Built the model
- Copy-cat business models, proven in more advanced markets and adapted to Spanish-speaking LATAM.
- Co-invested alongside regional and global venture funds.
- Built relationships with regional and global co-investors.
Latin Leap Early Stage invests in technology startups across Latin America, with a primary focus on Mexico and Colombia. Fund I and Fund II share one copy-cat thesis: adapting business models proven in more advanced markets to the Latin American context.
Business models proven in more advanced markets can be adapted to Spanish-speaking LATAM.
2026 enters at compressed post-correction valuations. The best startups of the last decade were built in 2008–11.
We work alongside regional and global co-investors and, in Fund II, step forward as lead investor.
AI lowers build costs for execution-heavy markets, favouring local builders over distant incumbents.
Active in every investment decision. Every member is personally invested in the fund.
IC member
Serial LatAm entrepreneur; co-founder of Dafiti and Farmalisto; former CEO of Cdiscount LATAM.
IC Chairman
Chairman, Afore Banamex; former CEO, Institutional Clients Group at Citibanamex; former COO, Citi Asia.
IC member
Mexico Country Lead and SVP Hispanics at MercadoLibre; serial LatAm entrepreneur.
IC member
Former Global CEO, Citi Institutional Clients Group; Senior Advisor at Citi; Non-Executive Director, MAN Group and dLocal.
AI IC member, advisory, non-voting
Latin Leap’s in-house AI system. It reviews every deal and gives an independent recommendation to the human IC.
Meet JessAIManaging Partner
Serial LatAm entrepreneur; co-founder of Dafiti and Farmalisto; former CEO of Cdiscount LATAM.

Operational GP
Senior Sales Manager at Fintech Tribal; Sales Manager at WeWork Colombia.
Senior operators and LPs in our funds, standing close to our founders. Advisory to the GP and IC contributing sector expertise, good governance practices, warm introductions to corporates and co-investors, and hands-on founder support.
Consumer, luxury & retail
CEO of Moët Hennessy (LVMH) 2017–2025; former Chairman & CEO of DFS Group and member of LVMH’s Executive Committee.
Philippe Schaus is a global leader in luxury and consumer brands. He was CEO of Moët Hennessy, LVMH’s wines and spirits division, from 2017 to 2025, capping more than two decades at LVMH that included serving as Louis Vuitton’s EVP of International Distribution and as Chairman and CEO of Hong Kong-based DFS Group, while sitting on the Executive Committee of LVMH. Today he is an advisor, investor and board member in private companies in the US and Europe.
Consumer banking & payments
CEO of Grupo Financiero Banamex until June 2026; led the Banamex / Citi México separation. Former boards: LATAM Visa, LATAM Mastercard.
Retired in June 2026 as CEO of Grupo Financiero Banamex (Banco Nacional de México), one of Mexico’s largest and most iconic financial institutions, after a seven-year tenure. He led the separation of Citibanamex into two independent groups, Banamex and Citi México (2024), and the divestiture of Citi’s stake, leaving Banamex IPO-ready and growing above market. His career began at Banamex in 1991, with senior roles in corporate banking, wholesale credit and credit cards, and an EVP role for consumer banking at Banorte. He has served on boards including LATAM Visa, LATAM Mastercard and Mexico’s Credit Bureau. BA in Business Administration and MSc in Economics, ITAM.
Industrial conglomerate
Chairman & CEO of Grupo Alfa (Sigma, Alpek), one of Mexico’s largest conglomerates; President of Universidad de Monterrey.
Chairman and Chief Executive of Grupo Alfa, one of Mexico’s largest industrial conglomerates, whose businesses span Sigma (global refrigerated foods) and Alpek (petrochemicals). He has been with Alfa since 1991 and leads it through its ongoing transformation. He is also President of Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM) and a prominent voice in Mexican business, bringing deep industrial, consumer and capital-markets experience.
Retail & digital commerce
Former CEO of Walmart de México y Centroamérica; 13 years at MercadoLibre incl. GM Mexico; co-founder of AMVO.
One of Latin America’s most seasoned digital-commerce operators. He spent 13 years at MercadoLibre as Country Manager for Colombia and Venezuela and then General Manager for Mexico, before becoming CEO of Walmart de México y Centroamérica (Walmex), one of the region’s largest retailers. He co-founded AMVO, Mexico’s online-sales association, and brings deep expertise in e-commerce, payments and omnichannel retail across the region.
Financial services & insurtech
Former CEO Latin America & Asia, Old Mutual Emerging Markets (Skandia); active fintech and insurtech angel. Wharton MBA.
A cross-border financial-services operator who has led businesses across Latin America, Asia, Europe and the US. He was CEO for Latin America and Asia at Old Mutual Emerging Markets (Skandia), having earlier run Skandia in Mexico and Colombia. Today he is an active angel investor across fintech and insurtech. Wharton MBA and Lauder Institute.
Food, industrials & public policy
President of Consejo Nuevo León; CEO of Qualtia (Xignux) 2010–2023; board member of Alpek and Xignux.
President of Consejo Nuevo León. He was CEO of Qualtia, the food division of Grupo Xignux, from 2010 to 2023, and joined Xignux in 1990, where he remains a board member and shareholder. A former President of CAINTRA and CONMEXICO, he led the Economic Development Commission of Consejo Nuevo León (2023 to 2025) and serves on the boards of Alpek, Aries Diagnostic Group and PWT Water Technologies. He also chairs Ciudad de los Niños de Monterrey. Mechanical Administration Engineering, ITESM; MBA, University of San Diego.
Tax, corporate & governance
Of Counsel and former Managing Partner of Chévez Ruiz Zamarripa; serves on several boards and audit committees.
A pillar of Mexican tax and corporate law. He joined Chévez Ruiz Zamarripa at its founding in 1981, became a partner in 1989 and served as the firm’s Managing Partner from 2007; he is now Of Counsel. His practice spans tax and corporate advisory for companies listed on the Mexican and US stock exchanges, together with tax and wealth planning for individuals and family offices. He has lectured on taxation at ITAM, Universidad Anáhuac and the Universidad Iberoamericana, and serves on several boards and audit committees. Public Accountant (UIA); Yale School of Management corporate-governance program.
Multinational & cross-border leadership
Managing Executive Officer, Sumitomo Chemical (global crop solutions); 26 years at Monsanto across seven countries.
Juan Agustín Ferreira is a senior executive at Sumitomo Chemical, the Japanese chemicals multinational, where, as Managing Executive Officer, he leads the global crop solutions business of the corporation’s Agro Life sector. He joined after 26 years in senior leadership roles at Monsanto across seven countries and every continent, ending as part of the executive team that sold Monsanto to Bayer in 2018. He is also an independent board member of Agricola Cerro Prieto, a world-class producer of blueberries, avocados and asparagus sold mainly in the US and Europe. He brings deep experience in global corporate leadership and cross-border operations around the world.
Real estate, aviation infrastructure & luxury retail
Chairman, Grupo Holzer; former Vice Chairman of Avolta AG.
Luis Andrés Holzer Neumann is a prominent Mexican billionaire businessman and executive with a multi-decade career spanning real estate, aviation infrastructure, and global luxury retail. Born and based in Mexico, Holzer is the President and CEO of Grupo Industrial Omega and Holzer y Compañía, a business empire built from a foundational legacy in luxury watchmaking distribution (including luxury Swiss brands).
Beyond retail, Holzer is a powerhouse in Mexican aviation infrastructure and commercial real estate. He served as President of Inmobiliaria Fumisa and Aeroplazas de México, companies heavily integrated into airport commercial spaces. Additionally, he led numerous real estate investment syndicates across Mexico, including Inmobiliaria Coapa Larca and Grupo Domit.
On the global stage, Holzer was an instrumental architect of the world’s largest travel retailer, Avolta (formerly Dufry AG), serving as its Vice Chairman and Board Director for 17 years. He remains highly active in international finance and infrastructure and held a seat on the board of directors for the Spanish multinational construction group OHLA, and is a member of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI).
Mexico and Colombia still show low levels of VC funding per capita in international comparison.
Fintech remains the dominant sector, followed by e-commerce and proptech.
*Unicorn: defined as a privately held company valued at more than USD 1bn.
Latin Leap Early Stage: Fund I and Fund II