{"id":18104,"date":"2025-09-17T16:06:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T15:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/?p=18104"},"modified":"2025-09-17T16:07:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T15:07:03","slug":"corenest-launches-tokenized-25m-vc-fund-and-accelerator-in-el-salvador-aiming-for-100m-to-build-the-silicon-valley-of-latin-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/2025\/09\/17\/corenest-launches-tokenized-25m-vc-fund-and-accelerator-in-el-salvador-aiming-for-100m-to-build-the-silicon-valley-of-latin-america\/","title":{"rendered":"CoreNest launches tokenised $25M VC fund and accelerator in El Salvador \u2013 aiming for $100m to build the \u2018Silicon Valley of Latin America\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Global venture capital firm CoreNest has launched in El Salvador with a US$25 million tokenised fund on the Coreum Blockchain and a world-class accelerator programme. Backed by government support and a planned US $100 million follow-on fund, the initiative seeks to transform El Salvador into the innovation hub of Latin America.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a watershed moment for El Salvador\u2019s economic and technological transformation, CoreNest Capital, a global venture capital firm, has announced the official launch of its accelerator and tokenised venture capital fund in San Salvador. This initiative, backed by an initial US$25 million fund tokenised on the Coreum Blockchain and supported by the Salvadoran government, aims to build nothing less than the \u201cSilicon Valley of Latin America.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the next five years, CoreNest\u2019s accelerator programme is expected to support 300 high-potential startups, offering them both investment and global market access. To ensure long-term scale, the firm is also preparing a US$100 million follow-on fund targeted at propelling the most promising ventures beyond seed stage into international competitiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The launch is not only a financial milestone but also a cultural and strategic shift, positioning El Salvador as a regional hub for innovation, blockchain-based finance and frontier technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A bold bet on El Salvador<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just a few years ago, El Salvador made headlines by becoming the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. While controversial at the time, the move signaled the administration of President Nayib Bukele was willing to embrace bold and unconventional strategies to modernise the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, El Salvador is reaping the benefits of that positioning. Foreign direct investment has surged, crime rates have dropped dramatically and the government\u2019s aggressive infrastructure and Digital Transformation policies are attracting global players in finance, technology and tourism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUnder the bold leadership of President Bukele, El Salvador has become a global beacon for innovation, freedom and ambition,\u201d said Bob Ras, GP and Co-founder, CoreNest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSupported by the government and powered by the very first tokenised VC fund on the Coreum chain, CoreNest is here to do more than fund startups. We\u2019re here to transform El Salvador into the Silicon Valley of Latin America, a launchpad for frontier technologies, world-class founders and region-defining innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The world\u2019s first tokenised VC fund<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the heart of CoreNest\u2019s initiative is its tokenised US$25 million venture capital fund, legally incorporated in El Salvador and tokenised on Coreum, a high-performance layer-1 Blockchain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tokenisation offers several advantages over traditional fund structures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Accessibility: By tokenising fund shares, CoreNest can enable a broader range of global investors including those from emerging markets to participate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transparency: Blockchain-based accounting and reporting reduce opacity, a common challenge in venture capital.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> Liquidity: Investors may one day be able to trade tokenised fund shares on secondary markets, a radical departure from the long lock-up periods typical in VC funds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This fund will serve as the financial backbone of the accelerator programme, providing US$125,000 in equity investment per startup in exchange for a minority stake. But the plan goes beyond capital injection. Each portfolio company will also gain access to a 12-week in-person acceleration programme, international mentorship, corporate partnerships and exposure at a global Demo Day in May 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Accelerator model: Bridging LATAM talent to global markets<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CoreNest Accelerator will be housed in San Salvador and is designed to combine the best practices of Silicon Valley accelerators with a distinctly Latin American context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Programme Structure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Seed Investment: $125,000 equity checks for each selected startup<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Curriculum: A 12-week hybrid programme featuring workshops on fundraising, product development, growth marketing and scaling across Latin America<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mentorship: A curated network of global investors, founders and corporate executives<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pilot Programmes: Partnerships with major corporates in the region to validate solutions in real-world settings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Demo Day: Culminating showcase where startups pitch to a room full of global VCs, CVCs and media<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The accelerator\u2019s first cohort is scheduled to launch in February 2026, with around 20\u201325 startups. Applications will open later this year and demand is expected to be high given the scarcity of structured early-stage capital in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Verticals of focus include AI, Fintech, Web3, SaaS, e-commerce and telecommunications &#8211; sectors where Latin America is acknowledged as having massive untapped potential and where Digital Transformation is rapidly accelerating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>US $100 million follow-on fund<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seed capital alone is not enough to create globally competitive companies. Recognising this, CoreNest has also structured a US$100 million follow-on fund dedicated to scaling startups that prove traction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This second pool of capital will allow CoreNest to bridge the notorious \u201cSeries A gap\u201d in Latin America where many startups stall due to a lack of institutional funding beyond the seed stage. By committing follow-on funding, CoreNest says it is sending a powerful signal to founders and investors alike: promising startups won\u2019t just survive, they\u2019ll scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why El Salvador, why now?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The timing of CoreNest\u2019s arrival is not accidental. El Salvador\u2019s transformation in the last five years has been dramatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Macroeconomic Stability: Dollarisation, Bitcoin adoption and strong fiscal management have positioned El Salvador as an unexpected safe haven for international capital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Public Safety: Once plagued by high crime rates, El Salvador now boasts some of the lowest crime statistics in Latin America thanks to sweeping security reforms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Government Partnerships: Bukele\u2019s administration has actively courted blockchain, fintech and AI projects, offering tax incentives and regulatory clarity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Geographic Advantage: Proximity to the US and connectivity to the rest of Latin America make it an ideal regional hub<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is not just a launch, it\u2019s the start of a movement,\u201d said Jos\u00e9 Roberto Rodr\u00edguez, CEO, CoreNest Accelerator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFrom El Salvador, CoreNest is shaping the future of Latin America. The world will see this nation as a global hub for innovation, talent and opportunity. El Salvador has already proven it\u2019s ready to lead and CoreNest is both a result and a driver of that transformation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The bigger picture: LATAM\u2019s untapped potential<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite being home to over 650 million people and boasting a combined GDP exceeding US$5 trillion, Latin America has historically been underfunded when it comes to venture capital. According to LAVCA (Latin American Private Equity &amp; Venture Capital Association), the region received around $15 billion in VC investment in 2021, a fraction compared to North America, Europe or Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet the opportunities are massive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Financial Inclusion: Over 40% of Latin Americans remain unbanked, representing fertile ground for Fintech<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E-commerce Growth: Online retail penetration is still under 10% in many countries compared to 20\u201330% in mature markets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Talent Pool: Latin America produces hundreds of thousands of STEM graduates annually &#8211; many of whom leave for lack of local opportunities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Digital Infrastructure: Rapid smartphone adoption and improving internet penetration are enabling new business models<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>CoreNest\u2019s strategy is to harness these structural advantages, channel them through a robust accelerator framework and plug them directly into global capital markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tokenisation as the future of VC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps the most disruptive element of CoreNest\u2019s model is its reliance on tokenised fund structures. While tokenisation has been discussed for years, few traditional venture capital firms have dared to implement it at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By launching the first legally recognised tokenised VC fund in El Salvador, CoreNest says it is testing a new frontier in venture finance. If successful, it could set a precedent for how future funds worldwide are structured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tokenisation doesn\u2019t just democratise access; it also introduces liquidity into a notoriously illiquid asset class. Early-stage investors who traditionally must wait 7\u201310 years for a return may one day be able to exit earlier via token markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For founders, tokenised funding could mean faster access to a broader pool of investors, reducing reliance on a handful of gatekeepers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Challenges Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The road will not be without obstacles. Tokenised funds still face skepticism from regulators and traditional LPs. Questions about secondary market liquidity, investor protection and compliance remain unresolved in many jurisdictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Latin America itself poses challenges: political volatility in neighboring countries, currency risks and infrastructure gaps can slow down startups. Additionally, cultural differences in how business is conducted across markets like Mexico, Brazil,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Colombia and Argentina must be navigated carefully.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet CoreNest\u2019s leadership believes El Salvador offers the right combination of legal clarity and government support to mitigate many of these risks. By situating itself in San Salvador, the firm is betting that what was once considered Latin America\u2019s smallest stage can become its biggest platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Looking ahead: The Silicon Valley of Latin America?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Can El Salvador truly become the Silicon Valley of Latin America? Skeptics will argue that the comparison is premature. Silicon Valley is not just capital &#8211; it is decades of accumulated know-how, risk culture and network effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But CoreNest is not simply trying to replicate Silicon Valley. As Ras put it: \u201cWe\u2019re not here to follow Silicon Valley\u2019s playbook, we\u2019re here to build something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In many ways, Latin America doesn\u2019t need another Silicon Valley &#8211; it needs its own version tailored to its unique challenges and opportunities. If CoreNest succeeds, San Salvador could become a hub where fintechs solve financial inclusion, where AI startups optimise agriculture and where Blockchain ventures reinvent cross-border payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The US$25 million tokenised fund is just the first step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The real test will come when the accelerator begins in February 2026 and the first cohort of startups takes the stage in May. If even a handful of these companies succeed on a global scale, CoreNest\u2019s vision of transforming El Salvador into Latin America\u2019s innovation capital may no longer sound like ambition &#8211; it may be reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Global venture capital firm CoreNest has launched in El Salvador with a US$25 million tokenised fund on the Coreum Blockchain and a world-class accelerator programme. Backed by government support and a planned US $100 million follow-on fund, the initiative seeks to transform El Salvador into the innovation hub of Latin America. In a watershed moment [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":18105,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6221,74,1941,5863,2237,5785],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artificial-intelligence","category-digital-transformation","category-finance","category-innovation","category-latam","category-technology"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18104"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18104\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18109,"href":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18104\/revisions\/18109"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/latam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}