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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

• Brazil's Central Bank launched a public consultation to regulate fintech naming, proposing restrictions on using "banco" and "bank".

• Mexico's Congress proposed a 40-hour workweek for private sector employees with a phased implementation based on company size.

• Uruguayan startup Tecspal expanded to China to strengthen its presence in Asia, optimizing global logistics for remote employee equipment.

• Mexican lawmaker Elizabeth Martinez Álvarez is pushing for stricter regulations to combat crypto pyramid schemes and financial fraud.

• Chilean startup Reversso partnered with Uber Direct and Blue Express to launch on-demand returns, enabling real-time at-home pickups.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• VEMO obtained $63.94 million from Beel Credit, Banco Covalto, Kapital, and Promecap to expand VEMO Impulso and accelerate electric vehicle adoption.

• iCred raised $54.75 million through a new FIDC to fund INSS payroll loans, surpassing $440 million in total funding.

• Aplazo secured a $35.5 million credit line from BBVA Spark to expand its BNPL platform, adding to the $70 million raised earlier in 2024.

• Alice raised $22.29 million in a Series C extension led by Kaszek, ThornTree, Canary, and Globo Ventures to expand corporate health plans.

• CashU secured a $17.5 million credit fund backed by Itaú BBA and Credit Saison to expand AI-powered SME lending.

💰️ Notable Exits

• BRITech acquired IT4 Finance and Sisfinance to expand its SaaS investment management portfolio, strengthening its market presence.

• NG.Cash absorbed ZI’s customer base, surpassing six million users and overtaking Nubank in the number of accounts held by users under 18.

• Agger acquired 100% of Trindade Tecnologia to expand into health insurance, strengthen its portfolio, and drive a 20% revenue increase in 2025.

• Jeitto acquired Pilla to enter the payroll loan market, expanding its credit portfolio with lower interest rates and longer terms.

🏦 About Investors

• Osten Moove launched a free digital community to connect entrepreneurs, investors, and startups, offering networking, mentoring, and courses to foster innovation and business growth in Brazil.

• Instituto Claro selected 18 startups as finalists for the 13th Campus Mobile competition, with winners to be announced at Web Summit Rio, earning a trip to Silicon Valley for mentorship and networking.

📊 Investment Highlights

Chilean startups are making waves despite a regional funding slowdown! From fintech to biotech and sustainability, these companies are securing major investments, expanding into new markets, and refining their technologies. Discover how firms like Wild Foods, PhageLab, and Toku are leading the charge. Check out the full list to see which startups are driving Chile’s entrepreneurial rise!

🚀 Startup of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

VEMO

Mexican cleantech company VEMO has secured $63.94 million in financing from Beel Credit, Banco Covalto, Kapital, and Promecap to expand VEMO Impulso, its fintech platform for electric vehicle leasing. VEMO Impulso enables independent drivers on platforms like Uber, Didi, and Cabify to lease electric vehicles with no upfront payments, leveraging VEMO’s extensive charging network and advanced telematics. Since its founding in 2021, VEMO has become a leader in Mexico’s electromobility sector, integrating electric fleets, charging infrastructure, and fleet management technology. This funding reinforces VEMO’s commitment to sustainable mobility, aiming to scale electric vehicle adoption and reduce urban carbon emissions.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

Osten Moove

Osten Moove, a venture studio under the Osten Group, specializes in accelerating technology businesses through investments, open innovation, and Web3-based solutions, focusing on early-stage startups in AI, robotics, and Web3. With over 20 years of experience, the firm promotes daily innovation through hackathons, technical training, and strategic partnerships, including its presence in the gaming market with Osten Games. Recently, Osten Moove launched a free digital community to connect entrepreneurs, investors, and startups, offering networking, mentoring, and educational resources to foster business growth in Brazil. Through this initiative, Osten Moove reinforces its commitment to strengthening the country’s innovation ecosystem, providing a collaborative space for knowledge exchange and technological advancement.

🤑 Opportunity Radar

Call for Applications: Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award

Apply for the Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award 2025 by February 18, 2025, and take your impact-driven business to the next level. This award offers $25,000 in cash support, a fully sponsored trip to Istanbul, Türkiye, and a six-month accelerator program with expert mentorship and networking opportunities. Open to women entrepreneurs in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, the program supports startups addressing health and food security challenges with sustainable, scalable solutions. Don't miss this chance to gain global visibility and join a community of changemakers—start your application today!