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Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - Latin America, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌎️

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📰 Important News

• The Central Bank of Brazil is planning to release regulations for Banking as a Service (BaaS) in the second half of 2025.

• BEE4 became the first fully digital platform regulated by the CVM for small and medium-sized enterprises, using blockchain to manage securities and corporate events.

• Itaú Unibanco launched the Institute of Science and Technology to develop technological solutions for the financial sector.

• Warren investment platform laid off 40 employees as part of a strategy review for efficiency, stating the move won't affect its growth expectations.

• Sebastian Mejia stepped down as president of Rappi but will remain on the board, reflecting on his journey and preparing for a new chapter.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• Mombak secured $17 million from the BNDES Climate Fund to scale carbon removal through reforestation in the Amazon.

• Finaktiva raised $9 million from BBVA Spark to expand credit for Colombian SMEs, grow internationally, and integrate AI tools.

• Colombian superapp Gopass secured $8 million from Qualcomm and Kfund to expand into Mexico and grow via mobility partnerships.

• MT Bank received $850,000 from Hiker Ventures to develop an integrated solution simplifying payment, tax, and financial management for SMEs.

• Jumpstart raised $480,000 to provide AI-powered credit and advisory services for immigrants.

💰️ Notable Exits

• BS2 acquired a stake in Paag to expand its presence in the betting, iGaming, and crypto sectors.

• ROIT acquired TaxBook to enhance its AI-driven solutions for accounting and tax management.

• The Central Bank of Brazil approved Nuvei's acquisition of Pay2All, boosting its Brazil operations and enabling services for online betting sites.

🏦 About Investors

• Catarina Capital rebranded as Primus Ventures and launched the $17 million Sul Ventures fund to invest in early-stage startups in Southern Brazil.

🚀 Startup of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

Mombak

Mombak, a Brazilian reforestation startup founded in 2021 by Peter Fernandez and Gabriel Silva, secured $17.8 million from the BNDES Climate Fund with Santander as financial intermediary, marking the first reforestation project backed by Brazil’s "New Climate Fund." The company restores degraded Amazon land by planting native species to generate high-quality carbon credits, with clients including Microsoft, Google, and McLaren. With 45,000 acres under management and $150 million in carbon offtake contracts, Mombak aims to scale its impact and become the world’s largest carbon removal company.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

Primus Ventures

Primus Ventures, formerly known as Catarina Capital and founded by José Augusto Albino, Adonay Freitas, Raul Daitx, Renata Buss, and Thiago Lobao, launched the $17 million Sul Ventures fund to invest in early-stage B2B tech startups across Southern Brazil. Headquartered in Florianópolis, the firm targets sectors such as fintech, healthtech, agritech, and industry 4.0, with individual investments ranging from $85,000 to $1.7 million. Building on the legacy of Cventures Primus, Primus Ventures aims to be a strategic, early partner for visionary entrepreneurs shaping the region’s innovation ecosystem.

🤑 Opportunity Radar

Call for Applications: Techstars New York City Accelerator

Apply to the Techstars New York City Accelerator by June 11th, 2025 to join one of the most founder-focused programs in the world. This in-person accelerator kicks off in September 2025 in the heart of NYC—home to leading hospitals, financial institutions, enterprise buyers, and media powerhouses. With a personalized approach, hands-on support, and access to a global network of 4,800+ startups, Techstars NYC is ideal for early-stage founders building in AI/ML, fintech, health, climate, enterprise SaaS, and beyond. Don't miss the chance to grow your startup in one of the world’s most dynamic ecosystems.