If your team is dedicated to turn your startup into a high-growth company, Rockstart Program is a radical opportunity to push your startup forward. Founded in Amsterdam in 2012, we’ve run multiple programs, assembled an extensive mentor and partner network and developed a curriculum that provides validation opportunities and hands-on access to experts in a variety of fields.

Yes. Your investor(s) would probably like you to join a program because they know what kind of support you can get by participating. Seed investors often spend a lot of time to coach the companies they invest in to increase their survival rate but cannot organize a mentor network or provide the expertise an accelerator can. Rockstart Program will help you to bring your startup to the next level by teaching your team how to think through your business proposition, open doors that have been closed, help you with funding, marketing & PR and make sure you lay the foundation for growth plus lots more. We tailor the program to meet the needs of the 10 selected startups.
Please contact us to see if we can help you at the specific stage you are now.

You need to have a team of least two people to join the program. It is difficult enough to build and grow a business, so you should have a partner to be able to make it a success. During the selection period we focus on team dynamics and it’s a critical component of the selection process. You and your teammates should have complementary skills and positive team dynamics to be able to make it work. However, we realize it is sometimes difficult to find the right partner. If you are very convinced that your startup should be part of the program, we recommend you apply. We might be able to connect you to the right partner. A team should be in place before we invite you for selection days.

Startups accepted to Rockstart’s Emerging Tech LatAm Program receive €15,000 in cash, plus an in-kind investment consisting of office space and other facilities, expert workshops, international events, exclusive deals, intensive hands-on (mentor) support and more, all in exchange for 8% equity.

In order for startups to benefit the most from all program elements, we require founders to live and work in Bogotá for the full duration of the 150-day program. Our team can assist you in finding housing in Bogotá.

We believe in the power of a great team. Since our program is extremely intense and requires full team dedication, it’s important that you have a strong team in place with a track record, motivation and potential. We’re also looking for innovation. It doesn’t mean that you have to come up with a totally original idea, but your execution of that idea has to be unique. We’re looking to change the world with the startups we work with.

In order for us to help you get the most out of the program, we’re primarily looking for startups that have developed at least a MVP (minimum viable product), have customers or users and some traction. If your idea is still on the back of a napkin at the moment, we suggest you attend a Rockstart Answers event or go to the next Startup Weekend and test it out. However, as long as you have a concrete business vision by the time our applications open, we’d love to hear it.

Rockstart’s Emerging Tech LatAm Program is based in Bogotá, Colombia. One of Latin America’s major startup hubs, it’s known for its international climate, entrepreneurial ecosystem and central location. It is the place for any startup to grow internationally.

No. We are open to startups from all over the world.

If you have more questions, please send us an e-mail.