Platanus2027 deadline, funding, equity and how to apply
Chilean accelerator for technical founders in Latin America. Invests USD 200,000 for 7% in a 3-month program ending in Demo Day. 90+ startups backed since 2021.
- $200K
- Funding
- 7%
- Equity
- 3 months
- Program length
- Dates TBA
- Applications
About Platanus
Platanus, also called Platanus Ventures, is a Chilean accelerator that backs technical founders across Latin America. Its offer is simple and published on its website. Platanus invests USD 200,000 for 7% of the company and runs a three-month program that ends with a Demo Day for selected investors.
Earlier batches received USD 100,000, so the cheque has doubled. The firm says it has backed more than 90 startups in almost four years. Its first batch was 2021-1.
Portfolio companies include Toku, which raised a USD 48 million Series A in 2025, and Altur, which Platanus backed two years before Altur joined Y Combinator's S25 batch as the only Mexican startup. Others include Fintoc, Kapso, Shinkansen and comOS. What makes Platanus different is its builder focus.
The team comes from software development, so the program targets technical, full-time, Spanish-speaking teams. It also runs community tools such as Platanus Hack hackathons, Build Sprint, Demo Dev and open legal templates. Mentors include Cristina Etcheverry of Toku, Alejandro Matamala of Runway, Juan Pablo Cuevas of Cornershop and Jaime Arrieta of Buk.
In 2026 Platanus announced it would take its hackathons beyond Chile and launch an investor club for co-investment.
What Platanus looks for
Platanus backs technical founders building in Latin America, ideally full-time teams where a founder writes the code. It accepts projects from idea stage to a validated MVP and is sector-agnostic. Its portfolio spans AI, fintech, dev tools, SaaS, e-commerce, logistics and climate. Speed of shipping and weekly progress matter more than polish, and fluency in Spanish is expected. Show what you shipped recently.
How the Platanus program works
Selected startups receive the USD 200,000 investment and join a three-month program. The focus is weekly growth. Partners help each team pick the one metric that matters and push it week by week, while preparing to raise a seed round.
Founders get access to Platanus partners and mentors who built Toku, Runway, Cornershop and Buk, along with a network of Spanish-speaking founders and developers. Platanus also helps with company formation where needed and publishes legal documents for new startups. The program ends with Demo Day, where each startup presents to a selected group of investors.
After the batch, alumni stay in the community and can use its job board and investor club.
How to apply to Platanus
- 1Make sure the team is full-time and includes at least one technical founder who writes the product.
- 2Start the application on Platanus' Kalio portal at kalio.platan.us/apply.
- 3Describe the product, the problem, current users or revenue, and why your team can build it fast.
- 4Be ready to answer in Spanish, since the program and community run in Spanish.
- 5If shortlisted, do interviews with the Platanus partners before an offer of USD 200,000 for 7%.
Startup perks after acceptance
Accelerator startups qualify for most startup credit programs. These are the ones founders claim first.
Notable Platanus alumni
Companies that went through or were backed by Platanus.
Platanus vs similar accelerators
| Program | Funding | Equity | Location | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platanus | $200K | 7% | Santiago, Chile | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Start-Up Chile | Up to $80K | No equity | Santiago, Chile | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Wayra (Telefónica) | Up to $5.8M | Minority stake | Madrid | Rolling admissions |
| EIC Accelerator | Up to $2.9M | None on grant | EU | November 4, 2026 (8 days left) |
| PearX | Up to $2M | ~7% | San Francisco Bay Area | Rolling admissions |
| Dreamit Ventures | Up to $1.5M | Not published | New York | Rolling admissions |
Platanus FAQ
When is the Platanus application deadline?+
Platanus has not announced its next deadline yet (Next batch dates not published). We check the official site every month and update this page when dates are published.
How much does Platanus invest and for how much equity?+
Platanus invests USD 200,000 for 7% of the company, as stated on its website. Earlier batches received USD 100,000, so the cheque has grown. One directory lists 5.5% equity, but the official site says 7%. The investment comes with a three-month program and a Demo Day.
Do I need a technical co-founder for Platanus?+
Effectively yes. Platanus says it backs the best technical founders in Latin America, and third-party listings describe a requirement for a full-time, technology-focused team with at least one technical founder. Its team comes from software development, so it judges the product and the code closely.
Is Platanus only for Chilean startups?+
No. Platanus is based in Chile but backs Spanish-speaking founders across Latin America. Mexican startups such as Altur have joined its batches, and in 2026 it announced hackathons in other Latin American countries. The program and community operate in Spanish.
Which startups has Platanus backed?+
Platanus lists more than 90 startups, including Toku, Fintoc, Altur, Kapso, Shinkansen, comOS, Grupalia and Kunzapp. Toku raised a USD 48 million Series A in 2025, and Altur went on to join Y Combinator's S25 batch two years after Platanus invested.
Sources: platan.us, kalio.platan.us, ecosistemastartup.com, df.cl, contxto.com