Week 7, 2024 - Latin America

"One can't fight with oneself, for this battle has only one loser.” - Mario Vargas Llosa (Peruvian novelist, journalist, essayist and former politician)

MARKETS

February 15, End Of Day

• Argentina S&P MERVAL Index = 1,093,751.66 (YTD = 17.65%)
• Brazil BOVESPA Index = 127,804.13 (YTD = -4.76%)
• Chile S&P IPSA Chile = 3,453.73 (YTD = -0.40%)
• Colombia MSCI COLCAP = 1,246.31 (YTD = 3.84%)
• Mexico IPC Mexico BMV = 57,251.89 (YTD = -0.23%)
• Peru S&P/BVL Peru = 27,897.73 (YTD = 7.46%)

TECH

Fundraising picks of the week

iZi: They facilitate management information for business decisions and empower SMC sales channels through Fintech solutions. Their platform features over 750 clients, a remarkable 95% renewal rate, and has been cash positive since March 2023. Dive deeper into the case here.

Mokens League: The platform has quickly garnered attention with 68,000 pre-registered users and more than 140 unique NFT designs tailored for e-sports and streaming. This multiplayer and multiplatform initiative supports cross-play from day one. Dive deeper into the case here.

Beu: Beu is revolutionizing monetization and ownership for creators. In its first 15 months, Beu achieved a remarkable 2.6M with a consistent growth rate of over 30% MoM. Dive deeper into the case here.

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Dive deeper into other fundraising firms in LatAm here.

More in tech - Runways of LatAm SaaS

The State of SaaS LatAm shows the robustness of runway lengths across the startup spectrum, which highlights the financial sustainability, resilience and strategic financial planning prevalent among these companies. Here's a more detailed look:

• Extended Runway: It's notable that the median LatAm companies with more than US$1 million in ARR boast runways that are 15 months longer than their counterparts in the US. This extended runway is consistent across both the median and the top decile of companies surveyed.

• Implications: This disparity in runway length between LatAm and US startups underscores a more conservative or efficient approach to capital utilization among LatAm SaaS companies. It may also reflect broader regional characteristics, such as the challenges in securing funding and the necessity of managing resources judiciously.
• Strategic Financial Management: The findings suggest that LatAm SaaS startups, whether bootstrapped or VC-backed, tend to adopt strategic financial management practices that allow them to sustain operations longer on their available capital. This approach is critical in a market where funding rounds can be less frequent and more competitive, forcing startups to prioritize longevity and operational efficiency.
• Market Resilience: The extended runways of LatAm SaaS startups not only highlight the resilience of these companies in navigating financial challenges but also reflect a strategic emphasis on achieving sustainability and growth within a context of financial prudence. This resilience positions them well for enduring success and stability in the dynamic SaaS market.

CURRENT AFFAIRS

Colombia: Colombia has secured over €1.1 billion in loans to support its budget and peace initiatives. The Finance Ministry confirmed two €300 million loans from Germany's KfW bank, and an additional loan combining contributions from the Inter-American Development Bank and KfW, totaling around €605 million. This funding reflects Colombia's ongoing partnership with Germany on peace and development, coinciding with an increase in the country's fiscal deficit goal to 5.3% of GDP to foster economic growth.

Chile: Chile's central bank reduced its benchmark rate by 100 basis points to 7.25% in January, after considering cuts up to 150 basis points to combat inflation. The decision aimed to prevent market volatility and reflected consensus on inflation's quicker-than-expected approach to the 3% target. Despite sector disruptions, economic activity met forecasts. Analysts anticipate a further cut to 6.25% by April.

Nicaragua: In Nicaragua, over 400 baby Paslama turtles were released into the Pacific at the Rio Escalante Chacocente wildlife reserve as part of a conservation campaign to protect endangered turtle species. This initiative, titled "Together We Conserve Our Sea Turtles," aims to address threats like habitat loss, poaching, and climate change impacting sea turtle populations.

FURTHER READING

???Want to know the key elements of a winning SaaS deck?

We understand that building a Pitch Deck is hard, and entrepreneurs rarely get honest and actionable feedback on theirs. Stella (Jeehyon) Yoh, Principal at SOSV and Orbit Startups, joins us to explore pitch decks from SaaS startups, providing valuable insights and perspectives as an engaged investor in the industry.

???Watch here.

Thanks to the startups included!

BucksApp: Data analytics for banks.

tuGerente: Financial & Inventory Management for SMEs in Latam.

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