Volcano Innovation Summit 2026 Brings Capital, Innovation and Purpose Together to Antigua

Volcano Innovation Summit 2026 brought more than 2,200 entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, creatives and leaders from 35 countries to Antigua Guatemala from September 5 to 7, positioning trust, collaboration, innovation and social capital at the center of conversations about Latin America’s future.

Rather than presenting itself as a traditional annual event, Volcano describes its work as a year-round ecosystem-building platform structured around seven fundamental Ecos: Purpose, Trust, Community, Innovation, Impact, Transformation and Expansion.

Building an ecosystem beyond a three-day event

Since its creation in 2018, Volcano has evolved into a community of 11,000 active members across more than 45 countries. The platform says it has facilitated more than 100,000 strategic connections, inspiring approximately US$1.7 billion in economic, educational and social investment across the region.

The seventh edition focused on the idea that Latin America is entering a new era rather than simply experiencing another period of change. Against the backdrop of accelerating technological development, Volcano placed particular emphasis on the human connections and trust needed to sustain long-term growth.

Janma Bardi, founder of Volcano, highlighted the importance of social capital in this process.

“Trust is not a ‘soft’ concept, but the economic infrastructure necessary to grow in the long term.”

Bardi also pointed to Latin America’s US$6.8 trillion economy, emphasizing its talent and creativity while noting the region’s low levels of interpersonal trust. In her view, relationships and the connections people build are what allow financial capital and human talent to move together and generate economic transformation.

Leaders shaping conversations around the region’s future

The summit brought together local and international leaders across technology, business, innovation, education and consumer industries.

Among the speakers were Stephen M.R. Covey, Co-Founder & Global Practice Leader at FranklinCovey; Ed Soo Hoo, Global Innovation & Transformation Executive at Lenovo; Robert Mortati, President & CEO of Harvest Hill Beverage Company; and Oke Okaro, Founder of Okaro Advisory and former SVP Business Operations at The Walt Disney Company.

The lineup also included Ivana María Moreno Valle, CEO of Dalia; Beatriz de los Mozos, Founder & CEO of Flabelus; Roberto Lara, CEO of Castillo Hermanos; Rolando Carvajal, General Manager of Heineken Costa Rica; Abdon Nacif, Founder of Nexu; Alejandro Zárate, Chief Data Officer & AI Officer at Banco Santander México; and Dileep Thazhmon, Founder & CEO of Jeeves

Startup Avenue connects startups with capital

Startup Avenue served as another major component of the summit, bringing together 50 Latin American startups seeking capital and strategic partnerships.

Publimovil joined the 2026 Startup Avenue Competition, providing US$125,000 in free Media for Equity to five participating companies.

The competition recognized startups across three categories.

Pre-Seed

BioGrip (Mexico) took first place with its HealthTech developing non-invasive neuromuscular interfaces that combine sensors and AI to translate human intention into control of prosthetics, rehabilitation technologies and robotic systems.

Second place went to Intelital (Mexico), an AI-agent intelligence platform that builds business context models to support data-driven decisions. NANOWEAVE (Colombia) placed third with its climate-tech platform developing plasma-powered modular biorefineries that transform agricultural waste into high-purity cellulose and regenerative fertilizers without toxic chemicals.

Early Stage

Oncoliq (Argentina) won first place with its HealthTech platform for early cancer detection based on circulating microRNAs, proprietary diagnostics and PCR processes.

Muyu Education (Ecuador) placed second with an AI-powered coaching and feedback platform for teachers, while ZULA (Argentina) took third with a cybersecurity platform combining AI, gamification, microlearning and realistic cyberattack simulations.

Growth & Scalability

Radar (Mexico) won the Growth category with an AI-powered fintech platform and single API designed to help companies send, monitor and reconcile payments across Latin American banks and payment rails.

DeltaX (Bolivia) took second place with an AI-native freight transportation platform, while Creditop (Colombia) placed third and received the Highest Scalability Potential recognition for its credit infrastructure connecting merchants with financing alternatives.

Beserva (Mexico) received a Special Mention for its AI-powered operating system built on WhatsApp for beauty and wellness businesses.

Startup Avenue will continue beyond the summit through an acceleration program designed to help Latin American startups prepare to raise capital, strengthen their strategies and connect with investors, mentors and other ecosystem participants.

Volcano4Good brings innovation to social challenges

Volcano4Good highlighted initiatives focused on applying innovation to specific community needs.

One featured collaboration was between FUNDEGUA and Nutrilisto, which combines medical science and digital health to address chronic child malnutrition in Guatemala. Through almaRED, an intelligent assistant operating through WhatsApp, health workers and families can access Ministry of Health protocols and nutrition tools. Nutrilisto is also being integrated into FUNDEGUA’s network.

Volcano4Good also continued its partnership with Funsepa to expand access to technology and education in Ciudad Vieja.

The initiative inaugurated a virtual environment at EORM La Comunidad, in San Lorenzo El Cubo, and will equip EOUN Francisco Marroquín as well. Together, the two schools will receive 34 technological devices, alongside teacher training to integrate digital resources into education.

With the 2026 deliveries, the alliance will have equipped six primary schools, three in San Bartolomé Milpas Altas and three in Ciudad Vieja. The cumulative impact will reach 119 devices delivered and 1,969 students benefited in Sacatepéquez.

Volcano Purpose Series explores AI and the future of work

The Volcano Purpose Series 2026 extended the summit’s conversations beyond the event itself, focusing on artificial intelligence, leadership, innovation and the future of work.

The program included two sessions, on September 4 and 8, bringing together academic and business representatives with international experts.

At the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), Maks Giordano joined Dr. Mónica Stein, Janma Bardi and other participants for the panel “The Cultural Leap: Adopting AI Without Losing Purpose.” Giordano, a digital strategist with three decades of experience who has worked with companies including Apple, Red Bull and Mercedes-Benz, also delivered the keynote “The State of Gen-AI”, addressing trends including AI agents and world models.

The second session, held at Universidad Galileo, focused on the future of work with Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt, Google's first Chief Innovation Evangelist. Alongside Dr. Rocael Hernández Rizzardini and Daniel Pérez Umaña, Pferdt participated in “The New Work DNA: Hacking the Mindset to Thrive with AI.”

The discussion examined the shift from using technology primarily to execute instructions toward using it to create, solve problems and expand human capabilities. Pferdt later delivered “Ready for What's Next? (Your Future/Ready Mindstate)”, focused on developing a mindset prepared to anticipate change.

Pferdt spent more than a decade developing innovation initiatives at Google, where he co-founded Google Garage, and has worked with organizations including NASA, the NBA and the United Nations. He is also the author of What's Next Is Now.

From Summit to a year-round movement

The 2026 edition concluded under the theme “Echoes of Expansion”, connecting the seven Ecos of Purpose, Trust, Community, Innovation, Impact, Transformation and Expansion.

While the three-day summit has ended, Volcano positions its broader ecosystem as an ongoing platform for collaboration, investment, innovation and social impact across Latin America, supported by strategic allies including Castillo Hermanos, Banco Industrial, MultiMoney, BAC, Visa, Progreso and Mastercard, among others.