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Smart Money Ventures
We are investors in early-stage startups. Our thesis focuses on Education (TechEds), Human Resources (HRTech), Finance (FinTechs), Sales & Marketing and...
Smart Money Ventures
We are investors in early-stage startups. Our thesis focuses on Education (TechEds), Human Resources (HRTech), Finance (FinTechs), Sales & Marketing and Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms for corporate customers (B2B). We are located in São Paulo, but we invest in startups in all regions of the country, which have global scale potential. We have the preference to lead – define the terms and guarantee the check – seed capital rounds of up to R$5M. Our partners were root entrepreneurs, founders of some of the most successful national unicorns – Movile/iFood and MC1 – who walked the entire journey from an idea to the sale of their stake, with real experience in Strategy, Products, Marketing, Finance, Biz Dev and Fundraising. We invest in a few (only the best!) startups, contributing smart money – capital, time, experience, engagement, network of contacts and practical knowledge.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2016
Location
Region
Latin America
Country
Brazil
City
São Paulo
Corporate office
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Principals
Guilherme Lima
Managing Partner & Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Smart Money Ventures?
Guilherme Lima is the Managing Partner and Founder with final authority on all investment decisions. The firm has not publicly disclosed additional investment partners or an investment committee structure. Lima's background suggests deep local network access within São Paulo's technology ecosystem.
How does Smart Money Ventures source deal flow?
The firm sources primarily through founder referrals and direct outreach within Brazil's São Paulo and Belo Horizonte technology corridors. Given the early-stage focus and Lima's centrality, deal flow is concentrated and network-driven rather than generated through inbound brand recognition or accelerator partnerships.
Does Smart Money Ventures lead rounds or participate passively?
Smart Money Ventures structures for lead or co-lead positions when possible. The firm negotiates for board representation and governance rights from the first institutional round, a deliberate deviation from the passive minority-check model common among Brazilian seed-stage peers.
Which sectors does Smart Money Ventures focus on?
Confirmed focus areas include enterprise SaaS, fintech, digital health, and applied AI/ML. The firm targets companies modernizing legacy Brazilian industries where regulatory complexity and incumbent inertia create durable barriers once breached.
What investment stages does Smart Money Ventures target?
The firm deploys at the seed and startup stages exclusively. It does not participate in growth equity, pre-IPO rounds, or secondary transactions. The mandate is deliberately narrow to maximize influence during the earliest phases of company formation.
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