Rootstock Labs and Colledge are excited to announce their collaboration to launch the free “Building on Rootstock” program. This exciting 12-week incubation program represents an innovative partnership aimed at catalyzing development and innovation in the Latin American blockchain ecosystem.
Applications to the program are currently open and will run until April 19, with a first cut scheduled for Friday, April 12. During this first cut, applications received up to that date will be reviewed and evaluated, allowing participants who have sent their applications up to and including Friday, April 12, to secure a place in the first available spots.
About the program
The program will begin on April 29 with an initial phase focused on providing technical support to developers for building and deploying applications on Rootstock. During this 4-week stage, mentors Sebastián Leo Perez and David Carvajal will be in charge of guiding the entrepreneurs so that they can deploy their applications on the protocol effectively.
In the following stages, the program will focus on aspects related to business, launch and growth, with the support of prominent mentors such as Gabriel Kurman, Mauricio Tovar, Max del Hoyo, Alejandro Narancio, Demian Drabyk, Manu Ferrari and Milton Berman . During this phase, entrepreneurs will receive guidance to prepare their projects for a selection process that will culminate in the selection of 10 finalist projects.
The final stage of the program will focus on preparing finalists to apply for Rootstock grants, culminating in a Demo Day where participants will have the opportunity to present their projects to a jury for evaluation.
The potential of Latin America for web3 startups
The Latin American market size for blockchain technologies was USD 0.52 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 54.30% between 2024 and 2032, reaching a value of USD 7.93 billion by 2032.
This growth is due to the high poverty rate, low financial inclusion and historical economic challenges in the region. Blockchain and web3 solutions can provide financial empowerment, making the region a high potential area for financial inclusion. Additionally, significant developments have been seen in blockchain, with startups focused on finance, remittances, supply chain management and agriculture.
Adoption of decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms in Latin America is on the rise, especially in regions with limited banking infrastructure. Currently, 11% of the population in Latin America already invests in cryptocurrencies, with Argentina and Brazil being the main regional powers with 19% and 14% investing in cryptocurrencies, respectively.
The key experience of incubation programs
Participants in "Building on Rootstock" will have the opportunity to learn from specialists with extensive experience in developing applications on Rootstock, with the aim of building startups with growth potential in the blockchain ecosystem.
In addition, the 10 finalist projects will have access to Colledge's startup network, with a community of more than 40 entrepreneurs who have gone through the academy's different incubation programs. They will also have a Colledge Entrepreneur subscription for 3 months, among other benefits.
To apply and learn more about the “Building on Rootstock” program, visit www.colledge.studio/incubadora/programa-rootstock
Don't miss this unique opportunity to be part of the next wave of innovation in the blockchain ecosystem!
Sobre Colledge
Colledge is an academy focused on training web3 professionals and entrepreneurs in Latin America. It has more than 10,000 students throughout the region. Since 2022, it has organized startup incubation programs from which more than 15 startups have already graduated.