Preparation
Build a company narrative that survives investor questions: problem, solution, market, traction, team and fundraising ask.
Whale Tank 2026 · Applications open
The Startup Investment Readiness Program of Tulum Innovation Fest
Some startups need more than capital. They need to be ready for it.
Whale Tank prepares founders to sharpen the company, the story and the fundraising strategy — then puts them in the room with investors and ecosystem leaders.
Applications close in
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October 15, 2026 · 11:59 p.m. Mexico City time · Applying is free
Whale Tank community
Capital is not the first problem
The real gap is investment readiness.
Repetition
Pitch. Feedback. Pitch again. Simulations, Q&A and reviews expose weak points before the room matters.
Access
Investor roundtables, one-on-one meetings and introductions to venture funds, family offices, CVCs and strategic partners.
A founder journey, not a pitch contest
From startup signal to investor-ready company.
Whale Tank combines mentoring, business preparation, pitch training, networking and investor matchmaking inside Tulum Innovation Fest 2026.
01
Diagnose
Business + market readiness
Problem validation, customer discovery, business model, market clarity and go-to-market strategy.
02
Prepare
Investment readiness
Fundraising strategy, growth logic and the structure needed to present the company coherently to capital.
03
Pressure-test
Pitch, feedback, pitch again
Mock pitches, pitch preparation, Q&A drills and repeated feedback from people who understand the room.
04
Connect
Investor matchmaking
Curated introductions, roundtables and one-on-one conversations with investors and strategic ecosystem partners.
05
Present
Final stage at Tulum Innovation Fest
Five finalists present in front of VC funds, angel investors, family offices, CVCs, innovation leaders, media and the festival community.
The right room matters
The work happens before the introduction.
Mentors and investors from more than eight countries participate across venture capital, growth, product, fundraising, corporate innovation and legal + investment structures.
1:1 MentoringWorkshopsOffice HoursPitch ReviewsInvestor RoundtablesStrategic Introductions
Meet the investors
Capital starts with the right conversation.
Meet the investors joining Whale Tank to evaluate opportunities, challenge assumptions and connect with founders building for scale.
Meet the mentors
Guidance from people who know the room.
Operators and advisors who help founders pressure-test the business, sharpen the pitch and prepare for high-value investor conversations.
Who should apply
We are not looking for ideas on a napkin.
The program is designed for startups that already have enough signal to benefit from serious capital preparation.
Check your fit + applyWorking product or MVP
You can show something real, not only a concept.
Demonstrable traction
Users, customers, pilots or meaningful partnerships.
Scalable business model
A credible path to grow beyond a local opportunity.
Global growth potential
The company can expand across markets or categories.
Raising USD $150K–$3M
A defined capital need and a reason to raise now.
Founder availability
At least one founder can participate through the program.
Selection funnel
Apply free. Earn your way to the final room.
Applying is free. Startups selected for the program confirm their place with a participation fee.
See fees and terms ↓Founder Full Experience · Selected startups
Founder Full Experience. Access to opportunity.
Applying is free. Startups selected for Whale Tank confirm their place with the Founder Full Experience. The USD 3,300 acceleration scholarship is fully covered by the Main Sponsor / Program Partners, and the VIP / Executive upgrade is a complimentary benefit for reaching this stage.
- Prepare
- Connect
- Position
- Present
- Access to capital
Full program value
USD 5,800 Principal participant packageAcceleration scholarship
USD 3,300 Fully covered by Main Sponsor / Program PartnersYour total payment
USD 2,500 Principal participantComplimentary VIP upgrade
Our gift VIP pass value: USD 1,500 · a gift for selected startupsYour founder experience
- Private accommodation with breakfast
- Round-trip airport transfers to/from Tulum
- Transfers between venues
- Admission to Tulum Innovation Fest and the Whale Tank program
- Welcome Kit
- Onsite coordination and operations
Acceleration & preparation · 100% scholarship
- Founder Accelerator Program
- Mentorship with specialists, founders and investors
- Pitch Training & Storytelling
- Investment Readiness Sessions
- Investor presentations and the opportunity to advance to the Whale Tank Final Showcase
- Positioning, communications and exposure within the TIF ecosystem
VIP experience · our gift to you
- VIP hospitality area
- Tulum Lujo Descalzo Cocktail Gala
- Executive networking
Additional team member · USD 1,000 per person
From the second member of the same startup: shared accommodation with the principal participant, breakfast, airport and venue transfers, festival and Whale Tank access, team acceleration and mentorship activities, Welcome Kit and onsite coordination. The fee applies per person, even when sharing a room.
Access to capital
USD 1.5M–3MIn investment letters of intent. Whale Tank facilitates investor presentations, strategic networking and continued investment conversations after the festival. Investment is subject to selection, evaluation, due diligence and each investor’s final decision.
Success fee
5%As incubator and facilitator, the Whale Tank team receives a 5% success fee on each investment actually received by the startup and secured through its efforts, under the participation agreement.
Terms & conditions
Whale Tank Program · participation terms
01Selection & participation
This offer is for startups selected for Whale Tank. Selection for the program does not guarantee a place in the Final Showcase. Advancement follows the program evaluation process; payment does not buy an investment outcome.
02Program value & scholarship
The principal participant package is valued at USD 5,800. Main Sponsor / Program Partners cover a USD 3,300 acceleration scholarship, leaving USD 2,500 payable by the startup. The scholarship covers program services; it is not an investment in the startup.
03Accommodation & transfers
The package includes private accommodation, breakfast, round-trip airport transfers and transfers between venues. The booking confirmation must specify the hotel, check-in/out dates, included nights and transfer schedule. Festival dates alone do not define the accommodation period.
04Additional team members & VIP
Each additional member of the same startup pays USD 1,000, including when sharing the room of the principal participant. The complimentary VIP upgrade replaces the standard festival access; the USD 1,500 figure is the VIP pass value.
05Investment & success fee
USD 1.5M–3M in letters of intent is not guaranteed funding or an allocation per startup. Investment depends on evaluation, due diligence and investor approval. Whale Tank receives 5% of each investment actually received and secured through its efforts, under the participation agreement.
06Access & program updates
Ticket details must match the ID of the attendee. Optional or capacity-limited experiences require the appropriate access and availability. Session times and program arrangements may change; the organizer will communicate material updates and applicable options. The included benefits remain as described in this offer.
07Cancellations, refunds & transfers
For purchases through Ticket Fairy, the event-specific purchase conditions and platform policies apply, subject to applicable law. Refunds depend on organizer terms; platform service fees are generally non-refundable unless law requires otherwise. Ticket resale is available only if enabled. Direct Whale Tank payments require their own written cancellation terms.
08Scope & participant support
Whale Tank participation, hospitality and the investment success fee are program-specific conditions. Ticket Fairy processes ticket purchases; it does not provide the acceleration program or guarantee capital. Program and booking questions: innovation@likegroup.io.
Inside Tulum Innovation Fest
Not a conventional conference. Not a conventional startup competition.
Whale Tank happens inside a broader platform where founders, investors, builders and global communities meet around innovation, AI, capital, future cities, culture and new economies.
Explore Tulum Innovation Fest →FAQ
Before you apply.
The application is free. Selection is curated and submitting does not guarantee acceptance. Selected startups confirm their place with a participation fee.
Not in the traditional sense. It is a founder journey combining investment readiness, mentorship, pitch preparation, networking and investor matchmaking, culminating in a final presentation.
You should have a working product or MVP, demonstrable traction, a scalable business model and global growth potential.
The current target range for applicants is USD $150K to USD $3M.
Thirty startups enter the Investment Readiness Program. The journey includes mentoring, workshops, pitch reviews and investor preparation. Five finalists present during Tulum Innovation Fest.
The call for applications is open until October 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Mexico City time.
Applying is free. Selected startups confirm their place with the Founder Full Experience: USD 2,500 for the principal participant (program value USD 5,800, with a USD 3,300 acceleration scholarship covered by the Main Sponsor / Program Partners) and USD 1,000 per additional team member. It includes accommodation, transfers, festival and Whale Tank access, and a complimentary VIP / Executive upgrade.
Yes. As incubator and facilitator, the Whale Tank team receives a 5% success fee on each investment actually received by the startup and secured through its efforts, under the participation agreement.
No. The USD 1.5M–3M in letters of intent is not guaranteed funding or an allocation per startup. Investment depends on evaluation, due diligence and each investor’s final decision, and payment does not buy an investment outcome.
Applications are open
Build the company. Prepare for capital.Meet your whales.
If you are building something with the potential to transform an industry, put it in front of the right people.
Applications close in
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00Hours
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October 15, 2026 · 11:59 p.m. Mexico City time · Applying is free