NEW FUNDS
> Private equity investor Mesoamerica and Polymath Ventures, a company builder for the middle class in emerging markets, formed a strategic partnership to build and scale high-impact companies across Latin America. The co-investment vehicle, with a US$40m target, will be managed by Mesoamerica and provide Series A/B funding to Polymath’s ventures.
> Congrats Ignacio Plaza, Diego González Bravo, Diego Steverlynck of Cygnus Capital for partnering with Tim Draper to launch Draper Cygnus Fund, a new fund which aims to invest in Argentinian startups.
> #AGTECH The Mexican government committed US$4.1m to three local agtech VC funds, Ercus Abaco Fund, Innova Camp, and Enture, through FOCIR (The Capitalization and Investment Fund for the Rural Sector). FOCIR runs seven internal PE funds totaling more than US$500m, with more than 30 investments in rural projects in Mexico.
> #CRYPTO Invermaster Ventures and ARG Capital partnered with Ripio co-founder David Garcia to launch Crypto Assets Fund, a US$50m crypto-currency fund.
> Troopa is a new seed fund in Buenos Aires investing in technologies empowering SMB/SMEs in Latin America. Founders Santiago Capurro, Eric Thomas, and Pablo Capurro are former entrepreneurs. Troopa’s first four investments are in Credility, Alquilando, Vozy.co, and Colppy.
> LEAP Partners is a new cross-border fund in Silicon Valley investing in startups with Latin American founders based in the US and Mexico, including PayStand, Listo Financial, Insikt, and Wizeline.