3 Latin America Tech Startups Close to Unicorn Status
Explore 3 promising LATAM tech startups—Pomelo, Recarga Pay, and Kueski—on track to achieve unicorn status in 2025 with rapid growth.
The startup ecosystem in Latin America (LATAM) has experienced exponential growth, standing out for its innovation and expansion capabilities. In 2025, three tech startups are on the brink of achieving unicorn status, surpassing valuations of $1 billion.
These startups are Pomelo and Recarga Pay from Argentina, along with Kueski, a Mexican fintech. They have demonstrated scalable business models, rapid user growth, significant funding, global expansion, and advanced technology, positioning them to reach valuations exceeding $1 billion.
What Does It Mean to Be a Unicorn?
The term unicorn was coined in 2013 by Aileen Lee, founder of Cowboy Ventures, to describe startups that achieve a valuation of $1 billion without being publicly traded, reflecting their rarity and disruptive potential, much like the mythical creature.
Latin American Startups with Unicorn Potential in 2025
In its report titled Unicorn Race 2025, the artificial intelligence solutions company Distrito identified these three emerging LATAM companies as the most promising candidates to reach unicorn status.
Distrito explained:
“First, we assessed the maturity level of the startups using metrics such as revenue, investment volume received, and team expansion rate. Another key factor was the amount raised in recent investment rounds. For a deeper analysis, we considered macroeconomic aspects and sector-specific trends for each business area,” the report highlighted.
Pomelo: Cloud-Native Fintech Infrastructure
Pomelo, an Argentine fintech, provides technological infrastructure for credit, debit, and prepaid card management, supporting banks and other fintechs.
This fintech specializes in cloud-native infrastructure, enabling businesses to expand into multiple markets with technology designed for rapid growth and compliance with local regulations. Their motto: Speed with excellence.
With a strong presence across Latin America, Pomelo has established itself by serving both emerging fintechs and established banks, supported by strategic partnerships with Visa and Mastercard, according to Distrito’s prediction report.
Recarga Pay: Innovation in Mobile Payments
Recarga Pay is an Argentine mobile payment platform that allows users to recharge mobile credit, pay bills, and reload transportation cards.
What makes Recarga Pay stand out, according to Distrito, is its organic growth. The platform has acquired more than 7 million customers through organic channels, in addition to users gained through paid acquisition efforts.
Kueski: Leader in Digital Lending in Mexico
Kueski, a Mexican fintech, offers online loans and “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) options, with over 20 million loans granted and a 90% user retention rate.
Reasons for Kueski’s Potential:
• 94% of users trust Kueski more than other financial institutions.
• 87% of users report that Kueski has improved their credit history.
• 84% of users have recommended Kueski to others.
• 66% of affiliated merchants report increased sales with Kueski Pay.
With more than 20 million loans granted and a 90% user retention rate, Kueski is present in 25% of the top 150 retailers in Latin America, according to Distrito.
Becoming a unicorn is a challenging journey—one that requires vision, resilience, and relentless effort. Yet, these three startups are now just one step away from achieving what many dream of: becoming that mythical figure in the business world—a unicorn.