On January 12, the Uruguay Networking Sessions event was held at Casa Manantial in Punta del Este. The gathering was organized by Uruguay XXI, in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (ANII), URUCAP, Cubo Itaú, and Bord. It also received support from Uruguay Innova and sponsorship from Deel, Guardline, and Eurofarma. The initiative took place as part of the Punta Tech Meetup.
Approximately 130 participants attended the event, including startup founders, representatives from venture capital funds, corporations, and institutions. The purpose was to strengthen Uruguay’s position as a stable platform for business growth and innovation in Latin America.
During her opening remarks, Mariana Ferreira, Executive Director of Uruguay XXI, stated: “At Uruguay XXI, our goal is precisely to showcase the work we do alongside this ecosystem. We operate within the framework of Uruguay Innova, together with ANII and other agencies, and in this particular event we wanted to highlight the strength of this public-private collaboration with URUCAP, Cubo, and Bord.”
Ferreira further commented on the importance of cooperation between public and private sectors: “We demonstrate how public-private agencies work together with the private sector, aligned around shared objectives. One of our core goals is to attract investment to the country, and this event clearly reflects that effort.”
Uruguay XXI’s sectoral teams covering technology, life sciences, global services, agribusiness, talent development, and exports were present at the event. They provided resources for both startups and established companies. Ferreira said: “Our entire team is available to showcase the instruments we offer and to support those looking to invest, scale or export from Uruguay.”
The session also introduced Invest in Uruguay and its Portfolio—a platform developed by Uruguay XXI to connect private investors with specific projects in Uruguay. Attendees included international venture capital funds and startups who learned about investment tools such as matching funds and tax incentives.
Startups seeking funding as well as investment funds interested in new opportunities were encouraged to register on the platform.
The agenda featured a networking session designed to foster connections among participants. Eurofarma also presented a pitch focused on open innovation.
The event highlighted Uruguay’s ability to coordinate stakeholders across sectors through clear regulations and institutional efficiency. According to organizers, it reinforced Uruguay XXI’s role as an ecosystem coordinator for investments and startups aiming for sustainable business growth from Uruguay into regional markets.
