Last Thursday, May 26, a55, a Brazilian fintech that offers revenue-based loans to startups and other companies in the so-called “new economy,” opened an office in Mexico, consolidating its presence in the country.
The fintech announced its official arrival in Mexico in May last year, when it also raised a $35 million round led by Accial Capital and followed by previous investors, such as E3 Negócios and Mouro Capital (successor fund to Santander InnoVentures, from the Santander Group). In January of this year, it announced a BRL 92.8 million Series B led by accelerator and investor Movile. With this last investment, the expansion in Mexico gains new objectives: a55 is now also keeping an eye on medium and small companies there.
Among the Mexican companies that have already used a55 services are Gaia, Totaltech, Vexi, Marketec, Prestanómico, and Inventec.
Founded in 2017 by Hugo Mathecowitsh (CEO), André Wetter (CBO), and Andre Luiz Silva (COO), a55 has already granted more than BRL 400 million in loans to more than 500 companies in Brazil and Mexico. Usually, companies look for a55 for investments of BRL 300,000, but the average of operations is BRL 500,000. And its growth rate remains high, with cumulative volumes increasing approximately sixfold in 2021 compared to 2020.
Despite these impressive numbers, the a55 is only scratching the surface of its true potential. About 25% of SMBs in Brazil and Mexico now use the tools needed for predictive revenue modeling, meaning almost 4.5 million companies could benefit from a55 services.
In addition to Wetter e Silva, Tomás Blanco (country manager of a55 in Mexico) and Miguel Castilla (head of marketing & growth) were also present at the office’s opening.
“Part of the fundraising received in our Series B goes towards continuing to expand and improve our product, which is primarily data-driven. Our business looks to the future because, from a detailed analysis, we understand the companies’ monthly revenue, their customer base, and their cash flows”, said Wetter during the office’s opening.
In March, a55 launched its first operation using a decentralized finance (Defi) protocol. The financing model uses the USDC stablecoin – backed by the dollar-pegged to the Brazilian real. The new modality is made using the Solana blockchain and was implemented in partnership with the Belgian crypto fintech Credix, which has just arrived in Brazil. The company believes that this Defi-TradFi debt model (i.e., one that unites decentralized finance with traditional systems) will soon be the new normal in the industry.
Last Thursday, May 26, a55, a Brazilian fintech that offers revenue-based loans to startups and other companies in the so-called “new economy,” opened an office in Mexico, consolidating its presence in the country.
The fintech announced its official arrival in Mexico in May last year, when it also raised a $35 million round led by Accial Capital and followed by previous investors, such as E3 Negócios and Mouro Capital (successor fund to Santander InnoVentures, from the Santander Group). In January of this year, it announced a BRL 92.8 million Series B led by accelerator and investor Movile. With this last investment, the expansion in Mexico gains new objectives: a55 is now also keeping an eye on medium and small companies there.
Among the Mexican companies that have already used a55 services are Gaia, Totaltech, Vexi, Marketec, Prestanómico, and Inventec.
Founded in 2017 by Hugo Mathecowitsh (CEO), André Wetter (CBO), and Andre Luiz Silva (COO), a55 has already granted more than BRL 400 million in loans to more than 500 companies in Brazil and Mexico. Usually, companies look for a55 for investments of BRL 300,000, but the average of operations is BRL 500,000. And its growth rate remains high, with cumulative volumes increasing approximately sixfold in 2021 compared to 2020.
Despite these impressive numbers, the a55 is only scratching the surface of its true potential. About 25% of SMBs in Brazil and Mexico now use the tools needed for predictive revenue modeling, meaning almost 4.5 million companies could benefit from a55 services.
In addition to Wetter e Silva, Tomás Blanco (country manager of a55 in Mexico) and Miguel Castilla (head of marketing & growth) were also present at the office’s opening.
“Part of the fundraising received in our Series B goes towards continuing to expand and improve our product, which is primarily data-driven. Our business looks to the future because, from a detailed analysis, we understand the companies’ monthly revenue, their customer base, and their cash flows”, said Wetter during the office’s opening.
In March, a55 launched its first operation using a decentralized finance (Defi) protocol. The financing model uses the USDC stablecoin – backed by the dollar-pegged to the Brazilian real. The new modality is made using the Solana blockchain and was implemented in partnership with the Belgian crypto fintech Credix, which has just arrived in Brazil. The company believes that this Defi-TradFi debt model (i.e., one that unites decentralized finance with traditional systems) will soon be the new normal in the industry.