Arthur O'Keefe’s Post

BRAZIL: MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER BRICS IN THE WALL Attached a little piece that I wrote about the latest positive developments in the Brazilian startup ecosystem. Nubank was the admired unicorn story before its IPO in New York December 2021. That translated into one of those well-known bumpy rides from USD 11-12 to USD 3 and a bit within months (!) and then back to now USD 8 and a bit. But the big issue is that those who step in that late, basically act as masochist investors. In this piece we reflect on how things are, and make a plea for early-stage and even seed. Too risky for you? Or too much work and hassle? Maybe so, maybe not. Fact is that when you are serious about LATAM, the old way - get some exposure to big Spanish firms that are strong in the region (like we have done for investors via BBVA) - is not the sole route anymore. More and more the Sao Paulo ecosystem including the Stock Exchange make for a good environment for startups that want to become LATAM leaders. The old Portuguese-Spanish language issues are no longer dominant. And business is booming: the market for seed and earliest-stage funding in Brazil crossed the USD 1 billion market clearly last year. Five years ago those kind of numbers were the total amount for the whole venture capital market! That Brazil seems to have sorted out some of its traditional BRL weak-currency issues is far more important. In our little paper we also tell you a bit more about the how and why of the One4All platform, and how it aims to connect founders to investors. And maybe the biggest surprise: those of you who recall how that back then unknown South African newspaper-publisher-turned-media-company NASPERS stepped into Chinese startup Tencent in 2001 (when the Chinese giant was just 3 years of age) will be surprised to see that the South Africans seem to be applying a similar strategy once again in Brazil: step in early, and stick to your partnerships longer than what venture capital does. I hope that founders and direct investors in early-stage/seed ventures find this contribution useful. #founders #investors #LATAM #privateequity #venturecapital #emergingmarkets #microcaps #smallcaps #smefinance #brazil #angelinvestors #businesstips #entrepreneurship #familyoffices #startups

Brazil has been a tech pioneer since the 80s and continues to make its mark as a start-up leader. 🇧🇷 With the most start-ups in Latin America, Brazil is no stranger to innovation, producing unicorns like QuintoAndar, C6 Bank and Creditas. Plus, in the Global Innovation Index 2022, Brazil rose three spots to 54th place. Brazil's tech journey is one to watch as it shapes the future of innovation and growth. To learn more check out our blog: https://hubs.li/Q028nvf70 #TechInnovation #BrazilTech #StartUpEcosystem

In Q1, the startup market in LATAM saw 166 funding rounds and 721M in total value according to Sling Hub & Itau BBA numbers: 🇧🇷 Brazil leads with an impressive 109 rounds, a clear front-runner contributing to 66% of activity. 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇲🇽 Mexico and 🇨🇴 Colombia trail with a strategic play, each hosting 13 rounds and paving their way in the industry. 💸 When it comes to funding volume, 🇧🇷 shines again with $374M, while 🇨🇴 Colombia is second with $184M, followed by 🇦🇷 Argentina with $67M. Overall, average round size has increased by more than 50% in the region to reah $1.6M. Worth reading!

🔥 Unveiling Brazil's Startup Success Secret: Structured Credit! 🔥 Brazil's leading startups, like iFood and Creditas, are soaring with structured credit. This financial strategy allows quick financing, scalability, and ownership retention. Brazil isn't just adopting; it's leading globally with its innovative use! 🌎 🎋Enter Bamboo Debt Capital Markets Platform 🚀 We're not mere observers; we lead with fast issuances and unmatched expertise in financing growth through debt. Our mission? Pairing visionary companies with the perfect investors. We simplify debt financing and cultivate deep-rooted investor relationships. 🌟 Elevate your growth with Bamboo DCM. Reach out to Arthur O'Keefe or Bruno Valsecchi today for insights! 🎯 #GrowthWithBamboo #bamboodcm #StructuredCredit #businessgrowth #fintechleadership

GENTE! Brazil's 🇧🇷 startup ecosystem is ranked 1st in South America and 27th in the WORLD And I plan on investing time, energy, and dollars here. Since the beginning of this year, I've spent about 2/8 months in Brazil, nearing ~25% of my time. We’ve done 3 Brex Supper Clubs w/ amazing partners like Zendesk in São Paulo - And we're excited to partner with Cubo.network (São Paulo's largest innovation hub) during LAVCA in NYC. The point of this post? Cross-border relationships can, do, and should exist. When we can bridge the gap between ecosystems, we create more opportunities for connections, collaboration, investments, and RETURNS 😉 I say all this say, Brazil is a market that should definitely be looked into And I for sure - will be doubling down. #brazil #startups #innovation #global

SoftBank Turns a Profit on First Sales of Latin America Stakes With IPO markets closed, fund sells stakes in four companies Buyers are strategic investors including Itau and Visa SoftBank Group Corp. is selling some of its investments in Latin America for the first time, turning a profit on the holdings even though startups in the region have been shut out of the market for initial public offerings. The Japanese company is among the sellers of Pismo, a Brazilian financial-technology firm that Visa Inc. agreed to acquire for $1 billion in a deal announced in June. With the transaction, expected to be completed by the end of the year, SoftBank more than doubled its initial investment in Pismo in 18 months, according to Alex Szapiro, a managing partner and SoftBank’s head of Brazil. The internal rate of return, a measure of profitability, was 54%, Szapiro said. https://lnkd.in/eTKGg7bY By cristiane lucchesi and Daniel Cancel

"Back in 2016 when we started, there was only a handful of VCs." Venture capital in Latin America has since come a long way. Juan Felipe Uribe has been a part of Colombia's fundraising environment throughout his career, starting in investment banking and private equity. Later, he co-founded his own company and successfully closed a Series A. Several factors have contributed to the evolution, according to him. ➡ Latin America has seen a surge in startup hubs and innovation centers, fostering dynamic growth opportunities. ➡ Governmental initiatives promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, including tax incentives and funding programs, have attracted both local and international investors. ➡ Success stories of unicorns and high-growth companies from Latin America have boosted interest and confidence in the region's startup environment. Now, a robust ecosystem is emerging:

I spent months trying to figure out why Brazil is so far ahead in the creator economy and social media... My conclusion? 🇧🇷 Brazil is a nation born to be creators. Together with Letícia Doniak (A VC investor based in Sao Paulo) we have compiled the current crop of exciting startups and insights from VCs active in the space in Brazil (and LATAM!). Thanks Henrique Baruselli Ricardo Dias Lucas Abreu and Marcelo Franco! Are we missing any startups or investors? Let us know! Full article link in comments.

Welcome Junior Rodrigues as our City Lead - Curitiba, Brazil! 🇧🇷 Junior is the Head of Business Development at Associação Brasileira de Startups, where he drives the organization's business dev strategies, enhances its current portfolio, and explores new business opportunities by connecting local startups to international markets. Formerly, he was Head of Innovation Communities and Ecosystems at VENTIUR , a leading accelerator in Curitiba. Ventiur’s startup accelerator programs have impacted 1,000 startups over 2 years, with at least 70 of them obtaining investment. Aside from being a multilingual ecosystem enabler, Junior is also an advisor, investor, volunteer facilitator, and community alumni leader for several Brazilian organizations. Tag someone you know who might be keen to work with us and Junior in building the next generation of global business leaders. #GlobalGrowth #interpreneur #Brazil #GlobalClassCityLead #internationalexpansion