Latamlist Roundup August 1st – August 15th: 99minutos launches Freight99 to redefine ground logistics in Mexico.

Welcome to the LatamList roundup, your bi-monthly summary of the Latin America startup scene.

Latin America’s startup ecosystem saw a wave of launches, expansions, and strategic partnerships over the past weeks. From fintechs introducing new credit and payments tools to platforms expanding into new markets and industries.

Launches

1. inDrive, a global mobility platform, launched inDrive.Money. The product, tested in Mexico, Colombia, and Peru, is now coming to Brazil to offer affordable credit to partner drivers. Read more on Latamfintech.
2. Uruguayan payments company dLocal launched SmartPix, a solution that allows users to save Pix data like credit cards, streamlining future payments. Read more on Latamfintech.
3. Félix Pago entered Colombia with a digital remittance service via WhatsApp. The company also introduced Request a Remittance, which allows recipients to request money directly. Read more on Portafolio.
4. 99minutos launched Freight99 to redefine ground logistics in Mexico. With a fleet of 300 trucks and coverage of more than 200 routes, the company aims to reduce fragmentation and inefficiency in national trucking through AI. Read more on El Financiero.
5. RapiCredit launched a WhatsApp credit application tool to simplify access to credit and remove technological barriers, offering fast and secure solutions. Read more on Portafolio.
6. Digital wallet Belo launched Belo Travel, a service integrated into its app. Users can now book flights, hotels, and more directly from their mobile devices. Read more on Viajando

Expansions

1. Bitso announced its entry into Chile and Peru, aiming to expand cross-border financial services in Latin America. Read more on Mundo Ejecutivo.

Partnerships

1. KLYM, a financing solutions provider, partnered with Cobre, Colombia’s leading business payments platform, to improve access to financing for local companies. Read more on Latamfintech.
2. Tapi, Latin America’s leading payment network, joined forces with Tenpo, a key digital finance player in Chile, to enable utility payments within the Tenpo app. Users will also receive payment reminders, extending access to thousands of merchants. Read more on Latamfintech.
3. Defontana and Klap partnered to integrate Klap’s payment solution into Defontana’s ERP and Point of Sale software. This will allow transactions to be sent directly to Klap’s POS terminals, optimizing management and facilitating electronic payments. Read more on Chocale.
4. Rappi partnered with AstroPay to launch the first wallet-on-file integration. Users in Argentina, Brazil, and Peru can now pay seamlessly across currencies without cards. Read more on Business Insider.
5. Uruguayan platforms Crowder and MiFinanzas partnered to expand non-bank financing options. Their model integrates short, medium, and long-term solutions with agility, transparency, and robust technology. Read more on El Observador.

Updates

1. Fintoc, a payments fintech, received authorization from Mexico’s CNBV to operate as an Electronic Payment Fund Institution. Read more on Latamfintech.
2. Solfácil, a solar solutions ecosystem that includes a fintech company, obtained authorization from Brazil’s Central Bank to operate as a financial institution. Read more on Latamfintech.