Amidst the turmoil in Venezuela's oil sector and US pressure on its leadership, entrepreneurs are exploring new investment avenues for the country, driven by the possibility of political stability. A decade-long cutoff from Western markets has left Venezuela with a devastated startup ecosystem, but some see an opportunity to rebuild.
Foreign investment in Venezuela remains negligible compared to regional peers, yet experts believe that stabilizing conditions could attract significant foreign capital. Francisco Litvay, founder of Sudamerica Hub, notes that the upside if the country attracts its diaspora back is enormous. The return of 8 million Venezuelans who fled the country could reignite domestic consumption and revive sectors beyond oil.
Litvay points to companies like Yummy and Cashea as examples of forces keeping the startup ecosystem alive despite severe constraints. If conditions improve, he believes Caracas could join cities like Medellín and Mexico City as a regional startup hub, leveraging its mild climate, geographic proximity, and fun culture.
Stephany Oliveros, a Venezuelan entrepreneur who fled in 2017, sees opportunities in fintech, logistics, workforce upskilling, energy reliability, healthcare access, and consumer-facing apps. Companies that can serve a returning professional diaspora will "win early," she says, as founders build lean systems during years of scarcity.
However, obstacles remain formidable. Political transition risk is high unless entrenched corruption is dismantled and credible economic reforms are established. Venezuela's complex business environment, ranked 188th out of 190 countries by the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index, poses significant challenges for investors and startups.
Despite these hurdles, Oliveros remains cautiously hopeful about Venezuela's future. She wishes for a "South Korea" moment but acknowledges that history may not be on their side.
Foreign investment in Venezuela remains negligible compared to regional peers, yet experts believe that stabilizing conditions could attract significant foreign capital. Francisco Litvay, founder of Sudamerica Hub, notes that the upside if the country attracts its diaspora back is enormous. The return of 8 million Venezuelans who fled the country could reignite domestic consumption and revive sectors beyond oil.
Litvay points to companies like Yummy and Cashea as examples of forces keeping the startup ecosystem alive despite severe constraints. If conditions improve, he believes Caracas could join cities like Medellín and Mexico City as a regional startup hub, leveraging its mild climate, geographic proximity, and fun culture.
Stephany Oliveros, a Venezuelan entrepreneur who fled in 2017, sees opportunities in fintech, logistics, workforce upskilling, energy reliability, healthcare access, and consumer-facing apps. Companies that can serve a returning professional diaspora will "win early," she says, as founders build lean systems during years of scarcity.
However, obstacles remain formidable. Political transition risk is high unless entrenched corruption is dismantled and credible economic reforms are established. Venezuela's complex business environment, ranked 188th out of 190 countries by the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index, poses significant challenges for investors and startups.
Despite these hurdles, Oliveros remains cautiously hopeful about Venezuela's future. She wishes for a "South Korea" moment but acknowledges that history may not be on their side.
I'm curious how some entrepreneurs are already thinking outside the box when it comes to investing in Venezuela. Like, what would have to go right for them to see an opportunity instead of just looking at the chaos? 
And yeah, it's crazy that the return of 8 million Venezuelans could potentially reignite domestic consumption and revitalize sectors beyond oil... like, can you imagine the shopping scene back in Caracas now? 
! the country has been through so much turmoil, but if they can stabilize things and make it easier for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses, watch out! 
we could see a whole new wave of startups popping up in caracas and beyond. medellín and mexico city are already proving that south america can be a hub for innovation, why not venezuela too? 
i'm rooting for the venezuelan diaspora to come back home and bring their skills and expertise with them - it could make all the difference for the country's economy! 
. It's like they're thinking ahead, hoping for stability & growth 
. But let's be real, it's a big gamble 
. Like, what if the government doesn't deliver on its promises? 
Or what if the corruption is way deeper than ppl think? 
& entrepreneurs like Litvay & Oliveros are actually getting stuff done 
. We'll just have to wait & see how this all plays out 
.
, but I need to see some concrete numbers and timelines here. 8 million Venezuelans returning home is a big ask - how's the government planning to make that happen? And what about the corruption and bureaucratic red tape? If these obstacles aren't addressed, it'll be tough for startups to get off the ground 
but entrepreneurs r tryin to find new ways 2 invest in the country 
it's crazy cuz they think if the gov gets its act together, venezuela could become a startup hub 
like medellín or mexico city 
who knows right? 
anyway, it's cool 2 see people tryin 2 make things happen in venezuela 
But if they can get that stuff sorted out, Caracas could become a real startup hub. Medellín is already crushin' it as a city for entrepreneurs, so why not Venezuela? 
. But at the same time, I'm also thinking about how hard it must be for these entrepreneurs who've been running their businesses in secret all these years 
. They're like, 'if we can just get some stability and a decent business environment, we'll be golden' 
. And I feel like companies that focus on helping the professional diaspora are really onto something 
But omg, obstacles are still major - corruption and business environment issues... it's a lot to overcome 
... maybe this could be the 'South Korea moment' she's talking about! 
. After being frozen out of Western markets for years, some entrepreneurs are starting to sniff around new investment opportunities. I mean, 8 million Venezuelans living abroad could totally boost domestic consumption if they come back... that's a lot of potential customers! 
.
. Some folks think Caracas could become a regional startup hub if conditions stabilize... that would be sick!