The Next Wave of Tech Mafias in LatAm
#23: Talent Hubs in LatAm, ex-Head of International Product Growth at Meta in stealth, ex-Head of Growth at iFood building something new, 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.
“Tech Mafias” is a term popularized in Silicon Valley to describe groups of former employees from a successful tech company who go on to found their own startups. It was coined by a Fortune journalist in 2007 in reference to the “PayPal Mafia” — a group that included Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink), Peter Thiel (Founders Fund), and Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn), among others. A softer synonym for this phenomenon might be “talent hubs.”
In recent years, we’ve started to see similar talent hubs emerge across Latin America — a great sign of maturity for the local tech ecosystem. These hubs signal that certain companies, while scaling their businesses and raising significant funding, have also taught their team members the necessary skills and ambition to build something of their own. And as these new ventures grow, they too can become future talent hubs, creating a virtuous cycle and compounding the size of the ecosystem.
Since launching this newsletter, I couldn’t help but notice the formation of a new wave of talent hubs in the region that goes beyond the already well-known “Rappi Mafia”. By analyzing the Tech Talents database — which includes founders and startups previously featured here — I identified eight companies that stand out for having produced more new founders than others. These range from unicorns to scale ups, and together they’ve indirectly generated 16 startups:
Of course, we’re only considering startups in the Tech Talents database which means they are still in the very early stages, with some yet to raise their first round. Beyond the logos featured here, there are also numerous more mature startups founded by alumni of these emerging talent hubs (something to be covered in a future study). Still, the pattern is clear: these emerging “mafias” are acting as powerful catalysts for LatAm’s tech evolution — and one of the clearest signs yet that the ecosystem is maturing.
🤫 Talents Entering Stealth
Talents with relevant experiences who have just entered stealth mode.
Gui Santa Rosa – Founder at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Masters, Ex-Big Tech, Top University
Previous Experience: Ex-Head of International Product Growth, LATAM & Europe at Meta, ex-EIR at Liga Ventures, ex-CEO & Founder at Fábrica de Aplicativos, ex-CTO & Partner at MoWA, ex-Co-Founder & Head of Product at Compass Tecnologia, ex-Solutions Architect at MicroStrategy, Bachelor's in Computer Engineering from USP, Master's in Entrepreneurship from USP.
Headquarters: Miami, Florida, United States
Time in Current Position: 5 months
Ask for an Intro: Click here
José Alberto Díaz – Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Serial Founder, Unicorn Experience, Top University
Previous Experience: Ex-Sr. Product Manager at Clip, ex-Growth Product Manager at Stori, ex-Head of Product at Konfront, Bachelor of Business Administration from Universidad Anáhuac.
Headquarters: Ciudad de México, México
Time in Current Position: 3 months
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Leonardo Pinheiro Ferrari – CTO at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Technical Founder, Unicorn Experience
Previous Experience: Ex-CTO at Floki, ex-Engineering Manager at Wildlife Studios, ex-Lead Software Engineer at QuintoAndar, ex-Senior Software Engineer at Yellow, ex-Tech Lead at Xerpa, ex-Software Engineer at Moobie, Bachelor's degree from Universidade Federal de São Carlos.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 1 year, 6 months
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Álvaro Castro – Founder | CEO at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Scaleup Experience, Unicorn Experience, Ex-Corporate
Previous Experience: Ex-Product / Regulatory Affairs at Clara, ex-Head of Legal & Privacy at Noverde, ex-Legal Coordinator at QuintoAndar, ex-Associate Attorney at Mallet Advogados Associados. Specialization in Civil Law from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Bachelor's in Law from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 1 month
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Raphaelly Bragança – Construindo algo novo at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Ex-Corporate, Unicorn Experience, Scaleup Experience
Previous Experience: Ex-Executive at PicPay, ex-Head of Growth at iFood, ex-Head de Growth at ESCALE, ex-Group Growth Manager at ESCALE, ex-Head of Growth Marketing - Latam at DogHero, ex-Growth Marketing Manager at Reserva, ex-Marketing & CX Manager at OLX Brasil, MBA from Universidade Veiga de Almeida, Bachelor's in Advertising from Universidade Estácio de Sá.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 6 months
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Vitor Franco Braga – Founder at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Serial Founder, Technical Founder, Unicorn Experience, Scaleup Experience
Previous Experience: Ex-Product & Founding Team at Advolve, ex-Founder at Bash Talents, ex-Co-Founder at UnBlock, ex-Dev Relations | Tech Recruiter at CloudWalk, Inc., ex-Tech at Stone Pagamentos.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: N/A
Ask for an Intro: Click here
🎊 Startup Launches
Founders who have just publicly announced what they are working on.
Artu
Overview
Startup Description: Artu is an AI software that fully automates compliance for fintechs and vulnerable activities in Mexico.
Industry: Compliance, AI
Team Size: 4
Time in Stealth: 1 year
Founder Profile
Alejandro Gutierrez – Co-Founder & CTO at Artu
Founder Highlights: Technical Founder, Ex-Corporate
Previous Experience: Ex-Engineering Analyst at Goldman Sachs, ex-Climbing Wall Attendant at University of Notre Dame, ex-Project Leader at Student International Business Council, Bachelor's in Computer Engineering from University of Notre Dame.
Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico
Co-Founder: Juan Pablo R. (CEO)
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Lugui AI
Overview
Startup Description: Lugui is a vertical platform leveraging generative AI to reinvent rent for real estate agencies, landlords and tenants.
Industry: Real Estate
Team Size: 5
Time in Stealth: 7 months
Founder Profile
Thomaz G. - Founder & CEO at Lugui AI
Founder Highlights: Previous Exit, Serial Founder
Previous Experience: Ex-Founder & CEO at Nomah (Exit to Loft), ex-Sales Executive at ADP, ex-Private Equity Analyst at Astra Investimentos, ex-Intern at Air France.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Ask for an Intro: Click here
UnblockPay
Overview
Startup Description: Seamlessly bridging stablecoins and local rails for next-gen payments.
Industry: Blockchain
Team Size: 2
Time in Stealth: 3 months
Founder Profile
Lucca Freire – Builder at UnblockPay
Founder Highlights: Previous Exit, Ex-Big Tech, Investor, Scaleup Experience
Previous Experience: Ex-Partner & Product | Banking at Ton (Stone), ex-Partner | Operations (Exit) at NG.CASH, ex-Co-Founder (Acquired by Stone) at Trampolin Pagamentos SA. Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ibmec.
Headquarters: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Safar
Overview
Startup Description: The AI that helps you on your self-discovery journey, with the tool that works best for you.
Industry: AI
Team Size: 1
Time in Stealth: 10 months
Founder Profile
Victoria Bertasoli - Founder at Safar
Founder Highlights: Ex-Corporate, Scaleup Experience
Previous Experience: Ex-Latam Operations Team at SoftBank Investment Advisers, ex-Product | Founding Team at Alice, ex-Senior Manager, Technology - Customer Experience at Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bachelor's in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Ask for an Intro: Click here
🦄 Unicorn Movements
Promotions, new hires, and other movements in local unicorns’ executive-level.
Ana Pellegrini – Chief Legal Officer at QuintoAndar
Previous Role: Vice-Presidente Legal and Corporate Affairs at QuintoAndar
Previous Experience: Ex-Chief Legal Officer at Uber, ex-Head of Regulatory Affairs at Stocche Forbes Advogados, ex-Senior Associate at Ulhôa Canto, Rezende e Guerra Advogados, ex-Associate Lawyer at Ulhôa Canto, Rezende e Guerra Advogados, Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Berkeley, Bachelor's in Law (LL.B.) from PUC.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 1 month
Luis Bitencourt-Emilio – CPTO & Growth at Loft
Previous Role: Group Chief Product & Technology Officer at Loft
Previous Experience: Ex-CPO at Rappi, Co-Founder, Chief Technology Officer, Board Director at Novi Money, ex-Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft, ex-Servers & Applications Support Specialist at IBM, ex-Systems & Network Administrator at University of Maryland, Bachelor's in Computer Engineering from University of Maryland College Park.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 3 months
Pedro Spagiari – Chief Architect, Head of Core Engineering at unico IDtech
Previous Role: Head of Engineering | SRE, Platform & Data Eng. at unico IDtech
Previous Experience: Ex-Engineering Manager, Platform Engineering at OLX Brasil, ex-Staff System Engineer at VivaReal, ex-Senior Software Development Engineer at Walmart, ex-Cloud Specialist at Sprinklr, ex-Senior DevOps Engineer at Titans Group, ex-System Administrator at Shoes4you, ex-System Administrator at Coquelux, Bachelor's in Computer Engineering from IBTA - Grupo IBMEC.
Headquarters: United States
Time in Current Position: 1 month
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.
To gain access, simply share this newsletter with two friends using your personal link below, and the database will be delivered straight to your email inbox.
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