Dealflow.la #80 - Plata 🇲🇽 Raises $160M Series A, Brazil 🇧🇷 Posts R$104B Surplus, & Trump 🇺🇸 Praises Sheinbaum 🇲🇽

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Funding

Enter 🇧🇷 raised a $5.5M Seed round with funding from Sequoia Capital 🇺🇸 to build an AI-driven platform for automating claims processing. Their solution leverages advanced AI and machine learning to extract and analyze data from unstructured documents, categorize claims, and predict outcomes—helping insurance companies and financial institutions accelerate claim cycles, reduce operational costs, and improve accuracy and customer satisfaction.

Grão Direto 🇧🇷 raised a $15.66M Series B round with funding from Kaszek 🇧‍🇷, SLC Ventures 🇧🇷, Scale-Up Ventures 🇧🇷, and CME Ventures 🇺🇸 to power a digital marketplace that connects grain buyers and sellers for agricultural commodity trading. The platform streamlines spot, future, and barter transactions by offering real-time price intelligence, contract automation, and document processing, empowering farmers and traders to optimize deals and enhance logistics in the agricultural sector.

Plata 🇲🇽 raised a $160M Series A round with funding from Kora 🇺🇸 and Moore Strategic Ventures 🇺🇸 to revolutionize personal finance management with a cashless payment platform that enables users to cover expenses and make purchases while enjoying perks like free insurance, restaurant discounts, and entertainment deals. The platform redefines how people interact with their finances by seamlessly integrating everyday payment processing with lifestyle benefits.

Acquisition News

• Bradesco 🇧🇷 acquired RCB Investimentos 🇧🇷, a Brazilian firm specializing in purchasing portfolios of defaulted credits for credit recovery, to complete its stake and consolidate its credit recovery operations.

• Strategic Investor 🇧🇷 acquired Provu 🇧🇷, a fintech specializing in personal credit and operating as a Sociedade de Crédito Direto since 2021, to take over its SCD unit amid a broader wind-down of operations and unlock restructuring opportunities.

Startup & VC News

• Geopagos 🇬🇹 announced the launch of Tienda Geo in Central America in collaboration with BAC Credomatic to accelerate digital commerce transformation to empower SMEs and independent professionals with a fully customizable, omnichannel eCommerce platform that integrates BAC’s payment system, centralized store management, and multi-channel sales—expanding market reach and streamlining operations in the region. (Geopagos)

Sociopolitical News

🇦🇷 Argentina

• Argentina's political unrest intensifies as allegations of excessive police repression during pensioners’ protests and a high-profile international trip cancellation by President Milei underscore the crisis. A former human rights official has formally denounced the security ministry for a violent crackdown that left dozens injured and over a hundred detained, while Milei postpones his award ceremony in Spain to focus on internal challenges amid claims of a coup attempt. (El Tiempo) (W Radio)

• Argentina's bleak employment outlook raises alarm as private survey shows zero net job growth expectations for the coming quarter. The report by ManpowerGroup highlights stagnant hiring intentions amid broader economic challenges and contrasts sharply with optimistic projections in the region, emphasizing significant sectoral and regional disparities. (Infobae)

🇧🇷 Brazil

• A flight carrying 135 Brazilians deported from the US landed in Fortaleza, underscoring the real-world impact of stringent immigration policies. The coordinated operation, involving multiple government agencies, is set to provide comprehensive support to the deportees as they are transported to their final destinations, following a US law that allows detention and deportation without formal trial. (Revista Oeste)

• Brazil considers a WTO appeal against US tariffs on steel and aluminum, a move that could redefine trade relations and protect its export sectors. The government is evaluating legal recourse to challenge measures that may disrupt bilateral commerce and impact domestic industries. (Agência Brasil)

• Brazil’s public accounts recorded a R$104 billion surplus in January, underscoring robust fiscal management amid economic challenges. The unexpected surplus, driven by higher revenues and disciplined spending, reinforces confidence in the government's financial strategies. (Carta Capital)

🇨🇱 Chile

• Chile’s political landscape is rapidly shifting as key cabinet changes and strategic maneuvers set the stage for a high-stakes electoral year. The reshuffle in President Boric’s administration, occurring during his final year in office, signals an effort to consolidate a progressive coalition amid mounting economic and security challenges, potentially altering the regulatory framework and investor sentiment. (El País)

🇨🇴 Colombia

• Colombia’s upcoming civic day and planned popular consultation are pivotal steps in advancing President Petro’s social reform agenda. The announcement of a civic day on March 18 underscores the government’s effort to mobilize public participation and set the groundwork for a 2025 consultation focused on key legislative and institutional changes. (El Espectador) (Presidencia de Colombia)

• Colombia's sales in manufacturing and commerce rebound, but overall industrial output remains in decline. The latest economic surveys reveal that while sectors like manufacturing and retail are showing recovery in sales figures, persistent negative trends in broader industrial performance underscore potential challenges for economic growth. (El Espectador)

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

• Costa Rica is urged to deepen economic reforms to sustain its robust post-pandemic growth. The OECD survey highlights the need for fiscal discipline through reduced public debt, improved spending reviews, and enhanced technical skills to boost exports and drive inclusive growth. (Mirage News) (OECD Economic Survey).

• Costa Rica's strong economic performance and fiscal consolidation are highlighted as critical for its future stability. The IMF report notes that despite sustained GDP growth above 5% since 2021 and a significant reduction in public debt, further reforms—such as enhanced central bank autonomy, improved fiscal management, and targeted social security adjustments—are essential to address emerging risks and maintain a 4% growth trajectory in 2025. (IMF)

🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

• Energy and Mines has initiated a competitive bidding process for hydrocarbon exploration and production across four key basins in the Dominican Republic. The new eight-year exploratory program covers 10 zones—spanning the Cibao Oriental, Azua, Enriquillo, and San Juan basins—and requires strict financial guarantees to ensure commitment and project seriousness. (Listín Diario)

• Blackouts have returned to the Dominican Republic as key power plants have gone offline, raising concerns about the nation's energy stability. The outages are disrupting daily life and prompting urgent calls for corrective measures to restore reliable power supply. (Prensa Latina)

🇪🇨 Ecuador

• Ecuador’s top presidential contenders pledge to uphold traditional values on life, childhood, and family in a bid to influence national policy before the decisive runoff. Their commitment, forged with the “Sociedad & Familia” collective, emphasizes protecting life from conception to natural death, ensuring parental rights in education, and rejecting gender ideology in schools—all of which may significantly shape future legislative measures. (ACI Prensa)

• The Inter-American Court condemns Ecuador for violating the rights of isolated indigenous peoples, stressing the need for robust protections for vulnerable communities. The ruling mandates that Ecuador address systemic failures in safeguarding indigenous rights related to life, culture, and territory, signaling broader implications for human rights in the region. (RFI Noticias de América)

• Ecuador’s proposal to host a U.S. military base alongside forging a trade agreement signals a strategic move to enhance its security and economic positioning. The initiative aims to attract foreign investment and reshape regional defense dynamics while strengthening ties with key global powers. (La Republica)

🇸🇻 El Salvador

• U.S. allocates $6 million to transfer nearly 300 alleged gang members to El Salvador for a one-year detention, signaling a significant shift in handling migration and crime concerns. The decision, made after high-level talks between U.S. and Salvadoran officials, aims to address security challenges while igniting debates over legal and human rights implications. (AP News) (Reuters)

🇬🇹 Guatemala

• Guatemala's decision to send journalist Zamora back to prison highlights deep concerns about media freedom and judicial independence. The ruling, which revokes his house arrest over money laundering charges that Zamora claims are politically motivated, underscores ongoing tensions between the government and independent press. (Reuters)

🇭🇳 Honduras

• Honduras’ contentious primary elections underscore deep political and economic fissures as voters express growing frustration with security and governance. The unfolding vote highlights a critical juncture before the general elections, with irregularities and delays fueling public distrust and hinting at a potential political realignment. (AP News)

🇲🇽 Mexico

• Trump commends Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for her strong negotiating style, highlighting a shift in US-Mexico diplomatic dynamics. During a recent call to postpone tariffs, he praised her preparedness and direct communication, marking a notable contrast to previous exchanges. This exchange underscores an evolving bilateral relationship built on mutual respect and strategic dialogue. (La Jornada) (New York Times).

🇳🇮 Nicaragua

• Nicaragua’s media faces unprecedented government pressure as Ortega’s regime intensifies its blockade on press freedom. The ongoing restrictions have led to widespread concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions and the suppression of dissenting voices, further isolating the country on the international stage. (EFE)

🇵🇦 Panama

• Panama's decision to free deported U.S. migrants marks a pivotal shift in its migration policy. The move aims to offer humanitarian relief to individuals previously returned by U.S. authorities and could influence broader regional approaches to migration management. (The New York Times)

• China denounces the sale of a key port by the Panama Canal to BlackRock, warning of escalating U.S. influence over strategic global trade routes. The criticism reflects broader geopolitical tensions and signals potential shifts in international economic power balances. (El Financiero)

🇵🇾 Paraguay

• Paraguay’s foreign trade experienced a slight slowdown in the first two months, highlighting emerging challenges for its export sector. Overall, the trade volume decreased by 0.1% with exports falling by 1.3% and soy shipments declining by 19%, while meat exports surged nearly 40%, indicating mixed sectoral performance. (ABC Color)

🇵🇪 Peru

• Moody’s assigned a stable outlook to Petroperú, forecasting financial improvements driven by the Talara refinery. The rating agency expects EBITDA growth by 2025, supported by government financial aid and increased market share, though challenges remain due to high debt and limited refining capacity. (La República)

• Peru's Congress enacted a new "gag law" that intensifies penalties for defamation, raising concerns over press freedom. The measure, criticized for curbing free expression, expands fines and mandates corrections, triggering alarm among media organizations about potential government overreach. (El Comercio)

🇻🇪 Venezuela

• President Trump invoked a controversial law against foreign adversaries, signaling a provocative stance in U.S. policy. The move was linked to actions involving the Aragua Trax train, heightening debates over national security and international relations. (CNN Español)

🇺🇸 Miami

• US Congress remains deadlocked as the shutdown deadline looms. Disagreements over spending cuts and conflicting demands between Republicans and Democrats are stalling efforts to extend government funding, risking extensive furloughs and operational disruptions. (Reuters)

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