TechnoServe, BID Lab, and Argidius launch initiative to boost startups that support smallholder farmers in Central America and Colombia
The VerdeXcelerate program will strengthen startups that are developing innovative tools to tackle the productivity, sustainability, and market access challenges faced by thousands of small and medium-scale farmers in six countries across the region.
SAN SALVADOR (December 9, 2025) – TechnoServe, BID Lab, and Argidius have joined forces to launch VerdeXcelerate – Agtech for Impact, a new initiative designed to accelerate the growth and development of the AgTech ecosystem in Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama. The initiative was announced during the GET Forum 2025, one of Latin America’s top innovation and entrepreneurship gatherings, held in San Salvador from November 30 to December 2.
VerdeXcelerate will work with more than 100 startups, impacting around 3,000 small and medium-scale farmers. The program aims for at least 40% of participating businesses to be led by women and for at least 60% to gain access to financing solutions. It will also support activities to help participating startups achieve an average revenue growth of 35%.
The initiative was presented as a strategic effort to transform the agricultural sector by creating a platform to connect fragmented efforts among startups, anchor companies, agricultural research centers, investors, and public stakeholders—bringing them together in a coordinated, dynamic, and innovation-friendly environment.
“VerdeXcelerate is an ambitious endeavor: to build an ecosystem where technology and innovation truly reach those who need them most—small and medium-scale producers who sustain our food systems and the vulnerable communities that rely on agriculture to thrive,” said Margarita Guerra, Regional Program Manager at TechnoServe.
The program is built around three strategic pillars:
- Startup acceleration through partnerships with anchor companies, producers, and research institutions;
- Early-stage financing, especially for startups in pre-seed and seed stages;
- Ecosystem development through collaborative networks across the private sector, academia, and public institutions.
VerdeXcelerate combines real-world validation, technological matchmaking, and early-stage capital. Through the initiative’s AgroLiving Labs, startups, companies, and producers will test technological solutions directly in the field—moving beyond traditional lab environments. The program also introduces innovation brokers, facilitators who connect specific production challenges with scalable tech solutions. Additionally, a specialized investment vehicle will support emerging startups and connect them with angel investors, corporate capital, and venture funds.
To apply to VerdeXcelerate, startups must offer a tech-based solution for the agrifood sector, with a product or service validated under real-world conditions (TRL 4–5) and demonstrate clear potential for scalability and environmental and/or social impact. They must also have an active and committed founding team capable of driving business growth.
“VerdeXcelerate is the expansion and transformation of the successful pilot program Potencia tu Agroempresa, which has already accelerated more than 39 startups with tangible results: over $71 million in increased sales, more than 770 new commercial connections, and the securing of strategic investment,” said Juan Carlos Thomas, Vice President of Entrepreneurship and New Ventures at TechnoServe. “In this next phase, we’ll be actively engaging with private-sector actors and investors who share our vision to transform the food system through high-impact technological solutions.”
One of the companies that participated in Potencia tu Agroempresa is WSeeds, a digital agricultural traceability and management platform that uses artificial intelligence, blockchain, and a WhatsApp-based chatbot to help farmers record production data, generate certification documents, and monitor sustainability metrics. This information not only helps optimize farmers’ operations but also assists buyers with logistical planning.
WSeeds joined the pilot with sales of approximately USD 6,000 in 2023. After working on its value proposition, pricing strategy, and growth plan, it projects closing 2025 with USD 240,000 in sales. The company has also helped 1,718 small and medium-scale farmers improve their production processes, increase yields by up to 25%, and reduce operating costs by more than 10%.
Through VerdeXcelerate, TechnoServe, BID Lab, and Argidius reaffirm their commitment to advancing technological solutions that create real impact in rural Latin America. The call for startups, corporate partners, and investors is now open—marking a promising path toward a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food system in the region.
Media Contact:
Pablo Leandro Suárez – TechnoServe Local Media Contact (Bogotá) – psuarez@contractor.tns.org
Julieta Ocampo – TechnoServe HQ Communications Lead (Washington) – jocampo@tns.org
About TechnoServe
Founded in 1968, TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty for good. A non-profit organization working in around 20 countries, we work with people to build a better future through regenerative farms, businesses, and markets that increase incomes. Our vision is a sustainable world where all people in low-income communities have the opportunity to prosper.
More information at: Twitter @TechnoServe | Facebook @TechnoServe | LinkedIn @TechnoServe
About BID Lab
IDB Lab is the innovation and venture capital arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group. We discover new ways to drive social inclusion, environmental action, and productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean. IDB Lab leverages financing, knowledge, and connections to support early-stage entrepreneurship, foster new technologies, activate innovative markets, and catalyze existing sectors. www.idblab.org
