IC Ventures

📌 At IC Ventures, we are looking for startups where technology is at the core of the value proposition and represents a critical transformation opportunity for a market or industry. We prefer B2B ventures with recurring revenue models and a non-exclusive emphasis on artificial intelligence and fintech segments. Learn more: https://ic-ventures.vc/ #fintech #technology #artificialintelligence #startups #b2b Eduardo Mangarelli Gabriel Colla Andrés Cerisola Alvaro Moré Martín Naor

🟢 Our partner, Martín Naor, shared valuable insights during the Funds and Investment Panel: "Betting on the Future of FinTech and InsurTech", alongside Maria Michelena and moderated by Ines Bonicelli, as part of the CAOS event (#Connections, #Activities, #Opportunities, #Synergies), organized by the Uruguay Innovation Hub. 👉 IC Ventures’ investment #model "We invest in startups where we can add #value beyond capital. If none of the partners feels they can contribute, the opportunity doesn’t move forward." Martín explained that IC Ventures focuses on opportunities where the partners bring a distinctive value. He emphasized that an internal key criterion is that at least one of the partners must feel enthusiastic about the project. 👉 The importance of strong #teams and scalable projects "I would rather slow down an entrepreneur who wants to conquer Brazil, Mexico, and Kenya all at once, than push someone without ambition. If I have to push them, I made a bad investment." When selecting startups, priority is given to those with #ambitious and #committed teams. Martín highlighted that the problem being solved must be significant and relevant enough to capture market interest and justify the investment. 👉 Emerging verticals in #venturecapital "The next big challenge is how to support verticals like #biotechnology, which have enormous potential but require more knowledge to attract investors." Martín noted that sectors like biotechnology have immense potential but face significant #challenges due to the lack of technical expertise among investors. He emphasized that the growth of these verticals will depend on a better understanding of the sector and stronger support for the entrepreneurs leading them.

🟢 Our partners Eduardo Mangarelli and Gabriel Colla participated as speakers at the #WomenPuntaSummit. The event, which provided tools and networking opportunities for women leaders and entrepreneurs, was organized by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship CIE Centro de Innovación y Emprendimientos ORT of Universidad ORT Uruguay and the U.S. Embassy Montevideo, Uruguay through its Academy for Women Entrepreneurs 'AWE DRC' program. ▶️ Eduardo led a session focused on smart #scalability, sharing key insights on planning for strategic and sustainable growth. ▶️ Gabriel delivered an inspiring talk that addressed the fundamental questions of the entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the essential role of connecting with #purpose, as it provides meaning and direction to all other strategic decisions.

🟢 Our partner Martín Naor took part in the #MENAFintechSummit, organized by Endeavor Global and Endeavor Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. The event brought together over 500 global entrepreneurs, investors, local regulators, and key regional leaders to exchange ideas and discuss opportunities in the #fintech ecosystem within emerging markets, the evolution of #venturecapital, and digital transformation.

🟢 The partners of IC Ventures, Alvaro Moré, Gabriel Colla, Eduardo Mangarelli, and Martín Naor, recently participated in the Endeavor Uruguay Entrepreneurs Retreat, a gathering where over 40 leaders from the #Endeavor network came together to share #experiences and #insights. This retreat provided a space for mutual learning and the strengthening of connections.

🟢 What do investors look for in #FinTech and #InsurTech startups? This is one of the questions that our partner Martín Naor will address during the Funds and Investment Panel: "Betting on the Future of FinTech and InsurTech", alongside Santiago Caniggia Bengolea and Maria Michelena, and moderated by Ines Bonicelli. The event is part of CAOS (#Connections, #Activities, #Opportunities, #Synergies), a weekly serie organized by Uruguay Innovation Hub to connect challenges with solutions and foster #networking within the ecosystem. 📅 November 28th - 9:30 AM 📍 #InnovationCampus at Uruguay Innovation Hub 🔗 Agenda and details: https://uih.uy/caos #Innovation #Investment

During a recent visit to Ecuador, our partner Andrés Cerisola participated in a meetup with entrepreneurs and investors organized by Endeavor Ecuador, where he shared a strategic perspective on #venturecapital and #fundraising. He also gave an interview to Forbes Ecuador. In both instances, Andrés outlined his vision for strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Latin America. “What the region lacks is not ideas, but role models and a mature ecosystem. It is essential to build #networks that allow #entrepreneurs to share knowledge, capital, and contacts,” he highlighted during the Forbes interview. https://bit.ly/3ZcJv8y #EndeavorTalks #Inversión

➡️ Our partner Martín Naor shared his journey as an entrepreneur and his learnings in business management and mentoring at a #MentoríaSUMA mentor gathering.  It was a valuable exchange, with mentors actively participating. SUMA is a program supporting #entrepreneurs, led by Initium Center from Universidad de Montevideo.

IC Ventures has approved a number of exceptions to its investment policies to join Akua’s investment round, participating this time from a supporting role instead of leading the round. Akua has a huge vision. The pain it identified is definitely there. The opportunity is big. Also true, a number of things we need to get right for that vision to be achieved. Not just product. Go to market and the potential competitive environment are out there as very real threats like it happens to all disruptors. Our bet is on a truly exceptional group of founders who have furthermore assembled an exceptional initial team. With the right sense of urgency that this founding teams needs if they are going to achieve what at first sight might look too ambitious. This is the kind of high impact entrepreneurship we almost did not have in Latin America not that many years ago. This new generation of founders are furthermore impacted by the recent wave of unicorns that raised the bar for what entrepreneurs can dream and showed that thinking big is not to be confused with being dilutional. As Linda Rottenberg has said, sometimes “crazy is a compliment.” https://lnkd.in/dMHNi7cV

🟢 We are proud to announce our participation in Akua’s seed financing round, alongside Propel VC, H20 Capital Innovation, Flourish Ventures, Rally Cap VC, and Plug and Play Tech Center. Akua’s exceptionally talented founding team—Juan Jose Behrend, Carlos Mario Marín Arroyave, and Rodrigo Rodrigues—made this an opportunity we couldn’t miss. Akua’s vision is bold—to transform payments by making them faster, simpler, and more secure, paving the way for greater financial inclusion. Their cloud-native platform, developed to address inefficiencies in Latin America's outdated and fragmented payment infrastructure, operates in real-time and leverages AI-powered capabilities. Akua empowers acquirers, PayFacs, and other financial players to modernize and scale their operations. This seed investment will fuel the platform’s launch in Colombia next year, with plans for rapid expansion into Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Brazil. 🚀 #ICVentures #Investment #Innovation