fellowship for young AI-native founders in Latin America
Join a powerful peer group — a community that challenges your ideas, supports your decisions, and connects you with top mentors and investors across the region.
auth() is a curated fellowship for young founders building with AI in Latin America.
Symbolic 0.1% SAFE @ $10M cap — only converts if you raise a $5M+ valuation round
Optional $1K–$10K SAFE (real cash, MFN terms) for top fellows
8-week hybrid program + mentorship + visibility (Remote + in-person in Lima, Peru)
Build fast. Launch smarter. Get seen.
👉 Applications for auth(1) are open — Apply Now
Advisors & Speakers (early list — more coming soon):
• Jose Miguel Noblecilla, Head of Tech & AI of Valor Capital. Founder of Arado (raised +20M USD). Director of Engineering at Wildlife Studios.
• Gonzalo Waisman, CEO of Hashi (raised +1.5M USD)
• Arturo Deza, CEO of Artificio. Postdoc researcher at MIT & Harvard.
• Roxana Kern, co-founder of Talently. Seed round raised +2M USD.
• Gonzalo Saenz, Product at INFINIT, Rappi, OnDeck, Linio and more.
auth() is a curated fellowship for young founders building with AI in Latin America.
Symbolic 0.1% SAFE @ $10M cap — only converts if you raise a $5M+ valuation round
Optional $1K–$10K SAFE (real cash, MFN terms) for top fellows
8-week hybrid program + mentorship + visibility (Remote + in-person in Lima, Peru)
Build fast. Launch smarter. Get seen.
👉 Applications for auth(1) are open — Apply Now
Advisors & Speakers (early list — more coming soon):
• Jose Miguel Noblecilla, Head of Tech & AI of Valor Capital. Founder of Arado (raised +20M USD). Director of Engineering at Wildlife Studios.
• Gonzalo Waisman, CEO of Hashi (raised +1.5M USD)
• Arturo Deza, CEO of Artificio. Postdoc researcher at MIT & Harvard.
• Roxana Kern, co-founder of Talently. Seed round raised +2M USD.
• Gonzalo Saenz, Product at INFINIT, Rappi, OnDeck, Linio and more.
Auth() Fellowship — FAQs
🧩 Program Basics
Who is auth() for?
auth() is designed for young, AI-native founders in Latin America — starting with Peru. We back pre-founders (blank slate, obsessed with starting something) through early-stage builders (from ideation to pre-revenue or first users).
We look for:
Early stage: Ideation to pre-revenue (first experiments, prototypes, or initial sales).
Age: Mostly under 35 — people with founder energy, not résumé energy.
Focus: AI-native products and builders leveraging modern tools to move faster and cheaper.
Mindset: Relentless learners, comfortable with chaos, bias toward building, and willing to bet on themselves.
Region: Peru first, with openness to ambitious LatAm talent testing global ideas.
Do I need a company? No, but you’ll need to form a Delaware C-Corp if accepted.
Solo founders? Yes.
Already raised money? Yes.
Not technical? You need to build — we recommend a technical co-founder.
Two ideas? Focus on your strongest — clarity beats volume.
Reapply if not accepted? Yes — progress fast, apply again.
How to apply? Apply here
🗺️ Program Format
Hybrid:
• Remote — weekly 1:1s & product check-ins
• In-person (Lima) — Kickoff, Demo Day, biweekly dinners
Cohort size? Up to 10 fellows per batch.
💸 Investment & Equity Terms to join:
What are the terms to join auth()? You sign a symbolic SAFE for 0.1% equity at a $10M post-money cap. Here’s what that means: Auth() does not take real equity upfront.This SAFE only converts if you raise a priced equity round with a valuation of at least $5M post-money (typically Seed or Series A). You also sign a Side Letter giving Auth() the option to invest real money in your startup later.
Why the $10M cap and $5M valuation trigger? We use a $10M cap to keep the SAFE light, fair, and aligned with early-stage norms in Latin America. To protect founders, the SAFE only converts if you raise a priced round at $5M post-money valuation or higher — so you retain full ownership early on, and only give up equity if you scale.
No low-valuation dilution, no pressure.
Can Sprint invest real money in my startup? Yes — for standout fellows, we can invest $1K–$10K via a standard SAFE (MFN clause). This is real capital to help you grow, and it’s optional, based on your traction and momentum during the program.
What’s an MFN clause? MFN = “Most Favored Nation”. auth() gets the same terms as your future investors, ensuring fairness and avoiding complex negotiations.
Why is the follow-on investment optional? auth() is designed to move fast with early builders — without forcing dilution. If we believe in your progress, we can invest. If not, no pressure — the decision is always yours.
🌐 Network & Support
Will auth() introduce me to investors or funds? Yes, selectively.If you're fundraising and showing traction, we may connect you with aligned VCs or angels from our network.We focus on quality intros, not mass introductions — to maximize value.
What happens after the program? You join the auth() Alumni Network, gaining: Access to events, community, and future funding. Continued support, including $1K–$10K follow-on checks. We value a “Give First” culture — you get out what you put in.
🛠️ Funding? No Problem.
auth() offers much more than capital.
Even if you’re not raising, you benefit from:
*Mentorship from expert founders and investors
*Product support via weekly feedback and infra credits
*Visibility through demos and storytelling
*Community that lasts beyond the program
Who’s Behind auth()? Led by Kevin Granda (Partner @ UTEC Ventures) — backed 20+ startups, $400K+ invested and Sebastián Ruiz de Castilla ().
Still Have Questions? Email support@auth.com
I love this idea! How can I help — donations/funding to support the program, GPUs, mentorship, other ideas? Thank you! We’d love your support. Email us at sponsorship@auth.com to get involved.