What Atacama Angels does

Atacama Angels is the first angel investor network in northern Chile, established in March 2023 and headquartered in Antofagasta. It operates as a non-profit, community-led platform that connects early-stage startups from Chile's Macrozona Norte with a syndicate of individual angel investors providing capital, networks, and knowledge ('smart money'). The network runs a six-stage investment process — open online application, expert-commission selection, pitch coaching, legal and financial due diligence, negotiation and closing, and post-investment follow-up — using instruments such as SAFE, equity, and convertible notes. Core products include the Angel Investor Network itself, the Startup Investment Pathway, the Angel Investor Membership Program, and the Investment Readiness Academy (INV2 program announced for 2026), which offers two diplomas covering startup evaluation, due diligence, portfolio management, and capital-raising preparation.

The business is anchored by 16 founding angel members (including 7 women, roughly 44% versus an industry norm of ~5%), a small core team of 4 plus IT support, and a three-person board of directors (Presidenta Georgina Kong, Secretario Adalid Barañado, Tesorero Thomas Müller). Revenue streams comprise angel equity returns (illiquid), corporate sponsorship and partnership fees (notably from Escondida | BHP and mining-sector firms), and program fees from the Investment Readiness Academy. The organization's founding was financed by CORFO under Line 2 'Invierte, Redes Ángeles' (CORFO_INV226540), with corporate support from Escondida | BHP and operational execution by Universidad Católica del Norte through its Centro de Emprendimiento y de la Pyme (CEMP).

In its first year, Atacama Angels processed 83 startup applications, selected 22 for training and pitch sessions, advanced 5 to due diligence, and completed two investments, including a US$30,000 strategic investment in BondUp (an active-aging platform) as part of a CLP$400 million syndicate round in December 2025. The network sits within a broader northern Chile innovation chain that includes USQAI (university incubator), Aster (regional accelerator), Kalpa (virtual incubator), and SQM Lithium Corporate Venture Capital, positioning it as the previously missing angel-investment layer in the regional funding stack.

Name

Atacama Angels

Legal name

Atacama Angels

Website

https://atacamaangels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Atacama Angels is the first angel investor network in northern Chile, connecting early-stage startups in the Macrozona Norte with a 16-member syndicate of angel investors offering capital and mentorship, complemented by an Investment Readiness Academy training program for investors and entrepreneurs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel Investing Network

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

Keywords

• Angel investor network
• Early-stage startup funding
• Syndicated angel investing
• Investment readiness training
• Startup capital facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Antofagasta

HQ country

Chile

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Angel Investment Returns: The primary revenue mechanism is through equity returns on investments made in startups. The network operates syndicated investments where multiple angels co-invest in startups via SAFE notes, equity, or convertible instruments. Returns are realized upon exits or subsequent funding rounds.
2. Sponsorship and Partnership Fees: Corporate sponsors and strategic partners contribute support in exchange for brand positioning, networking access, and visibility within the innovation ecosystem of northern Chile.
3. Investment Readiness Academy: Educational program with two diplomas (for investors and for entrepreneurs/ecosystem actors) generates revenue through program fees for participants seeking investment readiness training.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Atacama Angels operates the first angel investor network in northern Chile, connecting validated early-stage startups with individual angel investors who provide capital, mentorship, networks, and knowledge transfer. The network runs syndicated investment rounds using instruments such as SAFE, equity, and convertible notes, and complements deal-making with a structured Investment Readiness Academy that delivers diploma programs for both entrepreneurs and prospective investors.

Product overview

Atacama Angels operates as a unified angel investor network platform with two interconnected core offerings: the main Angel Investor Network service connecting validated startups with angel investors for syndicated capital deployment, and the Investment Readiness Academy providing structured training programs. The ecosystem includes a six-stage startup investment pathway (from application through due diligence to post-investment mentorship) and a five-step investor membership process. The platform focuses on early-stage startups with MVP or initial sales in northern Chile's macrozone, supporting industries from mining and healthcare to agribusiness and fintech. Investment instruments include SAFE, equity, and convertible notes structured through syndicated rounds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Investment Readiness: A training program designed by Atacama Angels to prepare entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem actors to better understand the investment process from opportunity identification to venture capital raising. The program includes two diplomas: one for investors and one for entrepreneurs/key actors.

Products and services

• Atacama Angels Angel Investor Network A syndicated angel investment platform connecting validated early-stage startups in northern Chile with a curated pool of angel investors. Members co-invest via SAFE, equity, and convertible note instruments, and provide startups with smart money (capital plus mentorship, networks, and knowledge transfer).
• Investment Readiness Academy Structured training program with two diploma tracks: one for investors (angel investing fundamentals, startup evaluation, due diligence, portfolio management) and one for entrepreneurs and ecosystem actors (startup preparation for capital raising, pitch preparation, investor relations). Offered as a fee-based educational program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 83 startups applied during first year, demonstrating strong market demand and ecosystem engagement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BondUpminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025BondUp is a startup focused on active aging and combating loneliness in people over 50. Atacama Angels made a US$30,000 strategic investment in BondUp as part of a $400 million peso angel round. Atacama Angels assumed an active role as strategic partner, driving alliances with municipalities, local organizations, and mining companies. Michelle Schnitzer, BondUp founder, participated in Atacama Angels' 'Estrellas y Sinergias' dinner event.
• GBAN (Global Business Angel Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023GBAN (Global Business Angel Network) is a global association of angel investor networks. Atacama Angels is listed as a GBAN Member. Israel Pons, a GBAN board member, provided advisory guidance during Atacama Angels' formation and first year of operations, contributing international perspective and best practices to the network.
• Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN) serves as the executing institution for the Atacama Angels project. The Centro de Emprendimiento y de la Pyme (CEMP) under UCN's Faculty of Economics and Administration leads the initiative. UCN provides institutional legitimacy, academic framework, and ecosystem connectivity. The project builds on over a decade of CEMP efforts in entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem development.
• AngelNestminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022AngelNest is listed as a partner in the Atacama Angels ecosystem. The nature of the partnership appears to be collaborative networking between angel investor networks for dealflow sharing and ecosystem coordination across Chile.
• Centro de Emprendimiento y de la Pyme (CEMP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CEMP is the entrepreneurship center at Universidad Católica del Norte that originated and leads the Atacama Angels initiative. The center has over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship ecosystem development and was the driving force behind the network's creation, building on years of seminars and ecosystem building efforts starting in 2007.
• USQAI (Laboratorio de la Universidad Católica del Norte)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022USQAI is the technology business incubator at Universidad Católica del Norte. Created in 2017, it is positioned in the ecosystem as a university incubator. As part of the regional innovation chain, USQAI generates dealflow and supports startup development that may connect with Atacama Angels for investment.
• AsterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Aster is the first accelerator in northern Chile, created in 2021 with financing from the regional government and Escondida BHP. Aster represents an important part of the regional funding chain for innovative entrepreneurship and potentially generates dealflow and co-investment opportunities with Atacama Angels.
• KalpaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Kalpa is a virtual incubator created in 2021 that now has a physical presence in Antofagasta. As part of the regional incubation ecosystem, Kalpa contributes to the startup pipeline and investment readiness that may connect with Atacama Angels' investment activities.
• Endeavor ChileminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Endeavor Chile is listed as a partner. Endeavor is a global nonprofit that supports high-impact entrepreneurs. The partnership likely involves ecosystem connectivity and potential dealflow sharing for scale-up stage startups that outgrow angel investment.
• CDP Antofagasta (Corporación de Desarrollo Productivo)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CDP Antofagasta was referenced as a historical ecosystem participant that previously collaborated on entrepreneurship seminars. Though the organization no longer exists, it was noted as part of the ecosystem development history that led to Atacama Angels.
• Incuba2minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Incuba2 was referenced as a historical ecosystem participant. Though the organization no longer exists, it was noted as part of the ecosystem development history that led to Atacama Angels.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Cometa: One of the largest angel investor networks in Mexico and Latin America, pooling individual investors to back early-stage startups. Operates the same core playbook as Atacama Angels (community of angels, curated dealflow, syndication) but at much larger scale and in a different geography.
• Angel Ventures Mexico: Early-stage venture fund in Mexico that also operates an angel/club-deal component for individual investors. Comparable to Atacama Angels in syndicating early capital into Latin American startups, though with a more institutionalized fund structure.

Broad incumbents

• EBAN (European Business Angels Network): Pan-European federation of business angel networks and early-stage investors. Comparable to Atacama Angels as an organizer/aggregator of angel activity at network level, providing best-practice frameworks that a young network like Atacama Angels can adopt.
• Keiretsu Forum: One of the world's largest global angel investor networks, with chapters across the US, Europe and Asia. Operates the same community-of-angels, syndicated-deal model as Atacama Angels but at global scale and with deeper international dealflow.
• Wayra (Telefónica Open Innovation): Global corporate accelerator and early-stage investor backed by Telefónica, with active presence in Chile. Comparable as an investor in early-stage startups across Latin America, but operates a broader corporate-VC/accelerator model rather than a pure angel syndicate.

Others

• Endeavor Chile: Chilean affiliate of the global Endeavor high-impact entrepreneur network, explicitly listed as a partner of Atacama Angels. Provides ecosystem connectivity and dealflow for scale-up stage founders, complementing rather than competing with the angel-stage focus of Atacama Angels.
• GBAN (Global Business Angel Network): Global association of angel investor networks of which Atacama Angels is a member. Acts as an ecosystem umbrella rather than a direct investor, but is comparable in mission of federating and professionalizing angel networks worldwide.

Direct peers

• AngelNest: Chilean angel investor network actively listed as a partner of Atacama Angels. Operates a similar community-led, syndicated angel investment model in Chile and shares dealflow and ecosystem coordination with Atacama Angels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atacama-angels
• Instagraminstagram.com/atacamaangels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Atacama Angels