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@txEcosystem Update : How
@Corenest_SV Is Positioning El Salvador as Latin Americaβs Next Innovation Hub πΈπ»
Just finished watching an excellent interview with
@JoseRobDuque8 , CEO of CoreNest Accelerator El Salvador, on Fundamentos Media (May 26, 2026). One of the clearest conversations yet on why the momentum building in El Salvador feels structurally different from prior startup cycles in the region.
JosΓ© Roberto brings more than a decade of ecosystem-building experience, from Impact Hub El Salvador to Alpha Ventures, helping identify and scale high-potential founders across Central America. His work included investor missions to New York, delegations to WebSummit Lisboa, and building founder networks around awareness, growth, capital access, and strategic connectivity.
A defining catalyst for the regional ecosystem was the ~$150M acquisition of Hugo by Delivery Hero. Early-stage investors reportedly saw exponential returns from relatively small initial checks, proving that venture-scale outcomes were possible in Central America. That moment helped shift regional psychology from possibility to conviction.
CoreNest appears designed to capitalize on that shift with a more institutional framework :
β’ $25M VC fund to be tokenized on tx:native (the first legally constituted tokenized VC fund in El Salvador)
β’ YC-style 12-week accelerator
β’ Corporate innovation platform connecting startups directly with enterprise partners for pilot deployment opportunities
The broader vision is ambitious: create a repeatable venture pipeline capable of producing globally competitive companies from Latin America while keeping value creation anchored regionally.
Notable early traction :
β’ 700 applications from 22 countries
β’ First cohort launching JuneβJuly 2026
β’ Long-term roadmap targeting multiple unicorn-scale outcomes and a future $100M follow-on fund
What stands out is the emphasis on execution-ready founders. As JosΓ© notes, capital accelerates momentum β it does not create it from zero. CoreNest is targeting founders with traction, adaptability, and operational discipline.
Why El Salvador, and why now?
The macro conditions are increasingly aligned :
β’ Streamlined company formation frameworks
β’ Pro-innovation regulatory positioning
β’ Crypto and digital asset openness
β’ Growing reinvestment from successful entrepreneurs
β’ Expanding regional talent base and returning diaspora
β’ Strong government-level commitment to innovation and modernization
Rather than attempting to replicate Silicon Valley directly, CoreNest appears focused on building a LATAM-native innovation model with global connectivity and institutional capital access.
Still early but the foundational components are beginning to align quickly.
Watch the full interview here:
youtu.be/S8ynOqQCyYk
If youβre building in AI, fintech, Web3, infrastructure, or deeptech across LATAM, CoreNest deserves close attention.
El Salvadorβs innovation thesis is evolving from narrative to infrastructure.
Who builds during this phase may matter significantly over the next decade.
#CoreNestVC #ElSalvador #LATAM #SmartToken #Startups #Innovation #AI #Web3 #Fintech #DeepTech #txEcosystem tx:native