Walter Pereira

Brazilian fintech Tako emerges from stealth with sizable seed round led by a16z and Ribbit Capital via TechCrunch ---------- I noted the interesting use case of LLM "Tako uses an LLM (large language model) to keep up with these constant changes. The LLM ingests the labor law and union law data and digests it" but "keep humans in the loop to ensure accuracy, but having the LLM get a head start saves a lot of time." I think this is a smart way to use LLM ? Don't you think ? ---------- Tako #Fundraising #Fintech #HR #Payroll #Onboarding #LLM #Brasil #Brazil #HitL #innovation #StartupBrasil #AI ##HumansInTheLoop #ArticlficialIntelligence #seedRound #startup

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Ana Zucato knows how to fight her corner! She’s the cofounder and CEO of Brazilian neobank, Noh, which I have previously described as ‘a lifestyle bank for couples’ (see https://lnkd.in/dfCrqVSX). But this proposition is proving to be as much a challenge as an opportunity. So today (4/12/24) Ana banged the drum on her LinkedIn feed to try to dispel the myth that a bank just for couples is too niche. I must admit, that was my worry when I first heard about Noh, but Ana has since convinced me otherwise. She makes three what she sees as compelling arguments. First, ‘couples’ are not a niche target market. She reckons up to 80% of the Brazilian adult population are in some sort of couples relationship; and second, even if you are not in a relationship today, one day the chances are you will be. But it’s her third argument that I think is key. Ana presents Noh as a ‘horizontal’ bank – a sort of ‘overlay’ bank, built by design to use Open Finance to link to users’ accounts with other banks, both traditional and neo (see pic below). Indeed, she says you should think of Noh as ‘seu primeiro segundo banco’ (your first second bank). That’s a great strapline! It’s also a nod to the reality that Noh – in common with most other neobanks – does not yet offer the full range of financial services that established players offer. These services take time to build. In Noh’s case, Ana is creating a network of partner financial services organisations that expand Noh’s offerings, rather than build the services in-house. Other neobanks make use of ‘neobank as a service’ suppliers, such as Celcoin, the Brazilian banking infrastructure software startup presciently founded in 2016 by former banking industry CTO, Marcelo França Corrêa, which raised $125m in a Series C funding round in June this year. Both strategies for bank-building are perfectly valid. I see partnering as being the quicker route to market, whereas ‘NbaaS’ (Neobank as a service – geddit?) offers a more bespoke ‘white label’ approach. Whichever suits best. Ana Zucato is, rightly and relentlessly, front and centre of Noh’s market visibility. Judging from the hundreds of ‘likes’ and multiple comments on her LinkedIn post, she is making real headway in changing the hearts and minds of the sceptics.

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I am thrilled to share my recent experience with PicPay, one of Brazil’s leading digital banks, with an impressive 35 million active clients! I had the opportunity to speak to some 1,500 PicPay managers about the critical role of open innovation and the transformative potential of partnerships with startups. In today’s fast-paced world, collaborating with external talent and embracing innovation isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. By working closely with startups and other dynamic players, organizations can further streamline processes, deliver exceptional customer experiences, and stay ahead in a constantly evolving market. During the session, I shared insights from Israel’s open innovation ecosystem, which is rich with vibrant startup activity. Israel’s model demonstrates how an ecosystem that brings together startups and established businesses fosters creativity and agility at all levels. My message to PicPay, and indeed to any organization aiming to lead, is that embracing external innovation is the key to staying resilient and competitive. The feedback from PicPay’s talented team was overwhelmingly positive: 79% rated the session a perfect 10, with an additional 11% rating it a 9, and 7% an 8. Thank you for the incredible feedback. Thank you, PicPay, for a memorable and inspiring day! Special thanks to Rodrigo Penteado, whom I met during my September event for Icatu Seguros and who invited me to speak here. You can read more about this (In Portuguese) here: https://lnkd.in/duxtUzTZ #openinnovation #collaboration #innovation #business #opportunities #newopportunities #expansion #globaltour #brazil #latinamerica #worldwidetour #keynotespeaker #innovationworkshop #innovationlecture #startupnation #bestpractices #corporateinnovation #speaker #lecture #workshop #workshops #artificialintelligence #AI #generativeai #genai

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The standard provided by Chainlink is powering the CBDC project for Brazil’s central bank (Banco Central do Brasil) by enabling onchain transactions to be settled with a central bank local to another country. https://lnkd.in/dzEZh5wG Drex brings together industry leaders such as Banco Central do Brasil (BCB) alongside Chainlink and others to collaborate on cross-border settlement via multi-CBDCs. https://lnkd.in/dKxCh4g4 We’re excited to work alongside Banco Central do Brasil (BCB), Microsoft, Inter&Co, and 7COMm to advance cross-border CBDC transactions for trade finance!!!! Thanks to everyone who has helped make this happen including Fabio AraujoJeff BeltrãoRoger BroganAngie WalkerMark RaynesPhD. João Paulo Aragão PereiraBruno Grossi, MScBruno MonizTiago CarvalhoSergio YamaniArnaud Lanna Chainlink LabsANBIMAInter7COMm - People and tech to transformMicrosoftBanco ItaúVince TurcotteNiki AriyasingheDavid FuchsMark RaynesRyan LovellJoAnn HealyIskra DobrevaTodd Barr

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Being able to secure custody of an asset digitally by way of tokeniztion will open up financing to many new sources of funding, and also, more importantly, funding for smaller companies who don’t have strong credit histories but have very sound businesses. This was one of the foundational ideas why Andre MΞira, Ricardo Amorim, Hugo Mathecowitsch and I decided on taking on the very difficult but rewarding area of trade finance for importation in Brazil 🇧🇷 with Lading Finance. For example, today many SME importers in brasil cannot access funding to grow their business (and the economy) as the risk and operational cost is too high for most current lenders to deal in these “small” loans. As such, based off estimates from the World Economic Forum there is a U$140B trade finance gap in Brazil alone. For those lucky enough to get funding, lack of competition and bureaucracy means time and money wasted…. The Central Bank’s Director of Monetary Policy, Gabriel Muricca Galípolo (who is also predicted to be the next Head of Brazil’s central bank Banco Central do Brasil ) stated Tuesday (13th) that Drex — the digital currency currently being developed by the institution — could bring advancements in the area of secured credit. “The structure envisioned with Drex could create advancements in collateralized credit, which could reduce spreads by lowering the risk perception of those lending the resources,” said Galípolo This is not a “plug and play” solution, a lot more digitization needs to happen yet (like electronic bills of lading, etc), but the long term plan stays in place, and it is great to see that there will be continued innovation at BACEN in the years ahead 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

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Yesterday, Rafael Cavalcanti, Head of Data and AA (Bradesco) delivered a super insightful introduction to the banks digitalization journey and how they, as one of Brazils oldest incumbent banks, leveraged data and #AdvancedAnalytics to accelerate their digital #transformation and today is seen as a dominant player in bringing vital innovation in the region. A few key takeaways: To secure a strong transformation journey, banks need to bridge wast amounts of data with business experience and more importantly have a consistent #digitalization strategy. One of the challenges that can arise however stems from cultural aspects and sharing of data across business lines. Further, it is key to incorporate a team structure with dedicated technical support per business unit linking business and technical leads. A key theme however is striking the right balance between delivering the flexibility that business demands whilst maintaining the discipline that it requires to develop, run and maintain code in production. As Bradesco is managing more than 5pb of data, supporting more than 7500 users, it is essential to have a clear strategy on how to leverage data to deliver and secure the most valuable use cases for the business teams. At AQRISK Banking Solutions we certainly recognize the need to work across the business units and secure a stronger link between IT, Business, Finance and Risk Teams in order to fully operationalize the banks risk appetite. To boost #ProfitableGrowth it is vital for banks to leverage data and Advanced Analytics to not only empower the #frontline with insights on #profitability, but systematically provide a framework that enables the frontline business to simulate any changes to a customer portfolio (credit rating, ESG scoring, interest, other income, cost, product, haircuts etc) in real time and be educated around profitability impact and thereby secure more sustainable growth. As the market is requesting more #transparency and #RelationshipBased #PriceDifferentiation, it starts with the Relationship Managers understanding underlying pricing dynamics to provide the services needed and secures other KPIs that fosters trust and improves overall #NPS. #AQOPTIMIZER #McKinsey #GDBC2024 #DigitalBanking #GenerativeAI #21Conference #GenAI

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GM from Brazil 🇧🇷! Here is an update from the ground in Rio De Janeiro. The rise of the digital banks and the young population of LatAm - so crazy to see how much Fintech is needed in this region and how easy it is to onboard the smartphone generation. Met the CTO of Nubank Vitor Olivier and was excited to see how much they are growing. How the startup community bounces back after investors poured billions during the pandemic and backed off now - like the US and Africa tons of $ poured - have now dried up but like everywhere else it doesn't seem is bad as the media makes it out since the pandemic years were crazy times now it's back to normal. This was a hit topic on many stages. Bedy Yang from 500 Global says "winter is over!" Web3 is still huge in LatAm - Bitcoin and DeFi is massive as you would expect because of the financial models here. Very excited to see more Web3 leaders emerge here. Our Newsroom is helping me remember the insights on Centre Stage: Speaking on our AI Academy stage, Fabio Costa spoke about this “big and silent revolution,” advising businesses and organizations to “take care of your data – pay attention to them, as there is no efficient GenAI without very well-structured data.” Ripple President Monica Long has said that institutional adoption of Web3 products is what sets apart the current crypto resurgence from previous cycles. and of course what we know but the world is catching up to: “Web3 is perhaps the most defining opportunity for anyone in this region [South America], but particularly for young people. If you think about what’s the opportunity for people under the age of 30 to create and have an impact in the world, I think it’s Web3.” – Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands. ....and my favorite Victoria-based startup had this to say: “We are expecting to generate more than $1 million in revenue in the next few months. ” – Dr. Karolina Valente, CEO & Founder of VoxCell BioInnovation - GO CANADA! 🇨🇦 Photo is of me, Paddy, Laura, The Mayor of Rio and 100 female founders kicking off Day 1 at Web Summit Rio 2024! Any question about where are the women founders to invest in has been answered. - The highest proportion of women founders at any Web Summit event, at 45%. - The largest gathering of women founders in South America. - 47.5% of attendees and 39% of speakers are women

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Dear friends, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re (finally) launching our set custom of gen-ai solutions for the Brazilian market at the #riosebsummit. AI is a game changer for everything analytics. It’s all in Portuguese for now (sorry!),hit me up and we can walk you through our approach and why it’s different. A hint: it’s all powered by Observable. Everything is light-weigh, modular, auditable and reproducible. You can check it out at https://ai.belo.re

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The Banco Central do Brasil (BACEN) has released Public Consultation BCB 108/2024 on #BaaS (Banking as a Service). BaaS is structured through a partnership between a financial institution, a payment institution, and other authorized entities, along with a third-party entity, aiming to provide financial or payment services. This model allows for a broader customer base and a greater diversification of products and services available to clients. However, given the risks associated with the current model, the BACEN has decided to regulate the topic and establish rules to ensure the security, stability, and #riskprevention and mitigation within the #financialsystem, while also promoting the efficiency and competitiveness of the products and services offered. In addition to general guidelines, from the foreign exchange (#FX) market perspective, the BACEN is particularly interested in gathering input on the possibility of including, within the scope of BaaS, payment transaction initiation and international payment or transfer services (#eFX). This inclusion requires additional studies and discussions related mainly to applicable business models and the existing regulatory framework for such items. In the case of eFX, the consultation focuses on aspects such as transfer amounts, the type of institution providing BaaS services, the type and size of the BaaS service client entity, and the requirement for the eFX provider to maintain an account with the same institution with which the client entity handles foreign exchange. The proposed regulation is available on the Participa + Brasil Portal (https://lnkd.in/dFnPeghx) and accessible via the Central Bank of Brazil website (www.bcb.gov.br) under the "Financial Stability" section by navigating to "Regulations," then "Public Consultations," and "Consultations and Other Active Engagements." Interested parties may submit suggestions and comments until January 31, 2025, through the links provided.

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📊 🇧🇷 #Pix is revolutionizing online payments in Brazil, now surpassing credit cards as the preferred method for e-commerce transactions! 🚀 According to a recent study by Cielo and Expertise/Opinion Box, 67% of online shoppers use Pix, while 57% use credit cards. 💳 This trend highlights the growing appeal of instant payments, with many e-commerce platforms offering discounts 💸 to encourage Pix usage. Interestingly, Pix and credit cards are tied for in-store purchases, each used by 57% of shoppers. Key insights from the research: - Almost 30% of retailers use card machines to accept Pix payments. 🏪 - 81% of retailers conduct transactions via WhatsApp. 📱 - 65% use social networks for sales, even if they have physical stores. 🌐 - 96% still rely on card machines, but 56% use payment links. 🔗 While Pix dominates the number of transactions, credit cards still lead for purchases above R$ 100 (around U$20). 💵 This suggests Pix is favored for convenience, while credit cards are trusted for higher-value purchases. These findings reflect the rapid adoption of flexible payment methods in Brazil’s retail sector, with Pix leading in transaction volume. 📈 #Ecommerce #Payments #Pix #CreditCards #RetailTrends #Cielo #OnlineShopping #CBHub #IgorPipolo #CrossBorder #Ecommerce #CrossBorderLogistics Igor Pipolo Raffaella Calfat Finsiders

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🇧🇷Brazil's largest bank, Itaú Unibanco, now offers #Bitcoin and crypto trading to all users via its Ion app, which has over 3.5M downloads 📱. Initially for select clients, the move follows strong demand and aims to boost mainstream adoption 🚀. Each user gets a separate wallet for security 🔒. A milestone for Bitcoin's financial mainstreaming in Latin America! 🌎 #Crypto #Bitcoin #Brazil https://lnkd.in/df5AkkvM

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Five big ideas from my The J Curve conversation with Marcelo França Corrêa, founder and CEO at Brazil's fintech infrastructure leader Celcoin 👇🏻 1️⃣ Three key decisions that propelled Celcoin to success: pivoting to b2b, integrating Pix and strategic M&As 🚀 Pivoting to B2B Infrastructure: Recognizing the limitations of a B2C model, Marcelo shifted Celcoin to focus on B2B payment infrastructure, enabling sustainable growth and leveraging their core strengths Integrating PIX: Instead of resisting the disruptive PIX system, Marcelo incorporated it into Celcoin’s offerings, safeguarding the business and fueling exponential growth Strategic M&A: Marcelo’s targeted acquisitions complemented Celcoin’s products, allowing rapid expansion while maintaining a strong company culture 2️⃣ Fundraising Tips: Start Early, Communicate, and Understand Expectations 💸 Build relationships early: Marcelo began investor engagement years ahead, establishing trust and credibility that paid off when funding was needed Consistent communication: regular updates on performance and milestones build investor confidence Understand stage-Specific expectations: tailor your approach to align with the distinct priorities of early and later-stage investors. For later-stage investors, emphasize key metrics, revenue quality, and scalability to demonstrate the stability and growth potential of your business 3️⃣ To build a scalable tech product, consider adopting a modular architecture 🛠️ Celcoin’s modular infrastructure allows flexibility, serving diverse clients efficiently without heavy customization, which is key to scaling 4️⃣ When growing via M&A: focus on strategic fit, prioritize product and cultural integration, and build a playbook for integration 🤝 Strategic fit: acquisitions should complement your existing capabilities and align with long-term goals Integration focus: success lies in integrating products and maintaining the acquired company’s culture to preserve innovation Create a playbook: A systematic approach to integration maximizes value and minimizes disruption. 5️⃣ The fintech infrastructure market in Brazil alone is worth at least $20 Billion and is poised to grow rapidly 🌐 The future of financial services in Brazil is being shaped by regulatory changes, digital payments, embedded finance, and open banking. For fintech infrastructure startups, this represents a vast and growing revenue opportunity. Startups that can build scalable, flexible infrastructure solutions will be well-positioned to lead in this rapidly evolving market Check out our newsletter for more takeaways from this conversation 🔗⬇️ #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #leadership #thejcurvepodcast

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Driving Financial Innovation with DREX! The Central Bank of Brazil and consortia of financial institutions, fintechs, and tech companies are transforming the national market with DREX, Brazil’s digital currency. Through collaboration, they’re developing secure, agile, and inclusive solutions for the future of finance. Projects like the Receivables Assignment, which uses blockchain to turn card receivables into digital tokens, are just the beginning of a more flexible, inclusive financial ecosystem! https://lnkd.in/dsazQQcE #FinancialInnovation #DREX #DigitalCurrency #Blockchain #FutureOfFinance

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🌟 Proud to share this comprehensive report on Investing in Minas Gerais (my state) from the Financial Times! 🚀 🔍 Key Insights: - Minas Gerais: Brazil's bellwether state, reflecting the nation's diverse political, economic, and social fabric. - Governor Romeu Zema: A potential dark horse in Brazil's next presidential race, navigating the delicate balance between business and politics. - Belo Horizonte: Embracing tech and quality of life initiatives to rejuvenate Brazil's first large planned city, confronting modern-day challenges head-on. - Brumadinho Dam Disaster: The 2019 tragedy continues to shape global mining industry standards, highlighting the importance of safety and transparency. - Lithium Potential: Minas Gerais emerges as a hotspot for lithium exploration, revitalizing regions once overlooked. - Niobium Niche: Delving into the energy sector, Brazilian niobium gains attention with implications for global markets. 📈 Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights into how Minas Gerais is driving Brazil's future! Dive deeper into the report here: #Investing #MinasGerais #Brazil #Economy #Insights 🇧🇷 https://lnkd.in/dGmJmUrr

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I had a great time recording this episode with Manoel Lemos, full of incredibly interesting stories and very insightful views on global expansion, Silicon Valley and the future of AI. I hope you like it! Hey-ho, Manoel!

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A Major Milestone in Technology in Brazil and… in My Career 🚀 I am thrilled to share a significant achievement: I led the delivery of the FIRST PUBLIC TOKENIZED COMMERCIAL INVOICE (Nota comercial) in Brazil at Liqi Digital Assets! 🎉 When I joined Liqi just a few months ago, after three years deeply involved in the blockchain market, my goal was clear: to develop projects that drive innovation and transform the Brazilian financial market. After just four months, I am proud to announce that my first project was: THE tokenization of a commercial invoice! And… it was a resounding success! What We Achieved: 🔹 Tokenization of R$ 40 million (≈ 7 million dollars) in commercial invoice: We transformed a traditional debt instrument into 40,000 tokens, each representing R$ 1,000. 🔹 Automation and Reliability: We encoded all business rules and legal contracts into smart contracts, designed for the next five and a half years. The payment of debt installments is fully automated, ushering in a new era of efficiency in financial operations. 🔹 Innovation in Post-Fixed Debt: For the first time, Liqi implemented a post-fixed debt using Fact Finance’s oracle, which brings information from a Brazilian market index directly to the blockchain, ensuring reliability and accuracy in indexing. 🔹 Efficiency and Security: We utilized blockchain technology and smart contracts to ensure a transparent, secure operation with significant cost reductions. 🔹 Democratized Access: We facilitated investment access for a broader range of investors, promoting financial inclusion and greater market participation. Special Thanks to: 🌟 Liqi’s Technology, Product, Marketing and Business Teams: Daniel Coquieri, Fabio Santos, André Pina, Persio Flexa, Karen Lopes, Marcio Ribeiro, Victor Yen, Fernanda Garanhani, William Fabre, Thiago Santos, Jose Airton, Felipe Prado, Gabriel Moreira, Izabella Ribeiro, André Gomes, Hudson Salles, Jorge Claudio, Philippe Lima, Leonardo Alexandre, Raine Bernadoque and Claudia Bukowski, Gabriel Ferreirinho, and Flavia Jabur. Without the dedication, innovation, and expertise of every team member, this project would not have been possible. When we work with purpose, focus, and unity, innovative results emerge. You were simply exceptional! 🌟 Our Partners: Itaú BBA, Oliveira Trust, Laqus, and VBSO Advogados. The collaboration between our teams was crucial to the success of this initiative. 🌟 CVM: For creating a regulatory environment that enabled the realization of this innovative offering. This achievement is a powerful testament to how technology can transform traditional sectors and create new opportunities. I am immensely grateful for the trust and the effort of the team who worked tirelessly to make this a reality. This is a milestone not just for Liqi, but for the entire Brazilian technology market. Newspaper articles in the comments 👇 #Technology #Blockchain #Tokenization #Innovation #FinancialMarket #AmazingTeam #DigitalTransformation

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We’re excited to announce that Brazil’s central bank (Banco Central do Brasil) is using Chainlink in its CBDC project for trade finance, alongside Microsoft, Inter & Co, and 7COMm. CCIP enables cross-currency, cross-border, cross-chain transactions to be settled securely: https://lnkd.in/evJ4JhDF The Drex CBDC project leverages Chainlink and #blockchain technology to automate supply chain management and improve trade finance processes. Specifically, the implementation involves tokenizing an Electronic Bill of Lading (eBoL) onchain and using supply chain data to trigger payments throughout the shipping process. Chainlink CCIP enables secure interoperability between the CBDCs of Brazil and a central bank local to another country, ensuring that transactions are compatible and settled efficiently. The project demonstrates how onchain trade finance unlocks Delivery versus Payment (DvP) and Payment versus Payment (PvP), providing greater efficiency in the global supply chain, as well as increased security and transparency in the international trade of agricultural commodities. Drex brings together industry leaders such as Banco Central do Brasil (BCB), Chainlink, and others to collaborate on cross-border settlement via multi-CBDCs. Microsoft is supporting Drex to "not only broaden access to intelligent financial services but to play a key role in the development of the nation’s economy." Banco Inter, the financial super app serving over 31 million users, sees this as an “exciting moment for Brazil.”

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