Week 19, 2024 - Latin America

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The subscription economy refers to a business model where customers pay a recurring fee at regular intervals to access a product or service. This model is increasingly important in Latin America due to its ability to provide stable, predictable revenue streams for companies and enhanced convenience for consumers. The Stripe report...
Published on
May 10, 2024

“This world's not going to change unless we're willing to change ourselves.” -  Rigoberta Menchú (Guatemalan Nobel Peace Prize laureate)

MARKETS

May 9, End Of Day

TECH

Subscription economy

The subscription economy refers to a business model where customers pay a recurring fee at regular intervals to access a product or service. This model is increasingly important in Latin America due to its ability to provide stable, predictable revenue streams for companies and enhanced convenience for consumers. The Stripe report predicts that the market nearly doubles in next three years.

As technology advances and consumer behaviors shift towards more personalized and hassle-free solutions, the subscription model is becoming a dominant strategy across various sectors like media, software, and transportation. In Latin America, this trend is further driven by the growing accessibility to digital payments and an expanding middle class seeking new consumption patterns.

1. Growth Driven by Pandemic and Digital Transformation: The subscription economy in Latin America saw a significant boost during the COVID-19 pandemic, registering a growth of 30% in 2020 and 2021. This growth is attributed to the accelerated digital transformation in the region, making it easier for consumers to access subscription services.

2. Predicted Market Growth: The subscription economy in Latin America is expected to reach $20 billion in 2023 and is projected to nearly double by 2026. The drivers of this growth include digital acceleration, increased credit card access, and shifts in consumer preferences.

3. Market Segmentation and Evolution: The report segments the subscription industry into three main sectors:

- Consolidated sectors: Include media, digital services, and software, which currently generate most revenues.

- Growing sectors: Include retail, gaming, education, and healthcare, where traditional models are still prevalent but are gradually shifting towards subscription models.

- Emerging sectors: Include business services, mobility, tech devices, and hospitality, exploring innovative recurring models.

Fundraising picks of the week

Ualabee: Ualabee offers data solutions that enhance urban mobility by integrating multiple transport operators into a single platform. Serving over 3 million users across 30 cities, their B2B offerings include trip planning and mobility analytics, utilized by prestigious clients such as Google and the World Bank. Get to know the case here.

Cuadds: Productivity tool designed with Lego-like elements, offering flexibility and power in managing tasks, projects, files, and messaging all-in-one unified platform. Get to know the case here.

Talo Pay Inc.: Talo Payments is specializing in crypto payments infrastructure for businesses. They have reached 150 new customers in Q4 2024 and achieved a 50% month-over-month revenue growth since launching their Tiendanube Integration. Get to know the case here.

Interested in Latin American startups? Subscribe here to get startups’ monthly progress updates in the verticals that interest you the most.

Dive deeper into other fundraising firms in LatAm here.

CURRENT AFFAIRS

Colombia: Colombia's state-controlled oil company, Ecopetrol, is considering participating directly in the country's first offshore wind auction, aiming to diversify into renewable energy. The government requires bidders to partner with public or mixed-ownership entities, a criteria Ecopetrol could meet. The company is currently evaluating its potential role and exploring partnerships for developing offshore wind projects, aligning with broader national goals to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Paraguay: Paraguay is negotiating a $1.5 billion gas pipeline project to connect with Argentina and Brazil, offering an alternative to a similar Bolivian proposal. This initiative aims to utilize gas from Argentina's Vaca Muerta region and would run through Paraguay's Chaco to Brazil. The project, which could cost up to $1.5 billion with private sector participation, has gained preliminary support, with plans for a formal agreement by June.

Panama: Jose Raul Mulino, Panama's new President-elect, has vowed to govern effectively and independently, despite being a late replacement for the disqualified Ricardo Martinelli. Known for his stern approach as a former security minister, Mulino promised economic growth and social projects like a public pet hospital and a major train line. He emphasized his commitment to uniting the country and moving beyond past political conflicts.

FURTHER READING

Check our recently published insights here. Recent post:

🌐 What are the main AI innovations in Latin America?

🤖 Generative AI: Still in its infancy, Generative AI has vast potential to revolutionize industries by creating new, innovative content across various media.

🔬 Quantum AI: Combining AI with quantum computing to foster breakthroughs in drug discovery, material science, and complex financial modeling.

🧠 Explainable AI: Focused on making AI decisions transparent, aiding in building trust and ensuring responsible technology use.

🛡 AI Safety: Dedicated to aligning AI systems with human values and preventing unintended harm, ensuring AI's beneficial impact on humanity.

🌍 AI for Social Good: Utilizing AI to tackle global issues like climate change, poverty, and disease, improving the effectiveness of government and social services.

🔍 Read more here.

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