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, I wanted to share an interesting article I came across this week. A few editions back, I discussed the concepts of “Founder Mode” and “Manager Mode” in the startup world. While I didn’t delve into the pros and cons of each, the article in question does a good job of exploring these differences.
Founder CEOs often bring a deeper understanding of the market, foster a stronger organizational culture, and prioritize innovation. On the other hand, hired CEOs tend to demonstrate greater resilience, particularly in navigating challenging circumstances. Ultimately, each leadership style has unique traits that may be beneficial or not, depending on the company’s context.
However, from a Venture Capital firm’s perspective, the data is clear: founder-led companies often have the edge. This is simply due to the fact that historical outcomes indicate that founder CEOs are more likely to drive the outlier returns these investors look for.
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Bronstein, Zilberberg, Chueiri & Potenza Advogados advises investors in their investment rounds and also in exit events and M&A, in addition to assisting startups from their creation through all stages of development, helping to solve complex legal matters.
🎊 Startup Launches
Founders who have just publicly announced what they are working on.
Segura
Overview
Startup Description: Segura connects brokers to the best insurance companies and offers AI tools to facilitate their sales.
Industry: Insurtech
Team Size: 7
Time in Stealth: 8 months
Founders Profiles
Luís Alberto Nogueira - CEO at Segura
Founder Highlights: Serial Founder, Masters, Top University
Previous Experience: Ex-CEO at CyberLabs, ex-Founding Team at Akad Seguros, ex-Composites Engineer at AeroRio UAV Design, ex-Co-President at Brazil Conference at Harvard & MIT, ex-BTG Pactual, Harvard University VUS in Engineering & Applied Sciences.
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Headquarters: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Co-Founders: Pedro Nobrega (CPO) and Lucca Buffara de Almeida (CTO).
Motocred
Overview
Startup Description: Motocred is a lending fintech dedicated to empowering underbanked workers in Brazil with access to affordable financing for motorcycles.
Industry: Fintech
Team Size: 3
Time in Stealth: 7 months
Founders Profiles
André Moura - Co-Founder at Motocred
Founder Highlights: Ex-Investor, Masters, Top University
Previous Experience: Ex-Country Manager at Bump, ex-Venture Analyst at TheVentureCity, ex-Lawyer at André Elali Advogados, ex-Lawyer at Alves e Costa Advogados Associados. Master's degree from Berkeley and Bachelor of Laws from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte.
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Co-Founders: José Junior
🤫 Talents Entering Stealth
Talents with relevant experiences who have just entered stealth mode.
Alisson Idaló - Working in Stealth Mode at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Serial Founder, Previous Exit, Ex-Big Tech
Previous Experience: Ex-Founder & CEO at Own Financial Services, ex-Vice President at ValeCard, ex-Diretor de Estratégia e Produto at Social Bank, ex-Head de Produto e Design de Experiência at Fintech Magalu (Hub Fintech acquired by Magalu), ex-Founder, Diretor de Produto e Design de Experiência at Vlast (acquired by Hub Fintech). Bachelor's degree in Advertising from ESAMC.
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 6 months
Felipe Ribeiro - Founder at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Serial Founder, Previous Exit, Doctorate
Previous Experience: Ex-Founder of Prost Saúde (exit in 2023), ex-Operations Manager at EOS | Financiamento Solar. M.D. from Universidade Federal de São Paulo.
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 5 months
Ian Porrat - Founding Designer at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Technical Founder, Soonicorn Experience, Serial Founder
Previous Experience: Ex-Product Design Leader at PlayNest, ex-Senior Product Designer at DeepHow, ex-Sr. Product Designer at Bettha.com, ex-Designer Sr. at Descomplica, ex-Cofounder at e9 Academy, ex-Chief Creative Officer at Ensight.
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Headquarters: Paraná, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 1 month
João Victor Barbosa - Builder at Stealth
Founder Highlights: Technical Founder, Soonicorn Experience
Previous Experience: Board Member at NXT Tech, Programming Teacher at Coderhouse, Ex-Drawveloper at deco.cx, Ex-Head of CS50 Brazil at Fundação Estudar, ex-Founder at Task.
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Headquarters: Brazil
Time in Current Position: 1 month
Gerry A. - Co-Founder at Stealth Startup
Stealth Description: Building whatever it takes. Hiring Product Engineers and Product Designers.
Founder Highlights: Technical Founder, Ex-Big Tech, Top University
Previous Experience: Ex-Engineer at Bubble, ex-Engineer at Facebook. Harvard University BA in Computer Science.
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Headquarters: Mexico
Time in Current Position: 2 years
David D. Trujillo - Founder at Stealth Startup
Founder Highlights: Serial Founder, Investor, Ex-Consultant, Masters, Ex-Big Tech
Previous Experience: Ex-Commercial VP at Quinio, ex-Sr. Manager CPG, Beauty & Health at Mercado Libre, ex-Sales Lead Manager at gA North America (Globant Division), ex-Brand Manager for Undergraduate Business Line at Laureate International Universities, ex-Business Development Manager at Deloitte. MBA in Marketing from EGADE.
Ask for an Intro: Click here
Headquarters: Mexico
Time in Current Position: 3 months
🦄 Unicorn Movements
Promotions, new hires, and other movements in local unicorns’ executive-level.
Fernando Miranda
Current Role: CEO at Neon
Previous Role: Entrepeneur & SVP / Co-president at Neon
Previous Experience: Ex-VP of Investments at Nubank, ex-Managing Director of Business Development and Innovation at Santander Brasil, ex-CEO at Webmotors, ex-Digital Retail Director at Banco Original, ex-CEO at Marginalen Bank, MBA from Ibmec, Bachelor in Economics from USP.
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Time in Current Position: 1 month
Suneil Vallabh
Current Role: Chief Credit Officer at Neon
Previous Role: Global Head of Credit Strategy (Card) at Nubank
Previous Experience: Ex-Senior Business Director at Capital One, ex-Head of Commodities at DC Investments Management, ex-Principal at DC Investments Management.
Headquarters: United States
Time in Current Position: 2 months
Alvaro Gomez de la Torre
Current Role: Country Manager at EBANX
Previous Role: Regional Key Account Manager - PSP's at Kushki
Previous Experience: Ex-Key Account Manager at izipay, ex-Commercial Assistant at Rimac Seguros y Reaseguros.
Headquarters: Peru
Time in Current Position: 1 month
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Ainda sobre o Founder mode vi uma análise muito interessante sobre como o fundador cria uma estrutura organizacional que reflete as suas forças e fraquezas, como isso afeta o fluxo informacional da organização e porque uma transição para um CEO de mercado pode ser tão traumática em decorrência disso. A própria missão de definir a identidade da empresa, parte do papel do CEO, muitas vezes se perde nesses casos. https://lucasmarcomini.substack.com/i/152233594/the-general-theory-of-founders-managers-and-systems-e-i-am-a-mode-you-are-a-syndrome-dan-davies