Here are the highlights on Brazil’s tech and business scene in November:
Nov 30
Brazilian digital insurance company Pier is now issuing its own policies following a $14.5 million Series A round of funding.
Nov 26
Brazilian e-commerce platform Olist raised a US$ 58 million Series D funding round led by SoftBank Latin American Fund. Other investors in the round include Valor Capital, Peninsula, VELT Partners, FJ Labs, and angel investor Kevin Efrusy.
Nov 19
Youtube executive and BayBrazil’s Advisory Committee member, Bibiana Leite talked about her victories and the times she was the only woman among white men in this interview.
Nov 18
Monashees and ONEVC led the US$ 5 million seed round for Facio. The Fintech is developing a financial education platform that also offers salary-advance services. The investment was joined by a group of strategic angel investors including Igor Marchesini of SumUp, Gabriel Braga from QuintoAndar and Michael Seibel, CEO of accelerator Y Combinator.
Nov 16
Brazil’s Central Bank launched PIX, an instant payments platform that will speed up and simplify transactions, as well as foster financial sector competition. The state-owned system allows consumers and companies to make money transfers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without requiring debit or credit cards. It is also free of charge for individuals.
Nov 11
Azion, an edge computing startup based in Porto Alegre, received an undisclosed series A investment round led by monashees and Qualcomm Ventures. The investment will be used to expand the company’s edge platform and accelerate the adoption of 5G.
Nov 9
Artificial Intelligence & Humanity. In his “Silicon Valley Watcher” article Anderson Thees explores global trends and explains why Brazil is poised to lead AI use in LatAm. The dialogue was part of BayBrazil annual conference 2020 program.
Nov 9
Via Varejo, owner of Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio, acquired 16.67% of the Distrito innovation platform’s controller to speed up its digital transformation. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.
Nov 6
Fleury and Sabin team up to invest R$ 200 million in startups. The diagnostic medicine companies announced the creation of the Kortex Ventures fund to invest in about 15 innovation companies in the next four years.
Nov 7
Enjoei.com IPO achieved R$ 1,1 billion at the Brazilian Stock Exchange and the startup debuts with market value of R$ 2 billion. The startup started as a blog selling used clothes and attracted investors interested in sustainability.
Nov 5
Startup Méliuz has completed a R$ 662 million IPO at B3. Méliuz‘s history goes a long way towards paving the bridge between venture capital and the stock market.
Nov 4
Agfintech Traive received an investment of R$ 14 million from SP Ventures. The investment was joined by American managers Bread & Butter Ventures and Techstars. The startup uses technologies such as machine learning and big data analyze the credit profile of agricultural producers and facilitate their access to financial products.
