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Brazil’s agricultural expansion opens up export opportunities to Mexico
At a press conference this Monday July 23, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation representative Alan Bojanic predicted that by 2050, Brazil will host approximately 70% of the world’s land growth for crops. As a result, Brazil alone will see 49 million hectares of land growth out of a total 69 million hectares across the globe. Environmentalists and health experts have warned that agricultural expansion to make way for crop cultivation is already a deep-rooted issue in Brazil, as a large contributor to deforestation as well as unmonitored pesticide poisoning. What’s more, those who speak out against these problems run the […]Read more...
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Aftershocks of trucker strikes continue to impact upon Brazil’s economy
Brazil’s central bank has recently released a preview of this year’s GDP, revealing that in May the country’s economy fell 3.34% in comparison with the previous month, reported news outlet G1. This economic dip can almost entirely be attributed to the truckers’ strikes that continued for 10 consecutive days in late May earlier on this year. The strikes that took place, which demanded a reduction in the cost of diesel, cost the Brazilian government an enormous amount of money and ground the country to a halt, cutting off supplies of fuel and general goods. The central bank’s report takes into […]Read more...
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Brazilians selected to enter into Malala Yousafzai’s Gulmakai Network for education activism
It was announced yesterday, Jul. 10, that the first ever three Brazilians have been selected to be part of the Gulmakai Network, an initiative set up by Pakistani female education rights activist and Nobel Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai, who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban aged 15. The Gulmakai Network is named as such because it is the pseudonym Malala used to write under for her BBC blog she wrote in Urdu. Aged just 11, it covered the challenges she faced as a female wanting to go to school in her hometown in Pakistan. The lucky Brazilians, who hail […]Read more...
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Brazil’s oldest mammal named ‘Brasilestes Stardusti’ in honour of David Bowie
A tooth-shaped fossil of Brazil’s oldest mammal, thought to have been between 70 and 87 million years old, has been found in the north-westerly region of the state of São Paulo, reported Science Daily. The prehistoric fossil, discovered by a team led by University of São Paulo professor Max Langer, has been named ‘Brasilestes Stardusti’ as a tribute to pop star David Bowie, who died in 2016. Its name is inspired by Bowie’s 1972 album ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars,’ often shortened simply to Ziggy Stardust, which became Bowie’s nickname during his career. […]Read more...
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Brazilian fintech startup Nubank reaches 1.5 million digital bank accounts
Financial technology startup Nubank, reported to be valued at over $1 billion thanks to help from programmes such as Google Launchpad, is now able to offer digital bank accounts to people who are not already part of their client base. Having signed 1.5 million customers up to their digital banking service, all of whom are already holders of the company’s recognised tax-free purple credit card, they can now look to offer their product to members of the general public. Its digital bank accounts were first launched in October 2017 as part of a plan to offer a wider range of […]Read more...
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Digital music platform Napster appoints new Brazilian LatAm leader
Napster, the music platform that provides users with the opportunity to digitally stream music and download playlists, has appointed a new LatAm vice president, Brazilian Marcio Kanamaru. Aware of its competition, the platform, which is rivalled by younger digital music giants such as Spotify and Apple Music, has recently announced that it is currently adding 24,000 new tracks to its app every 24 hours. The $9.99 per month competitive subscription, which places the platform on a par with its main rivals, allows users to stream unlimited music on-demand, discover music that friends are listening to, skip unlimited songs, in addition […]Read more...
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Walmart Sells 80% of its Brazilian Stakes to Advent International
Walmart has announced that Brazilian private equity fund Advent International has agreed to invest in a majority stake, about 80%, in Walmart Brazil. While Walmart´s press release cites the reason for the deal is to “strengthen the business and position it for long-term success”, many are viewing the move as part of Walmart’s cleansing away of loss-making entities. According to the agreement, Advent will hold 80% of Walmart Brazil, while Walmart Inc. retains the remaining 20% after the transaction is complete. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval in Brazil.Read more...
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President Temer calls auction for oil drilling rights in light of recent protests
Yesterday, President Michel Temer launched another auction for drilling rights in Brazilian oil fields following national strikes over diesel prices and the recent resignation of Petrobras Chief Executive Pedro Parente. State-owned oil company Petrobras has traditionally championed competition from international oil companies, as governments have previously required it to have a 30% stake in oil ventures. In September of last year, President Temer first begun his efforts to lure in international investment by auctioning off Brazilian oil fields, as part of a wider effort to reduce state spending and end his country’s long-standing recession. Since then, there have been a […]Read more...
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Brazil: home to Latin America’s largest fintech ecosytem
Brazil now has the largest fintech ecosystem in Latin America with 377 startups, according to Mexico-based fintech accelerator Finnovista. Thanks to growth in sectors such as digital banking, trending & capital markets and lending & insurance, unprecedented numbers of new fintech startups have launched in Brazil over the last 18 months, reaching 188 in total. Recent years of close competition with Mexico have seen the two countries battle it out for the top spot in the Fintech sphere, however, Brazil’s recent surge in activity has meant the Portuguese-speaking country has come out on top. Brazil’s 48% annual fintech growth […]Read more...
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Brazilian fintech startup EBANX’s co-founder João Del Valle on the LatAm e-commerce industry
2018 is well on it’s way to being an extremely successful year for Brazilian startups, with more global expansion predicted than ever. Created in Brazil in 2012, cross-border payment processing startup EBANX is among the lucky group of growing fintech startups, offering end-to-end payment solutions across the entire cross-border e-commerce transaction flow. Having recently raised $30 million in funding, it provides over 100 Latin American local payment options for global merchants who are eager to expand throughout the region. EBANX has already enabled more than 33 million people in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador to access global products and services, and […]Read more...
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Petrobras falls $12 billion in market value as Chief Executive resigns
Pedro Parente, chief executive of state-lead oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA, has resigned this morning. Brazilian lorry drivers had only recently stopped striking over surging diesel prices, with protests crippling the entire country for over a week, when on 30th May, oil workers began a 72-hour walk-out on rigs and refineries. Although President Michel Temer’s government used force to intervene in the truckers’ strike, compromised on some of the lorry drivers’ demands and temporarily reduced the price of diesel by 10%, oil workers felt the need to articulate their concerns too. Gustavo Marseoli, from the Oil Workers’ union, told news source […]Read more...
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“A space designed by women, for women”: Media Incubator ESPACIO announces launch of ActitudFem
Media incubator Espacio announces the launch of ActitudFem, a publication dedicated to women, that aims to provide the best content for their many different interests. ActitudFem will provide advice on topics ranging from healthy eating, beauty, trendy hotspots, day-to-day advice and tips and tricks for the home. The entertainment section also brings you the latest on music, art and lifestyle: all in one place. Women are among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as the main axis of transformation. Several organizations have embarked on this important commitment to use information and communication technologies (ICT) to promote the empowerment of women […]Read more...
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Netflix Originals announce new Brazilian series ‘No One is Looking’
Yesterday, officials at Netflix announced that they are working on new Brazilian series Ninguém Tá Olhando, or ‘No One is Looking’. The series aims to add a touch of dark humour to complex humanitarian concepts, such as the notions of “truth” and “right”. It tells the story of Uli, a nonconforming guardian angel who decides to rebel from the daily orders he receives from his superiors. The series’ director will be São Paulo-born Daniel Rezende, the film editor and director nominated for an Academy Award for his work on the 2002 box office hit Cidade de Deus. “The idea is […]Read more...
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In spite of government deal, Brazilian lorry drivers continue into 9th day of protest
Brazilian lorry drivers have achieved exactly what they’ve asked for: a reduction in diesel prices by 10%, monthly price readjustments, exemption from tolls and a fuel price chart that will enable them to predict their finances. However, nine days after protests initially began, protesters continue to wreak havoc across Brazil’s road network and the effects of the strikes are still being felt throughout the country. Union leaders have urged protesters to accept President Temer’s latest deal, announced on Friday, which promised to tend to the drivers’ demands. However, when police officers began attempting to remove demonstrators with force, as Temer […]Read more...
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First batch of Brazilian startups selected for Google Launchpad Accelerator Programme
The first group of startups have been selected to receive support from multinational tech company Google via the Brazilian version of their digital entrepreneurship accelerator programme. The programme, known as Launchpad Accelerator, helps build up startups with equity-free financial support, mentorship and guidance from Google and Silicon Valley experts, along with two weeks of training at Google HQ in California. Six Brazilian startups have been selected to join the programme, which will last for three months and utilise all of Google’s available services to enhance their businesses. The São Paulo Campus opened in March 2016 as the first Google startup hub […]Read more...
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300 visionaries to discuss inspiring India’s future at Horasis Meeting in Spain
Hot on the tail of the Horasis Global Meeting that took place earlier this month in Portugal comes the Horasis India Meeting where 300 leaders in business and government will discuss inspiring India’s future in Malaga, Spain. The Horasis India Meeting will take place June 24-25 in Malaga, on the southern coast of Spain, and will bring together more than 300 members of the Horasis Global Visions Community to inspire India’s future. Introduced 10 years ago, the Horasis India Meeting has become the foremost annual meeting of Indian business leaders and their global counterparts. With this meeting, Horasis offers business and government to […]Read more...
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President Temer authorises use of armed forces to end fuel protests
President Michel Temer has issued a public statement outlining his plans to put an end to this week’s protests over surging diesel prices. This Monday, the patience of over 600, 000 lorry drivers finally ran out over the inflated cost of diesel, which has increased almost twofold since 2016. Over the past few days, highways in 26 out of 28 Brazilian states have ground to a hault as lorry drivers have used their vehicles to blockade roads. The strikes have caused the city of São Paulo to declare a state of emergency, allowing the authorities to sieze control of diesel […]Read more...
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Ex-footballer Ronaldinho to wed two women in polygamous marriage
Ex-footballer for Barcelona Ronaldinho Gaúcho is set to marry both of his two girlfriends later this year. Brazilian newspaper O Dia reported that the ceremony will take place in August in his luxury condominium in Santa Mônica, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The marriage will only be for close family members, and his neighbour, the singer Jorge Vercillo, will be responsible for the soundtrack to his big day. His sister, however, is openly against his bigamous relationship and has already announced that she will not be attending her brother’s big day. Infobae explained that Rodaldinho first met Priscilla […]Read more...
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Brazil celebrates signing of National Pact Against LGBTphobic Violence
Brazil’s LGBT community is currently celebrating an important victory as a National Pact Against LGBTphobic Violence was recently signed by the Federal Government and came into effect exactly a week ago. The pact, established by the Ministry of Human Rights, has so far been joined by 10 states in Brazil, including Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and Ceará, among others. This news is particularly positive given that Brazil currently holds the world’s highest rates for LGBT homicide. For example, LGBT group Grupo Gay da Bahia documented a total of 445 assassinations in 2017, equating to one death per 19 hours. […]Read more...
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Could 2018 see highest levels of global expansion to date for Brazil tech startups?
Analysts have noted that unprecedented numbers of startups in Brazil are beginning to look at expanding beyond their country’s borders this year. As a general rule, startups in Brazil have historically found growing within their own borders enough of a task, given the 210 million-strong population, let alone abroad. As a result, Brazilian startups have tended to resort to bootstrapping, as investment capital has traditionally been difficult to obtain. The country’s emerging middle class, along with the huge amount of enthusiasm for social media, has provided the perfect environment for startups to grow on home territory. However, according to Tech […]Read more...
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Brazilian fintech startup Neon Pagamentos partners with Banco Votorantim after lender bank goes into liquidation
Brazilian cryptocurrency startup Neon Pagamentos SA announces it will be forming a “strategic partnership” with Banco Votorantim, Brazil’s seventh largest bank. The announcement that Banco Votorantim will now take care of Neon Pagamento accounts, which are linked to small-scale lender Banco Neon, came this Monday, 7th May. According to a joint statement by both companies, “Banco Votorantim will work together with the fintech Neon towards the integral reestablishment of all its activities as quickly as possible.” The news of this change of hands came after a dramatic end to last week, when Banco Neon, used by Neon Pagamentos for processing […]Read more...
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Government members in talks over direct shipping route between Egypt and Brazil
Egyptian and Brazilian governments are in the process of negotiating a direct navigation route for cargo ships between the two countries. Alaa Ezz, Secretary General of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, told MENA on Sunday that the new route will integrate with the already existing Brazil-Portugal and Portugal-Egypt lines. President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, whose government will be co-hosting this year’s Horasis Global Meeting, will be visiting Egypt this Thursday 10th May. Part of his visit will include discussion of the formation of the new shipping route at the Egyptian-Portuguese Business Forum, which will be attended by […]Read more...
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Descola: the São Paulo startup revolutionising online innovation courses
São Paulo-based startup Descola provides a platform of virtual courses that teach innovative and cutting-edge content for creative workers and businesses seeking more from their career or employees. Thanks to Descola, access to interactive learning courses focused around contemporary topics is now simpler and more practical than ever. Co-founder and partner of Descola, André Tanesi, spoke to Brazil Reports about the startup and its main target-market, all-important company culture and future targets. Where did the idea of Descola come from? “The idea came from a meet-up with friends – we wanted to learn more about new things. We realised that […]Read more...
