Uruguay, innovation, and Punta Tech: the ecosystem gathering

The MACA Museum of Contemporary Art in Punta del Este, one of the continent’s most impressive tourist spots, was once again the setting for the networking event of excellence. The summit has positioned itself as a benchmark in the region’s business and technology sector.

As in previous editions, Uruguay XXI strengthened the ecosystem and connected corporations, authorities, entrepreneurs, startups, and investors through a main event with renowned national and international speakers and multiple side events to strengthen the different aspects of a sector in constant growth.

Uruguay XXI was present exhibiting the sectorial brand Uruguay Technology in different stands together with CUTI and Uruguay Innovation Hub, which were visited by authorities and generated connections between multiple figures of the technological ecosystem.

Within this framework, the agency, together with ANII, CUTI, and UIH, presented the country’s value proposition as the #1 business and innovation hub in Latin America to European investors and representatives of the Latin American Startups Alliance (ALAS) at the Enjoy Hotel in Punta del Este.

Uruguay is LATAM’s #1 Business and Innovation HUB

The main objective of this side event organized by the agency was to attract investors and strengthen the local system. Sebastián Risso, executive director of Uruguay XXI, received an international delegation of representatives of investment groups, organizations, and companies evaluating the country as a destination to develop their businesses. Together with Sabrina Sauksteliskis, Director of the Uruguay Innovation HUB; Flavio Caiafa, President of ANII; and Amílcar Perea, President of CUTI, they presented the advantages of doing business in Uruguay and how Uruguay’s technology and innovation ecosystem is built. During the presentation of the country and each of the institutions, Risso highlighted the dynamic, coordinated, and collaborative work between the public and private sectors, creating an attractive climate for investments and startups that come to the country.

In dialogue with Guilherme Carames, Deputy Country Manager of Web Summit Rio, he expressed that this visit to the country and his participation in the presentation of the country’s value proposition ”made me understand the transformation that Uruguay has made to become an innovation hub in Latin America”, highlighting the regulatory framework and facilities for attracting companies.  

In addition, Caramels stressed that the networking and synergies that could be seen both in the main event and in Uruguay XXI’s presentation provide excellent value for investors who seek this type of environment when establishing their business.

Junior Rodrigues, CEO of HUB Conecta and Chair of the Latin American Startups Alliance (ALAS), emphasized that Uruguay stands out among the alliance’s member countries. He noted that Uruguay creates business foundations with various ecosystems, describing the country as "open to the world". He also mentioned several lessons learned in the link with Uruguay, such as the fact that the startups themselves present to the world and appropriate the instruments provided by institutions such as Uruguay XXI and Uruguay Innovation Hub. “While we have difficulty finding biotechnology or agribusiness startups, I notice that Uruguay points to technology centers and generates good startups”, he said.

In dialogue with Urzka Jex, Founder and CEO of Transformation Lighthouse in Slovenia, she provided her European perspective on our ecosystem. She assured us that Uruguay is always in the spotlight when companies seek to install their startups in Latin America. Through the presentation of the country’s value proposition, she confirmed that Uruguay is an excellent starting point for developing markets in Latin America, encouraging her to continue generating connections with the local technology ecosystem.