Costa Rica Builds an “Angels” Network to Fund Its Startups

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Venture Capital

Key Facts

—The launch. A network called Costa Rica Angels aims to fund Costa Rica startups at the seed stage.

—The size. It targets early-stage cheques of under $50,000 per company.

—The backer. It is run by the accelerator ParqueTec and led by Marcelo Lebendiker.

—The launch date. It was unveiled in May at the Costa Rica Tech Week event.

—The gap. Early-stage funding remains the main bottleneck for the country’s founders.

Costa Rica is trying to fix the one thing that most often stalls its Costa Rica startups: a shortage of early money, and its answer is a new network of angel investors.

The initiative, called Costa Rica Angels, was launched in May at the country’s annual tech week. It is billed as the first structured angel network built specifically for local founders.

For a foreign investor, the move is a signal. A small but stable economy is trying to professionalise the earliest, riskiest rung of its startup funding ladder.

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How the network will back Costa Rica startups

The focus is deliberately small. The network targets cheques of under fifty thousand dollars, the kind of seed money that comes before venture funds get involved.

It is more than cash. Backers describe “smart money”: capital paired with mentoring, contacts and market validation for founders still finding their feet.

The model reduces risk. By offering curated deals, training and co-investment, the network aims to make angel investing feel safer and more systematic.

Founders apply through a simple route. A pipeline draws referrals from incubators and programmes that pass along projects they do not fund themselves.

Why Costa Rica startups need it

The gap is real. Organisers say access to early capital remains the main obstacle for local ventures, pushing some founders to raise money outside the country.

There is history here. Costa Rica was a regional pioneer two decades ago, but its backers admit it later fell behind neighbours in building investor networks.

The wider setting is strong. The country is the only member of the OECD club of rich economies in Central America, prized for stability and a skilled workforce.

Its tech base is deep. Global names run large service and technology operations there, and medical devices are a major, high-standard export.

For an outside reader, the ambition is clear. Building a home-grown angel layer is how a country turns a talented workforce into companies that can scale.

The leadership carries weight. Lebendiker also chairs a Latin American chamber of business angel networks, giving the effort links to investors across the region.

The plan runs on demo days. Organisers hope to present batches of vetted startups to members, matching a curated pipeline of projects with willing backers.

The sector strengths are specific. Local founders cluster in fintech, business software, logistics and applied artificial intelligence, the areas most likely to draw angels.

The launch had a big stage. Costa Rica Tech Week drew thousands of attendees across dozens of events, with executives from major global technology firms taking part.

The regional picture is lopsided. Most Latin American venture money still flows to Brazil and Mexico, so smaller markets must build their own early-stage channels.

Foreign capital is part of the mix. Organisers expect family offices and overseas investors with an interest in Central America to join alongside local backers.

The honest caveat is culture. The region still has a thin investment culture and few structured opportunities, which is exactly the gap the new network is trying to close.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Costa Rica startups angel network?

Costa Rica Angels is a new structured network of angel investors, launched in May at Costa Rica Tech Week and run by the accelerator ParqueTec. It aims to connect local founders with early-stage capital, typically cheques of under fifty thousand dollars, alongside mentoring and contacts.

Why does it matter for founders?

Access to early capital has long been the main bottleneck for Costa Rican ventures, pushing some to seek funding abroad. A structured network aims to make that money easier to find and angel investing safer and more systematic.

How do startups get involved?

Founders apply through a form or are referred by incubators and accelerators. The network’s team curates the pipeline before presenting selected startups to its investor members at pitch sessions.