When Augusto Boretti describes his job as “translating”. Science “Latin American” does not speak of languages, but of worlds. It refers to transforming complex developments, papers and deep technologies into clear, understandable and attractive narratives for Capitals Americans, business partners and potential customers. This was the obstacle he faced when he was part of a biotech startup and, as he admits, it led him to recognize a structural problem in the region: “Often scientific teams delve too much into the technology and not so much into the solution. And investors don’t understand this level of complexity,” he explains. “It was a daily negotiation with my co-founder: ‘Can I release this very technical thing?’ And the answer was, ‘No, because it justifies everything we do.'”
This tension arose We are PaltaThe Agency specializing in marketing and growth for science-based startups who now advises companies in the USA, Europe, Japan and throughout Latin America. He founded it at the age of 23, in the middle of a pandemic, with the goal of transforming scientific advances into companies capable of reaching the market and creating real impact. The motto “Amplifying the Impact” summarizes this purpose and serves as a compass for every project.
In the first year, they already had seven people on the team and worked with fifteen startups that were looking for capital. Today There are 25 specialists distributed in Argentina, Spain and the United States. The working modality has always been remote, which allowed them to hire talent wherever they were: Biologists, biotechnologists, engineers, designers, programmers and operations specialists. “We needed people who knew the technology, understood it and could translate it before the design team adopted it,” explains Boretti iProfessional.
This narrative power was key to positioning the agency in the world Deeptech ecosystembut the growth of the portfolio led them to expand beyond that Fundraising. Many startups fell into crisis after receiving capital commercial stage. “They asked us the same thing as investors, but they turned to customers,” says Boretti. This is how the second pillar of the company came into being growthwhat builds Trading strategies Complete solutions, content, digital positioning, acquisition campaigns and brand presence for companies developing technologies to which they are applied Health, agriculture, defense, advanced materials and foodS. One of the milestones in this development was the incorporation of Alan Valicenti as a partner. “He came from building a company that had 250 employees and had a very strong growth leg. He came just to provide the experience we needed to move forward,” he argues proudly.
The team brings together biologists, engineers and designers to translate science into business
WeArePalta and the bridge to the United States
The international expansion The agency’s development accelerated this year when Boretti decided to settle down Tulsa, Okla. The choice of travel destination was no coincidence. Although he evaluated cities like San Francisco and New York, he ultimately leaned toward a less obvious ecosystem but with unique potential. “I saw that a very interesting ecosystem is emerging,” he says of his visit to the city. “It kind of was soft landing: I had clients, contacts and a lot of energy to create things.
Tulsa is one of the poles George Kaiser Family Foundation tries to strengthen how technological center of the American interior. Programs like LatamToTulsawho accompany Latin American startups in relocation, in seeking capital and in commercial expansion. “Part of the success of the companies we support depends on their ability to raise capital and grow in the United States, and WeArePalta provides essential tools for this process,” says program director Marcos Bazzana in the official newsletter.
Boretti also joined Mentor of Endeavor Heartlandwhere he advises companies in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma facing growth, market access and fundraising challenges. There he deals with startups operating in the areas of nanotechnology, new materials, energy, advanced manufacturing and defense applications..
But while landing in the United States serves as an important bridge, Boretti recognizes that Latin American entrepreneurs face a challenging situation. “Investors are murderers. They will look for something you didn’t know you had so they won’t invest,” he says bluntly. “It’s an aggressive environment, so a solid team that can withstand pressure is crucial. We have to remember that they invest more in people than in projects.”
Added to this severity is ignorance. For many American investors, Latin America is a homogeneous bloc that brings together countries, realities and regulatory frameworks that do not differ. “They don’t differentiate between Mexico, Ecuador or Argentina. Everything is far away,” he says.
When analyzing what investors pay attention to first, Boretti highlights factors beyond technology. He Founding team It’s central. The Regulatory processes and the solidity of the intellectual property Also. The cExecution capacity It’s crucial. And until Language skills it becomes relevant. In his experience, the cultural difference between Latin American and American investors is obvious: “The American investor tells you, ‘Sell me the greatest idea you can make of this’; they prefer it to be a moonshot, something huge. The Latino, on the other hand, wants to see how far they can go with current resources.”
The agency that has already worked with more than 80 startups Since its founding, it has been assumed that the coming years will be characterized by strong growth in two sectors: health and agriculturealthough they see the greatest opportunity in the first area. “The scientific companies in the health sector “They are at an ideal time to accelerate their time to market, whether with biotechnology, diagnostics, therapies or new materials for wellness and medicine,” he explains.
WeArePalta was born out of a personal need, grew during a pandemic, consolidated in Argentina and today has customers on three continents. While the company maintains its local DNA, its Tulsa location is strategically located to bridge the gap between them Latin American Science and the American capital. In a world where technology is evolving at an ever-increasing pace, Boretti took on the challenge of convincing people with explanations clear narratives which is indecipherable for many. And there, he says, there is still a lot to do.
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