In this episode, Bárbara shares her insights on navigating career shifts, balancing professional ambitions with family life, and the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship in Latin America. 

Discover how her experiences at Bitso shaped her approach to innovation and why she believes in the power of sports to connect and inspire. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with valuable lessons and inspiring stories.

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Cut The Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.

New episodes drop every week.

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In this engaging conversation, Mack Meyer interviews Ben, a seasoned entrepreneur turned investor, about his journey from starting his first business at age 12 to becoming a prominent figure in the venture capital world. Ben shares insights into his experiences with early-stage investing, the importance of choosing the right board members, and his passion for seed investing. 

The episode also explores Ben's perspective on the venture capital landscape in Latin America and his admiration for the drive and focus of Latin American founders.

Fllow us on social media @venturecapitalmx for more updates on LatAm Venture anf Fintech.

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Cut The Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.

New episodes drop every week.

Subscribe on Spotify

Stay connected with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,

Have a guest suggestion? Email us at [email protected]

Remi, a French entrepreneur living in Mexico, shares his journey from working at L'Oreal and Coty to founding a successful D2C brand targeting the Latino community. He discusses the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptability. 


Remi highlights the untapped potential of the Hispanic Gen Z market in the U.S. and Mexico, and his vision to create a leading Mexican brand in fashion and cosmetics. He also reflects on his personal experiences as an LGBT founder and the significance of creating a safe space for self-expression.

Send us a text

Cut The Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.

New episodes drop every week.

Subscribe on Spotify

Stay connected with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,

Have a guest suggestion? Email us at [email protected]

In this conversation, Angel Cisneros shares his entrepreneurial journey, detailing his early interests in technology and sports, the inspiration behind his startup Quiubas, and the challenges he faced in building the product. He discusses the growth of the company, its acquisition by Twilio, and reflects on the lessons learned throughout his journey. Angel also emphasizes the importance of AI in Latin America and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the need for clarity in their goals and the significance of building a sustainable business.

Chapters

00:00 Intro
00:57 Background
03:00 Early Influences and Sports Background
05:15 The Entrepreneurial Spark
07:35 Why Technology?
09:54 The Birth of Quiubas
12:10 Challenges and Early Development of Quiubas
15:19 The Early Days of Connectivity
18:10 Navigating Market Challenges
19:52 Financial Scarcity 
20:59 The Rise of Mobile Penetration 
24:02 The Acquisition Journey
25:55 Reflections on Leadership and Growth
27:20 Why Go Back For More?
29:12 Sharing Knowledge and Experiences
31:37 The AI Ecosystem in LATAM
33:54 Challenges in AI Adoption
37:39 Building a Sustainable Tech Infrastructure
39:16 Navigating Startup Ecosystems
44:10 The Future of Founders in Mexico
49:23 Outro

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Cut The Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.

New episodes drop every week.

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Stay connected with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,

Have a guest suggestion? Email us at [email protected]

Summary

In this conversation, Ivan Montoya shares his journey from Colombia to the U.S., highlighting the influence of his family and education on his career path. He discusses his experiences at Harvard, the transition to the professional world, and the lessons learned from working in startups. Ivan emphasizes the importance of qualities like humility and competitiveness in successful founders and reflects on his entry into angel investing and the unique mission of NuMundo Ventures. He also addresses the challenges faced by Latin American entrepreneurs and the impact of the pandemic on the startup ecosystem, concluding with insights on product-market fit and the significance of building authentic relationships in venture capital.

Chapters

00:00 Intro
00:49 Ivan's Journey: Colombia to the US
03:48 Education and Early Influences
05:01 Swimming & Discipline
06:09 Harvard and Impact on your Career
08:13 Jorge Dominguez's Class: Cuban Revolution
09:05 "Reasonable People can have Different Opinions"
10:07 Early Career
11:03 "I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly"
11:28 Pre Product Market Fit vs. Post Product Market Fit
12:49 "Everybody likes to hike, but who wants to climb Mt. Everest"
14:26 Qualities that Make Great Founders
16:08 Why Angel Investing?
20:25 Building a Network in Silicon Valley
24:59 The Pandemic & Effect on Latam ecosystem
27:16 The Laws of Physics
28:16 NuMundo's Ventures Inception
30:24 NuMundo Ventures' Approach
32:27 The Founder is important, but not everything
34:07 Glimpse into NuMundo's Portfolio
40:24 When Investing in Consumer Fintech
43:10  "I want to feel like I am being shared a secret"
45:23 Find the Right Capital Partner
47:32 "How do you get to 1m, 10m, & 100m?"
48:35 Final Thoughts
53:49 Outro

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Cut The Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.

New episodes drop every week.

Subscribe on Spotify

Stay connected with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,

Have a guest suggestion? Email us at [email protected]

CHAPTERS:

1. Introduction and Early Life
   • Mack Meyer introduces Pedro Vallenilla and discusses his upbringing and early influences.
2. Entrepreneurial Beginnings
   • Pedro shares his journey into entrepreneurship, including his early ventures and the pressures of following in his family's footsteps.
3. First Major Success
   • Discussion about Pedro's first successful startup in Venezuela and the challenges he faced.
4. Failures and Lessons Learned
   • Pedro talks about the failures of subsequent startups and the lessons he learned from those experiences.
5. The Birth of Cashea
   • The story of how Cashea was founded, its impact on Venezuela, and the challenges of launching a fintech company in a difficult economic environment.
6. Building Trust and Credit in Venezuela
   • Pedro explains how Cashea has helped rebuild consumer credit in Venezuela and the importance of trust in their business model.
7. Future of Cashea
   • Discussion on the future plans for Cashea, including expanding financial services and becoming a super app for Venezuelans.
8. Reflections and Closing Thoughts
   • Pedro reflects on his journey, the impact of Cashea, and his pride in the company's achievements.

Send us a text

Cut The Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.

New episodes drop every week.

Subscribe on Spotify

Stay connected with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,

Have a guest suggestion? Email us at [email protected]

In this conversation, Mack Meyer and Alex González Ormerod delve into the intricate relationship between politics, journalism, and technology in Mexico. They explore Alex's journey into journalism, the establishment of the Mexico Political Economist, and the challenges and opportunities within the tech landscape in Latin America. The discussion also covers the implications of recent judicial reforms, the evolving political landscape under Claudia Sheinbaum, and the significance of the informal economy. They highlight the importance of understanding the U.S.-Mexico relationship and the future of foreign investment in Mexico.

Chapters

00:00
Intro

00:57
Background

03:52
The Journey into Journalism and Politics

04:31
Early Childhood

05:28
The Birth of the Mexico Political Economist

09:36
Understanding the Nuances of Latin American Tech

10:33
Is Mexican politician coverage underreported?

11:31
Whitepaper

12:28
Biden Administration & Mexico's Politics

15:17
The Mexican Political Economist First Article

16:31
Why Paywall From the Start?

18:06
Mexico's Recent Judicial Reform

21:46
Could Judicial Reforms Propel Tech in Mexico?

24:18
The Rise of SMEs in Mexico

26:29
The Importance of Cornershop Acquisition in Mexico

28:36
The Mexicanization of US Politics

29:40
Mexico is a Pretend Federal Republic

32:19
State of Mexico's Political Parties

34:05
Sheinbaum's Political Strategy

35:55
Trade Dynamics: USMCA and Tariffs

38:48
The Role of Domestic Consumption in Mexico's Economy

40:27
Nearshoring: Mexico's Strategic Advantage

41:12
Mexico's Informal Economy

44:23
Mexico Is Irrelevant Because It Works Well Enough

46:33
Legacy Companies Need Competition

48:08
Misconceptions About Mexico Politics

49:58
Vision for Mexico Political Economist

53:42
Outro

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Cut The Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.

New episodes drop every week.

Subscribe on Spotify

Stay connected with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,

Have a guest suggestion? Email us at [email protected]

In this conversation, Raffaele and Edoardo share the journey of founding Niko Energy, transitioning from their previous venture in cloud kitchens to addressing the clean tech sector in Mexico. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the solar energy market, the regulatory landscape, and their innovative financing solutions aimed at increasing solar adoption. The conversation also touches on the importance of targeting underserved communities, engaging corporations, and the potential role of AI in enhancing operational efficiency. They conclude with reflections on misconceptions they had before launching Niko and their future growth plans.

Chapters

00:00
Intro

01:03
Backgrounds

01:14
Cocinas Ocultas Exit to Cloud Kitchens

04:29
Why is there only 3% solar adoption in Mexico?

07:52
Value for B2B Customers

08:44
Understanding Virtual Power Plants

11:29
Navigating Regulatory Changes

11:54
Sheinbaum's Emphasis on Solar

14:40
Financing SMEs Solar & Solar Communities

16:06
Enterprises & Solar Consumption

17:20
The Role AI in Niko's Processes

18:34
Final Thoughts

20:13
Outro

Send us a text

Cut The Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.

New episodes drop every week.

Subscribe on Spotify

Stay connected with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,

Have a guest suggestion? Email us at [email protected]

Summary

In this conversation, Mack Meyer interviews Adriana, a venture capitalist at Clocktower Ventures, discussing her journey from Ecuador to the U.S., her experiences in investment banking, and her transition into venture capital. Adriana shares insights on the importance of education, her passion for financial inclusion, and the unique opportunities in Latin America, particularly in fintech. The discussion also covers the structure and strategy of Clocktower Ventures, the nuances of investing in different regions, and the significance of building strong relationships with founders. Adriana reflects on her investment philosophy, lessons learned, and her pride in supporting innovative companies in Latin America.


Chapters

00:00 Intro
00:47 Path From Ecuador to UPenn
02:25 Early Years
03:47 UPenn & Latam
05:15 Why Venture?
07:11 Digital Payments Team & Chase App
08:25 Value of Incumbent Perspective in Fintech
09:55 Clocktower Ventures: From East Coast to West Coast
11:33 Clocktower Investment Group History
14:32 Clocktower Ventures Inception
15:58 CTV's Latam Fund
16:29 CTV's Portfolio Construction
18:11 "Seed is Really About Who is Making the Decisions"
19:53 Complexities Investing Across Different Stages & Categories
21:42 Why Not Leading Rounds Can Create More Transparency
24:42 Regional Nuances: Brazil vs. Mexico
25:25 Brazil's Capital Markets
27:46 Brazil & Indonesia: Consumer Behavior
28:16 CTV 2024 Investments in Mexico
31:55 Toku & Unique Value Proposition
34:19 Evolution as Venture Investor
35:45 Learnings: Xepelin's Seed Extension
37:39 What Qualities Make a Great Founder?
39:00 Final Thoughts
40:48 Outro

Send us a text

Cut The Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.

New episodes drop every week.

Subscribe on Spotify

Stay connected with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,

Have a guest suggestion? Email us at [email protected]

In this conversation, Mateo Creamer shares his journey from not knowing he wanted to be a founder to establishing Cometa, an education technology company focused on increasing access to quality education in Latin America. He discusses the importance of mentorship, the impact of his experiences at Rapid SOS and Duolingo, and the challenges of building trust with school owners. Mateo emphasizes the significance of community, data sharing, and product simplicity in the education sector. He also touches on the role of WhatsApp in communication, the fundraising process, and his vision for the future of Cometa as an operating system for schools.

Chapters

00:00
Intro

02:45
Career Path: From Banking to Rapid SOS

05:17
The Impact of Rapid SOS on Career Development

08:10
The Journey to Founding Cometa

10:56
Understanding Cometa's Mission and Product

13:39
Challenges in the Education Sector and Market Entry

16:28
Building Trust and Community in Education

19:10
The Importance of Data and Reporting in Education

21:51
Balancing Simplicity and Functionality in Product Development

24:42
Navigating Vertical Integration

27:58
Understanding School Needs

32:04
Monetization Models in Education Tech

36:39
The Impact of the Pandemic on Education

37:54
Leveraging WhatsApp for Communication

39:27
Fundraising Insights and Investor Relations

41:06
The Future of Financial Operations in Education

42:24
Proud Product Features and Success Metrics

43:47
Long-Term Vision for Kometa

44:31
Symbolism Behind the Name Kometa

44:53
Influential Figures in Mateo's Journey

45:46
Outro

Send us a text

Cut The Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.

New episodes drop every week.

Subscribe on Spotify

Stay connected with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,

Have a guest suggestion? Email us at [email protected]