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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 🌏️
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📰 Important News
- Plata secured a full banking license from the CNBV, allowing it to expand its financial services and challenge traditional banks in Mexico.
- Cenit launched operations in Mexico with an AI-powered app that simplifies tax management for individuals.
- Cosmos Save Energy expanded its operations into Peru and Canada with its new AI-powered platform GreenMining.
- Vureloapp and infrastructure provider Pomelo partnered to launch three new physical Visa cards.
- The Simple platform officially launched in Colombia, offering a non-custody digital wallet that allows users to protect their savings in stablecoins.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- Used-car marketplace Kavak raised $300 million in a funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz to expand its financing capabilities.
- Brazilian fintech Listo secured $191.5 million via a Credit Rights Investment Fund structured by Itaú BBA and UBS BB to expand its credit portfolio.
- Solvento received a $25 million financing agreement from BBVA Spark to enhance liquidity solutions for Mexico's transport and logistics sector.
- EFEX, a global treasury platform for U.S.-Mexico trade, raised an $8 million seed round co-led by PayPal Ventures and Floodgate.
💰️ IPO and M&A Watch
- Mexican Sofipo Kubo Financiero and Sofom Crédito Maestro agreed to a $35.6 million merger to accelerate their presence in the digital savings and credit market, pending regulatory approval.
📋️ Curated Lists
Brazil’s angel networks channel capital into pre-seed and seed startups across the country’s regions. URCA Angels writes R$300,000 to R$3 million tickets with hands-on support, Silver Angels targets R$500,000 to R$1 million checks, Sororitê invests with R$30,000 minimum checks, SC Angels brings more than 180 members to deals, Iguassu Angels focuses on validated MVPs with revenue, and BR Angels scales CEO-led investing with a portfolio above R$2 billion. Dive into the full article to compare terms and requirements, then focus outreach on the best matches.
🚀 Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
Kavak
Founded in 2016 in Mexico City by Carlos García Ottati, Kavak has grown into Latin America’s leading digital marketplace for used cars, combining vehicle sales with an integrated fintech arm that provides in-house financing. The company recently secured $300 million in fresh equity led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from WCM Investment Management, marking renewed confidence after achieving consolidated profitability. With AI powering pricing, inspections, and credit underwriting, Kavak now issues loans at an annualized rate of roughly $600 million. Backed by strong momentum in Mexico and Chile, it is positioning itself as a technology-driven force modernizing trust and access in the region’s automotive market.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
Andreessen Horowitz
Founded in 2009 in Menlo Park by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, Andreessen Horowitz, known as a16z, has grown into a stage-agnostic venture powerhouse spanning consumer, enterprise, bio, and crypto. This week it made a pointed Latin America statement, leading Kavak’s $300 million equity raise through a16z Growth, putting in $200 million, the growth fund’s first investment in the region and its largest single-company bet in Latin America, alongside co-lead WCM Investment Management. With growth investing led by General Partner David George and fresh capital across new funds, a16z is positioning itself as the Silicon Valley bridge for category leaders wherever they are built, backing founders who want to reshape markets at scale.
🤑 Opportunities Expiring Soon
AI Ventures Accelerator for Young Women
- 📢 Organizer: Technovation
- 🗂️ Category: Accelerator, Funding, Training & Learning
- 🪜 Target Stages: Ideation, Pre-seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Sector Agnostic
- 📅 Application Deadline: February 23, 2026
Amazon Devices Climate Tech Accelerator 2026
- 📢 Organizer: Amazon Devices & Services
- 🗂️ Category: Accelerator
- 🪜 Target Stages: Stage Agnostic
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Energy & Environment, AI & Data, Manufacturing & Materials, Retail & Consumer
- 📅 Application Deadline: February 24, 2026
FAO International Innovation Award 2026
- 📢 Organizer: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- 🗂️ Category: Award/Prize
- 🪜 Target Stages: Stage Agnostic
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Agriculture & Food, Social & Governance, Mobility & Logistics
- 📅 Application Deadline: February 28, 2026
Multiple Autism Tech Accelerator
- 📢 Organizer: Multiple
- 🗂️ Category: Accelerator
- 🪜 Target Stages: Pre-seed, Seed, Revenue-generating
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Education & Workforce, Social & Governance, Health & Life Sciences, AI & Data
- 📅 Application Deadline: February 28, 2026
Google for Startups Accelerator: Brazil
- 📢 Organizer: Google for Startups
- 🗂️ Category: Accelerator, Training & Learning
- 🪜 Target Stages: Seed, Series A, Revenue-generating
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Sector Agnostic
- 📅 Application Deadline: March 01, 2026
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