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Last week, the 75th Lateinamerika Tag took place in Hamburg —a remarkable conference organized by the LAV - Lateinamerika Verein e.V. that once again highlights the vital importance of the relationship between Latin America and Germany, now more than ever.   At YAKU PARTNERS, we are committed to strengthening the bridge between Latin America and Europe with a focus on innovation. We were thrilled to host, with exceptional support from the LAV, the first-ever innovation event within this anniversary celebration.   Our dynamic panel brought together venture capital funds, accelerators, and startups from Germany and Latin America, sparking an engaging discussion around three key insights:   1. Raising Awareness of Latin America’s Innovation Potential: The rapidly evolving innovation landscape in Latin America remains relatively unknown in Germany. Facilitating more direct connections is essential for fostering collaboration.   2. Mutual Benefits for Both Ecosystems: Cross-regional partnerships open doors to solutions that can support Germany’s Mittelstand and accelerate Latin America’s advances in areas like climate and biotech—fields with a positive impact on Europe.   3. Latin America as a Testbed for Innovation: With a large, receptive market, Latin America offers valuable opportunities not only for scaling but also for piloting ideas that can later succeed in Germany. We highlighted some inspiring case studies during the event!   Finally, please reach out to YAKU PARTNERS if you’d like to learn more!   Thanks again to: Orlando Baquero, Ulrike Goeldner, Dr. Ulrich A. Sante, Matthias Notz, Markus Schreyer, Murilo Johas Menezes, Waldo Soto Bruna 🌈, Jonas Heuer, LAV - Lateinamerika Verein e.V.

Don’t miss the opportunity to attend our event, Innovation Made in Latam for Germany, happening in Hamburg on November 5! Please register using the attached QR code or link. We look forward to seeing you in Hamburg soon, and don’t forget to also register for the Lateinamerika Tag (with LAV - Lateinamerika Verein e.V.)!

We are excited to introduce Murilo Johas Menezes as our next guest for our series "Three Questions with Industry Leaders". Murilo is one of the General Partners at Positive Ventures, where he leads the investment team and oversees the operations of the San Francisco office, with a focus on startups addressing social and environmental challenges, particularly in the climate space. yaku partners: Hi Murilo what is Positive Ventures all about? Murilo: Positive Ventures has become South America's most active early-stage venture capital firm with a dedicated focus on climate impact. Headquartered in São Paulo, Positive is uniquely positioned as the only LatAm-founded firm with offices in the U.S., allowing us to bridge opportunities between these regions. The investment strategy is driven by a mission to co-invest alongside leading climate-focused funds in the U.S., with a singular focus: to support and scale businesses that can leverage PV's strong presence in Latin America to expand their impact. By doing so, PV enables these ventures to not only grow but to also create meaningful, lasting change within local communities across the region. Hopefully, PV will be able to expand this strategy to other regions of the world soon, like bridging Europe and LatAm, leveraging the best innovations of both worlds. yaku partners: How can Positive Ventures change the world and be impactful? Murilo: PV is a small player, yet it serves as an important signal to the market. Backed by over 100 investors, including major institutions and highly affluent individuals, PV is showcasing that capital can foster innovations that directly tackle environmental problems and promote initiatives aimed at reducing societal inequality. PV invests in innovative and scalable ideas originally from LatAm or that can scale in the region. With an edge in Brazil, which is the largest economy in Latam and the home country of Positive Ventures' partners, PV is being able to leverage a powerful network for impact investments in LatAm with its cross-border strategy and partnerships spanning all over the Americas. yaku partners: How is Positive Ventures bringing LATAM and Europe closer? Murilo: The relationship between LatAm and Europe in the Venture ecosystem is lacking and represents an immeasurable opportunity! In other areas of the conventional economy, the trade relationship between these two regions is substantial. However, European allocators are still under-allocated in the innovative venture capital ecosystem in Latin America, and Venture investors from Europe are not close to VCs in LatAm, missing out huge business opportunities for their ventures. The opportunity to build bridges and foster collaboration, stimulating knowledge exchange and cross-investments between these regions, has never been more evident. Stay tuned for more insightful conversations with industry leaders! #yaku #yakupartners #threequestions

At YAKU PARTNERS, we are dedicated to strengthening the bridge between the innovative ecosystems of Latin America and Europe, fostering collaboration that generates meaningful and lasting impact. We are excited to announce our innovation event at the upcoming Lateinamerika Tag, the largest Latin America-focused event in Germany, organized by the LAV - Lateinamerika Verein e.V. as it celebrates its 75th anniversary this year!   When? November 5th 2024, from 15:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs Where? Handelskammer Hamburg - Adolphsplatz 1, 20457 Hamburg   Please register online at https://lnkd.in/eaZwtizM or using the QR code below. We look forward to seeing you in Hamburg soon!   Please also notice that the LAV - Lateinamerika Verein e.V. is hosting a reception that day at 19:00 hrs at the same location for those participants registered at the LAT (Lateinamerika Tag).

Last week, our Co-founder and Managing Partner, Klaus Hübner, had the privilege of participating in and moderating the finance panel at the Argentine & German Start-up Day, hosted at the beautiful Embassy of Argentina in Berlin. Securing financing is one of the greatest challenges for any start-up, especially in today’s complex economic environment. This challenge is even more pronounced when bridging Latin American start-ups with European investors. We see a strong synergy between local and regional venture capital funds—which are critical for fuelling innovation at its source—and multilateral organizations like IDB Lab, which can help scale impact across the region. Additionally, the largely untapped European investor ecosystem presents significant opportunities for growth and collaboration. European investors, particularly in Germany, are increasingly recognizing the value of supporting deep-tech solutions that address both local and global challenges. Argentina’s strength in software development perfectly complements Germany’s state-of-the-art hardware and engineering expertise, creating a unique opportunity to elevate the “hidden champions” of the German Mittelstand to the next level.   The event underscored the exciting potential for cross-border collaboration between both countries, with a focus on creating meaningful impact and growth on a global scale.   We will discuss these and other experiences on November 5th in Hamburg, stay tuned and connected for more details! Fernando Brun Tomás Villalba Tomás Zothner Meyer Ana Carolina Lustosa Rosario Mariano Mayer Dr. Carlos Forlenza Maximilian Wurzer

At YAKU PARTNERS, we are dedicated to strengthening the bridge between the innovative ecosystems of Latin America and Europe, fostering collaboration that generates meaningful and lasting impact. We were thrilled to be part of the inauguration of the weather cabin by Strong by Form in Berlin for Deutsche Bahn through DB mindbox. This project vividly demonstrates the immense potential of open innovation between Latin American startups and German corporates. We are proud to see Chilean innovation in Germany, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions and making a tangible impact on the future of sustainable mobility!   With: Andres Mitnik , Vanessa Séverin, Francisco Orozco Twyman, Marina Turshatova, Klaus Hübner , Markus Weigand

We're excited to feature Barbara Kaiser, Founder and CEO of Kaiola in our "Three Questions with Industry Leaders" series. Since launching in 2020, Barbara has led Kaiola in transforming the surf hat into a must-have accessory through intense research and innovation and is now positioned to lead the global sun-protective gear market for all watersports. yaku partners: Hi Barbara what is Kaiola all about? Barbara: Kaiola is about letting surfers surf better and longer. Born out of a need for better sun protection for surfers and other water sports enthusiasts, we developed surf hats that are truly fit for purpose. It's really hard to protect your head and face from the sun while surfing. Sunblock will wash off and never cover some delicate areas like around your eyes or your hairline. And, competitor surf hats are mostly not fit for purpose in larger waves, as they will interfere with your surfing, like blocking your vision, moving around, falling off, etc. We are surfers, so we know what matters. And we know that gear has to tick all the boxes for those extreme water conditions. Before we launched in 2020, surf hats have mostly been side products, without dedicated product development. We've spent 2 years innovating the surf hat. Countless rounds of prototyping to find the perfect fit and the perfect materials. I'm pretty sure that no one else has mastered the art of surf hats as we have, exploring every little detail. yaku partners: How can Kaiola change the world and be impactful? Barbara: More happy surfers enjoying the ride, every second of it! There is scientific evidence how surfing positively impacts lives - from fighting depression, providing a great physical workout, spending time in the ocean and generally creating pure stoke. So we promote all this, while at the same time preventing the possible downside from surfing, which is sunburn and in the worst case skin cancer. Surfers are exponentially prone to this unfortunately. Wearing one of our hats, surfers can spend more time in the water. No downtime due to sunburn! So ultimately, we want to convert more surfers into surf hat wearers. yaku partners: How is Kaiola bringing LATAM and Europe closer? Barbara: Kaiola was born on the sunny shores of Costa Rica, but raised in Portugal. Living in Costa Rica, surfing every day is where the idea of Kaiola was born, as I suffered from regular sunburn despite using high quality sunblock. I had tried all surf hats, but they all underperformed. I decided to launch the company in Portugal, where I was determined to manufacture. And I wanted to be really close to the factory during the prototyping years actively bridging LATAM and Europe. Stay tuned for more insightful conversations with industry leaders! #yaku #yakupartners #threequestions

Summer Offsite in Madrid: Key Insights and Strategic Developments We recently concluded our summer offsite in the vibrant city of Madrid, and we are excited to share some of the key takeaways and strategic developments that emerged from our discussions: 1. Spain: A Gateway for LATAM Start-ups to Europe Spain’s strategic position and dynamic market make it a crucial entry point for Latin American start-ups aiming to establish a foothold in Europe. Particularly for deep tech ventures, Spain offers an open landscape to tackle Europe-wide challenges without borders. This aligns perfectly with our mission to foster innovation and support entrepreneurial ventures on a global scale. 2. Enhancing Solutions and Strengthening Relationships We are committed to developing innovative solutions that cater to our clients’ evolving needs, helping them transition seamlessly to the European market. Our strong corporate finance execution capabilities play a pivotal role in this journey, ensuring that both new and existing relationships receive the support they need to thrive. Our focus remains on delivering excellence and fostering long-term success for our clients. 3. Exploring Niche European Strategies for LATAM Family Offices Our discussions also highlighted the strong potential within niche European investment strategies, particularly in Spain and Germany. These markets offer unique opportunities for Latin American family offices looking to diversify and expand their portfolios. We see significant value in leveraging our expertise to guide these family offices in navigating the European investment landscape, ensuring they capitalize on the best opportunities available. As we continue to expand our footprint and deepen our impact, we remain dedicated to supporting our clients with innovative solutions, strategic insights, and unwavering execution capabilities. Our summer offsite in Madrid was a testament to our commitment to growth and excellence, and we are excited about the future prospects that lie ahead. #yaku #yakupartners #madrid

We are continuing our "Three Questions with Industry Leaders" series with Alexander Nolte, a visionary entrepreneur and innovator committed to environmental solutions. As the co-founder of GUPPYFRIEND . Alexander is dedicated to combating microplastic pollution through innovative products like the GUPPYFRIEND Washing Bag. His work at GUPPYFRIEND highlights his commitment to addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. yaku partners: Hi Alexander, what is GUPPYFRIEND all about? Alexander: We invent and develop solutions to stop one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. Microplastics harm ecosystems and threaten biodiversity. Without stopping microplastics, we won’t solve the climate crisis. And more and more studies prove the link between microplastics and serious health issues. yaku partners: How can GUPPYFRIEND change the world and be impactful? Alexander: We strive to inform, motivate, and enable as many people as possible to reduce and retain microplastics. With our patented GUPPYFRIEND Washing Bag, microplastics from washing synthetic textiles are retained in washing machines around the world. The bag is a great communication tool and proves that everybody can do their part. Not only at home while washing – Microplastics come in many forms and places! We provide, for example, football clubs with solutions to filter microplastics from artificial sports grounds and develop hands-on solutions to address microplastics from street and tire abrasion. With every product and project, we try to initiate a change for the better. yaku partners: Is there a Latam Edge now or in the future? Alexander: Microplastics are a problem of global scale. It’s everywhere, and that, of course, also includes Latam. And literally everywhere we need to make the problem visible, raise awareness, and stop it before it’s too late. Stay tuned for more insightful conversations with industry leaders! #yaku #yakupartners #threequestions

We are pleased to welcome Andres Mitnik as our next guest for yaku's series "Three Questions with Industry Leaders". Andrés is the co-founder and CEO of Strong by Form, a Chilean startup based in Spain, recognized with over 20 accolades across Europe and the US. Strong by Form revolutionizes construction and automotive industries with its innovative Woodflow technology. yaku partners: Hi Andrés, what is Strong by Form all about? Andrés: Strong by Form focuses on sustainable construction technology, creating lightweight, high-performance wood components to replace traditional materials like steel and concrete, offering environmentally friendly alternatives. 1. Sustainable Material Use: Woodflow technology leverages renewable wood, reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. 2. CO2 Emissions Offset: Replacing steel and concrete with Woodflow’s wood products significantly reduces CO2 emissions. 3. Energy Efficiency in Production: Manufacturing Woodflow’s components is less energy-intensive than steel or concrete. 4. Lifecycle Benefits: Wood products can be recycled and reused, extending carbon storage beyond a single building's life. 5. Innovation in Design and Construction: Woodflow technology allows for innovative designs, leading to more efficient buildings in terms of energy use and space utilization. 6. Scalability Across Industries: Woodflow’s application in the automotive industry shows potential for broader impact, reducing vehicle weight and emissions. yaku partners: How can Strong by Form/Woodflow change the world and be impactful? Andrés: By embedding sustainability in building and manufacturing processes, Strong by Form’s Woodflow technology not only cuts CO2 emissions but also serves as a model for industry innovation towards a sustainable future. yaku partners: How is your company bringing Latam (Chile) and Europe closer? Andrés: Strong by Form bridges Latin America and Europe through strategic initiatives and corporate relationships, fostering closer ties by: 1. Focus on the European Market: Introducing Latin American innovation and sustainability practices into Europe. 2. Cutting-Edge Technology Development: Competing in sophisticated ecosystems and setting new standards in sustainable construction. 3. Corporate Investors as Bridges for Collaboration: Fostering cross-regional collaborations between companies in Chile and Europe. 4. Network of European Investors and Corporates: Helping Latin American businesses enter European markets through a robust network of investors and partners. Through these efforts, Strong by Form actively fosters economic and technological integration between Latin America and Europe, positioning itself as a key player in driving the global agenda for sustainable construction and innovation.