Barranquilla

Bogota

Medellin

Florida

Fredonia

Pasto

Envigado

Pereira

Monterrey

Valledupar

Cucuta

Necocli

Pelham

Manizales

Bogot?

Bucaramanga

Cartagena

Villavicencio

Palmira

Rionegro

Cuestecitas

Cali

Tulua

Neiva

Yumbo

Buga

Sevilla

Cartago

Buenaventura

Caicedonia

Floridablanca

Armenia

Garzón

Cota

Cundinamarca

Madrid

Popayán

Colombia

La Ceja

Ibagué

Mosquera

San Gil

San Pedro

Facatativá

La Estrella

Tumaco

Girón

Villamaría

Ginebra

Chía

Tenjo

Tunja

Soacha

Sopó

Apartadó

Itagüí

Cajicá

Mariquita

Funza

Florencia

Barrancabermeja

Ocaña

Sincelejo

![concrete high rise buildings at daytime](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1568632234180-0e6c08735d01?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8M3x8Ym9nb3RhfGVufDB8fDB8fHww&w=1000&q=80)
 
Colombia’s startup ecosystems are becoming an important engine for the country’s economy, with various initiatives supporting entrepreneurship both at the national and municipal levels. The US$ 1 billion investment of Softbank in Rappi, a Colombian delivery app, in 2019 was an important milestone and a powerful signal that demonstrated the potential of Colombian startups as they take the lead in the region. More startups, such as La Haus, Plazzi, and Ontop, are lining up to follow in Rappi's footsteps. ==read-more==
 Colombia’s startup ecosystems benefit from public initiatives aimed at promoting startups, along with a variety of accelerators and incubators that help launch early stage ventures. The country is an attractive fintech hub due to favorable policies, such as simplified financial licenses for financial institutions. The government has created a favorable climate for investment and several types of investment visas are available. Similarly, the government supports the startup scene's need for skilled personnel. Colombia’s startup ecosystem is gathering technical talent due to multiple government initiatives aimed at increasing technological literacy in smaller cities around Colombia. The country's [Digital Nomad Visa](https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/v/nomadadigital) (also known as a V Visa), welcomes international talent from around the world, enriching the talent pool in the country. By continuing to improve the country's business infrastructure, the public sector can keep quality of life high enough to retain Colombian entrepreneurs while attracting more foreign talent. 
 Colombia is unique in the proactive approach of its municipal chambers of commerce towards startup ecosystems, with the [Bogota Chamber of Commerce and the](https://www.ccb.org.co/en) [Cali Chamber of Commerce](https://www.ccc.org.co/) being two examples. In most countries, chambers of commerce are focused on classic industries, but in Colombia the focus is squarely on future economic growth. 
 Contributing to these public sector initiatives are some additional notable stakeholders, like iNNpulsa Colombia and [Invest in Bogota](https://en.investinbogota.org/about-invest-bogota/). Also noteworthy, [Ruta-N](https://www.rutanmedellin.org/es/) is taking the lead in the development of the Medellin ecosystem and hosts the World Economic Forum’s [Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution](https://initiatives.weforum.org/c4ir/colombia) (C4IR). 
 While Bogota is the national leader when it comes to startup ecosystem maturity,, there are a few younger hubs attracting attention. Medellin, for instance, is an increasingly popular location for expats and digital nomads to work on their startups. Similarly, Cali is one of the most innovative startup ecosystems in Colombia, offering incentives to develop the city's tech scene. The fact that the country has multiple cities with recognizable startup activity gives an international boost to the local startup ecosystem. 
 By taking an active approach to ecosystem development, and supported by local Chambers of Commerce, Colombia’s startup ecosystem has become a strategic center of innovation in Latin America.

ACI Medellín is the leading entity in the internationalization process of the city-region through the construction of strategic international relations, management of supply and demand for cooperation, attraction of national and foreign direct investment and political advocacy as a local government, also known as city diplomacy.

ACI Medellín

Additional information on ACI Medellín startup organization in Medellin on StartupBlink. 

KPMG

ANDI

CALI

CESA

NEGRO EAFIT

INNPULSA

ONGOING FINAL

TOURISM

VIDA

Introduction of Colombia Digital Nomad Visa

2022

Approval of National Entrepreneurship Policy

2020

Launch of Digital Transformation Policy and Artificial Intelligence

13 November 2019

Rappi becomes the first company in Colombia to raise $US 1 Billion

30 April 2019

The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution LATAM branch opens in Colombia.

29 April 2019

Launch of InnPulsa by Colombia Development Bank.

2012

Ruta N starts operations in Medellin to foster innovation in the city.

2009

ACI Medellín Startup Organization | StartupBlink