Financing watch: Agtech seeks investors, Ambev looks for startups, IDB Invest and more

AutoAgroMachines, a Brazilian startup dedicated to the development of smart agricultural machinery, is seeking investment partners to raise 850mn reais (US$140mn) for the construction of a factory and an R&D center.

The goal is to accelerate the production of 14 new autonomous robot projects, all based on solutions that use AI for irrigation, optical fertilization and other equipment for the agricultural and forestry sectors, the agtech said in a statement.

The company also aims to expand its Forest.Bot prototypes, which according to AutoAgro can help reverse part of the environmental damage by restoring forests and aiding in the water cycle regulation.

Ambev doubles down on open innovation

Brazilian beverage giant Ambev is looking for startups with projects related to the circular economy, climate change and water use, among others.

The company launched a new edition of its open innovation program 100+ Labs Brasil. Interested companies can register until January 24 on the program's website.

The program, run by accelerator Quintessa, seeks businesses with solutions fit for implementation and testing, preferably ones that are ready to scale. The program's main themes are sustainable agriculture, circular packaging, climate change, water management and productive inclusion.

IDB Invest backs LatAm fintech fund

IDB Invest approved a new investment of up to US$50mn for Victory Park Capital Investor Fund, a debt fund in Latin America and the Caribbean that offers customized financial solutions for fintechs. 

“The fund will focus on expanding access to financing for fast growing fintechs that target micro, small and medium-sized enterprise, and advancing fintech credit as an emerging asset class within the private credit market to strengthen and accelerate the growth of the fintech ecosystem in the region,” IDB Invest said in a statement.

The fund was established in 2019 by IDB Invest and the International Finance Corporation with a US$102mn commitment. 

Victory Park was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Chicago. In 2024, it became a majority-owned affiliate of Janus Henderson Group. 

Logtech leverages crowdfunding 

Brazilian logistics startup Loocal completed its first round of investment with 1.2mn reais raised via the EqSeed crowdfunding platform.

The process saw the participation of 105 investors. With the investment, the logtech plans to expand its operations to new cities, invest in artificial intelligence and strengthen partnerships with large retail chains.

Founded in 2021, Loocal has developed a software-as-a-service solution to optimize delivery management, including order management, route optimization and real-time tracking of delivery drivers.

Fintech Koin to invest US$5mn in 2025 expansion

Fintech Koin plans to invest around 30mn reais this year to expand its anti-fraud solutions in Brazil and in Latin America.

Driven by the increase in digital transactions and the sophistication of fraud attempts, the fintech said it wants to expand its portfolio and bring new technologies for more secure transactions in e-commerce.

Koin operates in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Chile. Its clients include Despegar, Jetsmart, Nike, Indrive, Simmons, Clickbus and Reebok.

Alprestamo fintech closes bond issue

Argentina-based Alprestamo, a marketplace for financial products in Latin America, closed its first series 1 bond issue.

“This achievement represents a key milestone in the company's development and reinforces its commitment to financial inclusion in Argentina and the region,” Alprestamo said in a release.

The issue was structured by Cono Sur Investment and reached a total nominal value of over 966mn pesos (US$1mn), exceeding the expected nominal amount of 960mn pesos.

The term of the issue is 1.06 years, with maturity set for June 23, 2026. 

Uruguay biotech selected by US fund

In Uruguay, startup DNAzyme, which was co-founded by an Argentine entrepreneur, received an investment of approximately US$200,000 from US group IndieBio.

The group is deemed the world's leading investor in early-stage biotechnology. IndieBio also agreed to include the startup in its five-month acceleration program.

DNAzyme created a product to combat damage caused by solar radiation using an enzyme that comes from organisms in Antarctica. In 2024, DNAzyme raised investments from regional accelerator GridX and from Uruguay's R&I agency ANII.

Chilean accelerator Magical earmarks US$625,000 for LatAm startups

Chilean accelerator Magical aims to expand support for Latin American startups with an investment of US$625,000 earmarked for companies in 2025

Magical has a focus on solutions in industries such as fintech, retail, mining, cybersecurity and construction.

The Magical II fund, from which the resources for this year come, is 100% financed by private investors and already totals US$5mn.