, team entries, participation in rankings, VC Week access, and a Starbook profile.
2. General Public Tickets: General public attendees pay $100 USD + VAT for access to both event days, startup showcase, talks, live voting, and networking spaces.
3. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsors (categorized as Unicorn, Serie A, Serie B, Seed tiers) pay for brand visibility at the leading live startup event in the region, with direct access to startups, founders, and investors. Includes activations and presence at key event moments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Starter Company (operating as Startco) hosts the largest live startup auction in Latin America, a two-day event that brings together startups, venture capital funds, corporations, and the general public to facilitate real-time investment deals. The format combines curated startup showcases, one-on-one VC meetings (VC Week), 15-minute final investment rounds, and live audience voting. Revenue is generated primarily from startup application fees, general public ticket sales, and corporate sponsorship packages across four tiers (Unicorn, Serie A, Serie B, Seed).

Product overview

Startco operates as an event-based acceleration ecosystem hosting the largest live startup auction in Latin America. The unified platform combines multiple integrated products: the core Live Startup Auction where startups pitch for investment, supported by VC Week one-on-one investor meetings, a Startup Showcase exhibition, and Investment Rounds for finalists. Additional modules include Live Voting for audience participation, Starbook for startup profiles, Expert Meetings for networking, and Inspire Pitch for entrepreneur content. The event connects startups, investors, corporations, and general public across rotating host cities in Latin America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Startup Auction The centerpiece Startco event where startups pitch to 500+ investors and a live audience, competing for investment through a structured auction-style format including live voting, rankings, and a final investment round with 15-minute pitches. Aimed at early-stage and growth-stage Latin American startups seeking capital.
• VC Week One-on-one meeting program between venture capital funds, family offices, angel investors, corporate venture arms, and participating startups, organized by investment thesis and vertical alignment. Provides investors with curated dealflow and structured engagement with 350+ startups.
• Startup Showcase Commercial exhibition featuring 350+ startups from across Latin America, connecting ideas with the business ecosystem for visibility, growth, and partnership opportunities. Includes a Startup stand type, team entries, display board, and participation in the pre-Startco program.
• Sponsorship Packages Corporate sponsorship packages offered in four tiers (Unicorn, Serie A, Serie B, Seed), providing brand visibility, activations, and presence at key event moments. Includes direct access to startups, founders, and investors. Corporate sponsors have included Bancolombia, Claro Colombia, BBVA, Oracle, Davivienda, Compensar, Comfama, and Procolombia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ startups showcased per edition
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• EndeavorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026Global entrepreneurship organization supporting high-impact startups. Endeavor participates as a speaker partner at Startco, providing expertise and connecting with the regional ecosystem.
• Ruta NcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026Medellín's public-private innovation alliance. Core ecosystem partner developing events and connecting startups with investment opportunities in the city.
• AWS StartupscoreTechnology or Integration · 17 April 2026Amazon Web Services startup program. AWS provides technology support and visibility for startups participating in Startco ecosystem.
• NVIDIA InceptioncoreTechnology or Integration · 17 April 2026NVIDIA's accelerator program for AI and data science startups. NVIDIA Inception supports startups with technology and connects with VCs in the ecosystem.
• BancolombiaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Leading Colombian financial institution and Unicorn sponsor. Supports the startup ecosystem and participates in Startco events.
• Claro ColombiaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Major telecommunications provider and Unicorn sponsor. Participates in Startco as sponsor and corporate partner.
• RockstarcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Global entertainment brand. Partner ally developing events and activations at Startco.
• Universidad EIAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026Colombian university developing events and connecting with the startup ecosystem.
• Bogotá Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026Chamber of commerce supporting startup ecosystem development. Partner in event development.
• ProcolombiacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Government agency promoting Colombian exports and investment. Seed sponsor supporting startup ecosystem.
• DaviviendaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Major Colombian bank and Seed sponsor. Supports startup ecosystem development.
• BBVAflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Global banking group and Serie B sponsor. Engages with startups in the region.
• OracleflagshipTechnology or Integration · 17 April 2026Technology corporation Serie B sponsor supporting startup ecosystem.
• WeWorkcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Workspace provider Serie A sponsor supporting startup community.
• CompensarflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Colombian welfare compensation fund and Unicorn sponsor.
• ComfamaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Colombian savings fund and Unicorn sponsor supporting innovation.
• PlatzicoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Latin American online education platform Seed sponsor.
• SiigocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2026Colombian SaaS company Seed sponsor supporting ecosystem.
• EAFIT UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026Colombian university with Impact Entrepreneurship Center that has incubated nearly 190 initiatives in four years.
• Guenther SteinercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026Former Haas F1 Team Director and speaker at Startco 2026 Medellín. Brings expertise in vision, risk, and rapid decision-making.
• Moishe ManacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026Founder & Chairman at Mana Common, speaker at Startco 2026. Leads Wynwood and Flagler District development connecting startups with global commerce.
• Uri Levine (Waze Co-founder)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2025Notable speaker at StartCo 2025, bringing entrepreneurship experience from Waze's success story.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• TechCrunch Disrupt: Flagship startup conference of TechCrunch featuring a Startup Battlefield pitch competition. Directly comparable pitch/auction format and target audience (founders pitching to VCs and tech audience) that Startco mirrors at a regional LatAm level.
• Web Summit: One of the world's largest tech conferences (Lisbon, Rio, Doha, Vancouver). Comparable to Startco as a multi-track, multi-attendee tech/startup event bringing together founders, investors, and corporates, but operates at much greater global scale and breadth.
• VivaTech: Paris-based European startup and tech event. Comparable high-impact pitch/investor format and large multinational sponsor base; a global benchmark that Startco's 'largest live startup auction in LatAm' positioning implicitly competes with.
• Slush: Helsinki-based founder-led startup event known for large-scale founder/VC matchmaking. Comparable to Startco in its core mission of compressing startup-investor deal timelines into a single high-energy event.

Direct peers

• 4YFN (Four Years From Now): Startup-focused event held alongside Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Comparable as a curated startup-investor event with pitch and networking components aimed at early-stage founders and VCs.
• eMerge Americas: Miami-based tech and startup conference serving the Americas. Comparable to Startco as a regional startup/VC event in the Americas targeting founders, investors, and corporates — and a natural competitor if Startco expands further into Mexico and the U.S.
• South Summit: Spain-headquartered startup conference with strong LatAm presence (Madrid, plus LatAm editions). Competes for the same Spanish-speaking founder, VC, and corporate audience as Startco and offers a similar pitch-meets-investor format.
• LAVCA (Latin American Venture Capital & Private Equity Association): Industry association running flagship LatAm VC events and LP/GP gatherings. Comparable to Startco in serving the LatAm VC ecosystem, though it operates as a membership/association rather than an auction-format event.
• Techstars: Global startup accelerator that runs demo days and startup events connecting portfolio companies with investors. Comparable in facilitating startup-investor connections and corporate innovation, but with a year-round accelerator program rather than one-off auctions.

Emerging players

• Startup Grind: Global startup community running events in 600+ chapters. Comparable community-driven model connecting founders and investors, though distributed year-round rather than a single flagship event.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startco
• Xx.com/starter_company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Starter Company