“People are a lot smarter than anyone gives them credit for being.” - Rubén Blades
November 16, End Of Day
Elytron: Elytron is revolutionizing biotech and AI by digitizing microorganism mapping. Their scalable solutions enhance in sectors like pest control, fertilization, and crop nutrition. Utilizing AI and machine learning, Elytron reduces costs, and fosters a deeper understanding of microorganisms, addressing key global challenges efficiently. This innovative approach positions Elytron at the forefront of biotechnological advancements, promising significant impacts. Dive deeper into the case here.
Mobi: Mobi is transforming the landscape of last-mile delivery. This innovative company has reached a significant milestone by achieving break-even in November 2022. Mobi stands out with its moped subscription model, featuring solar-powered swappable battery stations. Mobi's impressive seed round funding of $1.38 million, off a $5 million valuation, marks the largest ever for a startup in Bolivia. Their collaboration with PedidosYa, a leading delivery service in Latin America, underline their commitment to technological advancement and improved delivery times. Dive deeper into the case here.
EnviosPet: "One Stop Shop for Pet Lovers," EnviosPet offers a comprehensive platform for pet enthusiasts. Based in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, their vision connects ecommerce, services market place, community, fintech and insurtech, with pet tech. Some of their notable milestones include processing over 4,000 orders with a GMV of $138k monthly. They are on the brink of expanding to Peru. They have already registered 1,300 services in initial months. EnviosPet's dedication to revolutionizing the pet industry is evident in their rapid growth and ambitious expansion plans. Dive deeper into the case here.
Dive deeper into other fundraising firms in latam here.
Mobility tech is a rapidly evolving field that encompasses a wide range of technologies and systems that aim to revolutionize the way people and goods move from one place to another. From electric vehicles to autonomous vehicles, ride-sharing platforms to bike-sharing systems, and smart infrastructure to data-driven analytics, mobility tech is reshaping the future of transportation.
Key innovation areas in mobility tech in LatAm:
Autonomous Driving: Autonomous driving technology continues to be a major area of innovation within the mobility industry, with ongoing advancements in self-driving vehicles. Chile is leading the way in Latin America for autonomous vehicle technology, having successfully implemented the first Latin American Autonomous Vehicle project.
Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS): This concept focuses on providing integrated, multimodal transportation services through a single digital platform, offering a seamless and efficient user experience. MaaS has gained traction in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic, with digital platforms increasingly being used for bike sharing, ride sharing, ride hailing, carsharing, and car rental services.
Sustainable Mobility and Air Quality: Innovations in this area aim to improve urban air quality and promote sustainable transportation options, such as electric vehicles and eco-friendly public transit systems. Latin American cities are actively working to combat air pollution and promote sustainable transportation, with initiatives like expanding public transport infrastructure and promoting electric vehicles.
Connected Car Ecosystems: This involves the development of connected car technologies that enable vehicles to communicate with each other and with infrastructure, enhancing safety, efficiency, and user experience. The connected car market is emerging as a significant trend in Latin America, with growth opportunities for mobile network operators to expand business beyond connectivity.
Brazil: Brazil recently issued its first sovereign sustainability bond, raising $2 billion to fund initiatives in forest conservation, renewable energy, and gender equality. This move signifies a departure from the previous government's environmental policies and has garnered significant investor interest, with orders reaching $6 billion. The bond's success highlights a growing trend in sustainable financing, especially in Latin America. The upcoming COP28 summit is set to further discuss the challenges and opportunities in mobilizing private capital for climate-related investments in developing countries.
Argentina: The Argentinians are voting a new president for the country on this Sunday, 19th of November. In the final presidential debate earlier this week, candidates Sergio Massa and Javier Milei presented sharply contrasting visions for the nation. Massa, a Peronist economy minister, proposed a national unity government to address poverty and high inflation, while Milei, libertarian, criticized Massa's performance and pledged to abolish the central bank, blaming it for inflation. Milei, proposed adopting the US dollar as Argentina's currency. The debate was pivotal before a run-off election, with polls showing the candidates nearly tied.
Mexico: Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet service, has been awarded a contract worth about $89.80 million to provide free internet in Mexico until the end of 2026. The company secured this contract by offering the best prices in a public tender, as stated by Carlos Emiliano Calderon, Mexico's digital strategy coordinator. Starlink will also support Mexico's state energy firm with infrastructure services through December 2026. This initiative is part of Mexico's broader effort to provide free internet, having signed contracts with nine companies, including Starlink.
The episode 27 of the Find The Way podcast is out:
🚚 Unboxing Logistics: Talent, Sustainability, and Challenges in Emerging Markets!
Logistics serves as the silent orchestrator, the unseen maestro conducting behind the scenes to ensure the smooth flow of goods, information, and resources. It is the intricate web of planning, coordination, and execution that sustains the heartbeat of global interconnectedness, allowing businesses to thrive, economies to function, and societies to flourish. Join us in this conversation where we aim to talk about today's hard-pressing issues in the field.
Augustin Costa, SVP of Shipping at Mercado Libre (NASDAQ: MELI), unveils the inner workings of Mercado Envios, the logistics backbone of Latin America's leading e-commerce technology company. With an innovative loyalty program and a commitment to sustainability, including the use of electric vehicles, they're not just fast-tracking parcels but propelling progress in the region.
Radu Palamariu, Managing Director at Alcott Global, brings his profound expertise in the ever-evolving Supply Chain Talent landscape to shed light on the current trends. With a keen understanding of the industry, amplified by insightful conversations with supply chain leaders on his top-rated logistics podcast, Radu offers a captivating glimpse into the state of affairs in Asia and addresses the pressing concerns within the space.
🎧 Listen here.