Ruta-N Launches Medellín Next with 25 Colombian Tech Firms Ready For International Expansion

Medellin’s municipally owned business incubator Ruta-N has announced the selection of 25 companies—a mix of startups and scaleups, to form the inaugural cohort of Medellín Next, an initiative focused on the expansion of high-impact, technology firms into international markets.

The application process attracted 65 companies from sectors including technology, energy, financial services, health, education, and agroindustry. This level of participation reflects the current activity within the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The 25 selected companies will access a comprehensive set of support services. These services include strategic diagnostics, customized mentorship from high-level experts, pitch training, and connections to international investment and market networks. Carolina Londoño Peláez, Executive Director of Ruta N, confirmed the formation and support process is scheduled to last two months.

The initial cohort includes firms such as Erco, B2Chat S.A.S, Somos Internet, Hacku, and Netux, along with 20 additional companies. The complete list of participants is available on the Ruta N website.

Selection Criteria

Carolina Londoño Peláez, Executive Director of Ruta-N (photo courtesy Ruta-N)

To be eligible for Medellín Next, companies were required to demonstrate a specific level of operational maturity and market traction, including:

• A validated business model, with a product or service already generating sales in the market.
• Minimum annual invoicing of $1 million USD in sales and revenue.
• A minimum full-time team of five employees.
• At least one active founder dedicated to the company full-time.
• A clearly defined growth and scalability plan.

Londoño Peláez stated that the program’s objective is to facilitate business scaling to establish Medellín as a high-impact technology hub in Latin America. The support services are structured to address areas essential for expansion, including strategic planning, financial strengthening, leadership, capital access, and internationalization.