> #BIOTECH Chilean biotech startups Levita Magnetics and Praxis Biotech raised ~$US600k in oversubscribed campaigns on Founderlist, a Chilean crowdfunding platform. Both are US-based.
- Levita Magnetics developed a magnetic surgical instrument system that is currently being applied to weight loss surgeries in the US. Investors include Alex Seelenberger from Aurus Capital and FEN Ventures.
> #BIOTECH Julian Rios of Higia Technologies, a Mexican cancer detection startup backed by Khosla, YC, and others, shares an update:
“We recently opened our Eva Clinic, a reinvention of primary care that is accessible, high tech, and looks gorgeous. And we are partnering with Salud Digna AC to conduct research in Monterrey, Mexico City, and Culiacán with 5000 patients in the next 8 months (one of the largest clinical trials of its kind in LATAM).”
> #AI iFood will invest US$20m in AI, under the leadership of chief data scientist Sandor Caetano, who joins from Nubank:
“The company was already using AI and related technologies such as machine learning (ML) to drive growth. The idea is to use the new dedicated function to drive further growth and also share best practices with universities to accelerate the development of local research around ML and deep learning.”
> Colombian fintech Tpaga is rolling out a savings account for users to democratize access to investing for underbanked Colombians.
- WSJ shows how big this idea can get: “588 million users of Alipay, Ant’s highly popular mobile-payments network, had parked cash in its flagship Tianhong Yu’e Bao fund at the end of 2018.”
> Rappi and Visa partnered on a debit card for Rappi users.
> Bancolombia partnered with Colombian fintech Vlipco to roll out digital payments for consumers and small retailers.
> European mobile bank N26 is expanding to Brazil. N26 raised a US$300m Series D in January from Insight, GIC, and others.
> Chilean e-sports startup Barracks formed a data/content partnership with Riot Games, maker of League of Legends. Barracks is backed by Manutara Ventures.
> Cloud computing startup Xertica was named Google’s Cloud Reseller LatAm Partner for the third consecutive year.
> These startups are joining the new Google Launchpad Accelerator in Mexico:
Agilis, Ben & Frank, EnvioClick, Herolens, Klustera, Ripio, Synapbox, Ualá, Wheel the World
> Época Negocios profiles 10 Brazilian healthtech startups:
Amparo Saude, EPHHealth, Gesto, Hoobox Robotics, iClinic, Medroom, Memed, Mendellics, Prontmed, Youper
> 2019 Cartier Women’s Initiative finalists include Tatiana Pimenta (Vittude), Marcela Torres (Holacode), and Liza Velarde (Delee).
> US-based fashion tech startup uSizy joins TVC’s Growth Accelerator Program.
> #FOODTECH Fazenda Futuro is a new Brazilian startup creating plant-based meat replacements.
> Check out LAVCA’s list of 258 Latin American startups with at least US$1m in VC funding, verified by LAVCA. Sort by geo, sector, and stage of investment.