Welcome to the 25th edition of the Dealflow LatAm newsletter: a weekly summary of everything that happened in the LatAm startup and investment ecosystem.
🇲🇽 Plata raises $160M at a $1.5B valuation to expand its digital banking services. The Series A round was led by Kora, with participation from Moore Strategic Ventures and other investors. The funding will support technology development and financial inclusion in Mexico.
🇧🇷 Grão Direto raises $15.7M to expand financial and digital services for grain trading. The round was led by Kaszek and Bradesco, with participation from SLC, CME, and Endeavor Scale-Up Ventures.
🇧🇷 Enter raises $5.5M to expand its AI-powered legal tech platform. The round was led by Sequoia Capital to enhance operations and business reach across LatAm.
🇧🇷 Voa Health raises $3M to expand AI-driven medical documentation automation. The seed round was led by Prosus Ventures to support team growth, tech development, and market expansion.
🇧🇷 MultiID raises $1.7M to boost AI-driven fraud prevention with facial biometrics. Backed by Credits Brasil.
🇨🇱 DataScope acquires Safety for Life to strengthen its leadership in workplace safety automation. The deal enhances compliance with Decreto Supremo N°44, improving productivity and risk management for businesses.
🇧🇷 ClickBus acquires RJ Participações from Totvs for $8.6M to expand its transport management solutions. The deal strengthens ClickBus’s position in digitalizing the bus travel sector, while Totvs refocuses its strategy.
🇧🇷 Igah Ventures raises $30M for its new VC fund. The round, completed in three weeks, will allocate 70% to Igah's fourth fund and 30% to buying stakes in its third fund. Investments include Avenue, Unico, CRMBonus, Conexa Saúde, Hashdex, and Logcomex.
🇧🇷 Start Growth launches a $2.6M fund to invest in HRtechs, Fintechs, Edtechs, Database, and Martechs. Startups can receive between $87K and $174K, with potential co-investments up to $522K.
🇧🇷 FUNSES1 to invest $8.7M in 18 startups in 2025. Managed by Quartzo Capital, the Espírito Santo sovereign fund has already invested $12.2M in 33 startups since 2019, supporting local innovation and economic growth.
🇦🇷🤝🇨🇱 GRIDX and startuplab.01 partner to develop deep-tech startups in Chile. The alliance will identify and support local scientists and entrepreneurs in transforming research into globally scalable biotech startups.
🇦🇷 Santander Argentina launches NERA at Expoagro 2025, simplifying digital financing for farmers in partnership with Grupo Galicia and CNH Capital.
🇺🇸 2Gether-International partners with IDB Lab to launch Ecosistema Diverso, a $2M initiative supporting 600+ disabled entrepreneurs in LatAm & the Caribbean.
🇸🇻 Impact Hub San Salvador drives startup growth in El Salvador through training, networking, and funding access. Supporting over 600 projects, it aims to expand its Alpha Ventures program to 50 startups by 2025.
🇦🇷 MERGE Buenos Aires brings together Web3 leaders, startups, and regulators from March 24-26. The event will cover blockchain, tokenization, AI, and regulation, featuring speakers from Santander, Visa, Binance, and Mastercard. March 24.
🇧🇷 São Caetano do Sul launches a startup acceleration program with mentorship, networking, and funding. Deadline: March 25.
🇧🇷 Prêmio Sebrae Startups offers up to $58K and free access to Startup Summit 2025 for 1,000 startups. Open to early-stage businesses across Brazil. Deadline: March 28.
🇧🇷 BC and Fenasbac launch an open innovation program focused on sustainability and international cooperation. Deadline: April 13.
🇨🇱 eCommerce Day Chile runs April 23-25, 2025, with networking, workshops, and key industry talks. The main event is on April 25 at Centro Parque, Santiago.
🇨🇴 Pygma presents Demo Week, a week-long event connecting startups with investors through 1:1 meetings, group sessions, and networking. Starts April 28, 2025.
🇨🇱 Start-Up Chile opens BIG 9 applications until Nov 29, offering up to $81K in equity-free funding, mentorship, and coworking.
🇨🇳🤝🇵🇪 Huawei launches the first Innovation Competition in Peru for university students. The contest challenges participants to develop AI, IoT, and cloud-based solutions. Deadline: TBD.
🇧🇷 Inteli launches an Entrepreneurship Center to support 40+ student-led startups in 2025. The program offers mentorship, networking, and investor connections to help students turn projects into real ventures.
🇨🇱 Banco BCI launches a program to empower female entrepreneurship in Chile, supporting women-led scaleups with funding, mentorship, and strategic resources.
🇦🇷 Geopagos earns PCI MPOC certification for its Tap to Phone contactless payment solution, enhancing security and scalability.
🇧🇷 Inter expands to Argentina, allowing users to open U.S. dollar investment accounts for stocks, bonds, and ETFs.
🇧🇷 Housi and BS2 launch Credi Housi, a $10M fund to finance small and mid-sized developers.
🇧🇷 Conta Simples invests $3.5M in its 2.0 version, adding Google Wallet integration, batch payments, and AI-powered expense tracking.
🇧🇷 Zoop and Barte launch "Tap to Pay", enabling merchants to accept contactless payments via smartphones, eliminating card machines.
🇨🇴 MetLife Colombia and easycancha launch Colombia’s first on-demand sports insurance. The flexible coverage, activated via the easycancha app, protects amateur athletes from minor injuries to severe accidents.
🇨🇴 B2Chat wins Meta’s SMB Growth Accelerator Award for its rapid growth in LatAm, enhancing SME communications through multi-channel messaging.
🇨🇴 Claro Colombia launches Mi Claro, a digital mall app integrating services across multiple sectors and supporting businesses of all sizes.
🇨🇴 Somos Internet invests $3M to expand fiber optic coverage in Bogotá, aiming for 10,000 new users by 2025.
🇧🇷🤝🇨🇴 Nubank and Redeban enable free instant transfers via major Colombian banks and wallets using Nu Key.
🇺🇸 Etsy expands in Mexico, opening a new space in Polanco to strengthen its presence in the global e-commerce market.
🇲🇽 Pomelo joins Visa’s Clearing House in Mexico to enhance payment processing and expand fintech solutions.
🇺🇾 Maximiliano Casal (co-founder of Nowports) has launched a new stealth startup in NYC alongside Rodrigo Capdevielle. The company is developing an AI-powered solution to enhance efficiency for financial institutions. With its first product live and strong pilot adoption, it is gearing up for a public launch. Casal remains on Nowports' board while focusing on this new venture.
🇺🇾 Prometeo launches Borderless Banking to streamline B2B financial operations between the U.S. and LatAm. The platform enables local bank accounts, real-time transfers, and fraud prevention.
🇺🇾🤝🇸🇬 dLocal & Coda team up to expand gaming payments in 11 markets, improving local options like Pix in Brazil.
🇨🇳 AliExpress launches a new marketplace in Mexico to support local entrepreneurs. Sellers will benefit from 90 days commission-free, free shipping promotions, and personalized support. The platform promises faster deliveries (5-7 days) and improved logistics to boost Mexico's e-commerce ecosystem.
🇺🇸🇲🇽 Starlink to offer free satellite internet in Mexico from July 2025 for select smartphones, including iPhone 14+, Pixel 9, and Samsung Galaxy S21+.
🇧🇷 Mercado Bitcoin suspends 11 token offerings following a CVM order. The regulator classified them as securities, requiring proper authorization. Mercado Bitcoin assures holders that payments will proceed as planned.
🇦🇷 Argentina advances a new $10-20B IMF deal with a decree easing approval. Funds will repay Treasury debt and support Milei’s reforms. A final deal may be announced by April or May.
🌎 Dennis Herszkowicz (TOTVS) shared with Latitud three key steps for a successful startup exit: know your valuation, understand buyers, and ensure acquisition readiness.
🇪🇸 Miguel Arias (Kfund) wrote a post on the similarities between launching a startup and starting a new job
