Here are the highlights on Brazil’s tech and business scene from the end of Feb through March 28:
Feb 27
Tamboro, Brazilian startup focused on innovation in education, received R$ 6 million from entrepreneur Paulo Ferraz. The startup offers online solutions to enhance the performance of young professionals, students, and businesses and their teams through 21st century skills development. (article in Portuguese).
Feb 27
Global tech firms and investors are reshaping Latin America’s startup environment. International investment in startups has more than doubled since 2013, with 25 new investors entering the region in 2017 alone, and some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names are now active in Latin America. But, despite growing investor interest in Latin American startups, the region remains very much undercapitalized compared to other global emerging markets.
Feb 28
The edtech Escola em Movimento received a R$ 2 million investment from a VC fund managed by Cedro Capital. The startup offers solutions for communication between students, parents, and employees of elementary, middle and high schools, that replaces the old-school agenda, turning it into a versatile tool of communication through smartphones and web. (article in Portuguese).
March 1
Evaluated at more than US$ 1 billion, Nubank received a new investment of US$ 150 million led by DST Global. In its 6th round of investments, the startup will use the resources to accelerate its transformation into a digital bank. (article in Portuguese).
March 1
Brazil’s lower house of Congress voted to approve lighter regulations on car-hailing apps. City authorities will have the power to regulate the service, but the bill does not require individual motorists to acquire permits.
March 1
“Brazilian IPOs get into a New York state of mind. When it comes to Brazilian initial public offerings (IPOs), geography sometimes still matters even in a globalized world.”
March 2
KICK Ventures made an undisclosed investment in the startup of electric and smart cars Hitech Electric. The startup is the 6th investment by KICK Ventures focused on smart cities. (article in Portuguese)
March 3
A R$ 160 million investment fund created with entrepreneurs’ money behind some of the most successful startups in Brazil, such as Instagram, Nubank and 99, is trying to take early stage companies from the called “death valley” – the period between angel investment and the first round of venture capital (series A). In just over a year of operation, Canary has already invested in more than 20 Brazilian startups. (article in Portuguese)
March 6
WOW, one of the first accelerators in Brazil, raised its third fund aimed at accelerating companies, which will now have a total of 165 individual investors. The goal is to accelerate 24 startups within two years. (article in Portuguese)
March 9
Brazilian education startup Descomplica raised R$ 54 million in a new round of investments led by the US Invus Opportunities fund. Founded in 2012 by a physics teacher, the company is a “Netflix do Enem”, with thousands of recorded classes and live broadcasts available to students who take the National High School Exam and other college entrance exams. (article in Portuguese)
March 12
Old-school investors are turning to digital alternatives in Brazil. Brazilian investors are putting money into start-ups working with blockchain. Leading Brazilian private banks, such as Itaú and Bradesco, are dedicating more staff to blockchain research and expertise.
Brazil had a head start in the digital stakes. Most Brazilian banks have sophisticated technology because they had to deal with hyperinflation in the 1980s and 1990s.
March 13
Global Women’s Journey series featured in Brazilian business magazine Época Negócios. The article highlights BayBrazil’s role in creating space for female leaders to discuss business and share views on tech innovation and traditionally male-dominated industries.
March 14
In a round led by Sao Paulo Ventures, Brazil’s most active agtech venture capital fund, and included Bunge, Syngenta, Endeavor Catalyst, US$ 6 million investment was made in Agrofy, an Argentinian ag-focused e-commerce platform startup.
March 15
The FIMA Fund, created by BNDES and managed by Inseed, will invest R$ 5 million in Smartbreeder, a company specialized in the development and commercialization of Intelligent Systems for Integrated Management of Cultures. (article in Portuguese)
March 15
Brazilian 3D & augmented reality startup Decora acquired by global content creation company CreativeDrive for US$ 100 million.
March 15
Movile invested US$ 18.3 million in the fintech Zoop, a startup focused on solutions for means of payment and financial services. All companies in Movile’s group will use the Zoop platform to offer customers their own payment solutions and financial transaction services.
March 17
IDwall raised U$ 600 thousand in funding from Monashees Capital and Canary. The startup offers a real-time alert system that enables its users to verify customers’ data in signups and purchases.
March 20
Vérios, a startup of personal investment management, received an investment of R$ 5.2 million. The A series funding was led by the e.Bricks Ventures fund and accompanied by the accelerator Startup Farm and former angel investors of Vérios. (article in Portuguese)
March 20
The equity crowdfunding platform Kria raised R$3 million. Part of the investment, R$1.6 million, was through a restricted offering to five institutional investors led by Leblon Equities, and another R$1.4 million through its platform.
March 26
Syngenta announced an agreement to acquire Brazilian agricultural technology company Strider. The value of the investment was not disclosed and the acquisition is subject to the approval of regulatory agencies. Strider is an important player in the Latin American digital agriculture market. (article in Portuguese)
March 26
Playmove received an investment of R$ 2.6 million from Fund Criatec 3, managed by Inseed Investimentos. With more than 1 thousand schools served throughout the country, the company offers a product to complement the education of students from three years of age or for the inclusion of children with different types and degrees of disability. (article in Portuguese)
March 27
Pipefy, a process management platform, raised $16 million in a Series A investment round, headed by OpenView Partners, a VC firm focused on expanding companies, and Trinity Ventures. (article in Portuguese)
