Today, we’re joined by Álvaro Álvarez del Río, Managing Partner at Boost Capital Partners, a venture capital firm backing early-stage companies that are solving real-world problems in emerging markets with intuitive solutions.

Originally from Spain, Álvaro’s career began in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and UBS before transitioning into venture capital. In 2011, he co-founded Initial Capital, a fund specializing in gaming, consumer services, and technology enablers, delivering top 1% returns on its $40 million fund. His investment track record includes early investments in Hutch Games, Nexmo, Tenor, Magmatic Games, and Supercell, acquired by Tencent in 2020. His angel portfolio includes investments in Deliveroo, Zencargo, and Peanut.

In this episode, Álvaro dives into why Boost Capital is betting on Latin America, why venture capital is fundamentally a "local business," how his experience investing in consumer gaming companies has shaped his approach across other verticals, why he believes there can be a 100 billion dollar startup in Latin America, and much more.

Chapters

00:00 Alvaro Alvarez del Rio, Background
01:53 The Entrepreneurial Spirit in Latin America
02:49 How Boost Capital Partners is Structured
03:48 Boost Capital's Perspective on LATAM
05:06 Alvaro's Perspective on Innovation in LATAM
05:51 "LATAM has a incredibly large pool of very talented People"
07:04 Two Ways to look at the "Lack of resources in the Region"
08:04 Bridging the gap with International Markets
08:32 Transitioning from Investment Banking to Venture Capital
09:30 Early Days at Initial Capital
12:29 Initial Capital Returns
13:28 The Birth of Boost Capital Partners
15:53 Navigating Investor Perceptions of LATAM
18:37 Access and Support for Entrepreneurs in LATAM
19:15 Entrepreneurial Humility and Learning
20:03 Entrepreneurs in the Region: "Have more Confidence"
20:29 Understanding Local Markets
20:57 Valuation Dynamics in LATAM
21:45 LATAM VS. EUROPE
22:23 The Rise of Founders in LATAM
23:34 Investment Opportunities in Mexico
23:50 We are the Customer Experience Fund
24:34 The Power of Gamification Mechanics
26:55 The Growing Middle Class and Health Services
27:18 Why are we investing in LATAM?
29:20 Consumer Behavior in LATAM
30:40 Lessons Learned in Venture Capital

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Cut the Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.

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