Eduardo Brandel

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.

39

3 Comments

Circle Forum São Paulo Andre Portilho emphasized the next 2 golden years for the development of digital assets in Brazil and Spencer Spinnell classified this special moment, the collaboration of our regulator, Banco Central do Brasil and all the market players, as “The perfect storm in a positive way”. PAGOS PAGOS Associação Gestão Meios Pagamentos Eletrônicos André Luiz Marcelino Antunes Gabriel Della Torre Zuvia #token #cbdc #stablecoin #blockchain #digitalassets João Carlos Brunhera

36

2 Comments

"#X Announces Closure of Operations in #Brazil" #X, formerly known as #Twitter, announced today that it is shutting down its operations in #Brazil due to ongoing legal conflicts with #SupremeCourt Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Despite this, the social media platform will remain accessible to #Brazilian users. The move follows threats of arrest against #X's legal representative in #Brazil if the company fails to comply with court orders to block certain accounts as part of an election disinformation investigation. In a statement, #X emphasized that the safety of its staff is a priority, leading to the decision to end operations in the country. The company criticized Moraes for what it described as censorship orders, asserting that #Braziliancitizens must choose between democracy and the actions of Alexandre de Moraes. This development marks a significant escalation in the tensions between the platform and Brazil's judicial system. #Provelopers #XPlatform #Brazil #Censorship #SupremeCourt #SocialMedia #LegalDispute #FreedomOfSpeech

3

I'm thrilled to share this insightful video from my fellow co-founder, Dan Diachenko. His thoughtful breakdown of key legal considerations for nearshore IT operations in LATAM is a must-watch. Don't miss out on these valuable insights! 🌟 #LATAM #IT #talent #legalissues #innovation #cto

5

Carlos Moreira, a multi-award-winning technology pioneer, has long championed the preservation of human identity and privacy in the digital realm. His journey began in 1989 when he recognized the implications of the World Wide Web's rapid evolution. Although originally designed by Tim Berners-Lee to facilitate information sharing among scientists, the web did not differentiate between machines and humans. Carlos foresaw that this shortcoming would lead to data protection issues, where identities are owned by platforms rather than individuals. Carlos firmly believes that privacy is a basic human right, increasingly endangered by the digital economy and surveillance capitalism, a concept coined by Shoshana Zuboff in 2018. Today, every click, search, or like is monetized, converting personal data into assets for profit. He warns of a growing domestication where decision rights vanish before individuals even realize a choice exists. To counter this, he advocates for a human-rights-based approach that recognizes every "netizen" as a dignified moral being. Without this shift, digital connectivity will remain a troubling blend of empowerment and diminishment. In line with his vision, Carlos works with the OISTE Foundation to protect the right to privacy in the digital age, building on UN resolutions focused on human rights. His extensive experience in IT, online security, and trust management led him to found WISeKey, one of the world's first cybersecurity companies. Residing in Geneva, Switzerland, Carlos continues to lead initiatives to construct a technological environment that carefully manages the convergence of humanity and technology. Carlos actively educates and engages global citizens on how technology shapes our lives. He emphasizes that technological advancements must align with human progress, not merely serve technology’s interests. He believes that getting technology governance right is critical. He has spearheaded the TransHuman Code movement to redefine human needs in light of AI, blockchain, cybersecurity, IoT, and robotics. This movement offers insights into how technology is transforming education, employment, security, and other key areas. Currently, Carlos is exploring the implications of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). He believes that mastering AGI will require innovative techniques, like creating machine learning algorithms capable of unsupervised learning and cognitive architectures that replicate the brain’s function. For Carlos, the key lies in human-machine collaboration, where humans provide creativity and ethical guidance while machines offer computational power. His dedication to preserving human identity and privacy remains constant. By anticipating the challenges and opportunities of technology since the web's inception, he advocates for innovations that respect human dignity and ensure that privacy is upheld as a fundamental right in the digital age. https://lnkd.in/e2G-SPfu

4

For those wondering what "practical use cases" we will see in the future as AI evolves in tech, check out this cool article on Lenovo's AI-powered sign-language translation tool. https://lnkd.in/d5bGkW3z

17

𝘼𝙢𝙞𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙚𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙈𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙇𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩. 1️⃣ MercadoLibre Inc. surpassed Brazilian energy producer Petrobras as the most valuable company in Latin America after its second-quarter earnings beat analyst estimates. This led to an 11% surge in shares and a market capitalization of $90 billion. 2️⃣ The company reported doubling profits from the previous year, with net revenue reaching $5.1 billion and net income at $531 million, exceeding Wall Street expectations. Its fintech platform showed substantial growth, with a record number of users. 3️⃣ MercadoLibre's core e-commerce and electronic payments businesses thrived, with gross merchandise value jumping 20% to $12.6 billion, fueled by strong performances in Brazil and Mexico. 4️⃣ Financial services expansion was evident as the company issued 1.6 million new credit cards and saw its credit portfolio in Mexico exceed $1.5 billion. Mercado Pago, its payments platform, surpassed 50 million active users for the first time. 5️⃣ The company demonstrated resilience amid macroeconomic challenges, including devaluations in Argentina and currency volatility in Brazil and Mexico. Despite these challenges, MercadoLibre remains optimistic about the region's digitalization trends and long-term prospects.

3

In a recent visit to a client in Brazil, I had the opportunity to engage in great conversations about the importance of responsible AI practices in business and government. During our discussion, I referenced an article from MIT that sheds light on the use cases and warns about data bias in many legacy systems. Check out the article here: #responsibleai #aiforgood #aidata #learnitall #msadvocate https://lnkd.in/ehpKu3qy

8

Discover the power of AI and MongoDB in revolutionizing business outcomes! Join Victor Hochgreb de Freitas, CEO & Founder at GoBots, Lin Qiao, CEO & Co-Founder at Fireworks AI, and Industry Analyst, Maribel Lopez for a fireside chat on: - AI's impact across industries and diverse use cases. - Overcoming infrastructure challenges for automation, personalization, and real-time transactions. - GoBots and Fireworks' partnership journey with MongoDB. - Leveraging vector search and databases for a competitive edge. Sign up to start your AI journey today with MongoDB Atlas. Don't miss this insightful webinar! https://lnkd.in/gdsrT9We

4

It was inspiring to hear from Renato Feder, Satvinder Singh, and Thiago Luiz Charnet Ellero about the many ways Brazilian customers are leading with AI innovation. Secretaria da Educação, Banco Itaú, and LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) are re-energizing their workforces, elevating customer experiences, and driving change in their communities. I felt a special energy during the Microsoft AI Tour in Brazil, and I can't wait to see where they take this technology next!   What innovative uses of AI have inspired you?   #AI #SMC #DigitalTransformation #Brazil

141

3 Comments

big tech attitude sucks. big gov attitude (or wet wishes) are not welcome either. censorship and non-anonymity suck. anonymity is security's 5th missing goal (besides integrity, confidentiality, authenticity, authority). and "availability" must not imply operational dependency, thus true decentralized operation and governance is required. - yeah. W.I.P ;)

1

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝘅 𝘔𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 Henrique Dubugras and Pedro Franceschi’s journey began in the vibrant world of coding communities, where their shared passion for technology and entrepreneurship brought them together. Both had already tasted success with their startups in Brazil, but they yearned for something bigger. Their paths converged in Silicon Valley, the heart of innovation, where they decided to drop out of Stanford and chase their dreams. 𝘐𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 One evening, as they brainstormed over coffee, they found themselves frustrated by a common problem: the lack of financial services tailored for startups. Traditional banks were hesitant to issue credit cards to new businesses without a credit history. This sparked an idea. What if they could create a corporate credit card specifically designed for startups? Their passion ignited, and they dove headfirst into this new venture. 𝘔𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 Their journey was not a straight path to success. They faced numerous challenges and setbacks, but each small victory fueled their determination. They celebrated every milestone, no matter how minor, and used these successes to keep their passion alive. Their innovative solution, Brex, offered higher credit limits and better rewards without requiring a personal guarantee, filling a significant gap in the market. 𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 Leveraging their network in Silicon Valley, Henrique and Pedro secured significant funding early on. They raised $125 million at a $1.1 billion valuation just four months after Brex’s public launch. This financial backing allowed them to scale rapidly and invest in growth, but it was their unwavering passion that truly set them apart. 𝘙𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 Brex’s rapid growth was a testament to their innovative product, strong network, and customer-centric approach. The company quickly became a billion-dollar business, disrupting the fintech industry and inspiring entrepreneurs worldwide. Henrique and Pedro’s journey from Stanford dropouts to billion-dollar entrepreneurs is a powerful reminder that passion, when coupled with a clear vision and strategic execution, can lead to extraordinary achievements. Their story is a beacon of inspiration, showing that with passion, persistence, and a willingness to celebrate small wins, even the most ambitious dreams can become reality. https://lnkd.in/e7zfegDi

4

Phone theft is a big and growing problem.  It used to be about stealing the phone itself – but now it is more about stealing the phone to get access to all the important data (like your bank account, passwords, and more) While visiting the team in Brazil last year I heard from local Googlers that people had been getting really good at grabbing your phone while it’s unlocked, in your hands. The perpetrators move quickly to open the camera app (so your phone won’t lock itself), then go through all your apps resetting passwords, using NFC payments around town and causing mayhem.  After talking to a lot of people during that trip, including local law enforcement, I connected with the team back at home to ask how we could help solve this problem.  Just eight months later, incredibly, the team had built a robust set of proactive security features that can help keep your devices and data more secure: * Theft Detection Lock: Uses signals like accelerometer data to sense if someone has grabbed your phone and tries to run (or drive or bike) away.  * Remote Lock: Lets you lock your phone from any other device using your phone number and a simple security check.  * New authentication requirements in Android 15 for commonly targeted settings, like removing the SIM or disabling Find My Device. After multiple failed auth attempts, your device will lock down. That's pretty cool! We’re committed to creating a more secure experience on Android, and features like this are helping us get there. If you want to learn more, check out this Made by Google podcast episode:  https://lnkd.in/gks5J7py Huge thanks to the team for making this update possible!

1,136

46 Comments

#Brazil and #Japan’s deep-rooted relationships are seeing even more synergy with the growth of #Web3, with both governments and companies alike helping to forge a path ahead. My latest commentary highlights Brazil’s embrace of Web3, how Japan’s Web3 strategy aligns with Brazil, and the potential economic benefits for both countries. Thank you to HackerNoon for publishing my latest article. #EconomicCooperation #BrazilJapan #Drex #DigitalCurrency #SupplyChainTechnology https://lnkd.in/gVKQ8zQy

27

OLX is rife with con people. If you try using that app, every morning 5 or 6 users will try to con you, and then OLX will also try to sell you the extras undeterred by the fact that users are reporting abuse at such a high rate. That place is crawling with con users! It is so dumb that all of these con people have same way of operating too, they form a new user at around mid night and start right in the morning, so if you see the user is brand new you know that it would be a con guy. Then they agree to the price you quote without negotiation, where does that happen in India? and lastly, they want to use Paytm or other app where they send you a split-the-bill request and ask you to do an 'ok' where you make a payment while he is telling you that you will receive a payment. Its like there is a whatsapp group which told them what to do and they are just doing the same. First it was getting very annoying, then I thought 'What the hell NP Singh, this is a gold mine!' Next time someone pinged me and I did my due diligence, I would send in my number, 'Hello friend, please note my number 95607 02407, you will need it soon. The path you are on will bring you to me, I am a lawyer!' Then, I do feel for these people who are faking confidence and hence called 'con'. I really like this quote by  Bertolt Brecht, “Bank robbery is an initiative of amateurs. True professionals establish a bank.” I get so tempted to tell our con friend that he/she should use the talent in business or politics, in which case I could really help in the 'growth' rather than just fighting a small time criminal case of 426/420 IPC which is counter productive and absolute waste of time. #criminallaw #commerciallaw #criminallitigation #lawyering #npslo

4

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻: 𝗫𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗠! 🌐📍 This new event series combines the global reach of TCC with the regional expertise of ITSitio Group to help tech vendors, solution providers, and channel decision-makers build strategic partnerships that drive success. Learn more! ➡️ https://okt.to/jvohKA #xchange

5

Financial Times brings an interesting profile article on the Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes. The Supreme Court Justice recently has taken a significant step to defend democracy by banning X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, due to its failure to manage hate speech and misinformation effectively. This ruling affects approximately 20 million users and emphasizes the country's constitutional right to protect democratic values. Many view Moraes as a champion of democracy, applauding his commitment to ensuring that social media platforms uphold responsible communication. While some skeptics label the move as censorship, supporters argue that it is crucial for safeguarding public discourse and maintaining the integrity of information in Brazil. #Democracy #JusticeMoraes #FreedomOfSpeech #ConstitutionalRights #SocialMediaRegulation #Misinformation FT article: Alexandre de Moraes, the steely Brazilian judge facing down Musk https://on.ft.com/3z8A5kq

11

For AI to be a great equalizer, we need to work together to create the conditions for inclusive education and AI-driven innovation at a local level.   One incredible example of this is in Brazil, in one of Rio de Janeiro’s most vulnerable communities, Cidade de Deus. It is here that our partners, INPAR and Recode, are working together to offer mentoring programs and free courses on Microsoft 365 and AI to help young people apply AI to solve real-world problems in their community.   I am inspired by the incredible story of Joao Lucas, who joined the program at 17 years old, and has seized the opportunity to shape his future for positive social impact. Watch his journey below.

93

7 Comments