Buenos Aires has launched the call for the fourth edition of the 'Diseño Argentino Exponencial (DAE) – Creative Bootcamp,' which will select 15 startups to receive six months of training and the possibility of accessing USD 5,000 in seed funding. The 2026 call will be open until March 27 and is aimed at projects in industrial and product design, clothing and accessories, biomaterials, contemporary crafts, and textiles with at least three years of experience, seeking to professionalize their management and expand their impact. The program aims to strengthen the strategic development of design sector startups, promoting environmental sustainability, social value, and applied innovation. According to the Argentine News Agency, the initiative will select 15 projects that will access specialized content, strategic consulting, and individual mentorships during the six-month training period. At the end of the process, the startups can apply for one of four USD 5,000 seed funds to implement improvements in various areas of project development and consolidation. The initiative has already mobilized over USD 550,000 in financing and, in its first three editions, has reached 13 provinces, accelerated 45 startups, and awarded 10 seed funds.
One of the standout cases is Bolsa Red, a leather goods project that recovers industrial waste and used the funding to scale its communication and production, which led to a multi-year contract for material management with companies in the energy sector. Another startup is Robbina, specialized in inclusive design, which strengthened its export structure after participating in the program and made its first formal sale to Uruguay, with a 65% increase in its annual billing. Also highlighted was Dacal, a reference in circular fashion, which applied a strategic rebranding that facilitated its international projection and avoided the use of 4.7 million liters of water through the recycling of more than 3,000 garments.
