It is known that successful tech companies have sprung up all over Asia, the United States and Europe. But now the spotlight is swirling towards Latin America, as the region is growing a prominent nucleus for the newest creative entrepreneurship ecosystem. The technological industry is experiencing huge and rapid growth, as pro-market and pro-business government policies aim at opening up and modernising economies. Hefty economic reforms, evolving labor laws, improved debt markets, tax cuts, new and boosting investments, have set the stage for the startup market to boom and get things going for the up and coming unicorns. A fistful of companies and the successes of businesses like Despegar.com, Globant, MercadoLibre, Nubank, OLX, Rappi and Softtex, give the region an impressive track record. Latin Americans have set the bar very high very recently, and the panel will showcase how the startups attained unicorn status, what legal, political and financial circumstances enabled such development, innovation and keen business senses, and what later M&A opportunities sprung to ignite full potentiality. We will uncover Latin America’s most global tech hub and explore the differences in startups in diverse countries. Session Co-Chairs Nicolas Piaggio Guyer & Regules, Montevideo; Vice Chair, IBA Corporate and M&A Law Committee Carolina Zang Zang Bergel y Viñes, Buenos Aires; Co-Chair, IBA Latin American Regional Forum Speakers Larissa Galimberti Pinheiro Neto Advogados, São Paulo Carmelo Gordian Shearman & Sterling, Austin Ricardo Lagreca Siqueira Legal, Governmental Relations and Senior Director, Mercado Livre, São Paulo Patricia Menendez-Cambo Deputy General Counsel, SoftBank Group International, Miami Alejandro Ponce Early stage investor & entrepreneur, São Paulo Lorenzo Villegas-Carrasquilla CMS Colombia, Bogota