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Magma Partners is a venture capital firm investing in and supporting early-stage technology startups across Latin America. It identifies promising companies and provides strategic guidance for scaling and expanding into international markets, notably the United States. The firm’s model actively empowers founders within the region’s dynamic tech ecosystem.
Co-founded in 2014 by Nathan Lustig and Francisco Sáenz Rica, Magma Partners was established from their insight into Latin America's entrepreneurial talent and market opportunities. Lustig, leveraging his prior experience as a co-founder of Entrustet, instilled a hands-on investment philosophy, emphasizing partnership with founders.
The firm’s clientele consists of Latin American technology entrepreneurs seeking early-stage capital and strategic mentorship. Magma Partners’ vision is to cultivate a thriving tech landscape throughout Latin America, enabling its portfolio companies to achieve significant impact and generate strong returns for its limited partners.
Key people at Magma Partners.
Magma Partners is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in Latin America, primarily backing technology-driven startups that address significant regional challenges. Founded in 2014, the firm has invested over $80 million across more than 125 startups, with a strong emphasis on fintech, insurtech, marketplaces, proptech, and SaaS sectors. Magma Partners aims to support founders from pre-seed through Series A rounds, providing both capital and strategic guidance to help scale scalable technology businesses in large markets. Their investment philosophy centers on partnering with entrepreneurs solving Latin America's biggest problems, leveraging a generalist approach while maintaining sector strengths in financial services and marketplaces[1][2][4].
Magma Partners was founded in 2014 by Nathan Lustig and Francisco Saenz Rica, with headquarters in Santiago, Chile, and offices across Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and the USA. The founders brought entrepreneurial and operational experience from Silicon Valley and Latin America, shaping the firm’s focus on early-stage startups that leverage technology to solve pressing regional issues. Over time, Magma has evolved into a leading VC in Latin America, known for its hands-on support and a unique feedback system called the "Magma Memo," which helps founders refine their pitches and business models. The firm has grown its portfolio steadily, investing in notable companies such as Kushki, Albo, Billpocket, and R5[2][4][5].
Magma Partners rides the wave of Latin America’s rapid digital transformation, particularly in fintech and marketplaces, where large underserved populations and inefficient legacy systems create vast opportunities. The timing is critical as the region experiences increased internet penetration, mobile adoption, and regulatory openness to innovation. Magma’s focus on scalable technology businesses aligns with market forces favoring digital financial inclusion, e-commerce expansion, and proptech modernization. By backing early-stage startups and providing operational support, Magma influences the ecosystem by accelerating innovation, fostering entrepreneurial talent, and attracting global capital to Latin America’s emerging tech hubs[2][4][5].
Looking ahead, Magma Partners is poised to deepen its impact by leveraging data science to refine startup selection and portfolio management, as indicated by their plans to analyze thousands of applications received since inception. The firm is likely to continue expanding its geographic footprint and sector coverage while maintaining its early-stage focus. Trends such as fintech democratization, digital infrastructure growth, and cross-border commerce will shape Magma’s investment journey. As Latin America’s startup ecosystem matures, Magma’s role as a first investor and strategic partner will become increasingly vital in scaling the region’s most promising technology ventures[5][7].
Magma Partners exemplifies a venture capital firm that not only provides capital but also actively shapes the trajectory of Latin America’s startup ecosystem by empowering founders to solve big problems in large markets.
Key people at Magma Partners.
