From the beaches of Brazil to the shores of Chile to the Caribbean Sea of Colombia, startups are setting the tone. This Tuesday, we have jaw-dropping transaction records and unicorns that seem to be going for it all, We are also seeing the strength and potential of deeptech startups across the region. Here’s today’s ecosystem news.
- Brazil: PIX system executes 134.8 million transactions in a single day and breaks record. The last weekend was marked by two new achievements made by PIX, the instant payment system developed by the Central Bank of Brazil: on July 6 it registered 129.4 million operations and the following day $134.8 million, a new record of transactions in a single day.
- Deep Tech Startups, an industry with high potential and solidity in Latin America. A study focused on 340 financed startups and a market of US$ 8,000 million, estimates that the deep tech ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean will grow 20 times more in the next decade. It also highlights Chile as the most valuable Deep Tech ecosystem in the region.
- SQM is looking for startups that solve problems related to lithium, water, and e-mobility. The mining company SQM has opened applications for its SQM Lithium Ventures startup acceleration program, which is looking for early-stage ventures that solve problems related to lithium, water, and e-mobility.
- Investment funds still bet on LATAM founders who drive innovation. As evidenced in the Venture Capital Benchmark Q1 2023, even though Latin America has experienced a decline in investments this year, there are still numerous reasons to be excited about the regional ecosystem. That’s why large global VCs, as well as funds focused on the region, are betting on Latin American innovation.
- The challenges faced by Colombian startups. Entrepreneurs in Latin America do not have the same opportunities in all countries. Some places, like Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia, have more favorable laws for innovative businesses. That’s why there are more startups in these countries than in others. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to create a successful company.
- The Top Innovative Leaders Ranking publishes its results and recognizes international transformative talent. Among the winners are figures such as businessman and designer Alvaro Moreno, businesswoman and CEO of BBES from New York Bisila Bikoko, founder of Starlite Sandra García de San Juan, Vice President of El Español Cruz Sánchez Lara Sorzano, or the technology expert speaker Silvia Leal. Along with them, leaders in the field of education have also been recognized by the Ranking, like the founder and Chancellor of the Universidad Espiritu Santo of Ecuador Carlos Ortega Maldonado, the President of the Trilema Foundation Carmen Pellicer, and the Executive Director of the Neumann Group Alejandro Núñez.
- Madeleine Clavijo has launched a digital payments unicorn in Colombia: Kushki. Madeleine Clavijo is Colombian, an engineer, and co-founder of a unicorn: Kushki. DPL News presents this exclusive interview with the Director of Revenue of the Ecuadorian payments company and president of the Colombia Fintech Association.
