🎙️ Daniel Ospina, founder of Pygma, a fintech accelerator based in Bogotá, Colombia, joined Peter Kovacz from the Vienna Institute for Global Studies (VIGS) for an engaging conversation about why Latin America is emerging as the next major frontier for fintech innovation. Together they explore the region's unique opportunities, the evolving startup ecosystem across Latin America, and how strategic support at the pre-seed stage can unlock transformative growth for founders building the future of financial technology.

From his early days at Endeavor to launching a micro fund and eventually founding Pygma—named after the Pygmalion effect, where high expectations drive high performance—Daniel shares his journey through Latin America's startup landscape. With over 129 companies now in the Pygma portfolio and close to 400 founders in the community, he explains why fintech has become the top venture capital investment category in the region and what makes this moment so critical for entrepreneurial innovation across Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and beyond.

The conversation examines the structural forces reshaping Latin American fintech: policy changes enabling instant payment systems like Brazil's Pix, the rise of stablecoin and crypto adoption in economies with volatile currencies, and the emergence of AI-driven solutions for cybersecurity and financial inclusion. Daniel discusses why founders with global ambitions are choosing to scale within Latin America's 600 million person market first, how regulatory environments are becoming more startup-friendly, and why access to capital at the earliest stages remains the missing piece for technically brilliant founders with strong co-founding teams.

From tech hubs in Medellín, Florianópolis, and Bogotá to the challenges of cross-border mobility and the role of community in founder success, this episode offers a grounded, optimistic perspective on Latin America's fintech transformation. Daniel also reflects on the realities of venture capital—why an 82% survival rate is strong in an asset class built on outliers, why most startups will fail while a few become fund returners, and how Pygma's model allows European and global investors to gain diversified exposure to 60 startups through a single vehicle. Whether you're an investor, founder, or ecosystem builder, this conversation reveals why Latin America is no longer an emerging market to watch—it's a fintech frontier demanding attention now.

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