Why we set up a tech community for female founders in Latin America

In 2020, Michelle Fischman and Anais Cisneros learned that none of the $4.4 billion in venture capital invested across Latin America went to startups founded solely by women. This stark gap highlighted a lack of visibility and access for female tech founders. Determined to change the situation, they launched Amela, a community dedicated to connecting, mentoring, and investing in early‑stage female founders throughout the region.

Amela now brings together over 100 female founders from across Latin America, with 43% based in Mexico. The community offers mentorship, investor introductions, and regular meetups that have helped participating startups raise funding and gain visibility. By building a supportive network, Amela aims to correct the gender imbalance in the region’s tech ecosystem and inspire more women to pursue entrepreneurial paths.

Amela connects over 100 female founders across Latin America, 43% from Mexico, offering mentorship, investor intros, and meetups that have helped startups raise funding.

The discovery that zero of Latin America’s $4.4 B 2020 VC funding went to women‑only startups revealed a critical funding gap.

Female founders in the region face lower visibility and limited access to networks and mentorship compared to their male peers.

Creating a targeted community can provide the resources, connections, and confidence needed to overcome structural barriers in STEM and entrepreneurship.

Creating a focused community can uncover hidden talent, redirect capital to under‑represented founders, and build a supportive network that amplifies both individual and ecosystem growth.

Since its launch, Amela has grown to over 100 members, hosted monthly events featuring speakers such as Lolita Taub and Antonia Roja, and facilitated numerous introductions to investors. The community has helped several startups secure seed rounds and has become a visible platform for female tech founders in Latin America, encouraging more women to enter the ecosystem.