Ariel Arrieta

Ariel Arrieta is one of the most influential investors in the Latin American tech ecosystem. Founder of NXTP Ventures, he has supported over 200 startups across the region. His career combines business vision, commitment to local talent, and a leadership style grounded in long-term value creation.

Education, early years and initial vision

Ariel Arrieta was born in Buenos Aires in 1972. He began his career in advertising and digital marketing when internet access was still limited in Latin America. His time at UCES helped him build a solid business foundation. From an early age, he was drawn to technological change and its economic impact. His ability to observe before acting made a difference in the environments where he worked.

Early ventures and entrepreneurial mindset

In the early internet years, he founded NetKiosk and Digital Ventures, two digital projects that positioned him as a pioneer in the region. While neither was a massive success, they served as testing grounds for what was to come. Arrieta understood that entrepreneurship isn’t about launching products, but about learning fast. The fusion of technology and business model became his strategic core.

The launch of NXTP labs and its evolution

In 2011, he founded NXTP Labs, one of the first regional accelerators with a pan–Latin American vision. The mission was clear: support early-stage tech entrepreneurs and connect capital with local talent. More than financing, NXTP aimed to build. Arrieta designed an investment model based on community, mentorship, and internationalization. It was a key step in the professionalization of the regional startup ecosystem.

From accelerator to regional investment fund

Over time, NXTP Labs evolved into NXTP Ventures. The shift wasn’t just a name change; the focus moved from acceleration to leading seed and pre–Series A rounds across countries. Under Arrieta’s management, the fund expanded to Mexico, Chile, and Colombia. The investment thesis broadened, but one rule remained: only back founders who show vision, execution capacity, and adaptability.

Role as mentor and entrepreneur trainer

Ariel Arrieta invests not only capital, but also time. He is a mentor at Endeavor and has personally supported dozens of startups through validation, pivoting, and scaling processes. His style is direct, with no magic formulas. He works with data, clear mental frameworks, and a long-term construction ethic. For many founders, his influence has mattered more than the capital invested.

International presence and publications

Arrieta has spoken at forums like Web Summit, LAVCA, and eMerge Americas. He has also published books on innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. One of the best known is Startup Nation: South America, where he analyzes Latin America’s role in the global landscape. His writing combines field insight with strategic thought. He doesn’t aim to impress, but to trigger reflection among investors and founders.

Regional focus and commitment to local talent

His vision is concrete: the region doesn’t need to copy Silicon Valley, but to design its own solutions. Arrieta has consistently argued that the challenges of the global south require local logic. Market fragmentation, unstable regulations, and limited capital access are part of the playing field. For him, the resilience of Latin American talent remains an undervalued competitive advantage.

Leadership style and organizational culture

Arrieta leads by doing. He avoids the spotlight and does not operate from a distance. He prefers quiet work, one-on-one conversations, and long-term agreements. At NXTP, he has fostered a culture based on transparency, autonomy, and continuous learning. Trust is not imposed—it’s earned. That approach has built high-performance teams inside and outside the portfolio.

Recognition and ongoing legacy

Today, Ariel Arrieta is regarded as one of the most influential startup investors in Latin America. His impact is not only measured in exits or financial returns, but in the talent networks, relationships, and knowledge he has helped build. He remains active as an advisor in emerging platforms focused on tokenization, fintech, and collaborative funds. His work continues to shape a clear path forward for the region.

Forward-looking perspective and professional consistency

Far from the volatility of the entrepreneurial world, Ariel Arrieta has maintained a steady path, without noise or empty promises. His career reflects a genuine commitment to the professionalization of the ecosystem. Rather than chasing unicorns, he has supported sustainable businesses. And rather than following trends, he has built structures that allow others to innovate. That may be his greatest contribution as a leader.