In a significant move poised to reshape Brazil's retail sector, consumer data powerhouse Rock Encantech has announced its acquisition of Akropoli, a regulated Open Finance intelligence startup. This strategic merger aims to create a pioneering data ecosystem that combines consumer purchasing behavior with consented financial information. The integration promises to equip retailers with unprecedented analytical capabilities, enabling them to offer sophisticated financial services previously exclusive to banks and fintechs.
A Strategic Union of Consumer and Financial Data
The acquisition unites two distinct but complementary data worlds to forge a holistic view of the consumer. Rock Encantech brings its massive scale, monitoring 130 million consumers and 1.3 billion annual transactions, while Akropoli provides the regulated infrastructure for accessing financial data. This synergy is designed to answer not only what customers buy but also how they pay and their true financial capacity.
According to Akropoli's co-founders, Paulo Valadares and Ricardo Toledo, the vision is to create an entirely new market paradigm. They identified a substantial opportunity in merging consumption data with financial data to generate superior intelligence for businesses. This unified approach moves beyond isolated marketing or credit strategies to foster a deeper, more predictive understanding of consumer needs and behaviors.
Empowering Retailers with Fintech Capabilities
For retailers, this partnership unlocks a suite of new capabilities that blur the lines between commerce and finance. The integrated platform will facilitate more accurate credit assessments, seamless payment initiation via Pix within retail environments, and advanced fraud prevention. These tools are intended to empower retailers to build stronger, more valuable relationships with their customers by offering personalized financial products.
The scale of the combined operation is substantial, with Rock Encantech already analyzing an annual GMV exceeding R$310 billion in identified purchases. Akropoli complements this with its rapid growth in the Open Finance space, which is expanding at a rate nearly ten times the market average. Together, they aim to deliver actionable insights that drive efficiency, relevance, and new revenue streams for the retail industry.
A Vision Forged by Industry Experience
The foundation of Akropoli was built upon its founders' extensive experience in the traditional financial sector at institutions like Itaú and Sicredi. This background provided them with a unique perspective on the disruptive potential of the Open Banking regulation in Brazil. Their mission was to translate the complex regulatory framework into tangible business value for companies outside the banking sector.
Both companies emphasize that the union is driven by an alignment of purpose rather than market opportunism. The shared belief is that technology should serve as a means to an end: achieving a systemic and responsible understanding of the customer journey. This customer-centric mindset is positioned as the key differentiator that will ensure the new offerings are both effective and meaningful.
Navigating Future Challenges and Opportunities
The path forward involves navigating both technical and cultural challenges. Gaining consumer trust and explicit consent to merge financial and shopping data will be paramount for the venture's success. Additionally, retailers will need to adapt to operating in a regulated space, balancing personalization with stringent security and governance standards.
Under the new structure, Akropoli will maintain its team and operational autonomy within the Rock Encantech ecosystem, with its founders leading the integration. Pilot projects for advanced payment reconciliation and anti-fraud solutions are already in progress. The first joint product offerings are slated for release in the first half of 2026, marking a tangible step toward their integrated vision.
The acquisition of Akropoli by Rock Encantech signals a pivotal moment for the convergence of retail and finance in Brazil. By creating a single intelligence layer that connects consumption, location, and financial data, the partnership is set to redefine credit, loyalty, and risk management. This bold initiative could position the Brazilian retail market as a global leader in leveraging data to drive the next wave of financial innovation.
Source: Exame