Sama Carlos Samamé

Portfolio company Solfium announces its $10m Series A, led by Accion and ALIVE Ventures, with participation from Kamay Ventures. Solfium is building a platform that helps corporates and millions of MSMEs across Mexico transition to clean, reliable, and affordable energy. By integrating financing, installation, and long-term support, Solfium makes solar adoption simple, empowering supply chains to decarbonize without complexity. Since 2022, the company has installed 36,000+ solar panels, adding 25 MW of capacity that will eliminate 281,000 tons of CO₂ and deliver $28m in savings over 25 years. It’s a big step for a country where 99% of businesses are MSMEs, and where high energy costs and outages still hold back productivity. With clients including Coca-Cola and three of Mexico’s top five banks, Solfium is proving that solar can scale commercially and inclusively. Kudos to Andres, Zacharie, and the entire Solfium team. 🇲🇽☀️ ___________________ Rally Cap VC portfolio.

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🏦🚀🌎 BANCO CUSCATLAN, through its CUSCATLAN Crece Contigo platform 🤝, and Bridge for Billions 🌉 announced the launch of an innovative five-month incubation program 📚 for entrepreneurs in the tourism sector 🏖️ in El Salvador 🇸🇻. Read here https://shre.ink/A0nx #BancoCUSCATLAN #Emprendimiento #Turismo #ElSalvador #Innovación

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Argentina's vibrant ecosystem for biotech startups discussed at the Consulate General and Promotion Center of Argentina in New York. Argentina's #biotechnology sector involves over 350 companies, which places the country among the top 20 worldwide. In 2024, Argentina's biotechnology sector showed strong performance, with significant advancements in various areas. The sector generated $3.752 billion in exclusively biotechnological products, employed 27,000 people, and saw investments exceeding $91.4 million in R&D. The country also boasts a dynamic #entrepreneurial ecosystem, receiving around $1.1 billion in annual investments and has become a leading producer of #biotech crops with 56% of the firms were created in the last 15 years. When entrepreneurs' great minds think alike, magic happens! Many thanks to our amazing panelist of Unstoppable Entrepreneurs Series, "S1-E2"

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Cross-border commerce into LATAM isn’t broken because of demand. It’s broken because of fragmentation and trust gaps. Most U.S. merchants see the same roadblocks: – Duties and taxes that vary country by country – Marketplaces that lock them in and compress margins – Logistics that don’t connect across borders So they pull back. Country-by-country is too slow. The next wave of commerce in LATAM requires a regional-first model — one set of rails that adapts dynamically across borders. At EncargoGo, that’s exactly what we’re building: ✅ AI-powered product discovery in Spanish/Portuguese ✅ Final landed cost shown upfront, in local currency ✅ Trusted delivery with logistics partners across the region For merchants → the lowest-friction, lowest-lift entry into LATAM. For consumers → clarity, reliability, and trust in every purchase. Because in this market, speed matters — but trust is the moat. And whoever builds regional trust at scale, owns the rails of trade. Do you think incumbents can adapt fast enough? Or will new AI-native platforms define the next era?

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First, this is an entertaining video and I just learned some new party tricks! But the message is sound. #DDMRP beats MRP every single time. Why? Remember DDMRP still has MRP in it. We kept the things that made sense to keep. We are not abandoning all of the principles of MRP. We changed a few key rules that allow the method to stop the transference and amplification of variability for the #VUCA world we live in today. Primarily these changes are: 1. Strategically selection of decoupling points 2. Appropriately sized and dynamic protection at those decoupling points 3. A unique way to replenish the points utilizing actual demand 4. A way to quickly and visually prioritize positions in trouble Now, I am sure that someone out there will say, "But MRP can do all of those things." But then I will ask for a use case that does not involve any ancillary systems, spreadsheets and or work arounds and what do you think will happen? #demanddriven #supplychaininnovation #supplychainresilience #supplychaintransformation

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Colombian holding company Grupo Empresarial En Linea S.A. | GELSA is using sports betting and lottery payouts as a growth lever to push adoption of its digital wallet, TodoPay. TodoPay is a consumer digital wallet that lets users store money, receive payouts, transfer funds, and pay or withdraw cash through physical locations. The hook is simple, with Colombian national lottery prizes below COP 499,999 (about US$115) now paid directly into TodoPay. Instead of collecting cash, users are nudged to keep funds inside the wallet for future transfers, payments, and bets. This matters because more than 75% of transactions in Colombia are still conducted in cash. Betting outlets and lottery payouts become a practical on-ramp into digital payments. Gelsa Group, led by general manager Óscar Mauricio Chaparro Núñez (pictured below), operates one of the largest betting and multi-service retail networks in Bogotá and Cundinamarca, with more than 2,500 owned outlets and 12,000 terminals across 116 municipalities. Similar growth tactics have appeared in other markets. In the US, Robinhood expanded into event-based contracts, borrowing mechanics from sports-style betting to attract new users and boost engagement, even as its core business remains investing. This story was initially published in this week’s issue of Fintech Growth Insider. To read the other crunchy fintech stories covered in it (or to join the 9,000+ fintech pros that already signed up), click the link in the comments.

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An Ecuador-founded fintech startup has closed a $10 million Series A funding round to expand its platform that allows businesses to complete payments, identity verification, and credit applications entirely within WhatsApp conversations. Jelou announced the funding today, led by Wellington Access Ventures with participation from Krealo, the corporate venture arm of Credicorp, and Collide Capital, according to a press release. The round brings the company's total funding to $13 million, following a $3 million seed round previously led by Act One Ventures and Arca Continental Ventures. Founded in 2017 by Luis Loaiza and Alberto Vera, Jelou has processed more than $100 million in financial operations, serving over 500 business customers across 13 countries, including banks, retailers, and consumer goods companies. According to Forbes, approximately $80 million of that volume has been in consumer credit, allowing clients to finance purchases directly through chat. #Fintech #StartupNews #Startups #Whatsapp #Jelou #Funding

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Ed's take on this topic is spot on. For the past years, without many institutional investors or even Venezuelan's abroad understanding why and how, a high potential entrepreneurial ecosystem has been growing in Venezuela. There's still a long road ahead, but the truth lies in that everyone in the companies mentioned and others, have had the north star of building resilient companies that solve structural societal needs. This endeavor alone should serve as the spark of much more, when we hopefully enter a face of an economy where competition, wealth creation and free markets become the norm and not the exception. What will continue to be true, even in that environment, is that the resilient DNA of Venezuelan founders will be our biggest asset to help build the economy of the future. My personal goal in that process, as people might have heard me say in keynotes, is that the it turns the Venezuelan ecosystem into an open one, where amazing professionals and talents like Ed Gittelman or others making things happen at the global stage already, desire to come to Venezuela to live and work. For that we must offer a secure, safe and valuable environment to live, were the goal is to create companies that not only serve Venezuela, but have the world in mind. If there is something that we cannot repeat in our history is to be closed to the world, isolated from the global markets and toxic to world talents coming to live in our beautiful country.

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Incognia is partnering with Cabify, a leading mobility platform operating across 6 countries and over 40 cities 👏 79% of Cabify users choose the platform because it offers additional security guarantees. When safety is a core value proposition, fraud doesn't just cost money. It costs users. As attacks become more sophisticated and harder to detect with traditional tools, we’re working together to address fraud vectors hitting mobility platforms hardest: → Advanced location spoofing → Promo and coupon abuse → Ban evasion → Driver account sharing Trust and safety are foundational to the mobility experience. We're proud to be part of protecting it.

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Argentinian payments processor tapi has acquired the utility payments and cash handling operations of Mastercard’s Arcus, a Mastercard company in #Mexico, enhancing its expansion in the region and strengthening services across #Argentina, #Chile, #Colombia, and #Peru. The deal reflects Mastercard’s shift toward high-margin digital segments like #blockchain, #stablecoins, and cross-border B2B payments, as it refines its portfolio following its 2021 Arcus acquisition. This divestiture illustrates the seismic shift the global payments landscape is undergoing, where agile #fintechs target underserved markets while established players pursue digital innovation. This move aligns with Mastercard's strategic emphasis on programmable payments and partnerships with entities like Fiserv, which aims to integrate stablecoins (e.g., FIUSD) into its ecosystem.

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How does a 135-year-old retailer build one of Latin America's most powerful financial engines? By creating a closed-loop ecosystem where every part of the business reinforces the others. Grupo Falabella is a masterclass in this "Hidden Fintech" model. Its strategy is a "virtuous cycle" built on five interwoven business units: Retail Anchors: Falabella department stores, Sodimac home improvement, and Tottus supermarkets act as a massive, low-cost customer acquisition funnel for the bank. The Financial Engine: Banco Falabella and its CMR credit card are the connective tissue. The bank leverages the retail base to acquire customers and then uses its CMR Puntos loyalty program to drive those customers back to the stores. This works much like how American Airlines leverages its historical Aadvantage airmiles product. The Physical Hub: Mallplaza shopping centers house all these businesses, creating a fully integrated physical environment where customers can shop, bank, and pick up online orders. The result is a powerful flywheel. The Falabella brand is retail, but its economic heart is finance. The full case study in my article deconstructs this powerful, symbiotic relationship. 📩 Read the full article via the link in the comments and subscribe to Frontier Fintech while you're there. Thousands of fintech leaders and investors rely on it for in-depth analysis on how technology is shaping finance in Africa and beyond.

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In today’s Expert Contributor, Larry A Gil B, Founder & CEO, Loads, explains how scaling startups in LatAm necessitates a nuanced, locally-adapted global strategy. Don't miss 'Scaling in Latin America: Why Founders Need a Regional Mindset': Article Link: https://lnkd.in/gy6DQpus Audio Link: https://lnkd.in/ggw6U_Qk Out now! #MBN #MexicoBusiness #ExpertOpinion #AudioArticle

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#VivaTech2025 Series 🇲🇽 Unlocking Mexico – Tech Opportunities 2025 EPISODE 4: E-commerce & Digital Economy – Mexico’s Online Boom | #sellTECHinLATAM 🇲🇽 Mexico’s e-commerce market is experiencing explosive growth, expected to reach $176 billion by 2033 with an annual growth rate of 14.5%. The country now boasts over 107 million internet users and a digitally savvy middle class fueling demand for online shopping, digital payments, and seamless customer experiences. 📈 Key data points: -E-commerce penetration is among the highest in LATAM, driven by smartphone adoption and improved logistics. -SaaS, logistics, payments, and customer experience solutions are in high demand as businesses race to digitize operations. -The government is actively promoting digital inclusion and infrastructure to support the growth of the online economy. 🛒 Why Mexico for E-commerce? -The market is open to innovation: international tech providers are finding success with localized platforms and partnerships. -Digital trust is rising, with more consumers embracing online payments and delivery services. -Cross-border e-commerce is expanding, making Mexico a strategic hub for regional and global online sales. 🚀 Opportunities for Global Tech Companies: -Scale your SaaS, logistics, or payment solutions in one of the world’s fastest-growing e-commerce markets. -Partner with local retailers and platforms to deliver superior digital experiences. -Leverage Mexico’s large, connected user base to pilot new business models and technologies. Ready to capture the e-commerce boom in Mexico? 🟧 LINK with us at Viva Technology and let’s drive digital growth together! EuroLATAM Link - #TECH#TECH#TECH #Ecommerce #TechExpansion #Mexico #LATAM #VivaTech #DigitalEconomy #SaaS #Logistics #Payments

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Remittances down, concerns up for Mexican carriers? According to Banco de México July data, remittances fell 4.7% YoY during the month and 5.5% YTD. Airlines with a strong presence in the transborder VFR travel segment, namely Volaris, Viva to a lesser degree followed by Aeromexico, might be at different levels of risk from the fallout the remittance contraction might entail. Compounding effects include a weakened US currency, which translates into fewer Mexican pesos per dollar, on top of the toughening of immigration enforcement policies north of the border. Discretionary income allocated to travel is contextually and logically becoming more strained as a result in an already soft demand environment. What do actual and advance booking numbers reveal? I picked VFR routes in four sample representative Mexico-US markets of different sizes, featuring a heavy Mexican population community of interest, to try to get a pulse on how they have behaved so far this year, using YTD July pax and frequencies compared to last year. Extra large: LAX. Large: ORD. Medium: OAK. Small: FAT (sources AFAC and Cirium). The findings reveal aggregate pax were essentially flat compared to last year (-0.9%), in line with the overall transborder market trend, but in contrast departures were up by close to double digits (+9.2%). This observation suggests a relative oversupply with softening load factors condition, which may or may not have been compensated by higher fares, a key variable requiring further investigation, bearing in mind oversupply typically leads to quality of revenue erosion. Looking forward to the rest of the year, the demand outlook indeed shows some signs of weakness. Quoting a Bloomberg Intelligence market analysis, "... forward bookings made in the US for flights from Mexico to the US, likely bought by Mexican diaspora for family members, are down over 10% for August, 21% for September and 22% for December. Bookings for the same flights but with a Mexico point of sale have fallen slightly for September-October and are mostly flat for the rest of the year." ("Mexican 2H Air-Travel Demand May Disappoint," 08/28/25). Bottom line: The monitoring of the remittance trend is a useful barometer to help gauge the demand climate, particulary in specific and sensitive travel segments such as VFR. Figures at this juncture point to a reduction in US-originating disposable funds that is progressively translating into a slowdown in future bookings compared to last year, more so in the US point of sale. But one conclusion is certain: The magnitude and duration of this adverse situation for air travel still remains to be fully grasped and felt✈️ #MexicoAviationIndustry #Airlines #Airports #VFRtravel #Networkstrategy #Capacityplanning #AirlineAnalysis #AirTransportation #Remittances #AviationStatistics

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As part of efforts to continue showcasing the capital offering in Colombia 🇨🇴 , we present this mapping conducted by Startuplinks in collaboration with Ruta N Medellin featuring a list of the main players supporting startups in the country and region, classified by investor type: venture capital funds (VC), corporate venture capital (CVC), family offices (FO), among others. This mapping reflects the maturity of an ecosystem that, thanks to active government support, growing private investment, and dynamic local leadership, has become a strategic innovation hub in Latin America. Access the complete mapping at the following link: https://lnkd.in/eZYCnasA

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To all Latin American startups working on real solutions for the retail space! IRIS (International Retail Innovation Syndicate) is launching an international pilot program for startups ready to work with leading retail corporations in Latin America and beyond. The program is backed by Cencosud (Chile) and other major retailers worldwide. They’re looking for startups from Latin America working on real solutions for the retail space, in verticals like: NPS/CSAT optimization Generative AI for Retail Loss prevention Planogram compliance & OSA Video analytics Robotics Quality & product monitoring and more. Selected startups will receive: Direct access to innovation teams Tailored support to build and launch pilots Feedback from corporate decision-makers A fast track to scaling 🗓️ Deadline to apply: August 15, 2025 🔗 Application form: https://lnkd.in/e3vZb9Vu

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Masive Implication for the #fintech sector in Mexico: Amazon + INVEX ha launched the first ever Banking as a Service Card. This has massive implications for the fintech and card sector in Mexico. 🚨 Game-Changer in Mexican Banking: Amazon, in partnership with INVEX and Mastercard, launches Amazon Access—a debit account and card integrated into its app, offering zero fees, 3 months of Prime, and top-tier service. But the real disruption? A regulatory shift in July 2024 that created “tech-based commission agents,” allowing Amazon to bypass traditional banking licenses. As the first authorized under this model, Amazon now offers financial services directly—something still off-limits to Mexican FinTechs. Ironically, banks pushed for a level playing field and may have opened the door to their biggest competitor yet. The financial landscape in Mexico just changed forever. Here are the key implications of Amazon's entry into Mexico’s financial services market via the new regulatory framework: 🔑 Key Implications Regulatory Precedent: The creation of the “tech-based commission agent” model (via the amended Circular Única de Bancos) allows Big Tech firms like Amazon to offer financial services without a full banking license—something still prohibited for regulated FinTechs (ITFs). Banking as a Service (BaaS) Shift: Traditional banks can now “rent” their licenses to tech giants, enabling them to bypass regulatory hurdles and directly serve customers—potentially transforming the role of banks into backend infrastructure providers. Competitive Disruption: Amazon becomes the first authorized player under this model, gaining a massive head start. Local FinTechs remain restricted, creating an uneven playing field that could stifle domestic innovation. Strategic Misstep by Banks: Ironically, banks’ push for a “level playing field” led to a regulatory change that favors global tech giants over local players—potentially a self-inflicted wound. Market Shake-Up: With Amazon’s scale, brand trust, and customer base, its entry could rapidly shift consumer expectations and market dynamics—posing a serious threat to both traditional banks and FinTechs.

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