A Chilean agrotech startup using blockchain to verify food traceability has closed a $1 million investment to fund commercial expansion in Colombia and prepare for entry into Mexico. The capital will support new hires in sales, operations, and producer relations across both markets.
Ecoterra secures $1M from Capibara to scale Colombia operations
Ecoterra raised $1 million from Capibara Impact Trust, the impact fund created by founders of the B Corporation movement, at a $16 million valuation. The round splits into $500,000 in equity and $500,000 in redeemable equity, a structure allowing Ecoterra to buy back part of the stake with future profits starting in year four, reducing founder dilution.
The deal arrived ahead of schedule. Ecoterra had planned to raise capital in 2027, but Capibara approached the firm in August 2025, and the parties closed ten months later.
Ecoterra generates nearly $5 million in annual revenue with an EBITDA margin above 10%, working with more than 250 producers across Chile and Colombia. The company has operated in Colombia for two years and is growing at a rate exceeding 100% annually.
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Alongside the funding announcement, Ecoterra launched Chile's first domestically produced organic milk, now available in Jumbo supermarkets. The product comes from cows raised on certified organic pastures without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, and the animals do not consume genetically modified organisms.
Why blockchain food traceability is attracting impact capital in LATAM
Ecoterra's platform uses blockchain technology to verify traceability and certification of food products from farm to retail, supporting organic, free-range, and specialty certifications that require auditable supply chains and producer compliance.
This model creates distinct workforce needs. The company must recruit agronomists and veterinarians who understand certification standards, technology staff to maintain blockchain infrastructure, and commercial teams capable of onboarding producers with limited digital literacy. Each new market requires local hires who can navigate regional certification regimes and build trust with smallholder farmers.
Capibara Impact Trust, which describes itself as a holding company rather than a traditional fund, invests in B Corporations and triple-impact businesses across the Southern Cone. The structure enables long-term partnerships without exit pressure, a fit for companies like Ecoterra that prioritize producer relationships and certification timelines over rapid scaling.
The redeemable equity component matters for talent planning. By limiting dilution, founders retain more control over hiring decisions and compensation structures as the company scales. This advantage proves significant in markets where equity grants are less common and where retaining senior leadership through ownership is competitive.
Agrotech hiring signals as Ecoterra targets Mexico expansion
With the new capital, Ecoterra will strengthen its commercial presence in Bogotá and Medellín, add producers to its network, and expand its egg, dairy, and coffee categories in Colombia. The company is expanding its commercial presence in Colombia before moving into Mexico.
Each activity requires headcount. Strengthening commercial presence in two Colombian cities likely means hiring account managers, logistics coordinators, and field staff. Adding producers requires agronomist support and certification specialists. Category expansion into eggs, dairy, and coffee demands product managers and quality assurance personnel familiar with each supply chain.
Mexico represents a larger, more complex market. Ecoterra will need to replicate its producer network, establish distribution partnerships, and navigate a different regulatory environment for organic certification. This requires country managers, legal and compliance staff, and a local technology team to adapt blockchain infrastructure to Mexican standards.
The company's financial profile supports this hiring. With nearly $5 million in revenue and an EBITDA margin above 10%, Ecoterra generates positive cash flow, rare among early-stage agrotechs. This allows the firm to hire without depleting the raise and to offer competitive local salaries in markets where remote-first tech companies have driven up compensation expectations.
Ecoterra's producer network already includes more than 250 farms across Chile and Colombia. Scaling producer networks will require field operations staff, training programs, and bilingual support teams. The blockchain platform must also scale to handle increased transaction volume and certification data from multiple countries.
For workforce planners in agrotech, Ecoterra's trajectory shows how certification-driven business models create specialized hiring needs distinct from software-only startups. The company must balance technology talent with agricultural expertise, remote work with field presence, while operating across regulatory environments that do not harmonize easily.