Fundamental
Industry Focus
Geographic Focus
Fundamental is an impact venture studio solving Latin America's fundamental challenges by building tech-enabled startups that empower informal workers, small businesses, and microbusinesses through technology. Founded in 2021 as a spin-out from FUNDES (a 40-year-old organization supporting MSMEs in Latin America), Fundamental combines venture philanthropy and lean startup methods to create long-term, self-sustaining social impact. The studio focuses on building market-based solutions across three key verticals: Employability, Sustainable Food Systems, and the Circular Economy. In a region where micro and small businesses represent 98% of the total business fabric and 64% of employment, Fundamental addresses inequality, unemployment, and climate change by digitizing microbusinesses' operations, increasing their buying power, expanding market reach, and uncovering new revenue opportunities. The studio uses SaaS, marketplaces, franchise, and subscription models to build solutions specifically designed for users who traditionally have little cash to spare. Fundamental's hybrid origin leveraging FUNDES's four decades of experience alongside modern tech entrepreneurship provides a unique edge in spotting untapped opportunities in LATAM's traditional sectors. The studio operates with a rigorous impact venture building methodology refined over three years, using a plug-and-play tech platform to help entrepreneurs launch faster and build smarter, more optimized solutions.
2021
4 Companies
4
3X Higher