Semilla.VC

Cristian Raygoza, Iluminar Ventures Founding Partner, Semilla.VC Interview

On this episode of Semilla.VC, the podcast highlighting the most exciting and revolutionary figures in Latin American Venture Capital, Tech, and Society, Trip Gorman spoke with Cristian Raygoza, Founding Partner at Iluminar Ventures and Venture Partner at Gaingels. Before his current roles, Cristian spent 3 years at AIG in New York, on their Fixed Income, Private Equity, and Hedge Fund teams. He is also an On Deck Fellow.
In this episode we discussed:✅ Cristian’s thoughts on Latin America’s PropTech ecosystem.✅ What Cristian would say to an investor worried about sociopolitical risk in Latin America.✅ How Cristian leverages his geographic location in San Francisco to invest in Latin America.✅ Why you can’t build a tech ecosystem without support from government and universities.
and much, much more!
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Subscribe to Semilla.VC on Youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Host: Trip Gorman, Twitter @GormanTrip, Linkedin: Tripg.me

Kigüi, Semilla.VC Rapid Pitch

This is the first edition of a new series called Semilla.VC Rapid Pitch, where founders get a chance to share a demo or abbreviated public slide deck on Semilla.VC, attracting attention from potential investors and telling their story in their own words.
On this episode of Semilla.VC Rapid Pitch, Kigüi Co-Founder and COO Maximiliano Dicranian shared the marketplace they are building to incentivize consumers to buy and save food before it is thrown away. I had the privilege to meet him and CEO & Co-Founder of Kigüi Mauricio Kremer when I was in Mexico City in March and enjoyed hearing about what they were building and I’m excited they now have the opportunity to share that with you.
✅ Kigüi is now fundraising. They are seeking $1 Million to complete their Pre-Seed Round. Their previous investors include Newtopia VC, Caricaco VC, Antom.la, Living on the Edge, and Co-Founder & CEO of Mighty Block, Franco Breciano. 
Learn more about Kigüi at Kigui.mx and on Crunchbase at https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/kig%C3%BCi
If you’re interested in sharing what you’re building on Semilla.VC Rapid Pitch, email rapidpitch@Semilla.VC 
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Subscribe to Semilla.VC on Youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Host: Trip Gorman, Twitter @GormanTrip, Linkedin: Tripg.me

Alexa Clark Ibarra, Magma Associate, Semilla.VC Interview

On this episode of Semilla.VC, the podcast highlighting the most exciting and revolutionary figures in Latin American Venture Capital, Tech, and Society, Trip Gorman spoke with Alexa Clark Ibarra, Associate at Magma Partners. This episode is part of a new Semilla.VC series titled “Future Partners,” highlighting the insight we can derive from rising stars in the Latin American VC ecosystem. Before joining Magma over three years ago as an Analyst, Alexa worked at Rampa after spending 4 years spearheading development at Hackers/Founders.
In this interview you will learn about:✅ Magma’s unique media efforts through their podcasts and LatamList.✅ How Magma does portfolio support differently.✅ Insight into the differences between what an analyst, senior analyst, and associate do in a LatAm VC fund.✅ How Magma is betting on underrepresented founders.
and much, much more!
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Subscribe to Semilla.VC on Youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Host: Trip Gorman, Twitter @GormanTrip, Linkedin: Tripg.me

Nicolás Malumián, Malumian & Associates Partner, Semilla.VC Interview

On episode 35 of Semilla.VC, the podcast highlighting the most exciting and revolutionary figures in Latin American Venture Capital, Tech, and Society, Trip Gorman spoke with Nicolás Malumián, Partner at Malumian & Associates. 
Welcome to the second of two episodes of Semilla.VC's Invest in Argentina Series. Despite having the third largest GDP in Latin America, Argentina is often overlooked by international investors…and for good reason. 
Argentina has among the world’s highest corporate tax rates, a restrictive foreign currency regime with multiple government-mandated exchange rates, and a weak domestic currency battered by rapid inflation.
Even with these challenges, startups like MercadoLibre, Auth0, and Globant have become unicorns. 
Semilla.VC’s Invest in Argentina Series explores what strategies VCs and founders use to negate Argentina’s aforementioned risks and then take advantage of them as competitive advantages. 
Among his many legal specialties, Nicolas works with Venture Capitalists and Technology founders to build and invest across Latin America. He is the author of several articles and books in Spanish on tax and legal regulations of investment and financial transactions. He has also written a book in English on “Trusts in Latin America.” He has lectured in more than 130 conferences in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the US.
In this interview you will learn:✅ Benefits and disadvantages between a C Corp in the United States, the ETVE regime in Spain, and a Cayman/BVI holding company.✅ How specific legal strategies navigate around Argentina’s restrictive foreign currency regime and use a favorable exchange rate.✅ Why SAFE notes aren’t allowed if a company is solely registered in Argentina.✅ Why building in Argentina and exporting abroad is a phenomenal strategy.
and much, much more!
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Subscribe to Semilla.VC on Youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Host: Trip Gorman, Twitter @GormanTrip, Linkedin: Tripg.me

Tomas Braun, Kalei Ventures General Partner, Semilla.VC Interview

On episode 34 of Semilla.VC, the podcast highlighting the most exciting and revolutionary figures in Latin American Venture Capital, Tech, and Society, Trip Gorman spoke with Tomas Braun, General Partner of Kalei Ventures.
Welcome to the first of two episodes of Semilla.VC's Invest in Argentina Series. Despite having the third largest GDP in Latin America, Argentina is often overlooked by international investors…and for good reason. 
Argentina has among the world’s highest corporate tax rates, a restrictive foreign currency regime with multiple government-mandated exchange rates, and a weak domestic currency battered by rapid inflation.
Even with these challenges, startups like MercadoLibre, Auth0, and Globant have become unicorns. 
Semilla.VC’s Invest in Argentina Series explores what strategies VCs and founders use to negate Argentina’s aforementioned risks and then take advantage of them as competitive advantages.
Tomas is a General Partner at Kalei Ventures, a Buenos Aires-based, Latin American-focused venture capital fund that invests in early-stage technology companies that have a commitment to applying innovative solutions in emerging markets. Tomas has held various roles at Banco Galicia as well as LendingFront. Tomas earned a Master of Science in Management from Stanford University. He was the CFO of Enigma.art, an investor in Osana Salud, and is currently on the Board of Advisors of Nilus.  
In this interview you will learn:✅ Why growing tech companies in Argentina don't pay much tax.✅ Taking advantage of Argentina’s cost-effective workforce.✅ The growing Venture Capital & Technology community in Punta del Este, Uruguay, where Tomas currently resides.✅ How multiple government-mandated exchange rates affect Venture Capital and Technology in Argentina
and much, much more!
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Subscribe to Semilla.VC on Youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Host: Trip Gorman, Twitter @GormanTrip, Linkedin: Tripg.me

Ivan Montoya, LatAm Super Angel, Semilla.VC Interview

On episode 33 of Semilla.VC, the podcast highlighting the most exciting and revolutionary figures in Latin American Venture Capital, Tech, and Society, Trip Gorman spoke with Ivan Montoya, Latin America’s Super Angel. He’s invested in over 50 investments (typically seed and Series A) in Latin America in FinTech, PropTech, as well as Logistics/Commerce, including Jeeves, Foodology, and Treinta, just to name a few. Ivan is also a Visiting Partner at Latitud and an Angel Fellow at On Deck. Ivan earned a BA in Economics from Harvard and an MA in Education as well as an MBA, both from Stanford.
In this interview you will learn:✅ Why VCs should help solve the credit crunch in Latin America.✅ How his rubric for investment and timeline have shifted in the past two years.✅ What it’s like being a Latin American investor living in Silicon Valley.✅ How Ivan attracts such great deal flow.
and much, much more!
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Subscribe to Semilla.VC on Youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Host: Trip Gorman, Twitter @GormanTrip, Linkedin: Tripg.me

Dr. Ricardo Ernst, Executive Director Georgetown LatAm Leadership Program, Semilla.VC Interview

On episode 32 of Semilla.VC, the podcast highlighting the most exciting and revolutionary figures in Latin American Venture Capital, Tech, and Society, Trip Gorman spoke with Dr. Ricardo Ernst. Dr. Ernst is the Baratta Chair in Global Business and Executive Director of the Latin American Leadership Program at Georgetown University. He received his MA degree and Ph.D. in Operations Management from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He has consulted with several national and international firms, including General Motors, Michelin, Rockwool, Casa Cuervo, FEMSA (Coca-Cola), Wal-Mart, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and The World Bank. Through the Latin American Leadership Program at Georgetown, he is training the future leaders of Latin America.
In this hilariously engaging episode of Semilla.VC, Ricardo spoke about:✅ His experiences building future Latin American leaders.✅ Why you should be optimistic and pessimistic about the future of Latin America.✅ Why Latin America is a perfect foundation for technological innovation.✅ Why we should all focus on family in the same way Latin Americans do.
Follow Dr. Ernst on Twitter: @Ernstr_97
and much, much more!
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Subscribe to Semilla.VC on Youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Host: Trip Gorman, Twitter @GormanTrip, Linkedin: Tripg.me

Jonathan Whittle, Quona Capital Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Semilla.VC Interview

On episode 31 of Semilla.VC, the podcast highlighting the most exciting and revolutionary figures in Latin American Venture Capital, Tech, and Society, Trip Gorman spoke with Jonathan Whittle, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Quona Capital. Quona invests in fintech innovators that are advancing inclusion across three emerging market regions. Jonathan exclusively focused on Latin American FinTech and other Quona partners are specialists in “Africa & the Middle East” as well as “South & South East Asia.” Jonathan is currently on the Board of 13 Latin American technology companies including Creditas, Konfio, BizCapital, Klar, ADDI, Facily, Monkey Exchange, nocnoc, Finkargo, Destaxa, Neon, Contabilizei, and Kovi.
In this interview you will learn:✅ How Quona leverages their insights learned from other emerging markets in Latin America.✅ The hardest part of raising Quona Capital’s $332 Million Fund III.✅ How Jonathan’s role changes when he is a Board observer vs. a Board member.✅ Jonathan’s experiences living in São Paulo vs. Buenos Aires.
and much, much more!
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Subscribe to Semilla.VC on Youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Host: Trip Gorman, Twitter @GormanTrip, Linkedin: Tripg.me

Isaac Matzner & Daniel Pizzaro, Co-Founders of Teddy, Semilla.VC Interview

On episode 30 of Semilla.VC, the podcast highlighting the most exciting and revolutionary figures in Latin American Venture Capital, Tech, and Society, Trip Gorman spoke with Isaac Matzner & Daniel Pizzaro, Co-Founders of Teddy.
This episode is particularly special because I had the privilege of investing in Teddy’s Pre-Seed round. São Paulo-based Teddy provides benefits and insurance to independent workers because they believe the traditional employer-based benefit scheme is antiquated and doesn’t work for the new economy. Isaac Matzner graduated from McGill and started his career at the World Bank before working in New York for Auerbach Grayson focusing on emerging market equities. Then Isaac earned an MBA from INSEAD, where he met Daniel, and then worked as a consultant for Bain & Company in their Rio de Janeiro office. After two years at Bain, spent 6 years at KoreFusion where they combine strategy consulting and M&A advisory services exclusively for the international fintech, payments, and financial services industries before Co-Founding Teddy.
Daniel Pizzaro graduated from the University of Porto in Portugal, worked as a software engineer at Accenture in Lisbon, and then worked for ING bank in Amsterdam for 6 years in strategy and transformation roles covering banking & insurance. In pursuit of building his business background, Daniel earned an MBA from INSEAD (where he obviously met Isaac.) After INSEAD, Daniel worked for Zurich Insurance company in both Switzerland and São Paulo as Head of Transformation and Operational Excellence. He then worked in an innovation role for HDI Group in Brazil before Co-Founding Teddy.
In this interview you will learn:✅ The importance of focusing on underserved markets.✅ Living in São Paulo vs Rio.✅ Their experiences in the INSEAD MBA program, and what sets it apart.✅ Why some people think insurance doesn’t work in Latin America, but why it absolutely does.
and much, much more!
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Subscribe to Semilla.VC on Youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Host: Trip Gorman, Twitter @GormanTrip, Linkedin: Tripg.me

Robert Terenzi, Wilson Sonsini Latin America Group Attorney, Semilla.VC Interview

On episode 29 of Semilla.VC, the podcast highlighting the most exciting and revolutionary figures in Latin American Venture Capital, Tech, and Society, Trip Gorman spoke with Robert Terenzi, Attorney in the Latin America Group at Wilson Sonsini. While working after college at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School he was told by his supervisors to consider living abroad. Shortly after, Rob’s six-week internship in Nicaragua turned into years of living and working in Central America learning about the coffee trade and later building Vega Coffee, a coffee company focused on building a supply chain that benefits coffee-growing communities.
In this interview you will learn:✅ Considerations for founders when registering their international holding and domestic operating companies.✅ How Wilson Sonsini uses fee caps and fee deferrals to help start up founders.✅ How Robert built Vega Coffee in Nicaragua, as well as some funny stories surrounding that incredible experience. ✅ Robert’s scientific analysis on the food safety of street meat vendors in Latin America and why you should just eat it!
and much, much more!
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Subscribe to Semilla.VC on Youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!Host: Trip Gorman, Twitter @GormanTrip, Linkedin: Tripg.me