Dealflow.la #75 - NeoFin 🇧🇷 Raises $7M to Revolutionize B2B Payments, Argentina 🇦🇷 Withdraws from WHO, & Chile 🇨🇱 Tackles Pension Reform

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Funding

B4A 🇧🇷 raised a $2.5 Million in a Later Stage VC round with funding from 4equity 🇧🇷 to develop an online beauty-tech platform that connects beauty brands with consumers and influencers. The company’s digital tool enables qualified product experimentation, social commerce, and market intelligence, helping digital influencers build careers while driving meaningful engagement in the beauty industry.

Cycles Nutrition 🇧🇷 raised a $2.5 Million in a Seed Round with funding from Headline 🇺🇸 to develop a range of nutritional supplements for health and fitness enthusiasts. The company offers products like pre-workout, whey protein, creatine, and omega-three capsules, enabling users to enhance their performance, recovery, and overall well-being.

NeoFin 🇧🇷 raised a $7 Million Seed round with funding from Upload Ventures 🇧🇷, Quona Capital 🇺🇸, Norte Ventures 🇧🇷, Latitud 🇧🇷, Far Out Ventures 🇺🇸, Canaan Partners 🇺🇸, BFF 🇺🇸, 17Sigma 🇦🇷, and 1616 Ventures 🇧🇷 to transform B2B payments by streamlining accounts receivable and billing. Their platform offers diverse payment methods, lower fees, automated billing, and real-time reconciliation, helping finance teams save time and make smarter decisions.

Acquisition News

• Loggro.com 🇨🇴 acquired Ayenda Hotels 🇨🇴, a hotel chain focused on providing affordable accommodations for budget travelers in Latin America, to expand its footprint in the hospitality sector and enhance its service offerings for small and mid-sized hotel operators.

• Corpay 🇺🇸 acquired Gringo 🇧🇷, a car management app that simplifies buying, selling, financing, and insuring vehicles, to enhance its mobility and financial services portfolio by integrating Gringo’s digital vehicle management solutions.

Startup & VC News

• Venture capital firms are increasing investments in Latin America, focusing on tech startups and innovation. The region is attracting attention due to its growing digital economy and untapped market potential. Key sectors include fintech, e-commerce, and edtech, with Brazil and Mexico leading the way. Investors are optimistic about long-term growth despite economic uncertainties. This trend highlights Latin America’s rising importance in the global tech landscape. (Bloomberg)

Sociopolitical News

🇦🇷 Argentina

• Argentina’s President Javier Milei announces the country will withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing sovereignty concerns and opposition to global health mandates. (The Guardian)

• Argentina’s stabilization plan employs a controlled devaluation strategy and monetary tightening to curb inflation and reduce the exchange rate gap. While it has helped stabilize reserves, it has also led to income declines and rising poverty. (Elcano Royal Institute)

• Argentina’s soy and corn harvests for 2025 are expected to face significant challenges due to adverse weather conditions, including drought and heatwaves. Wilted leaves and stressed crops across key farming regions signal a potential reduction in yield, which could impact global supply and prices. Farmers are concerned about the long-term effects of climate change on agricultural productivity. (Reuters)

🇧🇷 Brazil

• Brazil has regained the position of the world’s highest real interest rate at 9.18% after its central bank raised the Selic rate to 13.25% amid persistent inflation and economic uncertainties. The hike reflects efforts to curb inflation, though concerns over public debt sustainability and strong economic indicators contribute to the restrictive monetary policy. Argentina’s recent rate cut to 29% and declining inflation shifted its ranking, positioning Brazil as a potential magnet for foreign investment despite underlying challenges. (BBC News)

• Fuel prices in Brazil are set to increase starting this Saturday, impacting consumers across the country. The rise is attributed to adjustments in international oil prices and changes in tax policies, which have led to higher costs for gasoline and diesel. This increase is expected to affect transportation and overall living expenses. (Agência Brasil)

🇨🇱 Chile

• Chile’s new pension reform aims to overhaul the long-criticized privatized system by introducing a public component designed to guarantee a minimum retirement benefit, while also adjusting contribution rates and benefit calculations. The reform, intended to address persistent inadequacies in retirement incomes, has ignited widespread debate among policymakers and economic experts regarding its long-term fiscal viability. (France24)

• Chile has declared a preventive state of emergency in the Ñuble and Maule regions due to extreme heat and high wildfire risk. Additionally, a curfew has been imposed in several municipalities of La Araucanía to prevent the spread of forest fires, which are suspected to be intentionally set in some cases. (El País)

• Chile is strengthening ties with Brazil and Colombia to combat transnational criminal organizations. Chilean Justice Minister Jaime Gajardo visited both countries to study their high-security prison systems and discuss strategies for preventing criminal activities within prisons. The Chilean government is also finalizing an agreement with Colombia to expedite extradition processes and facilitate the transfer of convicted individuals between the two nations, aiming for ratification by Presidents Gustavo Petro and Gabriel Boric in May. (Infobae)

🇨🇴 Colombia

• Colombia faces significant challenges following President Trump’s decision to freeze USAID funds, as it is the Latin American country most affected by this measure. The suspension jeopardizes over $400 million annually allocated to various sectors, including humanitarian assistance, migration support, and climate policies, impacting both non-governmental organizations and state agencies involved in peace agreement implementations and migrant assistance. (El País)

• During an unprecedented televised Council of Ministers in Colombia, internal tensions within President Gustavo Petro’s government became evident, leading to the resignation of Jorge Rojas, Director of the Administrative Department of the Presidency, just six days after his appointment. The session revealed disagreements over key appointments, particularly that of Armando Benedetti as Chief of Staff, and highlighted broader divisions within the cabinet, prompting calls for collective resignations to facilitate necessary governmental changes. (France24)

• Colombia has established a new maritime trade route connecting its principal Pacific port, Buenaventura, with Shanghai, China, marking a significant strengthening of bilateral relations amid recent diplomatic tensions with the United States. The route, operated by China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO), includes a stop at Peru’s Chancay port and is expected to enhance trade by facilitating the export of Colombian goods such as petroleum, coal, and minerals to the Chinese market. (DW)

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

• Costa Rica leads Latin America’s energy transition with an almost entirely renewable electricity matrix, achieving the highest residential electrification rate in the region, with 70% of total household energy consumption. The country is recognized for its advancements in regional electrical integration through the Central American Electrical Interconnection System (SIEPAC), leadership in electromobility with the Central American Electrocorredor, and industrial decarbonization initiatives, particularly in the cement sector. (CAF)

• Costa Rica has pledged to enhance cooperation with the United States on migration and narcotics trafficking following U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit. Both nations plan to implement biometric systems to identify individuals and prevent potential threats, with increased collaboration between the DEA, FBI, and Costa Rican security forces. (Semana)

• The United Arab Emirates and Costa Rica have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties and enhancing trade and investment flows under their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). During a high-level business forum in Dubai, both nations explored opportunities to deepen collaboration in sectors such as renewable energy, tourism, and technology. (Emirates News Agency)

🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

• The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) is developing a new instant payment platform to facilitate rapid and secure transactions, operating 24/7 with fund transfers completed in under 10 seconds. This initiative aims to enhance financial inclusion, reduce cash usage, and optimize banking costs, aligning with the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (ENIF). (Acento)

🇪🇨 Ecuador

• Ecuador held a presidential election on Sunday, with voters deciding whether to re-elect Daniel Noboa or opt for a change in leadership. The article discusses the current political climate and the factors influencing voters’ decisions in this election. (BBC News Mundo)

• Ecuador closed its borders with Colombia and Peru during its presidential elections to ensure security and control. The measure aimed to prevent disruptions and maintain order during the electoral process. (Portafolio)

🇸🇻 El Salvador

• El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has submitted a comprehensive anti-corruption bill to the Legislative Assembly, aiming to enhance transparency and integrity among public officials. The proposed legislation mandates annual asset declarations from public servants and their families, introduces stricter penalties for corruption-related offenses, and establishes a National Anti-Corruption Center equipped with advanced technology for real-time monitoring and intelligence gathering. (Diario El Salvador)

🇬🇹 Guatemala

• Guatemala plans to increase public spending to address a spike in migration and economic challenges. The government aims to boost infrastructure and social programs to mitigate the effects of increased migration, which has strained resources. This decision comes as the country faces pressure from the U.S. to manage migration flows more effectively. (Bloomberg)

🇭🇳 Honduras

• A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck northern Honduras and the Caribbean region. The quake, which was felt across Central America, caused widespread alarm, but initial reports indicated limited structural damage. Authorities issued tsunami warnings for nearby coastal areas, though these were later lifted. (France 24)

🇲🇽 Mexico

• Mexico has deployed troops to its northern border to assist with immigration enforcement and curb the flow of migrants heading to the U.S. The move comes amid increasing pressure from the U.S. to address the surge in migration at the shared border. Mexican officials stated that the deployment aims to enhance security and manage the humanitarian aspects of the situation. (FOX 4 News)

• Mexico’s inflation slowed more than expected in September, reaching its lowest level in over two years. The annual inflation rate dropped to 4.45%, down from 4.64% in August, driven by declines in energy and food prices. This marks the third consecutive month of easing inflation, bringing it closer to the central bank’s target of 3%. (Bloomberg)

🇳🇮 Nicaragua

• The IMF forecasts a slowdown in Nicaragua’s economic growth as remittances decline. Growth is expected to drop to 3% in 2025 from 4% in 2024, driven by reduced external demand and lower remittance inflows. (Reuters)

• Nicaragua has withdrawn from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) following a report highlighting hunger issues in the country. The government criticized the report as biased and politically motivated, leading to its decision to leave the agency. (The Tico Times)

🇵🇦 Panama

• China has protested Panama’s decision to withdraw from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), expressing disappointment over the move. The withdrawal is seen as a setback for China’s infrastructure and trade ambitions in the region, while Panama aims to reassess its foreign partnerships. (SCMP) (AP News)

🇵🇾 Paraguay

• Paraguay and Argentina agreed to intensify border surveillance to combat smuggling and criminal activities. The collaboration aims to enhance security and curb illegal operations in the shared frontier region. (La Nación)

🇵🇪 Peru

• Peruvian National Police and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations conducted a joint operation to capture members of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. The operation targeted the group’s activities, which include human trafficking and other transnational crimes. (U.S. Embassy in Peru)

🇻🇪 Venezuela

• The Venezuelan government has condemned the U.S. seizure of its Dassault Falcon 200 aircraft in the Dominican Republic, labeling the action as “brazen theft” and criticizing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who oversaw the confiscation. The U.S. justified the seizure by citing violations of sanctions, export controls, and money laundering regulations, noting that Venezuelan officials had used the aircraft for international travel to countries including Greece, Turkey, Russia, Nicaragua, and Cuba. (Infobae)

🇺🇸 Miami

• Democrats and Republicans in Miami unite against Trump’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans. The move has sparked bipartisan criticism, with local leaders arguing it could destabilize the region and harm Venezuelan refugees. (El País)

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