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- VC Mx: 30N
VC Mx: 30N
30N Ventures is a venture capital firm dedicated to driving innovation across Emerging Markets, with a current focus of liquidity at the forefront of its strategy.
Mack Meyer
January 23, 2025
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30N Ventures is a venture capital firm dedicated to driving innovation and growth across Emerging Markets, with a current focus in Latin America, and liquidity at the forefront of its strategy. From the initial assessment of potential investments, 30N's liquidity playbook serves as a critical indicator for proceeding, emphasizing exits and market consolidation.
The firm's experienced partners and extensive network of experts support companies in achieving cross-border expansion and regional operational strength. By blending the entrepreneurial acumen of venture capital with the liquidity strategies of private equity, 30N Ventures positions itself as a strategic partner for businesses seeking to thrive in competitive and dynamic markets.
At 30N Ventures, we envision a region where well-rounded entrepreneurs not only create local value but also demonstrate their ability to compete and succeed in global markets. Our focus is on building companies that showcase exportable talent and, through our liquidity strategy, become key players in global consolidation and innovation.
Emerging markets along the 30th parallel north represent a unique intersection of innovation and opportunity. At 30N Ventures, we are inspired by this line of connection across dynamic regions, where we see immense potential for economic transformation. By prioritizing liquidity as a cornerstone of our strategy, we empower founders with the resources and pathways to scale, unlocking growth and driving progress across these vibrant markets.
By bridging the gap between innovative startups and mission-driven capital, 30N Ventures plays a pivotal role in accelerating the region's economic and technological evolution.
“We’re not just investors—we’re partners who take the time to understand what makes a business work. It’s about finding the right balance between ambition and realism.” - Paula Giraldo (Partner, 30N Ventures)
30N’s Origins: A Fund Born from Observation and Experience
30N Ventures was established to address the challenges and opportunities unique to Emerging Markets’ entrepreneurial ecosystem. Its founders drew on years of experience in finance, startups, and emerging markets to craft an investment model that reflects the region’s complexities.
When we started, it wasn’t just about filling a gap. We wanted to create something that genuinely addressed the needs of founders—whether that meant refining their business models, helping them navigate regulations, or simply providing a listening ear.
The fund’s foundation is built on rigorous market research and countless conversations with entrepreneurs and LPs, ensuring its strategy aligns with the realities on the ground.
“We spent months speaking to founders, understanding their pain points. What stood out was the need for investors who were both patient and practical—partners who could provide more than capital.” - Paula Giraldo
Partners
Fund History & Investment Stage
30N Ventures’ Investment Thesis: Liquidity First
30N Ventures centers its investment thesis on startups with strong unit economics and growth potential.
The fund invests in companies across “seed plus” to post-Series A stages, ensuring the businesses it supports have already begun to prove their viability in the market.
We’re very clear with the founders from day one. We’re looking for solid businesses—those with real value propositions and measurable paths to profitability. That’s what resonates with our LPs, and that’s what will drive lasting success.
A cornerstone of 30N’s investment approach is its focus on liquidity. While venture capital in Latin America is often synonymous with long timelines and illiquidity, 30N takes a different stance.
For a $50M fund, liquidity doesn’t have to be an oxymoron. The team ensures clear exit strategies for every investment, addressing a key concern for their investors (LPs).
Instead of focusing on 1B+ exits, 30N focuses on more predictable paths, like acquisitions and secondaries in the $100M–$500M range, that align with the region’s exit landscape and offer faster liquidity.
“We’ve seen too many funds where liquidity is an afterthought,” says Paula. “For us, it’s non-negotiable. Our LPs deserve transparency, and they need to see returns within a reasonable timeframe.”
Focused Sectors: Where 30N Invests
30N Ventures prioritizes sectors with significant growth potential in Latin America, including fintech, retailtech (e-commerce, marketplaces, logistics for e-commerce), and foodtech. The fund emphasizes startups solving regional challenges through scalable solutions, particularly in financial inclusion, technology, and sustainability. Additionally, these sectors have synergies that align with 30N’s investors.
30N’s Cornerstone
At 30N Ventures, strong relationships with LPs are a cornerstone of the fund's strategy, extending far beyond financial returns. These relationships are critical for enabling liquidity and facilitating strategic exits, both of which are at the heart of 30N's approach. 30N focuses on well-defined exit strategies from day one, ensuring a proactive approach to liquidity for LPs and the market.
30N supports entrepreneurs in pursuing inorganic growth through internal M&A initiatives, connecting them with its extensive network to identify and execute opportunities. The value offered to LPs transcends monetary gains, encompassing comprehensive liquidity and M&A strategies while fostering businesses with robust financial practices, effective processes, strong products, and satisfied customers. This approach positions 30N Ventures as a strategic partner for LPs and portfolio companies alike, emphasizing sustainable growth and meaningful market impact.
“We invest in areas that address real pain points while driving meaningful, long-term impact for businesses and communities, we also do focus our investing within sectors that align with our investors” Paula notes.
An Iterative Approach
For 30N Ventures, product-market fit (PMF) isn’t a static milestone but an ongoing process of refinement and feedback. By actively engaging with both founders and investors, the fund ensures that its approach remains relevant and effective.
“PMF for us is about alignment—making sure that what we offer meets the needs of both our entrepreneurs and our LPs. It’s a constant dialogue, and we’re always learning and adjusting.” - Paula Giraldo
The team’s emphasis on open communication with founders allows them to tailor their support to the unique needs of each business. This adaptability has become a hallmark of 30N Ventures’ success.
“The insights we gain from our founders are invaluable. They not only help us refine our approach but also ensure that we’re truly meeting the needs of the ecosystem.” Paula states.
Powering Growth Through Connections
At the heart of 30N Ventures’ philosophy is the belief in creating an interconnected ecosystem that benefits founders, investors, and the broader entrepreneurial community. Beyond capital, the fund leverages its extensive network to facilitate strategic partnerships and mentorships for portfolio companies.
“One of our core goals is to build an ecosystem where founders can thrive. It’s not just about writing checks; it’s about facilitating connections that can make or break a company’s growth trajectory.” - Paula Giraldo
This ecosystem-centric approach has helped 30N Ventures stand out. By acting as a bridge between founders and resources, the team ensures that entrepreneurs receive the support they need to scale effectively.
When we connect founders with the right people—whether it’s future investors, customers, or advisors—it amplifies the impact of our investments. That’s the kind of impact we aim to create.
Identifying Emerging Opportunities
Latin America presents a diverse array of challenges and opportunities, from varied regulatory environments to cultural differences between markets. 30N Ventures approaches this complexity with a rigorous, research-driven method, identifying businesses that address pressing needs and demonstrate scalability.
“Our process is deliberate. We take the time to analyze each market, talk to founders, and validate our hypotheses. It’s not about rushing to deploy capital—it’s about making decisions that we’re confident in.” - Julieta Romero
The team’s extensive network of founders, operators, and industry leaders plays a critical role in uncovering opportunities. These connections not only provide insights but also help 30N Ventures evaluate potential investments through trusted recommendations.
“Of course, we are interested in the three sectors that we invest in, which are fintech, retail, and tech-enabled food businesses. Since we began operating, we've noticed a significant increase in fintech opportunities, which aligns with market trends. We are particularly excited about the verticalization of specialized businesses leveraging financial services to better serve their clients. Whether it's customization at the point of checkout, pricing risk in a superior way, or cross-selling, we are excited about this trend mostly for its tailwinds when coupled with advances in data analytics and the added value they can bring to established and traditional financial services companies.” Julieta noted.
Looking ahead, 30N is eager to explore businesses innovating in e-commerce logistics, as the leaders in this space remain unclear. Additionally, the team is intrigued to learn more about supply chain innovations within the food industry.
The value of our network can’t be overstated. It’s through these relationships that we gain a deeper understanding of where the market is headed and which founders are best positioned to succeed.
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