Investments, partnerships, and new programs are boosting the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and driving innovation across Latin America and the Caribbean.
SAN SALVADOR — GET Forum, the flagship innovation event of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), held for the first time in Central America — in El Salvador — showcased the progress of regional entrepreneurs and highlighted the host country’s positioning as an emerging hub for startups.
Co-organized by the IDB Group, the government of El Salvador, and Agrisal Group, the Forum emphasized the momentum of El Salvador’s innovation ecosystem, supported by economic advances, improved competitiveness, and growing entrepreneurial dynamism. Among the most notable indicators, San Salvador climbed more than 400 positions in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025, reaching 300th place — a 520% increase and the largest growth recorded among more than 1,000 cities worldwide.
IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn announced via video during the event’s closing that Graham Macmillan will assume the role of general manager of IDB Lab starting January 2026. Macmillan brings over 25 years of global leadership experience across the private, public, and philanthropic sectors, with a strong track record in impact investing.
The event kicked off on November 30, with the GET Forum Innovation Village in Cuscatlán Park, attracting more than 3,000 attendees. The day brought innovation closer to the community and showcased technology’s transformative potential. The opening featured participation from El Salvador’s ministers of finance, economy, and tourism, as well as a representative from the San Salvador City Hall.
Over the following two days, the Forum hosted a high-level conference inaugurated by Anabel González, IDB vice president for countries and regional integration; Jerson Posada, El Salvador’s minister of finance; and Ricardo Augspurg, director of Agrisal Group.
“Central America is no longer observing technological transformation from the sidelines; it is building it. GET Forum drives this change by bringing together talent, investment, and policies that accelerate innovation and growth. And from the IDB Group, through our regional program, América en el Centro, we will continue to support the region in turning these opportunities into real development,” González emphasized.
Finance Minister Jerson Posada stated: “The choice of our country as the venue for GET Forum demonstrates that we continue to position ourselves positively. A key factor in this decision is the transformation in security conditions we now enjoy, along with renewed economic momentum, as President Nayib Bukele announced for his second term.”
More than 160 speakers and over 700 participants from more than 30 countries across the Americas, Asia, and Europe — including investors, startup CEOs, government officials, and corporate leaders — discussed key questions to guide the future of innovation and impact investing to drive inclusive and sustainable growth in the region.
During the event, the approval of 10,000 scholarships was announced to develop high-demand digital skills in El Salvador, as part of the IDB Group’s América en el Centro program, in collaboration with Google Cloud, which is contributing a $3 million investment.
Also at GET Forum, a new investment of up to $3 million was signed to support early-stage startups, in addition to the regional project GovTech Connect, which will be implemented by the Civil Association Red de Innovación Local (RIL) with $2 million. It will strengthen and connect actors in Latin America's govtech ecosystem, promoting the adoption of innovative digital solutions for local governments.
Additionally, the event showcased digital talent initiatives, including the announcement of winners of the WorkerTech LAC Challenge, developed with CivicHouse, and female entrepreneurship in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through the WeXchange Demo Day 2025.
The forum also launched new publications offering practical resources for entrepreneurs, investors, and governments. These include the first mapping of the venture capital ecosystem in the Caribbean and the fAIr Tech Radar, a study on AI adoption in the region.
Plenary session recordings are available here.
About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region’s public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
Otsuka,Monica
Reinoso Nunez,Patricia
