Fundraising Fox

Carao Ventures

Venture capital

San José · Pre-Seed–Series A · 12 people tracked

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Investment thesis

Carao Ventures invests in early-stage startups across Spanish-speaking Latin America, with particular interest in Central America, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The firm believes the region's industries are largely uncompetitive and underserved by smart early-stage venture funding, creating broad opportunities for value creation. It backs founders with technical skills and grit across essentially any industry, excluding sectors such as weapons, alcohol, tobacco, and gambling. Carao typically funds companies at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Pre-Series A stages, with flexibility for US-based companies run by Latin American founders whose operations are meaningfully rooted in the firm's target geography.

Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.

Stage
Pre-Seed–Series A
HQ
San José, CA, CR
Instruments
Equity
Founded
2012
Last 12 months
2 investments
Tracked investments
35

Team · 12 people

from the firm's website & public directories
Mario Peña· Associatein𝕏

What they invest in

from 28 of 35 portfolio companies

Fintech ×10SaaS ×10AI & Machine Learning ×9Enterprise Software ×5Healthtech ×3InsurTech ×3Logistics & Supply Chain ×3Marketing Tech ×3

HQs:Mexico×4Colombia×3United States×3Argentina×1Chile×1Dominican Republic×1

Who they back

founder profiles across 10 portfolio companies
60%
solo founders
6 of 10 mapped founding teams
18%
repeat founders
of 11 founders with career history

Founding team size:solo founder×62 founders×23 founders×2

Where their founders studiedfrom 11 founders with education data

Universidad Torcuato Di Tella ×3Universidad Tecnológica Nacional ×2

Where their founders worked beforefrom 11 founders with career history

Start-Up Chile ×4Celeru ×2Keybe ×2Prodigio Capital ×2Rockstart ×2

Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program

Y Combinator ×3

Investments · 35 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

By year:2026 · 22025 · 12020 · 14 dated

Augmentalaugmental.techin𝕏

Augmental makes the MouthPad^, a hands-free touchpad worn on the roof of the mouth that converts head and tongue gestures into cursor control and clicks for phones, computers, and tablets via Bluetooth.

Deep TechHardwareHealthtech

Co-investorsThe E14 Fund

Aviva Créditoavivacredito.comin𝕏

Aviva is a financial institution in Mexico that provides personal loans to individuals and small business owners through video calls conducted at kiosks, with a focus on straightforward lending without extensive paperwork.

FintechMexico, MX

Amran FreyDavid HernandezFiliberto Castro

Co-investors500 GlobalDigital Currency GroupIGNIAKrealoValor Capital GroupWollef Ventures+1 more

Bellellieducacionbellellieducacion.com
Bildtekbildtek.comin

BILDTEK provides steel framing technology and design-build construction services.

Construction Tech

Bravengobraven.cominJun 2026 · $4.6M

Braven builds AI agents for the reinsurance industry that ingest submissions and documents, assess risk against a firm's appetite and compliance rules, and execute workflows such as quoting and bordereaux generation.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareInsurTech

Alejandro Rebolledo(Co-Founder & COO)

Co-investorsBroom VenturesCollide CapitalFiat VenturesMGV

clicOHclicoh.comin

ClicOH provides fulfillment, warehousing, and last-mile delivery services for e-commerce businesses across Latin America.

E-commerceEnterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply ChainBuenos Aires, AR

Agustin Novillo Saravia(Founder)inJuan Martin Altamirano(Founder)inEmiliano Segura(Founder)in

Co-investorsAmador HoldingsDigital HorizonDVCFundersClubImmeasurableInQlab+9 more

Crabicrabi.cominJun 2025 · $13.6M

Crabi is a digital car insurance provider offering coverage for material damage, theft, third-party liability, medical attention, roadside and legal assistance, managed entirely through its website and mobile app.

FintechInsurTech

Cristina CarreraDaniel unknownJavier OrozcoLuis Mayagoitia

Co-investors30N Ventures500 GlobalAZURO CAPITAL VENTURESGalicia VenturesHoneystone VenturesIGNIA+3 more

Escalaescala.comin

Escala is a CRM platform that centralizes and automates sales processes using AI, helping businesses increase sales velocity and optimize their commercial operations.

AI & Machine LearningSaaSSales Tech

Gonzalo Garcia(Founder)in

Co-investorsHigh AlphaID8 InvestmentsIGNIAAlaya Capital

Fibrazofibrazo.comin

Fibrazo is a prepaid home internet and mobile service provider offering fiber connections (400, 600, or 800 Mbps) with no contract, no installation fee, and daily top-up recharges starting at $2,500 pesos.

Consumer

Co-investorsNew Ventures Capital

Floidfloid.aiin

Floid is an Open Finance platform that provides APIs for account-to-account payments, payment dispersion and reconciliation, bank account validation, and access to verified financial and identity data from bank and non-bank sources.

Data & InfrastructureFintechSaaS

Goboxfulgoboxful.com

Boxful is a technology company operating in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

Logistics & Supply Chain

GrupoR5grupor5.comin𝕏

R5 offers an online platform and mobile app for buying SOAT (mandatory vehicle insurance) and managing vehicle ownership tasks such as tracking pico y placa restrictions and document expiration dates.

FintechInsurTechMobility & Transportation

Co-investorsAccionMagma Partners

Hulihuli.io
Leafgrowleafgrow.ioin𝕏

Leaf Grow offers a Performance Intelligence platform and hands-on services for signal data processing, conversion tracking, and paid media optimization aimed at ecommerce businesses.

AdTechData & InfrastructureMarketing Tech

Lenkgetlenk.comin

Lenk provides a white-label platform that automates financial origination processes including onboarding, lending, and leasing for financial institutions.

Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSSantiago, CL

Guido Galanter(Founder)inTomás Gropper(Founder)inNicolás Piqueras(Founder)in

Co-investorsHoneystone VenturesY Combinator

Levitalevita.comin𝕏

Levita Magnetics develops the MARS surgical platform, which combines magnetic surgical technology with AI-guided camera control for use in minimally invasive procedures.

AI & Machine LearningMedical DevicesRobotics

Co-investorsHealthtech Capital

Loopaloopa.financeDec 2020

Grand Cayman

Guilherme Soares de Mello(Executive Officer, Director)Manuel Rodrigues Tavares de Almeida Neto(Executive Officer, Director)

Co-investorsLegalTech

Mirlomirlo.mxin

Miguel Hidalgo, MX

German Zuccoli(Founder)

Moonsmymoons.coin

Moons offers custom, removable invisible aligners for teeth straightening, sold direct to consumers through certified dentists and in-store points at Liverpool retail locations.

Digital HealthDirect to ConsumerHealthtech

Naya Homesnayahomes.coin𝕏

Naya Homes by Casago operates a curated portfolio of vacation rental properties and luxury beachfront accommodations across Mexico's Pacific coast destinations, including Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit.

MarketplacesTravel & HospitalityPuerto Vallarta, MX

Co-investorsClocktower VenturesDERIVE VENTURESFlybridge Capital PartnersBBG VenturesPrimary Venture Partners

Nullplatformnullplatform.comin𝕏
Obralinkobralink.comin𝕏

ObraLink provides construction site tracking and planning software that gives construction firms and developers updated field data to monitor project progress and make decisions.

Construction TechPropTechSaaS

Co-investorsCemex Ventures

Onestonest.do

Onest is a mobile lending app that offers small consumer loans to individuals in the Dominican Republic without checking credit history or requiring formal income, using its own technology to assess applicants.

AI & Machine LearningFintech

Rewardswebrewardsweb.comin

RewardsWeb builds solutions for loyalty and rewards programs, aiming to improve how customers engage with and redeem rewards.

FintechMarketing TechSaaS

Co-investorsKibo VenturesNordic Eye Venture Capital

Rexirexi.financeinJul 2026

REXI provides AI-powered reconciliation infrastructure that connects payment, banking, ERP, and accounting sources to automatically match transactions, resolve exceptions, and close the books for finance operations teams.

AI & Machine LearningFintechSaaS

Teo Zavalia Gahan(Founder)in

Co-investorsMovileNFXWayra

Safsaf.money

saf. provides cross-border payment infrastructure for companies operating in Central America, enabling money transfers across the region via an API that uses digital assets and local banking rails.

Fintech

Mario Aguiluz(Founder)in

Co-investorsHivemind Ventures, Llc

Singularitiessingularities.com

Singularities builds Aleph AI agents using proprietary machine reasoning, machine learning, and mathematical optimization technology to support business operations.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply Chain

Slidebeanslidebean.comin𝕏

Slidebean is a presentation software platform for creating pitch decks and business slides.

Marketing TechSaaSSocial

Caya (Jose Cayasso)(Founder)inAfraaz MastersCayaJose Enrique BolanosVinicio Chanto

Co-investors500 GlobalBonfire VenturesFirstrock CapitalMagma Partners

Speratumsperatum.comin𝕏

Speratum Biopharma develops RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for cancer and other hard-to-treat genetic diseases, using its proprietary NoPass RNAi design platform and Nano-In nanoparticle delivery system.

BiotechDeep TechHealthtech

Christian Marín Müller(Founder)in

Strikestrike.shin

Strike offers an always-on security platform that combines AI agents with human security experts to continuously map an organization's assets, run attack emulations, and support vulnerability remediation.

AI & Machine LearningCybersecuritySaaS

Co-investorsLatitud VenturesNXTPCanaryFinTech CollectiveFJ LabsGalicia Ventures+1 more

Tesoriotesorio.comin𝕏

Tesorio provides a Connected Financial Operations platform that automates accounts receivable workflows including collections, cash application, forecasting, and payment management for finance teams at growing companies.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSSan Francisco, US

Carlos Vega(Founder/CEO)inFabio Fleitas(Founder)in

Co-investorsFloodgateFundersClubKube VCMadrona Venture GroupMango CapitalXplorer Capital+6 more

Thrivecarethrivecare.co

Thrive develops plant-based skincare products, including sunscreen and a daily skin routine, formulated with regeneratively farmed super-plants native to Costa Rica.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerWellness & Fitness

Vor Texvor-tex.io
Wekallwekall.coin

WeKall is a cloud-based conversational AI platform for voice and chat that unifies business communication channels such as calls, email and WhatsApp, offering products like cloud telephony, contact center, AI voice assistants and call transcription.

AI & Machine LearningSaaSSales Tech

Felipe Sánchez(Founder)inJulian Sanchez(Founder)in

Co-investorsRockstart

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has Carao Ventures made?
Carao Ventures has 35 tracked investments, including 3 dated in the last 24 months.
What stage does Carao Ventures invest at?
Carao Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
What sectors does Carao Ventures focus on?
Carao Ventures focuses on Sector Agnostic.
Where is Carao Ventures located?
Carao Ventures is headquartered in San José, CR.
Who does Carao Ventures co-invest with?
Carao Ventures most often shares deals with 500 Global, IGNIA, Y Combinator, among 48 tracked co-investors.

Co-investors · 19

500 Global

500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) is a venture capital firm whose flagship Silicon Valley strategy backs promising technology companies from pre-seed onward across a range of sectors and geographies.

$150K
Kaszek Ventures

Kaszek is an investment firm run by tech entrepreneurs that partners with founders across Latin America, providing capital along with hands-on expertise in strategy, operations, team-building, growth, technology, and fundraising.

Both backed · 2
Madrona Venture Group

Madrona Venture Group is a Seattle-founded venture firm that partners with founders across early and acceleration stages, providing capital plus hands-on support in recruiting, strategy, business development, and fundraising.

Both backed · 1
$2M – $10M
Flybridge Capital Partners

Flybridge Capital Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in entrepreneurs building companies with global reach. The firm focuses on supporting innovative ventures from their initial funding stages.

Both backed · 1
$250K – $10M
Mango Capital

Mango Capital is an early-stage venture firm investing in enterprise software founders at inception, before product-market fit, with a focus on agent infrastructure and intelligent applications.

Both backed · 1
$1M – $1.5M
Clocktower Ventures

Clocktower Ventures is the fintech-focused venture practice of Clocktower Group, backing technology companies transforming financial services across consumer and enterprise. It is based in Santa Monica, California.

Both backed · 1
$100K – $20M
BBG Ventures

BBG Ventures is a venture firm that invests at the edges of the innovation spectrum, backing companies built on deep technology leverage as well as those addressing fundamental human needs.

Both backed · 1
$350K – $1.5M
FinTech Collective

FinTech Collective is a venture capital firm partnering with founders building companies that reshape financial markets and reimagine money in a digital world.

Both backed · 1
$100K – $10M
DERIVE VENTURES

Derive Ventures is an early-stage venture fund focused on the travel, hospitality, experiences, and real estate sectors, aiming to connect technology and travel by backing entrepreneurs.

Both backed · 1
Alumni Ventures

Alumni Ventures (AV) is a venture capital firm that co-invests alongside lead VCs in startups, backing founders with capital and access to a large investor and operator community.

$100K – $10M
Great Oaks Venture Capital

Great Oaks Venture Capital is a New York-based early-stage investor that partners with founders at the earliest stages of company building across the United States.

$50K – $500K
SOSV

SOSV is a deep tech venture capital firm that makes first-check pre-seed investments and follow-on rounds in startups focused on human and planetary health, providing lab space and hands-on support at its US locations.

$30K – $550K
7 more co-investors

Susa Ventures23andMeStructure CapitalPreface VenturesTNT VenturesK50 VenturesInnogen Capital Ventures

Firms observed investing alongside Carao Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Carao Ventures's recorded portfolio.

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