Nice, you might be able to answer the number one question I have about this program: how do native Chileans feel about this? Is there a perception that they're being skipped over, do they feel negatively towards outsiders being brought in through this program, or are they generally positive towards it?

Not a direct answer to your question, but: the program accepts Chilean entrepreneurs/startups as well as applicants from other countries. Which doesn't meant there can't be negative sentiment, but locals aren't barred from taking part and getting funded.

oh, wow. so it is. has that changed? i thought back at the beginning it was external requests only (because i looked and understood i was barred). anyway, thanks for posting this and sorry for my misleading answer elsewhere.

They have indeed changed that rule. Probably to cope with teams moving to Chile before the deadline in the expectation of getting the grant.

i haven't heard anything negative (as i said, the general response is a positive "buzz"), but i agree you might expect it. it might be because the kind of people i talk to are more developers than founders, or because i am a "gringo" myself, but i think there's also a feeling that it is helping locals. also, there may be similar schemes for local businesses - it wouldn't surprise me. i know other chileans read here, so perhaps one will answer?

ps also, if your experience of latin america is mexico, i should add that chile does not have the anti-gringo sentiment you find there. not at all. it was a real shock for me, to go to mexico...

Do you know if they are targeting a specific geographic area? I'm guessing most everything will be coming out of Santiago.

although everyone is initially coming to santiago, Valparaiso and Vina del Mar are doing all they can to grab a piece of the action (including offering free office space for SUP alumni) :)

I've never heard of Vina del Mar, but based on the name it sounds like exactly where I'd wanna go.

I agree, it sounds like they have vineyards that overlook the southern pacific ocean.

Now if that was in the US, something called "Vina del Mar" would be McMansion tract housing built on salt flats in Nevada next to a nuclear waste disposal site.