The start of a tech super cycle, a rich pipeline of innovative and scrappy startups, and a more poised VC industry create the perfect environment to be on offense.

In the past decade, Latin American corporates have ventured into the tech early-stage scene with notable success. Wayra of Telefonica and Qualcomm Ventures were some of the first conglomerates to see the potential. A few years later, Grupo Bimbo and AB InBev placed an early bet in Rappi while Amex Ventures backed Clip before anyone believed in the Mexican fintech potential. B37 Ventures and Veronorte launched innovative VC platforms for corporates in Silicon Valley and Colombia.

More recently, Falabella scored big with Pismo and supported Simetrik along with Mercado Libre founder-friendly CVC. In the meantime, Coppel has silently built an impressive startup portfolio. Cencosud S.A. and El Puerto de Liverpoolare quickly catching up. The most committed players have partnered with VCs such Banco Davivienda, Arca Continental, FEMSA and Gentera. Last year, BBVA Spark committed with the best Mexican VCs.

‍#AI has the potential to increase margins, expand markets or open new strategic possibilities. It can also destroy them. The impact of these technologies will be so profound that it’s worth for corporates to play on all innovation fronts simultaneously: internal R&D, intrapreneurship and CVC.

‘Corporates are feeling the pressure to build their AI strategies and stay ahead of their peers.' - CBInsight.com

‍For CVCs with experience, it’s time to lean in and leverage all the learnings, ecosystem goodwill and networks. For late-comers, there’s never been a better time to start.