Venditek wins Startup World Cup Guatemala and heads to Silicon Valley for US$1M
Venditek, a Retail Tech startup, was crowned winner of the Startup World Cup in its regional edition held during Tech Day Guatemala and is now preparing to compete in the grand finale in San Francisco, where an investment of US$1 million will be at stake.
From Guatemala to Silicon Valley
The event, organized by ISD in partnership with Conecta B2B, brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders with a clear objective: to project Guatemala’s talent into global markets.
The competition is part of an international tour that covers countries in Latin America and around 100 regional competitions worldwide. In Guatemala, the call attracted nearly 100 startups, reflecting the growing dynamism of the local ecosystem.
After a rigorous selection process, the top 8 startups reached the final, where they presented their proposals before a jury made up of experts in technology, innovation, and venture capital. The prize: a direct ticket to San Francisco to compete for a US$1M investment, capital that could change the scale of any venture.
Venditek: technology to reinvent retail
The big winner was Venditek, a Guatemalan company that is redefining automated commerce in the region. Its solution combines a specialized SaaS for self-service machines, enabling brands and retailers to improve the shopping experience and expand their sales channels efficiently.
“We are very proud to be the Guatemalan company attending the Startup World Cup; we hope to make our country proud,” said Juan Pablo Fuentes, the company’s leader. Their move to the final not only validates their business model, but also positions Guatemala as an emerging player in the development of tech solutions with global potential.
An ecosystem beginning to consolidate
The event also served as a showcase for other startups that are solving concrete problems in different sectors. Deta Pro, which took second place, presented a platform focused on car detailing businesses, developed by Levi Durante to automate operations, improve customer management, and reduce dependence on informal tools such as WhatsApp.
Durante highlighted the value of these spaces, noting that they represent an opportunity to create “a Silicon Valley bubble in Latin America.” In third place was MAPPI, founded by Adriana and Jonathan Herrera, which aims to bring greater transparency to the real estate sector through strategic data that supports decision-making for investors, buyers, and sellers.
More than a competition: knowledge and connections
Venture capital specialists explained what funds look for when evaluating Latin American startups: scalability, market potential, technological differentiation, and execution capacity, offering clear criteria for future fundraising rounds.
From the perspective of the leaders who took part in the event, this achievement goes far beyond a prize. It represents a milestone for an ecosystem where, as venture capital investor Jose Kont points out, “Guatemala is a country where more than 90% of ventures are born out of necessity. That’s why it is key to promote and support initiatives like this, which show that it is possible to build startups and tech-based businesses from within the country. The simple fact of representing Guatemala in such an important competition in Silicon Valley, the heart of innovation, can be an opportunity that transforms Venditek’s life and trajectory.”
A step forward for Guatemala
Venditek’s victory reflects a shift in narrative: from an ecosystem dominated by necessity-driven entrepreneurship to one that is beginning to build tech companies with global ambition. Its participation in San Francisco will not only be an opportunity for the startup, but also a showcase for the emerging talent of Central America at a time when more and more investors are starting to look toward the region.
