iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Mendel raises a US$35 million Series B round 🇲🇽 Mendel, a Mexico-based Fintech specializing in enterprise spend and travel management, offers a centralized platform that integrates expense management, payments, and corporate travel into a single AI-powered solution.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

🇨🇴 Yuno is Expanding to the Middle East Colombian payments orchestration platform Yuno is expanding to the Middle East by establishing its regional headquarters in Qatar.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

🇲🇽 Yavendió US$850K Pre-Seed Round Mexican startup Yavendió raised an US$850K pre-seed round to enhance its AI-powered WhatsApp sales automation platform.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

🇲🇽-🇨🇱 Impact Ventures PSM Seed New US$5 M Fund Impact Ventures PSM and Impacta VC have launched Impact Ventures PSM Seed, a US$5 million pre-seed and seed fund to support up to 20 early-stage impact startups in Latin America.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

🇲🇽 VEMO Secures US$77 million in Financing Cleantech VEMO secured $1,300 million pesos (approx. US$77 million) in financing to expand its Fintech arm, VEMO Impulso.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

🇻🇪 Telefónica to Invest US$500 Million in Venezuela Telefónica is set to invest US$500 million in Venezuela to enhance its 4G network and deploy 5G technology using the Dynamic Spectrum Sharing scheme in the newly acquired 2,600 MHz band.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

🇧🇷 BYX Capital acquired Nvio from Bitso BYX Capital, a Fintech specializing in payroll loans, has acquired Nvio, a direct credit company previously owned by Bitso. The acquisition, pending approval from Brazil's Central Bank, will strengthen BYX’s banking structure and enhances transaction security

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Nubank Launches Mobile Operator NuCel NuCel is the new mobile operator launched by Nubank in Colombia. It aims to compete with major carriers like Claro and Tigo by offering flexible, affordable plans starting at $37,000 (approx. US$9).

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

🇦🇷 Ualá Launched an AI-powered Chatbot Fintech Ualá has launched an AI-powered chatbot called Uali, built on OpenAI’s GPT-4 model. Uali not only understands user queries but also proactively offers personalized solutions to enhance the customer experience

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

🇺🇸-🇲🇽 GenLogs raises US$14.6 million to go to Mexico GenLogs is a freight intelligence platform that utilizes roadside sensors and cameras to collect data on trucks and trailers, applying methodologies inspired by counterterrorism operations to monitor equipment trends.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

🇲🇽 Niko Energy raises US$23 million in funding Niko Energy is a solar startup building Mexico’s first virtual power plant (VPP) to address the country’s growing energy demand and grid instability.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

This week, Nubank rolled out its fixed-income product in Colombia 🇨🇴 In Mexico, the product is known as "Cajitas Congeladas" but over in Colombia, they chose the name CDT Nu to tap into the strong local savings culture and to use a term better known among Colombians: CDT. Why does it matter?

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Startup Cheaf to Launches in Argentina Mexican startup Cheaf is launching in Argentina, offering a platform where users can buy near-expiry food at up to 50% off from major supermarkets like Jumbo, Disco, and Vea.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

When you see this kind of data, you realize that the LATAM ecosystem still has a long road ahead. Are you aware of the same kind of benchmark in the US? Great work by the 500 LatAm team! We need more data to bring transparency and know where to focus our efforts to improve the ecosystem.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Nestlé announces a US$1 billion investment in Mexico 🇲🇽 Swiss multinational Nestlé announced a US$1 billion investment in Mexico over the next three years to expand its production capacity, as part of the broader "Plan Mexico" initiative.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

In 2024, startup investments in Latin America surged by 23%, reaching US$4.27 billion across 621 rounds, up from US$3.4 billion in 2023, according to Distrito. Brazil remained the regional leader, capturing US$2.14 billion from 391 rounds, followed by Mexico and Colombia.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

🇦🇷 Salesforce to invest US$500 million in Argentina Salesforce has announced a plan to invest US$500 million in Argentina over the next five years, focusing on AI innovation, workforce development, and the digital transformation of the public sector.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

🇨🇴 Launches Bre-B its own instant payment system Colombia will launch Bre-B, an instant payment system, in September 2025, aiming to boost financial inclusion, streamline digital transactions, and reduce cash usage.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

🇲🇽 Jüsto partners with Uber Eats Digital supermarket Jüsto has partnered with Uber Eats to offer over 6,000 fresh, organic, and household products through its app in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Querétaro.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Insurtech Olé Life raises US$13 million in Series B round The startup aims to transform financial security in Latin America by providing fully digital life insurance solutions tailored to regional needs, including USD-denominated policies.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Tether Holdings announces plans to move to El Salvador Tether, the issuer of the stablecoin USDT, announced plans to move all its operations and legal entity to El Salvador, where it will establish its global headquarters in a newly constructed skyscraper.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

The EU and Mexico modernize their economic agreement 🇲🇽🤝🇪🇺 The EU and Mexico finalized a long-negotiated trade deal to modernize their 20-year-old agreement, aiming to diversify economic ties amid global uncertainties and Donald Trump’s return to U.S. leadership.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

🇨🇱 Maihue raised US$1 million in funding Chilean startup Maihue has secured US$1 million in funding to develop its innovative water purification dispenser technology, and to eliminate up to 50 million plastic bottles annually.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

🇨🇱 Buk raised a US$50 million Series B Chilean HR tech Buk has raised US$50 million in its Series B funding round, reaching a valuation of US$850 million.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

🇺🇾 dLocal expand its services to the UK Uruguayan dLocal, a payment platform for emerging markets, has expanded its services to UK merchants by obtaining an Authorised Payment Institution license from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Back in 2021, "Soonicorn" was a term à la mode in the startup scene. It now sounds cringe to use it. Let's not call Buk a soonicorn but rather a rising star of the LatAm startup ecosystem, and congratulate the team for its solid US$50 million Series B round, valuing the startup at US$850 million.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

🇸🇻 Bitfinex Derivatives relocates to El Salvador Bitfinex Derivatives is relocating to El Salvador after securing a Digital Asset Service Providers (DASP) license, highlighting the country's ambitions to become a crypto hub for Latin America.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

Mexico plans to invest approx. US$450 million in renovating the AICM airport ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The remodeling will focus on aesthetic, functional, and maintenance improvements, with work scheduled to start in May 2025 and finish by May 2026, just before the tournament begins.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

🇨🇴 Energy group ISA starts a US$130 million CVC Colombian energy utility Grupo ISA has launched Inndigo, a US$130 million corporate venture capital fund designed to support energy transition startups.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Prosus to acquires 🇦🇷 Despegar Prosus, a tech conglomerate owned by Naspers, has announced its US$1.7 billion acquisition of Despegar, one of Latin America's largest online travel agencies.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

🇲🇽 Farmacias del Ahorro joins the Fintech Game Farmacias del Ahorro is set to launch its own Fintech operations in 2025. The move comes after acquiring the electronic payment institution Tu Dinero Digital (TUDI) at the end of 2023.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Today I released 2025 first edition of my newsletter on VCs, and startups in Spanish-speaking Latin America. With no surprise, very few startups have announced a funding round in the last weeks of the year - exception made to Cofers. Obviously, it had to be a Mexican Fintech! A good sign for 2025?

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

In Substack analytics: What’s the difference between All Subscribers and All Followers?

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Dubai-based Yango rolled out services in Colombia Yango is a mobility platform that so far established itself in five Colombian cities —Medellín, Barranquilla, Cali, Bucaramanga, and Cúcuta— offering transportation services and competitive benefits for driver-partners, including low commissions.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

In 2024, seven Argentine startups raised over US$375 million Fintech Ualá led the ranking with a US$300 million in a Series E round, reaching a valuation of US$2.75 billion. Other notable rounds included:

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

🇨🇱 HRTech Talana acquired People First Chilean HRTech company Talana has acquired organizational development firm People First to boost its presence in Latin America, expanding into markets like Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Nu México partners with Yastás Nu México’s nine million customers can now make cash deposits and withdrawals at over 5,000 Yastás network points across Mexico.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

🇺🇾 DLocal is exploring a potential sale Uruguayan payments provider DLocal, valued at US$3.6 billion, is exploring a potential sale with Morgan Stanley assisting in evaluating interest from private equity firms and Fintech companies.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

Paytech tapi partners with Mercado Pago 🇦🇷 Paytech startup tapi has partnered with Mercado Pago to enhance the payment experience for users in Mexico through a unified regional integration.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

My mission is to spotlight LATAM's startup scene by sharing the most relevant news and on-the-ground insights. Throughout 2024, I published 37 news briefings, 3 Deep Dives, and 9 Podcast episodes, hopefully helping more people discover the region's incredible potential. sceniusmexico.substack.com

sceniusmexico.substack.com

Scenius LATAM | Arnaud | Substack

The newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the top stories on Startups and VCs in Latin America - for free. Click to read Scenius LATAM, by Arnaud, a Substack publication with thousands of subscriber...

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Singapore-Headquartered Digital Bank Tyme Raises US$250M Series D Why It Matters for the LATAM startup's scene 👇  The deal was led by Nubank 🇧🇷🇲🇽🇨🇴 Nubank is Latin America's most successful Fintech, with a customer base of over 110 million.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Colombia's central bank reduced its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 9.50% 🇨🇴 It's falling short of market expectations for a 50-point cut, citing fiscal uncertainty and global monetary policy trends.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

🇲🇽 Konfío secures a US$413 million loan Mexican Konfío secured strategic financing agreements totaling US$413 million from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Afore Sura México to expand its credit offerings to over 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mexico over the next 24 months.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

ECLAC has raised its 2024 economic growth forecast for Latin America to 2.2% It is up from its previous estimate of 1.8%, and projects 2.4% growth for 2025.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Ecuador 🇪🇨 and China 🇨🇳 have signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for their Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programs. The program is aiming to enhance foreign trade by improving customs efficiency and logistics security.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

🇨🇴 Paytech Zulu expands into UK and Southeast Asia Colombian Paytech startup Zulu is expanding its international payment services to the UK and Southeast Asia, now supporting currencies like the British pound, Singapore dollar, and South Korean won.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

🇲🇽 Skydropx acquires Frenet 🇧🇷 Mexican logistics startup Skydropx has acquired Brazilian Frenet for US$5.2 million, marking its entry into the Brazilian market.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

🇲🇽 Sofía Raised a US$13.5 million Funding Round Why it matters 👇 Sofía is a Mexican InsurTech that seeks to address Mexico's low health insurance coverage, where only 21% of adults aged 18–70 are insured.

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Arnaud - Scenius LATAM @arnaud-scenius.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Plata Card becomes a digital bank in Mexico 🇲🇽 Plata Card, a Mexican Fintech founded in 2022 and focused on credit cards, has obtained authorization from the National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV) to operate as a digital bank in Mexico.

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