From north to south, our territory is a laboratory where talent, ideas and technology converge in the development of local solutions to global problems. Chile is the third country with the highest rate of entrepreneurship globally, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2019-2020, the most innovative country in Latin America according to the Global Innovation Index 2020 and the second country in initial entrepreneurial activity in the world, according to the IMD 2021 ranking.
In a continuous search to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants and respond to the challenges of the 21st century, Chile has promoted a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem that puts the value of innovation at the center. Along these lines, our country has become a laboratory where talent, ideas and technology converge in the development of local solutions to global problems.
An entrepreneurship-friendly ecosystem is key to growth and a thriving economy. The Start-Up Chile business accelerator, created in 2021, was the first of its kind in the world, a leader in Latin America and whose disruptive model has been replicated in more than 50 countries and is in the global top 10. It has been called the "most revolutionary" accelerator by the prestigious Forbes media and in its more than ten years of life it has supported 1,960 companies in 85 countries, generating 15 thousand jobs around the world, accumulated sales of US$1,200 million locally and abroad, creating a portfolio valued at over US$1,400 million in net assets.
Innovation and entrepreneurship are part of our DNA, and several studies support it. We are the third country with the highest rate of entrepreneurship globally, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2019-2020, and the most innovative and entrepreneurial country in the region, according to the Global Innovation Index 2020. But not only that, according to the IMD global competitiveness report, Chile is the second country in the world in entrepreneurial activity in its initial stage.
Behind these figures are the cases of startups that have emerged from Chile to the world, such as the case of NotCo, which produces plant-based food alternatives to animal products, the insurtech Betterfly, the financial company Fintual or the shopping app Cornershop. In recent years, it has become common to see how various Chilean ventures with operations in different countries manage to raise international financing. Betterfly, for example, in June 2021, received US$60 million in an investment round, the largest amount of a Chilean startup in Series B, valued at US$300 million. For its part, Cornershop became Chile's first unicorn after Uber acquired 100% of the company, valuing the company at $3 billion.
At the same time, Chile has stood out for its drive in terms of sustainability. For this reason, the country has set itself the ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and 40% of the energy matrix coming from renewable energy sources by 2030.
Chile has the highest solar radiation on the planet in the Atacama Desert, thousands of kilometers of coastline, a mountain range and wind currents from north to south, natural resources that drive us towards the generation of non-conventional renewable energy. The Antofagasta region is the birthplace of two emblematic projects: Cerro Dominador, the first solar thermal plant in Latin America; and Cerro Pabellón, the only geothermal power plant in South America.
In the extreme south, the natural characteristics of the Magallanes Region will make it possible to turn our country into a relevant player in the production and export of green hydrogen – with the potential of 13% of total world production. This fuel, also known as "the fuel of the future", generates no emissions, is environmentally friendly and could eventually replace fossil fuels.
International figures such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Al Gore have highlighted Chile in this regard, assuring that Chile is inspiring many countries around the world.
Other related news
