Costa Rica in the regional ranking
The ranking was compiled by Startuplinks and Cuantico VP based on data from active investment funds in Central America and the Dominican Republic. The list identifies startups with the highest growth, international projection, and potential to scale beyond their home markets. Costa Rica, alongside El Salvador, is the country contributing the most companies to the top 20, cementing its position as one of the region’s technology hubs.
The six featured Costa Rican startups
Six tech companies operating in Costa Rica were included in the ranking:
- Snap Compliance: software that helps companies comply with regulations and prevent financial risks in an automated way.
- Ari: a platform for fast international payments and currency exchange for companies operating across multiple countries.
- Tobi: an online pet product store with personalized recommendations.
- Avify: a tool that allows businesses to manage sales, inventory, and deliveries across multiple digital channels from a single platform.
- Huli: a platform connecting patients with healthcare services and facilitating medical appointment management in several Latin American countries.
- Mission Inbox: technology that improves email deliverability, essential for sales and marketing teams.
Sectors and selection criteria
The ranking shows a strong emphasis on digital financial solutions (fintech) and business software, alongside proposals in digital health, e-commerce, logistics, and pet services. To select the 20 startups, criteria such as customer growth, presence in multiple countries, international expansion capacity, and venture capital backing were considered. The goal is to highlight companies already in an expansion stage that have the potential to become regional benchmarks in technological innovation.
Presentation at the Caricaco Summit 2026
The ranking was presented at the Caricaco Summit 2026, held in Costa Rica, which brought together more than 300 investors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem leaders from 20 countries. The event aimed to facilitate access to investment, establish regional connections, and position Central America as an emerging region in innovation and technology. Rodrigo Villalta, Managing Director of Caricaco Ventures, highlighted that the list reflects the evolution of the ecosystem since 2021 and the emergence of increasingly sophisticated and scalable solutions.
Official sources
- Report “Top 20 startups to watch in Central America and the Caribbean” published by Startuplinks, including the methodology and details of the selected companies.
- Caricaco Ventures and Cuantico VP: press releases on the ranking, selection criteria, and the context of the Caricaco Summit 2026.
