Rappi cofounder Andrés Bilbao identified three types of businesses he would not start in 2026 during a recent interview with Caracol [1].
Bilbao's insights provide a strategic roadmap for Latin American entrepreneurs navigating a volatile economic landscape. By highlighting specific sectors to avoid and providing scaling tools, he aims to reduce the failure rate of new ventures in the region.
Speaking on the challenges and advantages of operating in Colombia, Bilbao shared his experiences building one of the region's most successful tech companies. He said there are three businesses he would not launch in 2026 [2]. While the specific sectors were discussed in the context of current market risks, the warning serves as a cautionary note for those seeking high-growth opportunities in the current climate.
Beyond providing warnings, Bilbao is focusing on active growth through a new initiative. He announced the launch of the “30X” program in Mexico, a venture designed to help startups scale their operations [3]. The program, which involves Daniel Bilbao and Dylan Rosemberg, focuses on aggressive growth strategies to help companies expand their reach and impact.
According to the program's goals, 30X aims to scale startups by up to 30 times [3]. This initiative targets the specific hurdles Latin American founders face when moving from a local operation to a regional powerhouse, a transition Bilbao navigated while building Rappi.
Throughout the interview, Bilbao balanced the difficulties of the Colombian market with the potential for innovation. He said that sharing these experiences helps the next generation of founders avoid common pitfalls while leveraging the unique advantages of the Latin American ecosystem [1].
“"Hay tres negocios que yo no arrancaría en este 2026"”
The launch of 30X and Bilbao's warnings suggest a shift in the Latin American startup ecosystem from 'growth at all costs' toward a more disciplined, strategic scaling model. By focusing on specific multipliers and avoiding high-risk sectors, the region's tech leaders are attempting to institutionalize the lessons learned from the first wave of 'unicorns' to ensure more sustainable corporate longevity.
