Hello there,
Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - Latin America, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌍
If you haven't subscribed yet, now's the perfect time. Don't miss the opportunity to supercharge your understanding and stay ahead in this dynamic world.
📰 Important News
- Belo expanded into Brazil with a crypto wallet, aiming for one million users by 2026 after building a base of three million.
- Chile’s regulator delayed open finance implementation to July 2027 and released new rules for public consultation.
- MOVii expanded to Peru to reshape digital payments and is targeting an 8% market share within five years.
- The Central Bank of Brazil decided not to regulate the Pix Parcelado, allowing financial institutions to offer their own products.
- Skeelo is planning to invest $11.3 million to expand to Mexico, offering digital books through major operator and ISP partnerships.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- Creditas secured $108 million Series G led by Andbank at a $3.3 billion valuation and finalized the acquisition of Andbank Brasil.
- Vambe closed $14 million Series A led by Monashees to grow its AI commerce platform across LatAm and launch in Brazil.
- Turbi signed a $5.6 million credit line with Santander to enlarge its shared fleet and target $74.7 million revenue in 2025.
- Mission Brasil received $3.7 million from Headline and Domo VC to connect firms with on-demand workers for retail and service tasks.
- Unbox raised $2.8 million to become a fintech, offering embedded credit and aiming to triple in size by 2026.
💰️ Notable Exits
- NTT DATA will acquire Brazilian SAP agribusiness specialist SPRO to strengthen its regional capabilities and expand its client base with 70 new customers while accelerating digital transformation across key production chains.
🚀Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
Creditas
Creditas, founded in 2012 in São Paulo by Sergio Furio, has grown from a secured lending platform into one of Latin America’s most ambitious full-stack fintech ecosystems. The company now offers credit, insurance, and investment services powered by a technology-driven model built for efficiency and transparency. Backed by major investors and fresh off a $108 million Series G led by Andbank Group, Creditas also finalized its acquisition of Bank Andbank Brasil, strengthening its funding capacity and expanding its financial infrastructure. With Ricardo Forcano joining as CTO and COO, the company enters a new phase of integration and scale as it works to build a resilient, customer-centric financial ecosystem for the region.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
Monashees
Monashees, founded in 2005 as one of Latin America’s pioneering early-stage VC firms, has built a reputation for backing transformative tech companies from seed through IPO across fintech, SaaS, marketplaces, and digital services. Led by partners Eric Acher and Fabio Igel, the firm has supported 150+ startups and 300+ founders, including standout names like Rappi, Loggi, Loft, Neon, and Addi. This week, Monashees reaffirmed its leadership by leading Vambe’s $14 million Series A, doubling down on the Chilean startup’s AI commerce expansion. With a strategy rooted in speed, technical excellence, and conviction in entrepreneurship’s power to reshape markets, Monashees continues to anchor the Global LatAm venture ecosystem.
🤑Opportunity Radar
Call for Applications: The HAX Program
The HAX Program, run by SOSV, is a global accelerator for hard-tech startups building solutions in hardware, climate tech, health tech, industrial tech, energy, and AI. Founders gain access to investment, hands-on engineering resources, a world-class mentor network, and long-term venture support through SOSV’s multi-stage platform. The program targets pre-seed hard-tech teams with early prototypes and strong customer insight. Apply now to join a globally diverse community and accelerate your path from prototype to scale.
Thank you for joining us this week! We trust you found value in our latest edition. 🚀
Your feedback is invaluable to us, so please don't hesitate to share your thoughts. We're committed to continuously improving and delivering content tailored to your interests and needs 📩
Looking forward to staying connected and bringing you more exciting content next time!