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Imagine Lab Ventures

Microsoft-backed incubator and accelerator that provides mentorship and connects startups with corporations.
Imagine Lab Ventures
Leadership team

Eduardo Bitrán (Founder)

Eduardo del Solar  (Founder)

Number of Employees
0 - 50
Headquarters
Santiago, Chile
Established
2011
Social Media
Summary

Imagine is a Chilean private incubator that supports startups in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology. The incubator was founded in 2011 and has since become a key player in Chile's innovation ecosystem, providing funding, mentorship, and other resources to startups with high potential for growth and positive impact.

One of Imagine's key strengths is its partnership with Microsoft, which provides the incubator with access to a wide range of resources and expertise. Through this partnership, Imagine has been able to support over 120 startups and 500 additional companies with a range of services, including incubation, acceleration, and innovation processes with corporates and the public sector.

Imagine's investment criteria focus on supporting startups that have the potential for high growth and positive impact, with a particular emphasis on social and environmental impact. The incubator is also committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the startup ecosystem and seeks to support underrepresented groups and promote gender equity.

History

Imagine is a Chilean private incubator that is part of the larger business group called Grupo Imagine. The incubator was founded in 2011 by Eduardo Bitrán and Eduardo del Solar and has since become a major player in the Chilean startup ecosystem.

Imagine offers a range of services to startups, including access to seed capital, mentoring, networking opportunities, and support with business development. The incubator has a particular focus on startups that are developing innovative solutions in the fields of technology, sustainability, and social impact.

One of the key strengths of Imagine is its strategic partnership with Microsoft. This partnership provides startups in the incubator with access to Microsoft's resources and expertise, including technology support, training, and access to markets.

Since its founding, Imagine has supported over 120 startups, many of which have gone on to achieve significant success. Some of the notable startups that have been incubated by Imagine include Fintual, a digital investment platform, and AllGreenup, a startup that develops technology to reduce carbon emissions.

In addition to its work with startups, Imagine has also been involved in several initiatives aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Chile. For example, the incubator has partnered with the Chilean government to create the National Entrepreneurship Strategy, which aims to support the growth of the country's startup ecosystem.

Overall, Imagine has established itself as a major player in the Chilean startup ecosystem, with a reputation for supporting innovative and impactful startups. Through its partnership with Microsoft and its focus on sustainability and social impact, Imagine is helping to drive positive change in Chile and beyond.

Investment criteria

Imagine has a set of investment criteria that they use to evaluate potential startups that apply for their program. These criteria are designed to identify startups with high potential for growth and impact and to ensure that the incubator's resources are used effectively to support those startups. Some of the key investment criteria for Imagine private incubator include:

  • Innovation and Disruptiveness: Imagine looks for startups that are developing innovative solutions to real-world problems, and that have the potential to disrupt existing industries or create new ones.
  • Market Potential: The incubator considers the size of the market and the potential for growth when evaluating startups. They look for startups with a clear understanding of their target market, and a strategy for scaling their business.
  • Strong Founding Team: Imagine believes that a strong founding team is crucial for the success of a startup. They look for founders with a diverse set of skills, a clear vision, and a commitment to their business.
  • Social and Environmental Impact: Imagine has a particular focus on startups that are creating positive social and environmental impact. They look for startups that are aligned with their mission of creating a more sustainable and equitable world.
  • Traction and Validation: The incubator considers the traction and validation of a startup when evaluating its potential for investment. They look for startups that have demonstrated early success, such as customer adoption or revenue growth.
  • Scalability: Imagine is looking for startups with a clear path to scale their business. They consider factors such as the potential for international expansion and the ability to attract additional investment.
Values
  • Innovation: Imagine values innovation as a key driver of progress and impact. They believe that innovation is crucial to solving some of the world's most pressing challenges, and they seek to support startups that are developing innovative solutions.
  • Impact: Imagine is committed to creating positive social and environmental impact. They believe that businesses have a responsibility to contribute to the well-being of society and the planet, and they seek to support startups that share this commitment.
  • Collaboration: Imagine values collaboration as a means of achieving greater impact. They believe that partnerships between different stakeholders, such as startups, corporates, and government agencies, can lead to more innovative and effective solutions.
  • Diversity and Inclusion: Imagine is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in its operations and in the startups it supports. They believe that diverse teams and perspectives can lead to more innovative and impactful solutions.
  • Entrepreneurial Spirit: Imagine values the entrepreneurial spirit and the willingness to take risks and pursue new opportunities. They seek to support startups with a strong entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for creating positive change.
  • Excellence: Imagine strives for excellence in all aspects of its operations, from selecting startups to supporting their growth and development. They believe that excellence is crucial to achieving meaningful impact and creating a sustainable future.
Mission

"To promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact by supporting startups with high potential for growth and positive impact, and by collaborating with partners across the public and private sectors."

This statement reflects Imagine's commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, which they believe is essential for driving economic growth and creating positive social and environmental impact. The incubator seeks to support startups that have the potential for high growth and positive impact, and they do so by providing a range of services, including funding, mentorship, and access to resources.

Portfolio

The portfolio includes a diverse range of companies in different sectors, all of which have been selected based on their potential for high growth and positive impact. Some examples of companies in Imagine's portfolio include:

  • NotCo: A food-tech startup that develops plant-based alternatives to animal products using artificial intelligence. The company has raised over $100 million in funding and has expanded to other countries in Latin America and the United States.
  • Lab4U: An ed-tech startup that provides mobile science education tools to schools and students. The company's products include a mobile app that turns smartphones into scientific instruments and a platform for managing and analyzing student data.
  • Butterfly: A fintech startup that offers a digital platform for managing insurance policies. The company's platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to offer personalized insurance solutions to customers.
  • Portal Finance: A fintech startup that provides alternative financing solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Latin America. The company's platform connects SMEs with investors, allowing them to access financing quickly and easily.
  • Destacame: A fintech startup that provides credit scoring and financial inclusion solutions to underserved populations in Latin America. The company's platform uses alternative data sources to assess creditworthiness and provide financial education and support to customers.

In addition to these companies, Imagine's portfolio includes many other startups in different sectors, including healthcare, energy, and e-commerce. The incubator has a strong track record of identifying and supporting startups with high potential for growth and positive impact,

References
Imagine Lab Ventures
Leadership team

Eduardo Bitrán (Founder)

Eduardo del Solar  (Founder)

Number of Employees
0 - 50
Headquarters
Santiago, Chile
Established
2011
Social Media