CodeLaunch LATAM 2026 marks the 28th installment of this renowned startup competition, returning to Guadalajara, Mexico, for its fourth appearance in the country. Hosted by Improving at the Conjunto Santander, the program is designed to elevate Latin American startups by providing a platform for founders to secure investment capital and professional technical services. The initiative bridges the gap between early-stage concepts and market-ready products through a unique combination of competition and collaborative development.
Program Overview and Eligibility
• Eligibility: Exclusively for startups with founders or co-founders based in Latin America.
• Location: Guadalajara, Mexico, at the Conjunto Santander.
• Main Event Date: October 7, 2026.
• Investment Opportunities: Winners receive at least $50,000 in investment capital.
• In-Kind Services: Winners gain tens of thousands of dollars in seed services, including software and product development.
• Championship Honors: Competitors vie for the CodeLaunch Championship Belt.
• Global Advancement: Two finalists from the LATAM event will advance to the World Championship in Dallas on November 11, 2026, to compete for a share of a prize pool that exceeded $100,000 in previous years.
Application Requirements and Submission Details
• Pitch Deck: Submissions must be in PowerPoint or PDF format.
• Mockups and Wireframes: Applicants must provide UI/UX mockups to demonstrate their product design vision for the development teams.
• Application Deadline: May 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM CT.
• Legal Framework: A mutual non-disclosure agreement is included in the application process, and semifinalists are required to sign a Semifinalist Competitor Agreement.
• Communication: Applicants grant permission for contact via email, SMS, and WhatsApp for competition-related updates.
Key Competition Milestones
• Applications Open: October 15, 2025.
• Application Deadline: May 10, 2026.
• Acceptance Appeal Video Deadline: May 23, 2026.
• Acceptance Reveal Virtual LiveStream: May 27, 2026.
• Homework Submission Deadline: June 21, 2026.
• Semifinalists Reveal: July 1, 2026.
• Semifinalist Pitch Week: July 19 to July 25, 2026.
• PCL Hackathon Team Draft: July 27, 2026.
• Finalists Reveal: July 29, 2026.
Event Week and Hackathon Schedule
• LATAM Finalists Hackathon Day 1: October 4, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM CT.
• LATAM Finalists Hackathon Day 2: October 5, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM CT.
• LATAM Finalists Dinner: October 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM CT.
• CodeLaunch LATAM 2026 Main Event: October 7, 2026, from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM CT.
Professional Coder League and Support Structure
• Professional Coder League (PCL): Software and product development firms draft finalists to build a minimum viable product (MVP) during a 48-hour hackathon.
• Local Ecosystem Support: The program is supported by various sponsors and partners providing in-kind services.
• Event Leadership: The competition features Rajiv Nathan, known as the Startup Hypeman, as the official Emcee.
Founders interested in the CodeLaunch LATAM 2026 competition are encouraged to review the applicant curation process to align their submissions with the program's standards. This event represents a significant opportunity for regional startups to gain international exposure and access the technical resources necessary for rapid product development and scaling.