Here are the highlights on Brazil’s tech and business scene in January:
Feb 1
Sandbox & Co, a London-based provider of digital learning products and services, today announced that it has acquired PlayKids, a leading digital education platform in Brazil. PlayKids’ majority owner, Movile, a long-term investor in LatAm tech companies, will become a minority investor in Sandbox as a result of the acquisition.
Jan 31
Moss.earth, a global digital asset platform, has concluded a US$10 million Series A round. The round was led by SP Ventures and Acre Venture Partners, with participation from Jive, Flori (Celo), Arrington Capital and The Craftory. Moss.earth is the climate tech company pioneering digitization of environmental assets and its initial product is MCO2, a tokenized carbon credit.
Jan 31
The Brazilian HR tech company Gupy secured BRL 500 million in a round led by SoftBank Latin America and Riverwood Capital funds and followed by Endeavor Catalyst, as well as Oria Capital and MAYA Capital, which have already invested in the startup. Gupy has 22.5 million registered users, 1,500 client companies and an assertiveness rate of 70%.
Jan 29
After nine years at SoftBank, Chief Operating Officer Marcelo Claure is leaving the Japanese conglomerate. The executive published a farewell letter and shared details on his journey and achievements with the Japanese conglomerate.
Jan 26
Brazil-based daily fantasy soccer site Rei do Pitaco has raised a $32 million Series A round. Investors in the Series A included D1 Capital Partners, Kaszek, Bullpen Capital, Left Lane, DST Global Partners and Globo Ventures.
Jan 26
Sooper, a startup that helps construction products stores to buy their products, raised a seed investment R$ 32 million in a round led by Canary and Kaszek. Globo Ventures and angel investors also joined the round
Jan 25
Creditas, a Brazilian lending start-up backed by SoftBank, has reached a valuation of $4.8bn following its latest funding round. The investment of $260 million was raised from some existing and new shareholders.
Jan 24
US$15.3 billion.
That’s how much tech investors poured into Latin American startups in 2021.
Preliminary data from LAVCA show that the amount is more than triple the previous record of $4.9 billion in 2019.
Jan 19
Agrolend, agfintech that offers credit to rural producers and wants to become the digital bank for agro, closed its 2nd round of investment, bringing an additional R$ 80 million. The investment was led by Valor Capital and included the startup seed investors Continental Grain Company, SP Ventures, Provence Ventures and Barn Invest, as well as strategic angel investors.
Jan 19
The Brazilian proptech startup Tabas received an investment of $14 million in equity and debt series A round led by U.S firm Blueground. Echo Capital and a Brazilian investor also participated in the financing round.
Jan 11
Brex raised $300 million in a Series D-2 round that ups its valuation to $12.3 billion. Its latest raise follows a year that saw a “more than doubling” of revenue, according to co-CEO and co-founder Henrique Dubugras. Existing investors made up about 95% of those participating in the Series D-2 round.
