The government's Start-up Chile incubator gives foreign entrepreneurs $35,000 in seed capital, provided they spend at least six months in the country to get the business going. Like the three Bureo founders, many hail from the United States.
Start-Up's offices in downtown Santiago are a cross between a youth hostel and a Silicon Valley enterprise, abuzz with young people chatting over coffees and laptops.
"It's been critical," said Kneppers on Bureo's support from Start-Up Chile. "It allowed us to produce our first boards."
The business has also received funding from crowdsourcing website Kickstarter and outdoor brand Patagonia.
Bureo is into its second production run of 5,500 boards and is aiming at volume sales of up to 20,000 by its third year, selling at $149 apiece.
The plastic boards are manufactured in Chile and then shipped to Redondo Beach, California to have the trucks and wheels added.
"Because it has a recycled story, that's an addition that helps you connect to your users, but it has to be a good skateboard to begin with," said co-founder Kevin Ahearn.
Start-Up's offices in downtown Santiago are a cross between a youth hostel and a Silicon Valley enterprise, abuzz with young people chatting over coffees and laptops.
"It's been critical," said Kneppers on Bureo's support from Start-Up Chile. "It allowed us to produce our first boards."
The business has also received funding from crowdsourcing website Kickstarter and outdoor brand Patagonia.
Bureo is into its second production run of 5,500 boards and is aiming at volume sales of up to 20,000 by its third year, selling at $149 apiece.
The plastic boards are manufactured in Chile and then shipped to Redondo Beach, California to have the trucks and wheels added.
"Because it has a recycled story, that's an addition that helps you connect to your users, but it has to be a good skateboard to begin with," said co-founder Kevin Ahearn.