In the intricate tapestry of the emerging decentralized internet - Web3, Latin America (LatAm) is crafting a vibrant and innovative sector, carving out a niche where technology and creativity meet. As entrepreneurs across the continent spearhead projects that bridge the virtual and the real, let's delve into the stories of six pioneering companies that are sculpting LatAm’s Web3 landscape.
1. Decentraland: Navigating Through Virtual Realms
- Origin: Argentina
- Founders: Ari Meilich and Esteban Ordan
- Financial Trajectory: Launching its ICO in 2017, Decentraland had secured US$25.5 million by January 2020 through various funding rounds.
Decentraland provides a 3D virtual reality platform running atop the Ethereum blockchain, serving as a conduit to a digital metaverse where virtual structures, from casinos to concert halls, are created, explored, and monetized through its native cryptocurrency, MANA. Notably, prominent brands like Samsung and Adidas have ventured into Decentraland, marking their digital footprint in this burgeoning virtual world.
2. Let’s Bit: Bridging Crypto and Conventional Banking
- Origin: Argentina
- Founders: Camilo Cristia, Santos Barrios, Agustín Abraham, and Joaquín Gómez
- Backing: Engaging investors such as Angel Ventures and Primary Ventures of Grupo MATBA-ROFEX, Let’s Bit secured its pre-seed round funding.
Let’s Bit endeavors to meld the crypto and traditional banking worlds, offering an array of banking services, from transfers to investments, by harnessing the infrastructure of the crypto sphere and open blockchain protocols. Seeking to facilitate smooth transitions between conventional bank accounts and crypto, Let’s Bit aspires to unlock the potentials of DeFi protocols for its users.
3. MisFans: Empowering Content Creators in Web3
- Origin: Mexico
- Founders: Alex Ramírez and Hiram Altamirano
- Financial Milestone: Achieving $600K post-participation in 500 Latam.
MyFans emerges as a monetization tool for a wide spectrum of content creators, acting as an aggregator of social profile links which enables creators to monetize their content independently of large, centralized platforms, embodying a quintessential Web3 ethos.
4. Lemon: Squeezing Opportunities from Crypto and Fiat
- Origin: Argentina
- Founders: Borja Martel Seward and Marcelo Cavazzoli
- Investment Highlights: Accumulating US$17.4 million across four rounds, with a notable Series A in mid-2021.
Lemon distinguishes itself as Argentina's first virtual wallet facilitating transactions in both cryptocurrency and fiat, crafting a bridge between crypto and conventional financial mechanisms, and incentivizing usage with features like 2% Bitcoin cashback and a versatile Lemon Cash card.
5. Movii: A Pivotal Mover in Colombia's DeFi Landscape
- Origin: Colombia
- Founder: Hernando Rubio
- Backing: A striking US$15 million Series B round, bolstered by Square and Hard Yaka.
Since its inception in 2018, Movii has offered a blend of a digital wallet and a debit card, integrating with a merchant payment system authorized by Colombian regulators. Further, its alignment with government-backed initiatives to develop crypto asset exchange platforms is notable.
6. Xcapit: Advancing Towards DeFi Heights
- Origin: Argentina
- Founders: Fernando Boiero and José Trajtenberg
- Financial Footing: US$1.1 million across three investment rounds and a spot in the Unicef Innovation Fund.
Navigating through the DeFi domain, Xcapit has secured its position by successfully raising funds across multiple investment rounds and earning a prestigious place within the Unicef Innovation Fund, thereby encapsulating the innovative spirit of LatAm’s Web3 endeavors.
7. BAYZ
- Origin: Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Industry: Gaming, Finance, Web3
- Founded: 2021
- Founders: Not provided
- Backing: Has investors like Capria and 8 others.
About: BAYZ is a web3 gaming company focusing on the evolving play-to-earn (P2E) and gaming guild paradigm. It aims to assist members in earning money by playing video games and being part of a global gaming community, with a distinctive focus on Brazil.
8. LoopiPay
- Origin: Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Industry: Consumer Finance, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Financial Services, Web3
- Founded: 2021
- Founders: Ricardo Bechara
About: LoopiPay, operating under Loopi, wants to accelerate the web3 movement in Latin America by facilitating the entry of new enthusiasts into the crypto space and easing daily crypto transactions for existing users. The platform offers a simple and fast system for purchasing tokens and managing cryptocurrency directly from users' wallets.
9. Bizanc
- Origin: Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Industry: Finance, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Web3
- Founded: 2017
- Founders: Luiz Otávio Aquino Menniti, Fabio Hildebrand (visible in the profile)
About: Bizanc is a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange platform, enabling users to trade Bitcoin, Ether, other Ethereum Tokens, and altcoins, as well as to issue tokens on-chain and organize crowd sales. With its state-of-the-art trading engine and pathfinding system, Bizanc aims to be a leader in the cryptocurrency space by providing liquidity to the market and promoting the adoption of decentralized solutions globally.
Beyond the Horizon
These nine companies, albeit unique in their offerings, share a common thread of leveraging decentralized digital technologies to navigate through the realms of finance, content creation, and virtual reality, symbolizing the pioneering spirit of LatAm in the global Web3 journey.
As these and numerous other entities innovate and explore, they’re not only constructing a decentralized digital framework but are also paving the way for a transformative socio-economic impact, weaving a narrative that extends beyond technology, into the very fabric of societal structures in LatAm.
Elevating Web3: PERCS Bridging Brands and Decentralized Technologies Through Global Connections and Innovation
Meet PERCS, elevating brands into the Web3 era through adept tokengating and Web3 messaging solutions. With a foundation rooted in user empowerment and a decentralized future, we weave connections and build alongside global innovators, drawing particular inspiration from the pioneering Web3 builders in Latin America. If the future you envision aligns with a decentralized, user-empowered digital realm, we invite you to build it with us. Connect with our team and explore the possibilities of the Web3 world by sending a message to builders@getpercs.com. Let’s shape the decentralized future, together.
