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    • Why Choose Uruguay for Growth: The Experience of Three International Startups

    Business leaders highlighted the stability, support, and connections available for expanding from Uruguay
    Publication date: 29/10/2026
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    Setting up a business in another country involves evaluating where to develop a product, how to finance it, who to partner with, and what conditions that destination offers for living and working. For three Argentine entrepreneurs who chose Uruguay, those decisions were answered by a combination of stability, infrastructure, support for entrepreneurship, and proximity to other players in the ecosystem.

    Their experiences were featured on the panel “From the World to Uruguay,” held during the third edition of Sprint UY, an immersion program organized by Uruguay XXI—the country’s investment and export promotion agency—and the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII). From October 5 to 9, the initiative brought representatives from international startups into contact with the Uruguayan business environment to explore opportunities for establishing a presence and expanding.

    Paz Álvarez, a native of Mendoza and CEO and co-founder of Zavia BIO; Pablo Ortiz, from Rosario and head of growth at Efficast; and Fernando Johann, from Buenos Aires and CEO of TELL, shared the reasons that led them to settle in Uruguay and how that decision influenced the development of their companies.

    An Environment for Developing Technology and Thinking Globally
    “I was really struck by how natural it is here for people to set up shop with the global market in mind,” said Álvarez. Zavia BIO develops synthetic proteins for agricultural applications and was founded with a global perspective. When evaluating Uruguay, the entrepreneur found macroeconomic stability and an environment where she could validate solutions before taking them to other market.

    Her journey began with an invitation from Endeavor Uruguay to speak at an event. There, she met the ANII team and learned about their support tools. As she explained, the ability to apply for funding from Mendoza—without having to first incorporate the company in Uruguay—was a deciding factor. Once the funding was approved, she finalized the move.

    The availability of infrastructure also played a central role. Before applying, Zavia BIO evaluated the possibility of working at ATGen, a biotechnology company that provides laboratory space and equipment. Access through a lease agreement allowed the company to meet a specific need to continue its development work.

    “That model—as simple as a lease agreement—was fabulous for us; it was crucial,” Álvarez stated. The entrepreneur also highlighted how easy it was to make international transfers and import the supplies necessary for her business, aspects that influence the day-to-day operations of a biotechnology company.

    Álvarez also highlighted how easy it was for her to settle in Uruguay as a Mercosur citizen. As she explained, she was able to obtain permanent residency without first having to prove employment or income in the country. Having a Uruguayan ID card subsequently facilitated the incorporation of the company and the opening of its bank account. “It’s no small matter that permanent residency is granted quickly,” she noted, linking that process to the steps necessary to begin operations.

    From Participating in Sprint UY to Settling in the Country
    For Efficast, its arrival in Uruguay was directly linked to Sprint UY. The company develops industrial monitoring solutions that provide insights into the operation, performance, and work pace of machines to improve decision-making in manufacturing plants.

    Ortiz explained that his partner’s participation in the previous edition of Sprint UY opened up a string of opportunities. “What happened to him was like a domino effect that hasn’t stopped yet,” he summarized.

    Following that experience, the company applied for an ANII startup support program, secured angel investment, and set up operations in Uruguay. The funding helped sustain its operations in the country and advance its expansion into Mexico. Efficast also hired local staff and assembled a technical team split between Rosario and Uruguay.

    For Ortiz, the change went beyond the available resources. The company had clients in various Argentine provinces but was looking to expand its international reach. In Uruguay, it found partners with that same focus. “You’re working side by side with people who think about Europe, who think about Brazil, who think about the entire Americas,” he noted.

    Quality of Life and Opportunities for Entrepreneurship
    Johann’s story began with a family decision. During the pandemic, he evaluated options for leaving Buenos Aires and chose Uruguay for its quality of life and proximity to Argentina. Once settled, the opportunity arose to create TELL, a company that uses automated voice analysis to detect neurodegenerative diseases.

    The entrepreneur highlighted the peace of mind he found in daily life, especially in family life with children. Added to that personal experience was a business environment where it’s possible to access relevant contacts and build relationships.

    “You can reach anywhere through that network,” he noted about the Uruguayan ecosystem. He also praised the willingness of teams from various organizations to support companies and recounted his experience with a co-investment mechanism that supplemented a foreign fund’s contribution with resources to support entrepreneurship.

    A Close-Knit Network for Growth
    Collaboration was one of the common threads among the three entrepreneurs. “There’s a genuine desire to help,” Ortiz said, describing the willingness of other entrepreneurs to facilitate connections and share experiences.

    Álvarez emphasized that this closeness also allows one to learn from entrepreneurs with international experience. In Punta del Este, he found opportunities for daily exchange with company founders and investment leaders who provided guidance on the challenges facing his business. The connections he built there also allowed him to access angel investors and secure funding.

    From biotechnology to industrial monitoring and health-related technologies, their journeys demonstrate how Uruguay can combine the conditions for establishing a business with the resources needed to grow a company. Stability, infrastructure, and access to an internationally connected business community were key factors in their decisions to grow their businesses from within the country.

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