Hey, it’s Yoel 👋 Back again with the 36th edition of Dealflow LatAm—your go-to source for all the deals, moves, and momentum in the region’s startup scene.
This week in LatAm is stacked. Big-money rounds, a flurry of M&A, and governments stepping in to fuel innovation. Startups are expanding fast, new funds are launching, and AI is everywhere. It’s one of those weeks where the ecosystem feels more alive than ever.
Plenty to break down—so let’s get into it 🚀
🇧🇷 Principia raises $34M to enhance its academic management software and zero-default solution. The round included a $14M Series A extension led by Valor Capital Group and $20M from FIDCs and securitization.
🇨🇴 Simetrik raises $30M to expand in the U.S. and Brazil. The round was led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with Cometa, FinTech Collective, Moore Capital, Monashees, and Upload Ventures participating.
🇲🇽 Crabi raises $13.6M to scale its AI-powered auto insurance in Mexico. The Series A was co-led by Kaszek and Ignia, with 30N, Redwood, Carao, Azuro, and Newtopia participating.
🇧🇷 OmniChat raises $9M to launch its AI sales agent Whizz. The round was led by Quartzo Capital and Altitude Ventures, with Honey Island and Kaszek Ventures participating.
🇩🇴🇺🇸 Kiwi raises $7.8M to expand its AI-powered fintech for unbanked Latinos in the U.S. The Series A was co-led by LIP Ventures and Advent-Morro Equity Partners, with other funds participating.
🇦🇷 Melian raises $2M to scale its AI-powered product discovery platform. The seed round was led by Hi Ventures, with participation from Guillermo Rauch, Newtopia VC, and Broom Ventures.
🇨🇱 Finnecto raises $1.7M to expand across LatAm. The round was led by Amador and Salkantay Ventures, with several other funds participating.
🇧🇷 Adeste invests $1.6M in Nintx and Heptech to boost Brazil’s biotech sector. It also partnered with Italy’s Ronzoni Institute for heparin research.
🇧🇷 Huna raises $1.5M to expand its AI cancer diagnostics. The round was led by Kortex Ventures with support from other funds.
🇧🇷 Rhino raises $1M to improve its app. The round was led by AngelsDeck Global Ventures and Clapper Venture.
🇨🇱 Versu raises $420K to launch an AI sales agent for e-commerce. The round was led by Fen Ventures with participation from Mr. Pink and angels.
🇨🇱 Puro Viento secures over $60K from Corfo’s Innova Región to digitize its backpack production using 3D printing and AI, aiming to reduce waste and manual labor by over 50%.
🇨🇱🤝🇸🇻 Tether backs Orionx to expand stablecoin use across 🇨🇱🇵🇪🇨🇴🇲🇽, boosting digital payments and financial inclusion in LatAm.
🇺🇾🤝🇰🇪 DLocal acquires AZA Finance for $150M to expand into Africa. This marks its first major acquisition outside LatAm, boosting its presence in emerging markets.
🇧🇷 FCamara acquires 60% of Avanti for $3.6M to boost its e-commerce services. Avanti will continue to operate independently while expanding its tech offerings.
🇧🇷 iFood acquires Videosoft’s food software unit to expand its in-restaurant vertical, iFood Salão, aiming to reach 10% of revenue in 3 years.
🇪🇨🤝🇲🇽 Reliv acquires Hospisoft to build the most connected healthtech ecosystem in LatAm. The deal boosts its expansion into Mexico’s hospital market.
🇨🇱🤝🇳🇴 ScaleAQ acquires Probotic to expand its autonomous net-cleaning tech in aquaculture. The deal strengthens its presence in northern Norway and supports global scaling.
🇧🇷 SRM Asset launches SRM Venture Studio to build fintechs in credit, FX, and employee benefits, with plans to debut 3 startups in 2025.
🇨🇱 Imagine Ventures invests in LicitaLAB, Yana, and AIDA, and announces a new $10M fund. The fund will back 20 startups in AI, wellbeing, and sustainability starting July.
🇵🇪 LUCHA receives funding from BID Lab to boost impact startups, aiming to reach 300K vulnerable people in 3 years.
🇲🇽 Kolab Ventures launches in Mexico City to create startups in fintech, healthtech, and logistics. Its "Future Founders" program offers up to $250K for scalable ventures.
🇲🇽 Tecnológico de Monterrey adds 11 science-based startups to its 25-company portfolio, tackling health, sustainability, and tech challenges.
🇵🇷 Parallel18 adds 20 startups to Gen. 13 of P18, surpassing 500 supported with $40K grants and global investor access.
🇺🇸🇧🇴 Gilgamesh Ventures, founded by Bolivian Miguel Armaza, closes $20M Fund II to back early-stage fintechs in the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico, focusing on AI-powered payments, lending, and financial infrastructure.
🇨🇱 TECLA 2025 opens with up to ~$22K per startup for social, environmental, or economic impact projects. Applications close June 15.
🇨🇱 Corfo Biobío opens Semilla Inicia with up to $15K in funding for early-stage startups. Deadline: mid-June 2025.
🇨🇱 Instituto 3IE and HENUA TECHNOLOGIES launch a free program to help startups scale with sustainability; applications open until June 18.
🇨🇱 ProChile and Corfo launch GoGlobal 2025 to help 50 startups expand abroad; applications open until June 18.
🇨🇱 Transelec Ventures opens a new call for startups to co-develop solutions in market intelligence and operational risk modeling. Deadline: June 23, 2025.
🇲🇽 Bitso launches Hackathon MXNB with up to ~$7K for DeFi/payment projects using MXNB. Backed by Arbitrum, QED, Portal. Deadline: July 14.
🇧🇷 South Summit announces its Climate & Bioeconomy edition in Belém, set for July 15–16, with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and COP30.
🇲🇽 Daikin launches AirTech Challenge 2025 for HVAC startups. Winners pitch in Monterrey and win a trip to Japan. Deadline: July 31, 2025.
🇲🇽 VTEX CONNECT LATAM 2025 returns to Mexico on September 25 to unite digital commerce leaders for networking and innovation.
🇨🇱 Transbank and ChileConverge launch a new SME support cycle with free workshops and digital tools running through November 2025.
🇨🇱 NTT DATA Chile opens eAwards 2025 for tech startups creating positive impact. Applications open until end of 2025.
🇦🇷 Ualá integrates with Google Wallet to enable secure, contactless payments via Android. Users can now pay in-store and online with their prepaid card.
🇦🇷 SpacePal targets $10M revenue in 2025 after expanding to 22 countries and landing clients like Netflix, Dior, and Shakira.
🇦🇷 El Cero KM partners with 123Seguro to offer a fully digital car buying and insurance experience, aiming for a fast, transparent, and hassle-free process.
🇧🇷 Loggi partners with Nuvemshop to offer drop-off shipping points for SMBs, simplifying nationwide deliveries.
🇧🇷 Zig invests $370K to launch Zig Mesas, an AI-powered tool to digitize bar and restaurant operations, aiming to process $45M by year-end.
🇧🇷 Appmax launches Max, a fully AI-powered digital bank via WhatsApp and Siri to simplify financial operations for entrepreneurs in Brazil.
🇧🇷 CloudWalk rebrands SF3 as CloudWalk Financeira to offer credit services in Brazil and cut funding costs after regulatory approval.
🇧🇷 Nu Holdings adds 4.3M users in Q1 2025, hitting 118.6M and cementing its lead in LatAm’s fintech scene with strong monetization.
🇨🇱 ProntoPaga rolls out SMARTPIX to streamline high-volume payments in Brazil, expanding across LatAm with tools like PAY4U and Yape integration.
🇨🇴🇧🇷 Rappi commits $247.5M to expand in Brazil with zero commission for restaurants over 3 years, aiming to regain market share and scale user acquisition.
🇨🇱 Buydepa triples EBITDA and posts $160K profit in Q1 after joining ScaleX, reversing prior losses and becoming the most traded stock on the platform.
🇨🇱 Ceibo begins copper cathode production in Chile using patented tech, backed by BHP Ventures, EIP, and Khosla Ventures.
🇨🇱 Klap launches Checkout Flex with Apple Pay and Google Pay to reduce friction and boost e-commerce conversions in Chile.
🇨🇱 Khipu partners with Banco Itaú to streamline B2B payments in Chile, improving reconciliation and cutting cash handling for merchants.
🇨🇱 Movizzon expands to the UK, offering AI-powered CX monitoring for banks like Santander and BBVA.
🇨🇱 Kushki triples TPV in Chile, reaching $250M+ monthly. The fintech expanded with POS solutions and now ranks as the 4th largest acquirer in the country.
🇨🇱 Codelco partners with LEMU to pilot a satellite-powered platform for biodiversity monitoring, enhancing its environmental management.
🇨🇴 Nequi and Wompi launch Nequi Negocios, a virtual POS app to help entrepreneurs accept digital payments without hardware.
🇨🇴 KOA secures license as a financing company in Colombia to offer inclusive digital financial products, starting with high-yield CDTs and a waitlist.
🇨🇴 Somos to invest $3M to expand in Bogotá, aiming to add 10,000 users with high-speed Active Fiber internet up to 2 Gbps.
🇨🇴 Nequi launches Nequi Negocios and digital credit tools for entrepreneurs, offering QR payments and loans up to $2.6K to boost financial inclusion.
🇨🇴 Lulo Bank to launch Lulo Pro to offer banking services to freelancers and salaried professionals, boosting competition.
🇨🇴🤝🇺🇸 Magneto partners with LinkedIn to boost AI-driven talent solutions and workforce development in LatAm.
🇲🇽 Klar surpasses 4M users and becomes Mexico’s second-largest sofipo after Nu. The fintech, founded in 2019, is transitioning toward a full banking license.
🇲🇽 Yalo launches Oris, an AI sales agent that mimics top human advisors to boost conversion and ticket size across digital channels.
🇵🇪 Yango Perú debuts Confort+ and Viajes para Empresas to boost ride comfort and simplify corporate transport with centralized billing and 24/7 support.
🇵🇪 Kashin partners with Grupo RPP to combat informal lending in Peru through digital microloans and nationwide media exposure.
🇺🇾🤝🇨🇳 TecsPal enters China’s Chongqing–Chengdu hub to boost logistics and sourcing for its remote-work hardware solution.
🇺🇾 PedidosYa rolls out Plus in Uruguay: $9/month for free delivery and exclusive discounts.
🇺🇾 Criptala processes 1,500 monthly transactions and plans regional expansion. Its co-founder advocates for crypto regulation, citing the need for basic controls.
🇵🇪🤝🇨🇱 MiningTech and Artificio partner to train autonomous vehicles using real-world urban data from Lima’s Barranco district.
🇧🇷🤝🇨🇱 Banco Itaú and Khipu team up to simplify B2B payments and reconciliation for merchants with a joint digital solution.
🇵🇪🇧🇴 Yape surpasses 3M users in Bolivia, becoming the top digital wallet. Its rapid adoption and zero-fee model drive financial inclusion.
🇦🇷 Globant launches AI Pods, a subscription-based model delivering AI-powered tech services with embedded automation and human oversight, targeting industries like finance and retail.
🇦🇷 🇧🇷 MercadoLibre expands free shipping in Brazil to orders over $3.40, slashing seller logistics costs by up to 40% to boost competitiveness against Shopee and Temu.
🇺🇸🇧🇷 Visa launches Conecta to enter Brazil’s Open Finance, with a pilot with Celcoin set for September, pending a payment license.
🇨🇴 Rappi faces investigation by Colombia’s SIC for alleged consumer rights violations on its app and website, including delivery failures, unclear charges, and misleading promotions.
🇨🇱🇧🇷 Latam-GPT, a regional AI model co-developed by Chile and Brazil, will launch in the coming weeks. Backed by CAF and AWS, the project aims to offer culturally relevant, open-source AI tailored to LatAm.
🇨🇱 Chile invests $14M in two AI supercomputing centers to boost local capabilities and reduce tech dependence, with backing from 40+ universities and 16 private firms.
🇲🇽 Mexican fintech sector exceeds $3.56B in annual transactions, generating 1,600 jobs and serving 4.5M+ users, according to Coparmex CDMX.
🇩🇪🇲🇽 Flix launches operations in Mexico despite regulatory barriers, connecting key cities and targeting cross-border travel via Greyhound.
🇺🇾🇪🇸🇨🇱 PedidosYa and Glovo fined $74M for colluding to split markets, leading to Glovo’s 2019 exit from Chile.
🇨🇴 Tatiana Gómez Fuentes shared the story of Sergio Esteban Guerra, who left advertising to found Empawer, a purpose-driven empanada brand in Bogotá mixing creativity, community, and social impact.
