Paulo Garcia Neto

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days in the Bay Area, participating in some fantastic events, including Brazil at Silicon Valley. 💥 Unsurprisingly, AI remains the "talk of the town," and has been for quite some time now. 🎯 I synthesized six initial and preliminary insights into AI, both in general and within the realm of finance. These insights were drawn from my extensive reading, as well as conversations with ML specialists, founders, professors, and VCs. 🔊 I'd love to hear your thoughts on these observations. 🙂 💪 🔝 #AI #innovation #siliconvalley #future #perspectives #technology

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Publishers vão se aliar a OpenAI Aqui só um primeiro exeplo como : OpenAI has struck a deal with Reddit OpenAI will use content from the social media platform for its artificial intelligence chatbot, sending shares in the company up as much as 15 per cent in after-hours trading. Thursday’s announcement is the latest in a number of deals between the Microsoft-backed start-up and media brands as the competition for high-quality and reliable data to underpin powerful new AI models intensifies. At the same time, OpenAI is fighting copyright lawsuits from publishers who are reluctant to allow their content to be used by the ChatGPT-maker. The agreement gives OpenAI access to content on Reddit’s website and will allow the social media platform to embed more AI tools. Financial terms were not disclosed, but a jump in Reddit’s stock would mean a windfall for Sam Altman, the co-founder and chief executive of OpenAI, who has invested tens of millions of dollars into the social media group. Altman, who has said he has no equity stake in OpenAI, held close to 10 per cent of Reddit’s stock ahead of its public listing in March via various entities, according to public filings. The 39-year-old, a serial entrepreneur and investor, did not lead the negotiations with Reddit, according to OpenAI. The deal will also be a boon to Reddit’s monetisation efforts, which have until now mainly focused on building up its advertising-based business model. On its roadshow ahead of its listing, Reddit told investors that it also hoped to see a windfall from selling its data to third parties so that they could train their AI. It has already struck deals with Google and Cision. OpenAI has struck a series of deals with publishers this year, including the Financial Times, US-based Associated Press, Germany’s Axel Springer, France’s Le Monde and Spain’s Prisa Media. Those deals give the San Francisco-based start-up access to material which can in turn be used to develop and run generative AI technology that can create text, images and code from human prompts. “We are thrilled to partner with Reddit to enhance ChatGPT with uniquely timely and relevant information, and to explore the possibilities to enrich the Reddit experience with AI-powered features,” said Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s chief operating officer. Including Reddit in ChatGPT “upholds our belief in a connected internet, helps people find more or what they’re looking for, and helps new audiences find community on Reddit”, said Steve Huffman, Reddit’s co-founder and chief executive. While some media brands have partnered with OpenAI, others have resisted. The New York Times and other publishers have instead sued OpenAI and Microsoft for harvesting their articles. In December, the NYT filed a lawsuit seeking billions of dollars in damages from the two companies for “profit[ing] from the massive copyright infringement, commercial exploitation and misappropriation of The Times’s intellectual property”.

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Translating the headline: "Taco Bell wants Brazil to become the biggest operator out of the USA". It is a very bold expansion plan of the fast food company within Brazil, I would say. They currently have a little bit more than 30 stores in the country and want to open 200 more till 2030. I see the 2 sides of the coin in this situation: 1) Yes, indeed I also see a whitespace for junkie Mexican restaurants in the country, as there are not so many of them compared to other cuisines (Japanese, Arabic, Italian, and so on); 2) At the same time, Brazilians are not so used to having Mexican food, especially in its junkie version. And considering the 6 years time they want to open all of these stores, I believe the time is too short for that. Some may say: "But what about Sí Señor restaurant and other Mexican ones?". Well, most of the Mexican restaurants spread out the country offer an experience as well, and use the Mexican culture as part of it to attract customers. Many of them have Mariachi shows, characters from the famous and popular Chavo del Ocho series, and other very cool Mexican experiences that Brazilians generally like. They are not only a place to sit and eat, in most cases. Sí Señor! (El Camino Foods S.A.) restaurant, to mention another one, offers TEX-MEX food and competes in a different category with other players, such as Outback, Applebee's, Olive Garden, etc. They have a different approach and offer another type of experience to their customers. I truly hope they are very successful in the country. Similarly, I am sure they went through an extensive market research to make this decision to avoid having the same bad experience they have in Mexico, where they failed and completely left the country. Nevertheless, I would be way less aggressive with these expansion plans. Hopefully everything goes well and they crush it - with plenty of tacos.

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Dear friends, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re (finally) launching our set custom of gen-ai solutions for the Brazilian market at the #riosebsummit. AI is a game changer for everything analytics. It’s all in Portuguese for now (sorry!),hit me up and we can walk you through our approach and why it’s different. A hint: it’s all powered by Observable. Everything is light-weigh, modular, auditable and reproducible. You can check it out at https://ai.belo.re

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At #FIIPRIORITY in #Rio, André Esteves, Chairman & Senior Partner, BTG Pactual underscores how can #Brazil leverage its #CleanEnergy matrix to address critical global challenges like #EnergyCrisis & #FoodSecurity. Watch the full panel: https://lnkd.in/dBks4iaa

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WHAT'S BEHIND ZILIA’S US$120MN BRAZIL SEMICONDUCTORS INVESTMENT? Brazil's Zilia Technologies (formerly SMART Modular Technologies) is set to invest 650mn reais (US$120mn) to boost semiconductor production. With potential new incentives and a new controlling investor, Zilia aims to expand its operations significantly. CEO Rogerio Nunes highlighted the support for the new incentive program in Brazil and emphasized Zilia's dual national and global identity. The company was acquired by China’s Longsys, which now holds 81% of shares, while SGH retains 19%. The investment will enhance production capacity and fund R&D initiatives. Zilia’s two factories in São Paulo and Manaus will see expansions and new equipment installations to support integrated circuit encapsulation and testing. This move is part of a broader nearshoring strategy to serve markets in the US and Latin America. Thanks again to BNamericas for the full article with more background and insights click the source link in the comments below 💡 🙏👇 Visit International Semiconductor Executive Summits #Semiconductors #Brazil #Investment #TechIndustry

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_We shall emphasized that VC landscape in Brazil entered a period of consolidation in 2023. _LAVCA has released that investors deployed US$4 billion across 770 transactions in Latin America, with US$1,764 billion being directed at 325 Brazilian start-ups. #venturecapital #startups #mastropasqua

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Why top global tech Investors are excited about Brazil 🌎 🇧🇷👇🏻 Brazil's tech ecosystem has transformed dramatically since 2015, evolving from a nascent market to a vibrant, thriving hub. Early pioneers like KASZEK, monashees, and Redpoint eventures (Anderson Thees and Manoel Lemos) set the stage, and today, the ecosystem is deeper with more early and later-stage capital providers like Valor Capital Group, Bicycle Capital, and Lightrock. Successful exits like the Pismo M&A have made Brazil more attractive for investment. The Nubank IPO, despite its rocky start, is now soaring. Founders like David Vélez and Sergio Furio are reinvesting in new startups, creating a powerful cycle of innovation and growth. These and other reasons why Brazil is grabbing attention according to Dave Nangle, managing partner VEF who joined me this week on The J Curve in the short snippet below ⬇️ To watch / listen to our full conversation with Dave head over to our channels on Spotify, Apple and Youtube 🔗🎙 #latinamerica #techecosystem #exits #venturecapital #entrepreneurship #vef #thejcurvepodcast

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Take charge of your finances! Rio Bank's Online Banking puts powerful tools at your fingertips. Effortlessly manage your money with budgeting assistance, personalized alerts, and features designed to empower you. Make smart choices, reach your goals faster - bank smarter with Rio Bank Online Banking!

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Take charge of your finances! Rio Bank's Online Banking puts powerful tools at your fingertips. Effortlessly manage your money with budgeting assistance, personalized alerts, and features designed to empower you. Make smart choices, reach your goals faster - bank smarter with Rio Bank Online Banking!

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A venture capitalist with nearly two decades of experience. He's invested in over 6 unicorns, including iFood, CargoX, and Pismo. Meet Rodrigo Baer, co-founder of Upload Ventures and a key figure in developing venture funding in Brazil. 🧠 Key Takeaways #1 Evaluate growth strategies: Quickly identify and adjust or remove activities that don't drive your startup's growth. #2 Use investor insight: Engage investors as strategic partners to navigate challenges and optimize performance. #3 Prioritize efficiency by strategically expanding your team; start small to perfect your sales process before scaling, ensuring each step aligns with your business goals. Listen to the full episode here 👇 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ex6iv5EJ Youtube: https://lnkd.in/eJMCuUef Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/ewT3Gw2x

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Brazil's iFood sees financial arm growing revenue by more than half in 2025 Brazil's leading food delivery platform, iFood, is poised for significant growth in its financial services division. Owned by Dutch tech investment giant Prosus, iFood announced that it expects a 52% increase in revenue from its financial arm by the 2025 fiscal year. This expansion underscores iFood's ambition to diversify beyond food delivery and solidify its role as a comprehensive financial services provider for the restaurant industry, as reported by Reuters. Currently, iFood handles over 80 million deliveries monthly in Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy. The company also extends financial services to the restaurants on its platform, including credit options and digital accounts. For the fiscal year ending March 2024, iFood projects its financial services will generate revenues of 658 million reais ($121.3 million). By the end of the following fiscal year, it aims to boost this figure to 1 billion reais. Bruno Henriques, head of iFood Pago, the newly branded financial services division, emphasized their vision: "We have the mission to be the bank of the restaurants." This rebranding is part of a broader strategy to offer integrated financial solutions tailored specifically for the food service sector. In line with this vision, iFood is piloting the rollout of point-of-sale (POS) terminals for its restaurant partners. The company plans to distribute about 5,000 terminals in the coming months, with a goal of having 20,000 restaurants equipped with them by next March. These terminals are expected to streamline payment processes and enhance operational efficiency for restaurants. Founded in 2011, iFood has rapidly expanded, reflecting its strong market presence with total revenues reaching 7.1 billion reais during the 2023 fiscal year. This growth trajectory was further bolstered when Prosus, which already had a controlling interest, acquired the remaining 33% stake from European delivery giant Just Eat Takeaway for an initial payment of 1.5 billion euros ($1.61 billion) in 2022. As Prosus prepares to release its latest financial results on June 24, iFood's strategic push into financial services highlights its evolving business model. By integrating robust financial solutions into its core delivery operations, iFood is not only enhancing its value proposition for restaurants but also positioning itself as a pivotal player in Brazil’s digital economy. Stay ahead with the latest in food delivery news from the weekly Boolanga Bites newsletter, brought to you by Boolanga Business. Sign up for our LinkedIn newsletter now to receive weekly updates directly to your inbox every Monday.

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Join us this week on The J Curve as we dive into the incredible journey of Geraldo Thomaz, co-founder and co-CEO of NYSE-traded VTEX! 🌐💡 Through numerous pivots and iterations, VTEX has evolved into a global digital commerce powerhouse, serving industry giants like Walmart, Coca-Cola, and L’Oreal. Before going public, VTEX raised $365M from prominent investors such as SoftBank Latin America Fund, Naspers Limited, Riverwood Capital, Endeavor Catalyst and more. In our conversation, we go deep into the key elements of this evolution and share Geraldo's invaluable lessons along the way. We discuss: 1️⃣ From zero to Walmart: key strategies for landing enterprise customers 2️⃣ Optimize for scalability: key trade-offs VTEX made for global growth 3️⃣ Building a high-performing partnership: trust, complementary skills, and a divide-and-conquer management approach 4️⃣ From founder to public company CEO: main lessons on leadership transformation 5️⃣ Take LatAm to the world: how to inspire global entrepreneurial ambitions in the region? Watch / listen to the episode by tuning into The J Curve podcast on 👇 Youtube 👀 ===> https://lnkd.in/eGraR9q3 Spotify 🎙===> https://lnkd.in/e-xAPqk2 Apple Podcast 🍏 ===> https://lnkd.in/enP4G_tU Huge thank you to Milena Oliveira, founding partner at Volpe Capital for introducing me to Geraldo and for some excellent question suggestions. I really really appreciate that. #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #DigitalCommerce #GlobalGrowth #TheJCurve #PodcastAlert

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The Game Brazil 2024 Survey revealed impressive data about the online gaming market in Brazil. With 73.9% of the Brazilian population stating that they play some type of digital game, the country is consolidating itself as one of the largest gaming markets in the world. 📊 Survey Highlights: - 50.9% of Brazilian gamers are women, showing high diversity in the audience. - During the pandemic, the number of players increased from 57.1% to 85.4%. - Most players prefer to play for up to one hour a day, with 30.5% consuming games for one to three hours. 🔗 Read more about the survey: https://lnkd.in/dY-XPCCp These numbers indicate a booming market, with great opportunities for online gaming companies looking to enter Brazil. Let's discuss how we can seize these opportunities together! #Gaming #BrazilianMarket #GameBrazilSurvey

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Brazil's Tech Boom: Capitalizing on Opportunities in a Thriving Digital Ecosystem Brazil's technology sector is experiencing an unprecedented boom, fueled by a vibrant startup culture and significant digital transformation across multiple industries. In recent years, the country has emerged as a leading hub for innovation in Latin America, with substantial growth in sectors such as fintech, healthtech, and educational technology (edtech). This surge is supported by a combination of factors including a large and tech-savvy consumer base, substantial venture capital investment, and strong government incentives aimed at boosting the digital economy. Fintech, in particular, stands out as a sector where Brazil is not just regional, but increasingly a global leader. Brazilian fintechs have successfully leveraged the widespread adoption of mobile internet access to offer services ranging from mobile payments to financial management tools, dramatically increasing financial inclusion for millions of Brazilians. The success stories of companies like Nubank, which became one of the biggest digital banks in the world, underscore the potential for scalable innovation in this space. In the realms of healthtech and edtech, Brazil is also making significant strides. Healthtech startups are revolutionizing patient care through telemedicine and AI-driven diagnostic tools, responding to the challenges of a vast and unevenly distributed population. Similarly, edtech initiatives are transforming educational access, providing remote learning solutions and educational resources that are crucial in a country with stark disparities in educational quality and access. For international companies looking to tap into Brazil’s thriving tech ecosystem, the opportunity is ripe for strategic investments and collaborations. Establishing partnerships with local startups, engaging in venture funding, or setting up R&D centers in Brazil can provide a gateway to not only the Brazilian market but also the broader Latin American region. As Brazil continues to pave its way as a leader in technological innovation, the prospects for impactful and profitable engagements look promising. This dynamic environment presents a unique chance for forward-thinking companies to be part of a major digital revolution. #BR789 #Brazil #LatinAmerica #Startup #Tech

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