MANUELA SANCHEZ

Bestie, here’s what’s good with Manuela Sánchez, this woman is the real deal. She’s a Colombian powerhouse who’s been crushing it in the startup world, especially in Latin America’s e-commerce scene. So, she jumped into the scene with Laika back in 2017, right? Laika’s this sick platform for pet stuff, think of it like the Amazon for pet lovers across Colombia, Chile, and Mexico. And get this, it’s not just some small thing. They’ve raised over $65 million, including a $10M Series A from Efficient Ventures and a massive $48M Series B led by Softbank. Yeah, she’s playing in the big leagues.

But her story’s deeper than just funding. She’s been around the block, worked at giants like IBM, Oracle, Rappi, even Abercrombie & Fitch, and Bavaria. That’s a wild mix, tech, retail, logistics, and marketing. She’s not just some founder who got lucky; she’s got serious chops in planned partnerships, revenue stuff, database management, and brand building. Plus, she’s got a Master’s in International Business and did programs in Digital Marketing. The girl’s serious about learning and growing.

What’s even more impressive? She got into Y Combinator in S19, the top startup accelerator out there. That’s where she got the juice, the mentorship, the funding, the network to really scale Laika fast. It’s like the stamp of approval that she’s the real deal, and she’s proven it by turning Laika into one of the hottest pet startups in LatAm.

She’s more than just about business. She’s been recognized for her leadership, took home ‘Women Who Impact 2020’ from Effort Colombia. That’s a shoutout to her influence, her drive, and her ability to break barriers. She’s out here leading the charge in pet e-commerce, a space often overlooked but huge in LatAm.

So, what does this all say about her? Manuela’s process is the classic startup grind, she’s jumped from big corps to startups, soaked up all that knowledge, then took a leap into the unknown with Laika. It’s clear she’s motivated by more than just making money, she’s passionate about building something meaningful, about innovation, about serving her community, and about proving that LatAm entrepreneurs can play with the big boys. She’s a perfect example of what happens when talent, hustle, and smarts come together. No Cap, she’s one to watch.