Hola amig@s fintech,

Happy New Year!

As we step into 2025, we’re filled with excitement and optimism for the year ahead. We’re thrilled to bring you the latest in fintech developments, innovations, and updates that will shape the future of our industry in LatAm.

We hope you had the chance to celebrate the start of the year with your loved ones, reflect on achievements, and get ready for the journey ahead. Here’s to a year of growth, collaboration, and groundbreaking opportunities! 

❤️  Until next weekend. Até a próxima!

• Lorena

📖  Read and Stat of the Week

The “Latitud Startup Report” by Latitud, highlights Latin America's rapid tech growth, with startups raising over $15 billion in 2021, a threefold increase from 2020, largely driven by fintech, which secured 40% of total investments. The region now boasts over 40 unicorns, primarily in Brazil and Mexico, reflecting ecosystem maturity as serial entrepreneurs reinvest capital and expertise. However, challenges like regulatory complexities, talent shortages, and limited early-stage funding persist.

🎙️ Podcast of the Week

💸 Venture Financing

💸 Equity

🇧🇷 Trinus, the Brazilian platform that connects real estate developers with capital markets, raised $7 million in a Series B extension led by BeWater Funds, with participation from existing investors. 

🇲🇽 Cofers, the Mexican startup specializing in digital treasury solutions, secured $1 million led by Cracks Fund, with participation of BStartup10 by Banco Sabadell, JME Ventures, and Draper B1.  

🇧🇷 Conta Comigo Digital, the Brazilian payment platform focusing on enhancing digital financial services, raised $525,000 in a Seed round led by Urca Angels. 

💰 Venture funds 

🇨🇴 Ruta N, the Medellín-based innovation and entrepreneurship center, launched the Medellín Venture Capital program to bolster entrepreneurial capital in the region.

📺 Sponsored Content

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☯️ Exits

🤝 M&A 

🇧🇷 Binance, the global cryptocurrency platform, announced the acquisition of Sim;Paul, the Brazilian brokerage, to strengthen its operations in the country. This acquisition aligns with Binance's strategy to enhance compliance and expand its services in regulated markets.  

🇨🇴 Bold, the Colombian startup focused on SMEs, announced the acquisition of Tuily, the financial management platform for small businesses. This acquisition aims to broaden Bold's suite of financial solutions, enabling better financial tools and services for Colombian SMEs.  

🇺🇾 Banco Itaú, one of the largest banks in LatAm, announced the acquisition of Plexo, the Uruguayan payment solutions company. The acquisition is part of Itaú's strategy to expand its footprint in the fintech space and integrate innovative payment solutions into its offerings.  

🇧🇷 Just Eat Takeaway (owner of iFood) acquired Decolar, the leading travel booking platform in Brazil, signaling a diversification strategy. This move leverages synergies between travel and food delivery services, with potential fintech integrations to follow.

📜 Policy

🇧🇷 Binance Brazil, the global cryptocurrency platform, received a broker-dealer license from the Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM). This approval enables the company to operate as a regulated financial intermediary.

🇧🇷 The Central Bank of Brazil and the National Monetary Council (CMN) approved a transitional measure for integrating the IFRS 9 accounting standard into regulatory capital requirements. This move ensures a smoother adoption process while mitigating potential impacts on financial institutions' capital adequacy.

📰 Other News 

🇧🇷 Rafael Sobral was named Chief Financial Services Officer at Omie.

🇦🇷 Mendoza province in Argentina, through the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) GovTech LatAm program, announced progress in its innovation and digitalization efforts, focusing on integrating technology into public administration to enhance efficiency and citizen engagement.

🇨🇱 Magical, the Chilean venture capital fund, continues to support LatAm innovation by investing in early-stage startups across the region, emphasizing scalable technological solutions to foster regional growth and innovation.

🇧🇷 Zig, the Brazilian event tech, raised $25 million in a Series B extension led by Kaszek Ventures. 

🇲🇽 Airbag, the Mexican insurtech focusing on reducing traffic accidents, received $200,000 as a follow-on investment from Impacta VC. This funding will further strengthen its efforts to deliver high-impact solutions within Mexico’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

📚 Deeper Reads

Latin America’s booming startup ecosystem: A Hub for innovation and growth

2025 paints a more promising outlook for fintech startups

Three technologies transforming crypto in 2025

CVC’s most active investors in 2024 – and how they invested

📣 LatAm startup alum who have been impacted by layoffs and recruiters looking for top talent, check out the Startups Alumni and Layoffs Brasil databases.  

If you’re looking to hire from a group of 10,000+ smart, motivated fintech professionals, come pick up a Collective Pass and post a job here.  If you’re looking for your next adventure at one of the best fintech companies, check out the open roles here!

Made in LatAm with ❤️ by Elena and Lorena.

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