Kaszek is the leading early-stage and growth technology investor based in Latin America, founded in 2011 by MercadoLibre co-founder Hernan Kazah and former MercadoLibre CFO Nicolas Szekasy. It describes itself as 'tech entrepreneurs partnering with the most extraordinary founders in Latin America' and invests 'in any industry where technology and innovation, in any form, offer a chance of significant disruption and value creation.' It is a founders-first, long-term investor that deliberately ignores short-term market noise to follow secular trends, and prizes durable businesses over those that depend on continuous external capital. Kaszek mostly invests in companies that target Latin America as their main initial market, from seed through Series B in its early-stage funds and through pre-IPO via its opportunity funds.
A real disruption opportunity anchored on a genuine local friction point in Latin America (payments, logistics, regulation), where technology and innovation can create significant value.
“We invest in any industry where technology and innovation, in any form, offer a chance of significant disruption and value creation.” — Kaszek - Entrepreneurial Capital in Latin America
“We invest only in businesses that have what we call local 'friction points' — related to payments or logistics or regulation, for example.” — Hernan Kazah
“Our core is technology: We are big believers in the fabulous impact that new technologies can have over humankind.” — Kaszek - Entrepreneurial Capital in Latin America
A product built by a product-oriented founding team that uses technology strategically; founders who are builders willing to embrace the unknown, not operators chasing a thin edge.
“At a more personal level, we love founders that are strong leaders AND great team players, with product-oriented mindsets, and who dare to embrace the unknown.” — Kaszek - Entrepreneurial Capital in Latin America
“In addition to capital, we provide first-hand expertise and insights in strategy, operational execution, team-building, growth, technology, product development, networking, fundraising and more.” — Kaszek - Entrepreneurial Capital in Latin America
A substantially large opportunity, most often anchored on Latin America as the main initial market; the firm believes the region is now generating global innovation leaders, not copies.
“We mostly invest in companies that target Latin America as their main initial market.” — Kaszek - Entrepreneurial Capital in Latin America
“help create a broad and vibrant technology ecosystem in Latin America by being the most trusted and value-add partner to our entrepreneurs across industries and economic cycles” — Ethos - Kaszek
Evidence of a real, durable business growing fast but soundly, rather than capital-fueled hypergrowth; Kaszek will back very early founders but is wary of grow-at-all-costs metrics.
“We've always grown very fast but never at 500 or 1,000 percent per year... You need to be patient and focus on the long run.” — Mercado Libre Founders: It Takes Patience and Resilience
“Perseverance and focus win the race as it takes decades to build longstanding iconic companies.” — Ethos - Kaszek
Visionary, inspirational founders who are honest, determined and purpose-driven, with clarity on both what they want to accomplish and why; strong leaders who are also great team players, with product orientation and a willingness to go against the odds.
“First and foremost, we invest in people. In extraordinary people who dare to go against the odds to make things happen, to execute on their dreams and make them a reality.” — Ethos - Kaszek
“We look forward to partnering with visionary and inspirational founders, who are honest, determined, and purpose driven.” — Kaszek - Entrepreneurial Capital in Latin America
“Regardless of industries or business models, we look for entrepreneurs that are great visionaries who have the capacity to inspire, lead and execute, to move society forward and produce a better future.” — Ethos - Kaszek
A durable business that can stand on its own without perpetual external capital, ideally rooted in a defensible local friction point; the firm avoids shortcuts and thinks long-term.
“We invest only in businesses that have what we call local 'friction points' — related to payments or logistics or regulation, for example.” — Mercado Libre Founders: It Takes Patience and Resilience
“We act and think as owners and entrepreneurs to help our founders achieve their dreams.” — Ethos - Kaszek
A defensible advantage rooted in technology, product and local know-how (a real friction point) rather than spending power; Kaszek wants businesses that win on fundamentals across cycles.
“We seek out exceptional founding teams whose business plan is centered on the strategic utilization of technology to gain a competitive advantage.” — Kaszek - Entrepreneurial Capital in Latin America
“We invest only in businesses that have what we call local 'friction points' — related to payments or logistics or regulation, for example.” — Hernan Kazah
“the most trusted and value-add partner to our entrepreneurs across industries and economic cycles” — Ethos - Kaszek
Alignment with long-term secular trends rather than momentary hype; Kaszek deliberately ignores short-term market noise and makes decisions from conviction.
“We try to ignore all short-term market noise and to just pay attention to long-term secular trends, making decisions based out of conviction, not FOMO.” — Ethos - Kaszek
“Perseverance and focus win the race as it takes decades to build longstanding iconic companies.” — Ethos - Kaszek
“You need to be patient and focus on the long run.” — Hernan Kazah
Founders who want a long-term, owner-minded partner across cycles rather than just a check, and who treat capital as fuel for a durable business; expect hands-on help beyond money.
“We act and think as owners and entrepreneurs to help our founders achieve their dreams.” — Ethos - Kaszek
“In addition to capital, we provide first-hand expertise and insights in strategy, operational execution, team-building, growth, technology, product development, networking, fundraising and more.” — Kaszek - Entrepreneurial Capital in Latin America
“We invest only in businesses that have what we call local 'friction points' — related to payments or logistics or regulation, for example.”
“Regardless of industries or business models, we look for entrepreneurs that are great visionaries who have the capacity to inspire, lead and execute, to move society forward and produce a better future.”