ALIVE Ventures Receives ColCapital’s “Most Successful Startup Transaction 2021” Award

ALIVE Ventures received ColCapital’s “Most Successful Startup Transaction” award for our investment in Crehana, a Latin American education technology company expanding access to practical, high-quality learning across the region.

Crehana was founded to address a persistent challenge: millions of people in Latin America lack access to affordable education that equips them with the skills employers need. Through more than 600 Spanish-language, project-based courses, the company enables students to develop capabilities in digital, creative, business and soft skills while building portfolios that can strengthen their employment prospects. Its programs also connect learners with online mentors and employment-support services.

ALIVE began supporting Crehana in 2018 and worked alongside the company through several important stages of its development. Crehana expanded into new markets, launched its corporate training offering and continued strengthening its platform for individual learners. By 2021, it had more than five million registered students across more than 20 countries and a team of over 200 employees.

The company’s 2021 Series B marked an important milestone in this growth journey and led to ColCapital’s recognition of ALIVE with the Most Successful Startup Transaction award. The achievement demonstrated that a company created to address an urgent social challenge could scale across Latin America while building a strong and sustainable business.

Our role extended well beyond providing capital. ALIVE supported Crehana in strengthening its governance, preparing for financing rounds, connecting with potential clients and industry experts, developing its presence in the corporate and public-sector markets, and better understanding opportunities in countries including Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

Impact management was also central to our work together. ALIVE financed impact studies conducted by 60 Decibels and supported a strategy to expand Crehana’s reach among lower-income populations in Peru and Colombia. This work included collaboration with Peru’s Ministry of Education and contributed to an initiative shortlisted for the 2020 PRI Awards in the Emerging Markets Initiative category. ALIVE also supported Crehana’s participation in the PAR Aequales ranking to identify opportunities for advancing gender equality.

This recognition belongs to the Crehana team, whose ambition and execution have opened new pathways to professional growth for millions of learners. It also reinforces our conviction at ALIVE that when impact is embedded in a scalable business model, social value and business success can strengthen one another.