Startup Stash marketing expert Asaf Fybish lists the Brazilian startups to watch closely this year
When you think of Brazil, its bustling startup ecosystem probably isn’t one of the things you think of. It’s more likely to be their famous footballing heroes and the beautiful sites that the country has to offer. Despite this, Brazil has been a high-potential business environment for years and this is proven by the fact that Brazilian startups raised $3.2 Billion in funding in the first half of the year. This is 90% of the amount raised by the same ecosystem in the previous year. Companies in Brazil are actually getting more funding, whereas many other countries are still scrambling due to the impacts of COVID-19.
It’s not only Brazilian startups that have been performing well though, as we have many other lists of top startups in different countries. When you think about it, Brazil has a vast startup ecosystem, with 13,300 startups estimated to be in the country during September 2020. This is in a country with a population of 211 Million people, which is a major driver for economic growth.
1. Nubank
Year Founded: 2013
HQ: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Size: 1001-5000
Founder(s): Adam Edward Wible, Cristina Junqueira, David Velez
Nubank is a Brazilian startup that is currently based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and was founded in 2013. The company handles the administration and the issuing of payments for credit cards and equity investments. They are currently one of the few Brazil startups that can claim Unicorn status and their offering is currently being used by more than 17-million customers.
Nubank is one of the most heavily invested in startups in Brazil, with the company having raised $2.3 Billion from a group of 22 investors. The company has also been active in the investments and acquisitions market, investing in three other companies and taking over another three companies to further its growth.
2. QuintoAndar
Year Founded: 2012
HQ: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Size: 1001-5000
Founder(s): Andre Penha, Gabriel Braga
QuintoAndar is a real estate software startup that is currently based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and was founded in 2012. The company operates a platform that makes the process of finding a rental property or finding customers much easier for both landlords and tenants. The company is making it easier for people to navigate the housing market in Brazil.
So far, QuintoAndar has made a massive amount of money from startup funding, with the company raising an eye-watering $635.3 Million since being founded nine years ago. This was achieved from a group of 26 investors and the company has also managed to acquire a fellow real estate startup in March of 2021.
3. EBANX
Year Founded: 2012
HQ: Curitiba, Brazil
Size: 501-1000
Founder(s): Alphonse Voigt, João Del Valle, Wagner Ruiz
EBANX is a Brazilian startup within the fintech market, that was founded in 2012 and is currently based in Curitiba, Brazil. The company helps businesses to create end-to-end payment solutions for businesses that operate in Latin America. As a result of their offering, the company has won numerous awards in the past and they are likely to continue growing in the future.
The company has managed to amass a very impressive amount of startup funding since being founded in 2012. So far, the company has managed to raise a total of $460 Million from a group of three investors. The company has also been active in the acquisitions and investment markets, making one transaction in both of these.
4. Hotmart
Year Founded: 2011
HQ: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Size: 501-1000
Founder(s): João Pedro Resende, Mateus Bicalho
Hotmart is a software startup in Brazil that was founded in 2011 and operates a platform that educates would-be business owners on how to set up a digital business. This is mainly to benefit those who are unsure of how to start a business. People don’t even need to sell their own products as they can become affiliates of other businesses and sell their products for them.
The company has managed to raise a lot of money since being started in 2011. So far, the company has managed to raise a total of $127.5 Million from a group of seven investors. The company has also acquired a pair of companies and has even decided to invest in another, which has helped them to expand their offering.
5. Neon
Year Founded: 2016
HQ: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Size: 501-1000
Founder(s): Pedro Conrade
Neon is a Brazilian fintech startup that was founded in 2016 and is currently headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The company operates an online bank that allows its customers to access financial products like credit cards, loans, investments, and more. The startup is making it easier for Brazilians to get access to the final products that they need the most.
Neon has a lot of money from startup funding since being founded five years ago. In total, the company has managed to raise $420.3 Million from a group of 13 investors. The company has also been very active in the acquisitions market, with the company taking over three other businesses to further its growth and development.
6. ContaAzul
Year Founded: 2011
HQ: Joinville, Brazil
Size: 251-500
Founder(s): José Carlos Sardagna, João Augusto Zaratine, Vinicius Roveda Goncalves
ContaAzul is a fintech startup that was founded in 2011 and is currently based in Joinville, Brazil. The company operates a financial platform for small businesses that gives them access to banking solutions, invoicing, accounting, and much more. The company aims to help to educate and develop small businesses on all aspects of business financial management.
The Brazilian startup has raised a respectable amount of investment since being founded ten years ago, with the company raising a total of $37 Million from a group of eight investors. Their mission to help small businesses makes them one of the most exciting startups in Brazil.
7. Contabilizei
Year Founded: 2014
HQ: Curitiba, Brazil
Size: 251-500
Founder(s): Fábio Bacarin, Vitor Torres
Contabilizei is a fintech startup that was founded in 2014 and is currently based in Curitiba, Brazil. The company provides a SaaS platform that allows micro-businesses to file their taxes and perform other accountancy tasks with ease. Not everyone is an expert with business financial management and this startup is making it easier for founders to handle that aspect of their business.
So far, the company has managed to raise a healthy amount of startup funding since being founded seven years ago. In total Contabilizei has managed to raise $20.1 Million to further the growth and development of the business. This was achieved from a group of ten investors and once again, helping small businesses makes them one of the best startups to look out for in Brazil.
8. Escale
Year Founded: 2013
HQ: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Size: 251-500
Founder(s): Ken Diamond, Matthew Kligerman
Escale is a software startup that was founded in 2013 and is currently based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The company’s platform manages the entire sales and marketing process for businesses, allowing them to gain more B2B customers in the long term. This platform also allows businesses to provide better customer experiences, which improves the likelihood of achieving repeat business, which is the lifeblood of any company.
So far, Escale has had a very successful time securing startup funding for the business. The company itself has managed to raise a total of $50.1 Million since being founded eight years ago. This was achieved from a group of six investors and the company has even gone out of its way to acquire another company to further its own growth and development.
9. Volanty
Year Founded: 2017
HQ: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Size: 101-250
Founder(s): Antonio Avellar, Mauricio Feldman
Volanty is a Brazilian startup that was founded in 2017 and the company operates an online vehicle marketplace. This marketplace is specifically for the purchase and sale of second-hand vehicles on a peer-to-peer basis. The benefit for users of the platform is the fact that the company handles all of the difficult aspects of listing and negotiating the price of the vehicle. This means sellers don’t have to commit all of their time to sell their cars.
Despite the fact that the company was only founded four years ago, it has already managed to raise an impressive total of $23.4 Million in startup funding. This funding was given by a group of investors, which numbered 14.
10. Modern Logistics
Year Founded: 2012
HQ: Jundiai, Brazil
Size: 251-500
Founder(s): Gerald Lee, Marlon Ramirez
Modern Logistics, true to its name is a logistics startup that was founded in 2012 and is currently based in Jundiai, Brazi. The company is one of the only ones in Brazil to offer a one-stop solution for logistics, ensuring that businesses can get the items they need from point A, to point B, with maximum efficiency. The company even operates its own air fleet to help items to get to their destination.
So far, the company has managed to raise a great amount of startup funding to further develop and grow the business. In total, Modern Logistics has managed to raise a total of $105 Million in startup funding since being founded nine years ago. This was achieved from a duo of investors and you wouldn’t be surprised to see the company ascend to new heights
Visit Startup Stash for the whole list.
This article was published originally on Startup Stash on July 6, 2021.
