LatAm’s $360 Million Week | Ep. 125
Merama $215 million new funding, Felix $75 million Series B, Addi $70 million credits, and more!
Your weekly newsletter on technology, VCs, and startups in Spanish-speaking Latin America.
Startups raised over US$ 360 million last week, a strong signal that capital is flowing steadily into the region despite broader market caution.
The largest raise came from Mexico’s Merama, which secured a massive US$215 million round to fuel its e-commerce empire. Followed by Mexican fintech Félix US$75 million Series B to expand its WhatsApp-based remittance platform. Not far behind, Colombia’s buy-now-pay-later startup Addi added a fresh US$70 million in credit lines.
Let’s see if the region can keep its momentum in the face of the new trade war launched by the U.S. or if we are in for a funding winter longer than a Game of Thrones series.
Follow The Money
🇲🇽 Merama secures US$215 million in new funding
Merama, an e-commerce holding startup, has secured US$215 million in a funding round consisting of US$45 million in equity, and a US$170 million revolving credit line. Merama invests in and provides technology to e-commerce businesses, having acquired over 20 brands across Latin America. The startup plans to use the funds to enhance working capital, expand manufacturing and logistics capabilities, and pursue strategic acquisitions for its key brands, including Growth Supplements and Mercadazo.
Sector: E-commerce
Founders: Sujay Tyle, Felipe Delgado, Olivier Scialom, Renato Andrade
Investors: 3G Capital, Advent International, SoftBank, Valor Capital, BTG Pactual, Citigroup, and Itaú
🇲🇽 Félix raises a US$75 million Series B round
Remittance startup Félix Pago has raised US$75 million in a Series B round led by QED Investors to expand its operations across Central America. The Fintech enables users to send cross-border payments via WhatsApp, and plans to use the funding to strengthen its presence in countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, while further developing its AI-powered chatbot infrastructure. The startup mission is to make remittances faster, cheaper, and more accessible for underbanked populations in the region.
Sector: FinTech
Founders: Bernardo García, Manuel Godoy
Investors: QED Investors, Monashees, Switch Ventures, Castle Island, HTwenty, General Catalyst
🇨🇴 Addi secures US$70 million in new credit lines
Addi is a Colombian "buy now, pay later" Fintech specializing in consumer loans and digital payments. Founded in 2018, the startup currently serves nearly two million users and has partnerships with over 18,000 merchants in Colombia. This funding aims to enhance Addi’s existing credit offerings, accelerate growth, and strengthen its technological capabilities, allowing it to reach a broader range of clients and merchants.
Sector: FinTech
Founders: Santiago Suárez, Daniel Vallejo, Élmer Ortega
Investors: Goldman Sachs, Fasanara Capital
🇦🇷 Autonomy raises a US$1.5 million round
Autonomy is an Argentine platform offering flexible vehicle financing solutions. This funding round will support Autonomy's mission to facilitate vehicle ownership through innovative credit options, including rent-to-own schemes, for individuals who typically lack access to traditional financing. The platform collaborates with multiple manufacturers and dealerships across Argentina to provide a range of vehicles tailored to users' needs.
Sector: FinTech
Founders: José Trusso
Investors: BFL Invest, Murchison Ventures
🇵🇾 Autograph raises a US$2.6 million Pre-seed round
Autograph is a Paraguayan startup focused on preserving personal and family legacies. The platform uses AI to conduct weekly interviews with users or their relatives, transforming these conversations into a dynamic archive of stories, reflections, and life lessons. The goal is to help people document their values, memories, and experiences in a personalized and accessible format. The funds will be used to expand the team, refine the technology, and position Autograph in global markets as a solution for families looking to preserve their heritage through digital storytelling.
Sector: SaaS
Founders: Cristian Cibils Bernardes, Santiago Racca
Investors: NFX, Long Journey, Embedding VC, Cibersons
🇨🇱 Soyio raises a US$1 million Pre-seed round
Chilean privacy-focused startup Soyio has raised US$1 million in a pre-seed round to strengthen its digital identity and personal data protection platform. With upcoming regulatory changes in Chile, the startup aims to offer users more control over their personal data and help organizations comply with new privacy standards. The funds will be used to accelerate product development and expand Soyio’s reach in the cybersecurity and digital identity space, with a focus on scalable solutions for both individuals and companies.
Sector: Privacy Tech
Founders: Óscar Quevedo, Matías Menich
Investors: Consorcio, Platanus Ventures, Devlabs, 99startups
Startups News
🇨🇴 Liquitech partners with Kredit Plus
Liquitech, a Colombian fintech specializing in electronic factoring, has formed a strategic alliance with Kredit Plus, a company focused on payroll deduction loans (libranzas). This partnership involves Kredit Plus becoming a shareholder in Liquitech, providing significant financial backing and expertise in corporate governance and debt structuring. Kredit Plus, established in 2014, manages a payroll deduction loans portfolio exceeding US$ 375 million. Liquitech, with over six years in the industry, has facilitated more than US$ 250 million in factoring transactions for over 2,000 national companies.
VC - M&A News
Techstars alumni launch the Caribbean Venture Collective
Techstars alumni Daniel Smith and Mita Carriman have launched the Caribbean Venture Collective (CVC), a global network and founder fellowship program aimed at closing the longstanding gap in venture support for founders with ties to the Caribbean. The CVC seeks to increase visibility and access to capital for Caribbean innovators, addressing the region's underrepresentation in the global startup ecosystem.
Economy
Colombia is seeking new financing sources
Colombia is seeking new international financing sources to address its fiscal challenges, with debt levels surpassing 60% of GDP and threatening adherence to the nation's fiscal rule. Finance Minister Germán Ávila announced plans to engage with markets and multilateral banks across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia to diversify funding avenues. Despite first-quarter tax collections exceeding targets by 700 billion pesos (US$168.8 million), Ávila emphasized the need for increased revenue and did not rule out additional spending cuts. He also indicated a probable upward revision of the country's 2025 economic growth forecast from 2.6% to 2.8%.
Expansion Plans
🇨🇱 Intelimed to expand into Mexico
Intelimed, a Chilean medical imaging platform, is expanding into Brazil and Mexico. The startup aggregates software and AI solutions from approximately 27 global providers, including technologies for X-rays, MRIs, mammograms, and CT scans. This integration allows healthcare providers to access diverse diagnostic tools through a single platform. In Chile, Intelimed has partnered with Clínica Alemana and initiated five pilot projects. In Mexico, they are collaborating with Grupo Río, a laboratory network based in Guadalajara. Future plans also include expansion into Peru.
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Abrazo,
Arnaud
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