ThalesLab

What ThalesLab does

ThalesLab is a Uruguayan technology accelerator and corporate innovation consultancy founded in 2014 in Montevideo by Nicolás Jodal (cofounder of software-development platform GeneXus) and Sylvia Chebi. The firm operates three service lines: a 6-month technological accelerator for early-stage tech startups, a corporate innovation practice that helps organizations adapt startup methodologies for digital transformation, and an AI and soft-landing offering that advises companies on AI adoption and supports foreign startups entering Uruguay. ThalesLab does not develop proprietary technology products; instead, it curates and resells access to a stack of partner-provided resources, including free GeneXus licenses, AWS credits up to USD 10,000, IBM Cloud credits up to USD 120,000, and seed-capital facilitation through Uruguayan agencies ANII (up to 900,000 Uruguayan pesos) and ANDE (up to 775,000 Uruguayan pesos).

The business model combines a low equity participation in incubated startups (the only disclosed monetization mechanism) with bespoke corporate innovation engagements and AI advisory work. Applications are accepted year-round via the website and email, and selection involves an interview with industry experts and community members. The company is institutionally backed by BID Lab, the innovation laboratory of the IDB Group, and operates from inside LATU (Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay) in Montevideo, leveraging a portfolio of 30+ startups across gaming, fintech, healthtech, logistics, and robotics. Marketing is conducted through direct website engagement, organic social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), community events such as DIY ROBOCARS meetups, and participation in Campus Party Uruguay.

Strategic positioning rests on three structural advantages: an institutional partner network (BID Lab, ANII, ANDE, GeneXus, AWS, IBM), the founder-brand credibility of Nicolás Jodal, and physical embedding within Uruguay's flagship technology laboratory. The firm has 1–10 employees, is privately held, and discloses no revenue or external funding. AI capabilities are advisory rather than proprietary, with no disclosed models, data assets, or research output; accordingly, AI maturity is best characterized as assisted.

Name

ThalesLab

Legal name

ThalesLab

Website

https://thaleslab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ThalesLab is a Uruguayan technology accelerator founded in 2014 that runs a 6-month startup acceleration program, corporate innovation consulting, and AI advisory and soft-landing services for foreign startups entering Uruguay, backed by BID Lab, ANII, and GeneXus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Acceleration and Innovation Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Startup acceleration programs
• Corporate innovation consulting
• Technology incubation services
• AI advisory services
• Soft-landing support Uruguay

Headquarters

HQ city

Montevideo

HQ country

Uruguay

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equity participation in incubated startups: ThalesLab takes a low equity participation stake in incubated projects as part of their commitment model to support entrepreneurs and sustain operations for supporting other ventures.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ThalesLab is a Uruguayan technology accelerator that helps entrepreneurs build technology startups through a 6-month training program combining mentorship, methodology, networking, and seed-capital facilitation, while also providing Corporate Innovation consulting and AI/Soft-landing advisory services for organizations and foreign startups entering Uruguay. Revenue is generated primarily through low equity participation in incubated startups.

Product overview

ThalesLab is a Uruguayan technology accelerator and incubator founded in 2014 by Nicolás Jodal (GeneXus cofounder) and Sylvia Chebi. Rather than offering a software product or platform, ThalesLab provides three core service offerings: (1) Technological Accelerator — a 6-month training program helping entrepreneurs develop tech startups through mentorship, methodology, networking, and seed capital assistance via ANII/ANDE; (2) Corporate Innovation — consulting services helping organizations navigate digital transformation using methodologies adapted from startups; and (3) AI and Soft-landing — advisory services empowering companies to implement AI solutions and supporting startup establishment in Uruguay. The organization incubates a portfolio of approximately 30+ technology startups across diverse sectors including gaming, fintech, healthtech, logistics, and robotics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aceleradora tecnológica (Technological Accelerator) A 6-month intensive training and mentorship program that helps early-stage tech entrepreneurs develop their startups through weekly sessions, methodology, networking, technology access, and facilitated seed capital and cloud credits. Targeted at founders of early-stage technology startups.
• Innovación corporativa (Corporate Innovation) A consulting service that helps public and private organizations navigate technological disruption, build digital competencies, create new business units/spin-offs, and adopt modern innovation methodologies. Targeted at corporate clients undergoing digital transformation.
• IA y Soft-landing (AI and Soft-landing) An advisory service that supports companies in implementing AI as practical growth-driving solutions and assists foreign startups with soft-landing into Uruguay, including guidance on available institutional support. Targeted at companies adopting AI and foreign startups entering Uruguay.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to $900,000 in non-reimbursable seed capital available through ANII/ANDE partnerships
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• GeneXuscoreTechnology or IntegrationGeneXus is a software development automation platform. ThalesLab provides free annual GeneXus licenses to incubated startups and has access to the GeneXus developer community of 150,000+ developers worldwide. ThalesLab founder Nicolás Jodal is a co-founder of GeneXus, creating a strong strategic alignment.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)majorTechnology or IntegrationAWS provides cloud infrastructure credits valued at USD 10,000 to ThalesLab incubated startups, enabling access to cloud computing resources for development and scaling.
• IBM CloudmajorTechnology or IntegrationIBM provides cloud infrastructure credits valued at USD 120,000 to ThalesLab incubated startups, offering substantial cloud computing resources for technology development and deployment.
• BusinessuyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusinessuy provides coworking spaces and virtual offices with special discounts for ThalesLab startups, offering flexible workspace options at reduced costs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Venture City: Miami-based accelerator and venture firm explicitly focused on Latin American founders. Highly comparable to ThalesLab given its LatAm-centric deal flow and tiered programming that mixes cash investment, mentorship, and follow-on capital.
• NXTP Labs: Argentina-based early-stage venture firm and accelerator focused on Latin American tech startups. Closely comparable to ThalesLab in stage focus, regional scope, and the combination of acceleration programming with equity participation.
• Wayra: Telefónica's corporate accelerator operating across multiple Latin American countries including Uruguay. Directly comparable to ThalesLab as a regional startup accelerator combining equity investment, mentorship, and corporate connectivity.

Regional players

• Magma Partners: Chile-based early-stage investor and accelerator focused on Latin American startups. Comparable to ThalesLab in its LatAm-only scope and stage focus, though Magma operates more as a fund with selective acceleration than a cohort-driven program.
• Cometa: Mexico-based VC and former accelerator supporting early-stage Latin American tech startups. Comparable to ThalesLab through its regional LatAm focus, mentorship offering, and equity-based support for founders, though centered on the Mexican ecosystem.
• DILA Capital: Mexico-based early-stage venture firm backing Latin American founders. Comparable to ThalesLab in its regional LatAm scope and early-stage focus, though operating primarily as a fund rather than a structured cohort accelerator.

Broad incumbents

• Y Combinator: World's most prominent startup accelerator. Comparable to ThalesLab at the model level (seed funding for equity, intensive mentorship, demo-day-driven fundraising), but operates at vastly greater scale and competes for the same top-tier LatAm founders.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network running mentorship-driven programs worldwide. Comparable to ThalesLab in its accelerator-plus-equity model and structured cohort format, but with a far larger global brand and capital base.
• Antler: Global early-stage VC and accelerator with active Latin America operations. Comparable to ThalesLab through its founder-building and equity-investment model, though with broader geographic footprint and larger average check sizes.
• 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups): Large global accelerator with an established Latin American presence. Comparable to ThalesLab as an equity-taking accelerator for early-stage tech founders, but operating at much greater scale, with global network effects and standardized programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Thales_Lab
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThalesLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thaleslab
• Instagraminstagram.com/thaleslab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 ThalesLab