There’s No Better Place Than Uruguay to Build an International Company

On January 12, Casa Manantial offered a glimpse into the strength and momentum of Uruguay’s technology ecosystem. As part of Punta Tech Meetup, Uruguay XXI hosted Uruguay Networking Sessions in partnership with ANII, URUCAP, Cubo Itaú, and Bord, with support from Uruguay Innova. The event brought together around 130 founders, venture capital funds, corporations, and institutional representatives.

Beyond the formal agenda, the real energy came from the conversations. Four distinct perspectives — a global technology company, a foreign entrepreneur who chose to settle in Uruguay, an Argentine professional building her career from the country, and a Brazilian venture capital firm expanding regionally — illustrated how Uruguay is helping launch projects with international ambition.

Nvidia: A Global Mindset from Day One

Andrei Golfeto, Head of Startups and Venture Capital for Latin America at Nvidia, offered the view of a global corporate leader and highlighted what he sees as a defining characteristic of Uruguay’s ecosystem.

“We love Uruguay’s entrepreneurial talent. Companies and startups here are truly global. From very early on, they want to expand their businesses,” he said.

According to Golfeto, this mindset stands out within the regional context. “Our challenge in Latin America is that large companies tend to focus locally. But when we look at Uruguayan entrepreneurs, they always want to grow globally.”

He summed it up clearly: “For us, there is no better place than Uruguay to build an international company.”

With a regional team of 12 people, Nvidia continues to deepen its relationships with startups, venture capital funds, and universities across Latin America — and Uruguay has become a priority ecosystem. “We will always try to be here, close to the main events,” he said, also noting promising university data center projects that could create future opportunities.

Beyond technology, he also pointed to the country’s broader appeal. “It’s an incredible country. With the technology ecosystem and all the opportunities here, it would certainly be a good place to live.”

Building from Uruguay to the United States

From an entrepreneur’s perspective, Gorka Ludlow, a Mexican founder who has lived in Uruguay for five years, shared his experience of choosing the country as a base for both business and family life. After living in Argentina and Europe, he decided to settle permanently in Uruguay.

“Why did I stay in Uruguay? Because I loved it. The community we found here made us feel welcome,” he said.

From a business standpoint, he identified concrete advantages. “Uruguay offers favorable tax conditions, ecosystems that help you grow, networking, and opportunities to form alliances.”

One strategic factor he emphasized was geography. “Uruguay’s time zone allows for strong overlap with clients in the United States,” he explained, highlighting how this facilitates business with one of the world’s leading technology markets.

He also underscored Uruguay’s reputation for quality. Compared with larger regional markets, he believes Uruguay stands out for the sophistication of its services.

Another key differentiator, he noted, is proximity within the ecosystem. “At these events, I’m speaking directly with executives who could become partners, advisors, or mentors. There’s something invaluable about being able to connect with the people who know the most.”

Today, he leads a company from Uruguay and continues to explore new ventures — a decision shaped not only by business conditions but also by long-term life planning.

Talent, Quality of Life, and Regional Careers

The professional and personal dimension of the ecosystem was also reflected in the experience of Sol Yechilian, an Argentine marketing professional who has lived in Uruguay since 2021 and currently works at Eurofarma.

“What I like most is the quality of life here,” she said. Originally from Buenos Aires, she explained that Uruguay offered “the perfect mix between stability and working in a supportive environment.”

Relocating required rebuilding her professional network, and she credits networking and platforms such as LinkedIn for helping her enter the local job market. Today, she works at a regional company with operations in Uruguay and Argentina, allowing her to maintain strong professional ties across borders.

She also highlighted the country’s human capital. “What Uruguay offers is talent that is truly excellent,” she said, pointing to the opportunity to work from Uruguay toward other markets.

Brazilian Capital Looking South

From the investment side, William Cordeiro, Managing Partner of SaaSholic — a venture capital firm specializing in B2B SaaS and artificial intelligence companies in Latin America — explained why Uruguay has moved higher on his firm’s radar.

“We’re very, very excited to have more conversations here in Uruguay,” he said. Historically focused on Brazil, the firm has begun identifying Uruguayan startups with strong regional and international ambitions. “We’re seeing more interesting companies coming out of Uruguay, and most importantly, companies that are looking to Brazil and to the U.S. as well.”

Cordeiro emphasized the openness of the ecosystem. “I found the Uruguayan tech ecosystem surprisingly open to new conversations. I met a lot of people very easily.”

He was particularly impressed by the founders. “They’re not copying technology and replicating it here. They’re creating new things coming out of here.” In fact, he added, “In some ways, it feels even more innovative than Brazil.”

From his perspective, Uruguay’s strength lies in a rare combination. “Uruguay has managed to put together the rare combination of talent, capital, and that try-and-build-new-things mentality that you can see in Silicon Valley.”

With the launch of its third fund, SaaSholic is looking to expand further in the country. “We’ve already started one matching deal, and we want to do more things like that,” he said. “You have to be here in Uruguay. It’s a place where capital and talent will continue to flow.”

A Point of Convergence

Within the framework of Punta Tech Meetup, Uruguay Networking Sessions once again highlighted the defining features of the country’s technology ecosystem: strong coordination among public and private actors, direct access to decision-makers, and a clear international outlook.

The presence of a global technology company focused on artificial intelligence, a Brazilian venture capital firm expanding regionally, foreign entrepreneurs who have chosen to settle in the country, and professionals building regional careers from Uruguay underscores how the country is increasingly seen as a competitive environment for building, investing, and scaling companies — as well as a place to build long-term life projects.

In that intersection of talent, stability, international connectivity, and quality of life, Uruguay continues to strengthen its position as a platform to invest, grow, and live in Latin America.