Ep. 106: The PropTech sector makes a comeback with MoradaUno
Plus, Amazon X Jüsto, renewable energy in Mexico, Fintech Monet new milestone, and more!
Your weekly newsletter on technology, VCs, and startups in Spanish-speaking Latin America.
Follow The Money
🇲🇽 MoradaUno US$5.6 million Series A
Mexico City-based Proptech MoradaUno aims to simplify apartment rentals in Latin America by underwriting tenant risk and reducing restrictive requirements, like high deposits and local guarantors, which often make renting challenging. Partnering with real estate brokers, the startup offers services such as tenant screening, income verification, and optional legal and home insurance. With the recent funding, the team plans to expand across Mexico, develop a Fintech solution, and provide brokers with AI-powered tools to improve rental accessibility and efficiency.
Sector: Proptech
Founders: Santiago Morales, Ines Gamboa Sorensen, Diego Llano
Investors: Flourish Ventures, Cometa, Clocktower Ventures, Picus Capital, Y Combinator
🇨🇱 Brota Superfoods won US$ 630,000
Chilean Foodtech Brota Superfoods won the Manutara Ventures Challenge, receiving a US$630,000 investment to support its U.S. expansion via Miami. Brota Superfoods leverages AI to innovate in functional foods. The challenge, involving 120 applicants, aim to promotes Latin American startups’ growth in the U.S. Manutara Ventures, a Chilean venture capital fund, has pledged additional investments in two other finalists.
Sector: Foodtech
Founders: Hermann Hinrichsen, Nicolás Alfsen
Investors: Manutara Venture
Startups News
Nu México expands its deposit options
Nu México, through a partnership with FINABIEN and Arcus by Mastercard, has expanded deposit options for Cuenta Nu users, who can now make deposits at FINABIEN’s 1,700 branches across Mexico, including rural areas. This initiative aims to support financial inclusion, catering to those reliant on cash and providing greater accessibility to secure financial services without hidden fees. With FINABIEN, Nu México extends its network to 98% of Mexican municipalities.
Amazon partners with Jüsto
Amazon has partnered with Mexican online supermarket Jüsto to offer rapid delivery of fresh groceries, targeting select areas in southern Mexico City. This collaboration marks Amazon's first grocery partnership in Mexico with a fully digital supermarket, highlighting shared values in customer experience and support for local small businesses. Through Amazon Fresh, this partnership allows customers access to about 7,000 products, enhancing Amazon’s foothold in Mexico’s online grocery market.
🇨🇴 Fintech Monet issued 500,000 loans
Colombian Fintech Monet issued 500,000 loans totaling US$ 9 million, with 35% of these loans going to women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The loans primarily support public service payments, debt management, and groceries. Addressing gender gaps, Monet aims to improve financial inclusion through digitalization, regulatory adjustments, and education programs. Despite progress, challenges persist as women in Colombia have less access to formal credit and savings than men, leading many to resort to informal, high-interest loans.
Economy
🇲🇽 Private sector to invest up to US$9 billion in renewable energy
Mexico's private sector plans to invest up to US$9 billion in renewable energy, adding between 6,400-9,550MW of installed capacity, according to Energy Minister. This investment, driven by recent energy reforms allowing private companies to generate 46% of the country's electricity, aligns with Mexico’s energy transition goals and aims to foster local development and nearshoring opportunities. In parallel, the state utility CFE will invest US$23 billion, focusing on generation, transmission, and distribution.
The CAF is back to the London Stock Exchange
The Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) marked its return to the London Stock Exchange with a significant bond issuance of £1 billion (US$1.29 billion) for a 5-year term, the largest order book for any sterling transaction on the exchange in 2024. This move underscores CAF's commitment to mobilizing international capital for sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean, aligning with its 2026 strategy to become the region’s green bank. The issuance attracted robust interest from UK and global investors.
Expansion Plans
🇨🇴 Carryt to expand into Portugal
Colombian logistics startup Carryt has announced its expansion into Portugal, investing US$ 11 million over the next five years to strengthen its technological capabilities. The startup acquired a software development team in Vila Real to enhance its expertise in artificial intelligence. The new team will focus on developing advanced logistics technologies, including route optimization and Fintech solutions, to support Carryt’s European expansion. This move allows Carryt to leverage Portugal’s tech ecosystem, access top talent, and explore new collaboration opportunities across Europe.
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Arnaud