May 29
Global venture capital funds raised only $26 billion in the first quarter of 2025, marking the lowest level for the period since 2017.
This represents a 16% drop compared to the $31 billion raised in early 2024.
While global VC fundraising hit its lowest level since 2017, Brazil bucked the trend by attracting $435 million in investments in Q1 2025, a 4.3% increase over the previous quarter. Early stage startups are embracing innovative approaches, such as hybrid structures and corporate venture capital, to effectively navigate global challenges.
May 26
Climate tech startup Circular Brain has raised US$3.5 million from Lorene Urban Mining. The investment includes a minority equity stake and an operational partnership aimed at expanding Circular Brain’s e-waste platform across Latin America. The funds will be utilized to enhance triage and logistics operations and integrate Lorene’s network of 20 dismantlers and 200 vehicles.
May 20
Next Fit, a fitness ERP startup, raised R$50 million in a Series A funding round led by Cloud9 Capital, with participation from international investor Parceiro Ventures. With over 13,000 clients and an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of R$52 million, the company plans to use the funds to expand its product offerings and accelerate growth. Next Fit’s platform, which includes features like class scheduling, CRM, and automated payment processing, has helped clients increase revenue by up to 43% within six months of adoption.
May 19
Reforestation startup re.green received R$80 million (approximately $14.13 million) in financing from Brazil’s state development bank BNDES, with Bradesco acting as a financial intermediary. This funding supports re.green’s efforts to restore degraded lands and generate carbon credits, aligning with Brazil’s climate initiatives.
May 15
Openlayer, co-founded by Brazilian entrepreneur Gabriel Bayomi, has raised $14.5 million in a Series A funding.
The round was led by Race Capital, with participation from investors including NXTP, KPN Ventures, Mindset Ventures, Y Combinator, Quiet Capital, and Telefónica. The company offers a platform for AI testing and governance, assisting enterprises in evaluating model performance and detecting issues. The new funding will be utilized to enhance the platform’s capabilities and expand its reach across key industries and international markets.
Brazilian startup awarded by Harvard University.
AI Pathology uses AI to assist in the early diagnosis of skin cancer. It’s tool Nevo analyzes images of skin lesions sent by cell phone and identifies warning signs of skin cancer with up to 98% accuracy.
The company was awarded at a hackathon held by the Harvard School of Public Health and is now participating in an incubation and investment program run by the university.
Blips, a startup providing equipment financing to small businesses, secured R$50 million in its first funding round, led by XP partner Headline.
The investment values the company at R$500 million post-money.
Funds will primarily support the creation of Blips’ own financial institution, enabling it to issue debentures and CDBs. This strategic move aims to lower capital costs and expand operations into new market segments.
April 29
Brazil’s state-owned tech firm Dataprev is launching a pilot project in partnership with data monetization specialist Drumwave, based in Palo Alto.
The initiative will empower Brazilians with payroll loan contracts to authorize the sharing of their data with financial institutions in exchange for potential monetization. This marks a significant step in exploring data ownership and the data economy within Brazil.
April 29
Healthtech Fin-X has just raised R$14 million in a pre-seed investment round Atlantico fund, with participation of Headline XP and Domo VC. The amount will be invested in improving technology based on artificial intelligence, expanding its presence in the public sector and developing new products for healthcare payers.
April 28
Credituz, a fintech, raised R$31 million in its first funding round to expand real estate financing for marginalized groups such as Black entrepreneurs. The seed investment comes from angel investors Marc Slezynger, Fabio Alperowitch, and Claudia Massei. The company utilizes open finance, public socioeconomic and geographic data, and artificial intelligence to remove biases in credit algorithms, facilitating access to housing finance for underserved communities.
April 27
Data monetization.
Founder’s article in Brazilian magazine Exame criticizes how digital platforms exploit users by using their data for profit without compensation.
In “Welcome to the Age of the Techno-Proletariat,” André Vellozo compares this to the industrial-era exploitation of workers, arguing that individuals unknowingly produce valuable data, yet remain unpaid and unrecognized.
April 24
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced a $130 million investment in Magalu to strengthen digital transformation in Brazil. The investment includes a $100 million loan from IFC’s own account and up to $30 million raised from investors. This financing package is structured as an incentive-based loan, targeting the collection and recycling of electronic waste.
April 21
BayBrazil and Endeavor Brazil announce a partnership to bring together the Silicon Valley Brazilian diaspora and Brazilian scale ups.
An exclusive Endeavor Brazil study unveiled that the diaspora spans 138 cities in 31 countries, with a strong presence in the U.S. (59%), especially in California, home to many BayBrazilians working in tech full report at: https://endeavor.org.br/brazil-tech-diaspora/
April 15
Onfly, a B2B corporate travel platform, has secured R$240 million in a funding round led by SoftBank Latin America Fund and Valor Capital Group, with participation from Endeavor Catalyst and other investors. The capital will be utilized to expand Onfly’s operations across Latin America, enhance its technological infrastructure, and strengthen its sales and customer support teams.
April 7
Mombak, a reforestation startup, secured R$100 million in financing from the BNDES Clima Fund, with R$80 million from the fund and R$20 million from BNDES Finem. This funding will support the company’s efforts to restore the Amazon, plant 8 million trees, and generate carbon credits.
April 2
Merama, a digital brand holding, raised $215 million, including $45 million in equity and $170 million in debt. The equity round saw investors like Marcel Telles of 3G Capital and SoftBank, while the debt financing came from BTG Pactual, Citi, and Itaú. Despite a smaller raise, Merama’s valuation remains over $1 billion, and it aims to focus on acquisitions.
April 2
Fintech Divibank has secured $8.2 million in a funding round led by Better Tomorrow Ventures. The company plans to utilize this capital to enhance its technology, integrate with additional platforms, and expand its engineering team. Divibank now aims to tackle another bottleneck faced by retailers: the payment system.
