Hola amig@s fintech,

We are marking our entry into Argentina with an exclusive fintech & Web3 reception side-event partnering with Sphere, Utila, Lumx, Arex & Cámara Argentina Fintech on March 26th.

It will take place during the amazing Merge Buenos Aires Conference, bridging Europe and Latam through Web3. It will bring together the leading brands and profiles in the industry in Buenos Aires from March 24-26.

🩵 Until next weekend. Até a próxima!

• Lorena

🌐 TWIF Community

🗓️ Events

Wednesday, March 26 

Exclusive Fintech & Web3 Skybar Reception 

by TWIF, Sphere, Utila, Lumx, Arex & Cámara Argentina Fintech

🗣️ Channels

📊 Stat of the Week 

The LAVCA 2024 LatAm Trends Report highlights a rebound in VC activity, particularly in Series A investments. Fintech and e-commerce continue to attract significant funding;  Brazil and Mexico remain the dominant VC destinations, reinforcing fintech’s role in driving financial inclusion and innovation across LatAm. (Source)

📖  Read of the Week

The "FinTech 2025 Report," by the Fintech México association, provides a detailed overview of the growth and trends in the country's financial tech sector. The sector in Mexico is experiencing accelerated growth, with an annual increase of nearly 20%. But only 38% of women in Mexico have access to formal credit, compared to 48% of men, underscoring the need to promote female financial inclusion. The report also addresses the evolution and regulation of the fintech ecosystem in the country, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between traditional payment providers and fintech companies as a primary source of innovation.

🦉 Post of the Week

🎙️ Podcast of the Week

💸 Venture Financing

💸 Equity

🇲🇽 Plata, the Mexican neobank and unicorn, raised a $160 million Series A round, reaching a valuation of $1.5 billion. The round was led by Kora with participation from Moore Strategic Ventures LLC and other US and European investors.

🇨🇴 Mondelēz International announced an investment in Zíro, the company that offers affordable inventory financing for SMBs in Colombia. The investment aims to enhance the company’s technological capabilities and product development. No further details were announced.

🇧🇷 Global Edge committed $100 million to One Amazon, the Brazilian tech sustainability initiative to advance environmental conservation and digital transformation in the Amazon region.

🇧🇷 Grão Direto, the Brazilian agtech platform, raised $16 million in its latest investment round, backed by Kaszek and Bradesco. The funding will fuel its expansion into financial products and digital services to strengthen customer loyalty. 

📺 Sponsored Content

Want to sponsor a newsletter? See our sponsorship information here or reach out to latam@thisweekinfintech.com. Want to sponsor an event with the TWIF LatAm community?  Check out the FAQ here, send us your info via this form or reach out to latam@thisweekinfintech.com

☯️ Exits

🤝 M&A - Fintech

🇦🇷 Aleph, the solutions provider that enables the growth of global digital marketing, acquired LocalPayment, the Argentinian payment service provider (PSP) expanding in LatAm. The acquisition will bring together local payment capabilities with digital advertising solutions. No further details of the transaction were disclosed.

🇧🇷 It’sSeg Acrisure, the Brazilian insurance brokerage and benefits management firm, acquired FINN, the Brazilian insurtech. FINN offers a fully digital platform for businesses to quote, purchase, and manage surety bonds online, streamlining policy tracking and risk management. No further details of the transaction were disclosed.

🚀 Product Launches & Partnerships

💻 Fintech

🇦🇷 Inter, the Brazilian digital bank, announced it has officially entered the Argentine market as part of its LatAm expansion strategy. The company is launching its global investment account, allowing users in Argentina to invest in US stocks and ETFs directly from the platform.

🇧🇷 Jeitto, the Brazilian digital lending platform, announced it is offering credit to underserved consumers in the C and D classes. The company leverages AI to assess creditworthiness and provide financing to individuals without traditional banking access. 

🌎 Prometeo, the Uruguay financial infrastructure provider, announced the launch of Borderless Banking, a solution designed to streamline cross-border financial operations between LatAm and the US. The platform aims to integrate directly with banking infrastructure, allowing companies to access local accounts, automate collections, and manage global treasury operations with real-time visibility.

📜 Policy

🇧🇷 The Brazilian government, concerned about money laundering risks, is reconsidering a regulation requiring fintechs to report transaction values to the tax authority, aligning them with traditional banks. The rule, initially set to take effect in January but suspended after public backlash, aims to tighten controls on digital payments, including PIX. 

📰 Other News

 🇲🇽 Ramon Scott was named Director of Agribusiness and Sustainable Energy at Finsus.

🌎 NovoPayment names Rodrigo Rodas as CEO and welcomes back Rama Ituarte as CTO. 

🇨🇱 Alfredo Ureta Rufin was named Country Manager at Kushki in Chile.

🌎 Dario Okrent was named Head of Strategy & Business Transformation at Blue Cap.

🇲🇽 Pomelo, the Argentinian digital processing platform, joined Visa’s clearing house in Mexico, strengthening its capabilities in payment processing and financial services. This integration enhances its positioning in the region’s Open Finance landscape.

🇨🇴 Bancolombia approved a historic dividend payout of $0.95 per share, marking a significant return for its shareholders.

🇦🇷 Elon Musk revealed plans to establish a new Starlink base in the Chivilcoy Industrial Park, reinforcing the company’s expansion strategy in LatAm.

📚 Deeper Reads

Mexican Billionaire Ricardo Salinas Says He Has 70% Bitcoin-Related Exposure

8 Uruguayan Startups to Watch in 2025

Is Binance Dumping Crypto Tokens? Fact Check

Demetrio Strimpopoulos, 30 years driving banking innovation (ES)

How El Salvador is Attracting Crypto Giants and What It Needs to Solidify Its Fintech Sector (ES)

📣 LatAm startup alumni 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, Digital Innovation Manager at Banco Azteca

Daniela, Investment Associate at Cultivo

Lorena, Head of Policy for Spanish-speaking LatAm at Tools for Humanity

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