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The accelerator will support startups building tech-enabled solutions to challenges around financial health and the future of work.
Mexico City (June 8th, 2021) — Village Capital, with support from MetLife Foundation in Brazil and Mexico, and Moody's, is launching Finance Forward LatAm 2021. For the first time, the accelerator will select startups that are prioritizing tech-enabled solutions to challenges around the future of work.
A total of 10-12 startups will be selected to participate in online workshops this August, with a focus on technology that helps gig, contract, and essential workers reduce income volatility, upskill their skill sets, and access better benefits and emergency cash.
“In 2020, Latin America’s economy contracted 7.7%, the deepest decline amongst the world’s emerging economic regions,” said Village Capital Latin America Regional Lead, Daniel Cossío. “As a result, the pressing economic challenges faced by millions of people and small businesses have only been exacerbated. Luckily, there is a growing list of startups in the region that are trying to make people and small businesses more financially healthy by helping them manage their income, transition into the formal economy, and plan for their financial future. I look forward to working with such companies through this accelerator.”
“MetLife Foundation is committed to instilling in people the confidence to pursue their ambitions, both personally and professionally,” said Nalleli Garcia, MetLife Foundation. “We’re proud to support this year’s Finance Forward LatAm, which will help usher in a new generation of financial solutions for the modern worker.”
“At Moody’s, we are committed to empower small and growing businesses through knowledge,” said Marina Rosemberg, AMD-Head of Relationship Management at Moody’s. “We believe that the training offered through Finance Forward Latin America 2021, alongside the resources and confidence, will empower entrepreneurs to create a better future – for themselves and their communities.”
From August to November, selected startups will participate in virtual workshops on improving investment-readiness. Each company will have the opportunity to work closely with industry experts, investors, and ecosystem partners to develop the networks they need to scale their impact.
All startups that apply to the program will be invited to join Abaca, Village Capital’s global online network that helps entrepreneurs become self-aware and articulate how ready they are for investment (if relevant) or their next big expansion. The network also matches them with the right investors and resources.
Applications close on June 18th, 2021. Full details and eligibility criteria can be found at this link.
For more information, reach out to Sofía Cándano at Village Capital (sofia.candano@vilcap.com).
About Village Capital
Village Capital helps entrepreneurs bring big ideas from vision to scale. Our mission is to reinvent the system to back the entrepreneurs of the future. Our vision is a future where business creates equity and long‐term prosperity. Since 2009, we have supported more than 1,000 early‐stage entrepreneurs through our investment readiness programs. Our affiliated fund, VilCap Investments, has invested in more than 100 program graduates, including 9 early-stage Latin American companies like ePesos (2016), Fintual (2017), and Huli (2017).
About MetLife Foundation
At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to expanding opportunities for low- and moderate-income people around the world. We partner with nonprofit organizations and social enterprises to create financial health solutions and build stronger communities, while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. From its founding through the end of 2020, MetLife Foundation provided more than $900 million in grants and $87 million in program-related investments to make a positive impact in the communities where MetLife operates. Our financial health work has reached more than 17.2 million low- and moderate-income individuals in 42 countries. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit metlife.org.
About Moody’s
Moody’s (NYSE: MCO) is a global risk assessment firm that empowers organizations to make better decisions. Its data, analytical solutions and insights help decision-makers identify opportunities and manage the risks of doing business with others. We believe that greater transparency, more informed decisions, and fair access to information open the door to shared progress. With over 11,400 employees in more than 40 countries, Moody’s combines international presence with local expertise and over a century of experience in financial markets. Learn more at moodys.com/about.
Moody’s builds toward a world where more people have access to opportunity, and where everyone has what they need to grow and thrive. We are committed to opening the door to brighter futures through our global corporate social responsibility programs connecting people around the world with the knowledge and resources they need to succeed. For more information visit moodys.com/csr.
