Tech Talents LatAm #22
Ex-COO at Cobli's new venture, ex-Founder & CEO at Quero Educação, ex-Head of Banking at Celcoin, ex-Co-Founder at Gabriel, and much more...
Welcome to Tech Talents! In this newsletter, I share real-time key talent movements in the LatAm tech ecosystem, including founders entering and exiting stealth mode, executive-level movements in unicorns, and partner-level changes in local VC firms.
Before we dive in, here’s a breakdown of what I’ve been reading recently. Feel free to skip directly to this week’s talent movements by clicking here.
A recent study by OpenAI and MIT found that heavy use of AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, is linked to negative psychological effects, including loneliness, dependence, and reduced socialization. Voice-based AI chatbots initially helped alleviate loneliness, but their benefits diminished over time, ultimately leading to similar negative outcomes as text-based ones. While still initial research, the study highlights the responsibility of AI developers to design these systems with careful consideration of their potential mental health impacts on users.
“High-agency” individuals are those who don’t view the future as a static entity but as something to be shaped by human action. This article delves deeper into the concept, explores how to identify high-agency individuals, and offers strategies for escaping low-agency traps. While it doesn’t necessarily have to do with technology this mindset embodies traits that I believe can help founders navigate the challenges of building enduring businesses.
“Vibe Coding” is the new buzzword in Silicon Valley, popularized by a Y Combinator video discussion. The term refers to a new approach where individuals build software simply by describing their ideas in natural language, with AI tools translating these descriptions into functional code. Platforms like Cursor, Lovable, and V0 are lowering the technical barriers to software creation, making it more accessible than ever. However, these tools are far from perfect—the AI-generated code often contains bugs and still requires a good understanding of programming concepts for effective debugging. Despite these limitations, the rapid progress of AI coding tools has led some tech influencers to argue that learning traditional coding is becoming obsolete, and that mastering these AI-driven tools is the real skill of the future.
🎊 Startup Launches
Founders who have just publicly announced what they are working on.
Caic AI
Overview
Startup Description: Caic is the first AI-powered conversational commerce platform within WhatsApp Business.
Industry: E-commerce, AI
Team Size: 2
Time in Stealth: 6 months
Founder Profile
Alex Sátiro – Founder at Caic AI
Founder Highlights: Technical Founder, Scaleup Experience, Ex-Corporate
Previous Experience: Ex-Software Development Manager at BHub, ex-Development Team Lead at Grupo Boticário, ex-Coordenador de TI at Carrefour, ex-IT Specialist at Oppa Design, Bachelor of Technology in eCommerce from UNIBTA.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Ask for an Intro: Click here
ailin¹
Overview
Startup Description: Ailin¹ unifies the main AI models in a single flow, and allows you to build AI applications in an instant.
Industry: AI
Team Size: 1
Time in Stealth: 8 months
Founder Profile
Alisson Idaló - Founder at ailin¹
Previously featured as a Stealth Founder in Tech Talents #15.
Founder Highlights: Serial Founder, Previous Exit, Ex-Consultant, Ex-Big Tech
Previous Experience: Ex-Founder & CEO at Own Financial Services, ex-Vice President at ValeCard, ex-Strategy & Product Director at Social Bank, ex-Head of Product & and Experience Design at Fintech Magalu (Hub Fintech acquired by Magalu), ex-Founder, Director of Product and Experience Design at Vlast (acquired by Hub Fintech). Bachelor's degree in Advertising from ESAMC.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Handshake
Overview
Startup Description: Handshake's mission is to generate purchasing excellence for large companies through AI.
Industry: SaaS, AI
Team Size: 3
Time in Stealth: 11 months
Founder Profile
Renato Sabato – Co-founder at Handshake
Founder Highlights: Masters, Top University, Scaleup Experience, Ex-Consultant
Previous Experience: Ex-COO at Appmax, ex-COO at Cobli, ex-Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, ex-Business Development at LenddoEFL. MBA from Harvard Business School, Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from Universidade de São Paulo, Bachelor's in Business Administration from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Optti
Overview
Startup Description: Optti Sales is a system that uses Artificial Intelligence to help companies increase sales through WhatsApp.
Industry: SaaS, AI
Team Size: 3
Time in Stealth: 1 year, 2 months
Founder Profile
Heitor Jurkovich – Co-Founder at Optti
Founder Highlights: Technical Founder, Doctorate, Scaleup Experience, Unicorn Experience, Ex-Corporate, Ex-Consultant
Previous Experience: Ex-Head of Advanced Analytics at Jusbrasil, ex-Partner & Instructor at Exemplaria Solutions, ex-Data Science Manager | Global Growth at Rappi, ex-Data Scientist Consultant at Nextel Brasil. MicroMaster in Statistics and Data Science from MIT, PhD in Physics from Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Master's in Physics from Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Sandwich Program at Dartmouth College.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Ask for an Intro: Click here
🤫 Talents Entering Stealth
Talents with relevant experiences who have just entered stealth mode.
Gustavo Amaral – Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Technical Founder, Scaleup Experience
Previous Experience: Ex-Head of Engineering at NG.CASH, ex-Full Stack Software Engineer at Dados Legais, ex-AI Developer at ICA PUC-Rio, ex-Optimization Engineer at Pareto Group, Bachelor's in Computer Engineering from Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro.
Headquarters: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 4 months
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Jessica Thie Kato – Founder & CEO at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Masters, Ex-Big Tech, Top University
Previous Experience: Ex-Canada and Latin America Corporate Go To Market Manager at Microsoft. Master in Marketing and Digital Communications from ESPM, Bachelor's in Business Administration from FGV.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 3 months
Ask for an Intro: Click here
João Guilherme Marques Gozetto – Founder at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Ex-Corporate, Top University
Previous Experience: Ex-Head of Operations & Technology at Stone Seguros, ex-Group Product Manager at Stone, Bachelor of Business Administration from FGV EBAPE, Bachelor's degree in Business from WU.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 2 months
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Sergio Andrade – Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Serial Founder, Scaleup Experience, Technical Founder
Previous Experience: Ex-Co-Founder & CTO at Mayla, ex-Co-Founder & CTO at Gabriel Tecnologia, ex-CTO at Epicom Tech, ex-Director of Software Engineering at Peixe Urbano, ex-Software Engineer at Power.com, Bachelor's in Computer Sciences from Universidade Federal Fluminense.
Headquarters: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 11 months
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Otávio Costa Miranda
Founder Highlights: Top University, Serieal Founder, Scaleup Experience
Previous Experience: Co-Founder & Board Member at Gabriel, ex-Entrepreneur In Residence at Canary, ex-Latin America Expansion and Business Development at Mobike, ex-Analyst at Presidential Office for Strategic Affairs, Presidência da República, ex-International Expansion at Kuaishou Technology. Bachelor's in Political Science and Government from Renmin University of China.
Headquarters: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 4 months
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Milton Camargo – Building @ Stealth at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Serial Founder, Scaleup Experience, Ex-Corporate
Previous Experience: Ex-Partner, Head of Banking at Celcoin, ex-Head of Business Development, Partnerships at Zapay Pagamentos, ex-Co-founder & CEO at Capital Empreendedora, ex-Founder & CEO at Premmier Mobilidade Corporativa, Bachelor's in Business Administration from IESB.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 1 year, 2 months
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Bernardo de Pádua – Founder at Pharoi
Founder Highlights: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters, Top University, Scaleup Experience, Y Combinator Alumni
Previous Experience: Chairman at Quero Educação, ex-Founder - CEO at Quero Educação, ex-Founder/CTO at Redealumni Servicos De Internet, Master in Computer Science from ITA, BSc. in Computer Engineering from ITA.
Headquarters: São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 1 year, 1 month
Ask for an Intro: Click here
🚀 Early Stage Highlights
Early stage startups with strong momentum.
Lerian
Startup Description: Lerian provides an open-source ledger for core banking, designed for seamless integration into developers' daily workflows and scalable growth across various industries.
Industry: Fintech
Previous Funding: $18M Seed round from Maya Capital, Quartz, Supera Capital, Norte Ventures, and Crivo Ventures in November 2024
Signal: Headcount growth of 24% in 3 months (from 29 to 36)
Co-Founders: Fred Amaral (CEO), Maísa R. Pires Amaral (Legal & Compliance), Marilyn Hahn
🦄 Unicorn Movements
Promotions, new hires, and other movements in local unicorns’ executive-level.
Carolina Astaiza – VP of Human Resources LATAM at Edelman
Previous Role: Ex-Global People Director at Clara
Previous Experience: Ex-HR Head RappiPay at Rappi, ex-CHRO at Grupo SanchoBBDO Omnicom, ex-Gerente Senior Planeación Organizacional y Talento Humano at Alquería Danone, ex-Directora Senior Recursos Humanos y Compliance at Producciones RTI TELEMUNDO, BS in Economics from Universidad del Rosario, Especialista en Mercadeo Estrategico from Colegio de Estudios Superiores de Administración.
Headquarters: Colombia
Time in Current Position: 2 months
Mariana Assuncao – Director of Risk, Fraud and Collection Strategy at Solfácil
Previous Role: Director of FP&A and PDD & Loss Forecasting at Creditas
Previous Experience: Ex-Manager at Bain & Company, ex-International Consultant at Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency, Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management from FGV.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 2 months
Gabriel Coelho – Enterprise New Business Director at Conta Simples
Previous Role: Head of Innovation and Partnership at Clara
Previous Experience: Ex-Chief Strategy Officer and Partner at GO.K, ex-Chief as a Service at Chiefs.Group, ex-CEO & Founder at Empodere-se, ex-Mentor at Endeavor Brasil, ex-Commercial Manager at Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação. Bachelor's degree in Social Communication from ESPM, MBA in Strategic and Economic Business Management from FGV.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 3 months
Reminder: I’m giving away access to a structured database of key executives in LatAm unicorns. This database currently features over 120 profiles from 20 organizations, including all the usual Tech Talents information — tags, previous experience, LinkedIn links, time in current position, and more.
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