Nick Vidal

The Cardano Foundation is partnering with Serpro, the world’s largest state-owned IT company, to integrate Cardano’s blockchain solutions into Brazil’s public sector. This is a landmark step in bringing transparency, efficiency, and innovation to government services at an unprecedented scale. 🇧🇷 “By integrating Cardano’s solutions into Serpro’s extensive network, we’re enhancing transparency and improving service delivery for millions of citizens,” said Frederik Gregaard, CEO of Cardano Foundation. With this partnership, we are: 🔹 Accelerating blockchain adoption in one of the world’s most advanced digital government ecosystems 🔹 Launching #Cardano Academy for Serpro’s 8,000 employees, including 2,000 developers, to drive blockchain education and #innovation 🔹 Strengthening Brazil’s position as a leader in digital transformation through decentralized infrastructure This is Serpro’s first international #blockchain education partnership, setting a powerful precedent for government adoption across Latin America. Read more about this partnership: https://lnkd.in/g43xEh5k

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💡 Better Credit. Better Capital. Better Tech. That’s how we’re unlocking financing for Brazil’s underserved SMEs. Read the interview Raphael Coelho and Enrico Fasano gave to InfoMoney on how Credix is using technology to unlock better credit. With interest rates at record highs, traditional financing isn’t working. That’s where CrediPay comes in: embedding seamless B2B credit at the point of sale and helping thousands of businesses grow. 🙏 Big thanks to our partners at XP Inc. & XP Empresas for the continued trust and support in building the future of credit. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/emRQkXpp

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We’re proud to see #TEKEVER featured in a recent Bloomberg interview where our CEO and Co-Founder, Ricardo Mendes, shared insights on the company’s next phase of growth and our vision for the future of autonomous systems. As highlighted in the conversation, 2026 is set to be a pivotal year for TEKEVER, as we prepare to accelerate M&A activity and strengthen our position as Europe’s leading autonomy-focused defence technology company. With increasing demand for advanced surveillance and autonomous capabilities across land, sea, and air, TEKEVER is committed to scaling sustainably and strategically. Ricardo Mendes emphasised our ambition to support customers “in any domain, including aerial, maritime and land,”and to become a new kind of prime contractor, fully dedicated to autonomy-driven solutions. From supporting national security agencies and defence partners to delivering long-range surveillance capabilities in complex operational environments, TEKEVER continues to expand its footprint and impact across Europe and beyond. We remain focused on delivering innovative, mission-critical technology that enhances security, efficiency, and operational superiority for our partners worldwide. 👉 Read the full interview to dive deeper into TEKEVER’s vision and future milestones: https://lnkd.in/gDRE42WK #TEKEVER #Autonomy #DefenceTech #Aerospace #Innovation #Surveillance #MaritimeSecurity #AirborneISR #MergersAndAcquisitions

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Chainlink, Plexos Institute, and EDinheiro have partnered to democratize financial access for underserved communities in Brazil by launching blockchain-based social currencies. https://lnkd.in/d4eMB2QZ Issued locally by Brazilian municipal community banks, these social currencies leverage tokenization to boost local production, consumption, and financial inclusion for historically underserved populations. The Chainlink Runtime Environment (CRE) provides the necessary connectivity between offchain data and blockchain-based operations, enabling automated, verifiable processes for community reporting, usage audits, and compliance with Brazil’s data protection laws (LGPD). The project is set to launch in the city of Indiaroba, Sergipe with the Aratu social currency, establishing a replicable model for other regions across Brazil.

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🇧🇷Big news from Brazil! We’re unlocking a new era of Pix payments with #SmartPix, exclusively by dLocal — a fully tokenized, merchant-initiated solution designed for recurring and dynamic transactions. ⚡ Pix transformed instant payments in Brazil, but wasn’t designed for businesses relying on repeat charges. Each transaction still required user approval, creating friction and limiting scalability. SmartPix removes that barrier! With just one user consent, merchants can process tokenized Pix payments, including recurring and one-off charges, without QR codes or repeated approvals. It’s a seamless, one-click experience that boosts conversion and retention. 💡Positioned between Pix and Pix Automático, SmartPix brings real-time flexibility to dynamic billing, all within Brazil’s Open Finance framework. Ready to future-proof your payments in Brazil? 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03BhSk00 #SmartPix #Pix #Brazil #EmergingMarkets #dLocal #Payments #Fintech #TokenizedPix #OnedLocal

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One year after leading their Seed round, we're excited to share that Arvo has raised R$106 million in the largest Series A ever in Brazil’s healthcare sector, led by KASZEK and Base10 Partners, with participation from Canary and K50 Ventures. From the beginning, we saw the enormous potential of Arvo’s solution and team to solve one of the biggest pain points in the healthcare system: rising costs and financial losses, alongside fraud, errors, and waste that often go unnoticed in the payments infrastructure. Every year, an estimated R$41 billion is lost to waste and improper payments in Brazil’s healthcare system, resources that could be redirected to fund hundreds of thousands of medical appointments and hospitalizations. To tackle this, Arvo leverages AI and Machine Learning to detect fraud, errors, and non-conformities by identifying behavioral patterns and verifying supporting documentation, ensuring financial integrity and promoting a more accessible, sustainable healthcare system. Founded in 2022, Arvo has been growing rapidly, quadrupling its revenue and client base over the last 12 months. The company recently hit the milestone of R$130 billion in processed claims. Congrats to Fabricio Valadão, Rafael Tinoco, and the entire Arvo team on achieving this milestone. We're proud to support you, and excited to continue by your side as you enter this next phase of growth and deepen your impact across Brazil’s healthcare system. 🔹 Learn more about the round and their future plans here: https://lnkd.in/dBPUc2Vn 🔹 If you work at a healthcare operator and want to learn more about the product, book a demo here: https://lnkd.in/dyFgdbFU

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💼 Afinz acquires D3 Pagamentos to strengthen SMB solutions. Here is what you should know: Brazil-based Afinz has acquired D3 Pagamentos, expanding its ecosystem of financial and non-financial solutions for small and medium businesses. The deal marks the launch of a new vertical, Afinz Empresas, and supports the company’s goal of reaching 500,000 clients by 2030. This acquisition builds on Afinz’s strategy of investing in complementary FinTechs. In 2023 alone, the company acquired PagoLivre Tecnologia SA (recurring payments), Tappaggo (Tap on Phone), and Joinkey (reconciliation software). 🗣 “Our customers can now find all the solutions at Afinz and, thus, have more integrated management, with data-based decision-making and reduced operating costs,” said CEO Claudio Yamaguti. “All this, combined with agile support and personalized service, scalability and even more competitiveness for businesses.” D3 Pagamentos specializes in hybrid management tools for physical and digital operations, offering automation software and seamless retail hardware integrations. Source/More info: https://lnkd.in/eWX5Suam #fintech #acquisitions #smb #payments #latam #financialtechnology #fintechnews

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LiskDAO Builder Grants, crafted to engage professionals and builders interested in blockchain innovation and ecosystem growth: We’re proud to announce a major milestone for the Lisk ecosystem: LiskDAO has just approved the first three Builder Grants, marking the launch of our new funding initiative designed to accelerate innovation and empower builders across the network. After reviewing over 15 applications, these milestone-based grants are now live, providing a total of 400,000 LSK- which will support ideas that contribute directly to Lisk’s growth and real-world impact. Here’s what they’re doing 👇 🔹The LiskDAO Rejuvenation Project: Led by JujuboyNFT, this community initiative aims to turn LiskDAO into a key growth engine. 🔸 Acquiring New Talent: led by Propellant they propose changing how talent connects with onchain opportunities. 🔹FreelanceFlow: led by Nicodemus Kiptoo: a payment platform built on Lisk that helps African freelancers get paid in Stablecoins With credential checks, NFT skill badges, and gasless transactions on Lisk Mainnet. Through curated content, DAO-wide conversations and gamified quest, it aims to rebuild excitement around governance and boost TVL through staking and delegation. This is just the beginning of a builder-first approach that puts founders and developers at the heart of our ecosystem’s expansion. Our grant program is part of our broader mission to foster sustainable blockchain innovation through community-driven funding, mentorship, and strategic support - especially in emerging markets where scalable Layer 2 solutions can unlock transformative opportunities. If you’re developing on Lisk or have an idea that can drive Web3 adoption and ecosystem growth, we encourage you to apply for upcoming grant rounds and join a community dedicated to building the future of blockchain. https://lnkd.in/epzBrpFu

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One common request that I get from fellow founders and CEOs is to explain how we set up the concept of a CEO team to increase our leverage and bandwidth, and why I think that Sword's CEO team created at least $1 billion in value for us in the last five years. In this manual I go into the details on how we structure it, the clear ROI of such a team, but also some nuances in terms of how to implement it and how to think about it. Here’s the TL;DR version on it if you don’t have the time, or the patience, to read long-form articles: - The CEO team was built to solve the biggest scaling paradox: how to stay in “founder mode” without becoming a bottleneck. It’s how we embed the Sword way into everything we do. - The model works best at scale with seven “samurais” who are high-execution generalists. They thrive on intensity, adapt fast, and make things happen. - It’s the ultimate training ground for top talent. These profiles grow fast, get poached into senior roles by other leaders, and keep the cycle going. A full refresh of the CEO team is expected every 18 months. That’s a feature, not a bug. - The CEO team gives us dynamic elasticity across the org. When a leader needs more bandwidth, hits a blocker, or there’s no one to lead a new area, the CEO team steps in like a SWAT team. - It acts as a mirror. Strong leaders see it as a tool to amplify their impact. Others may find it challenging because it brings underlying weaknesses to light. Either way, the company gets better—and Sword wins. Here you can read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dQQWDE8K

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"Everybody thinks it gets easier when you’re at $100M+ ARR, cash-flow positive, and growing. But I just had the worst two months of my entire life.” That’s what Marcelo Lombardo, founder of Omie, told me on Friday. Omie is the Brazilian SaaS giant founded in 2013. They just announced a $160M Series D. With 180K SMB clients and 30-40% annual growth, they’re the #1 cloud ERP and fintech for small businesses in Brazil. They are real OGs in the BR ecosystem. I picked Marcelo's brain on his learnings going from $0 to $100M ARR. "It doesn't get easier as you grow, it just gets different". I burst into nervous laugh but also in relief. The conversation was so fun and full of golden nuggets that deserve to be shared.. so here are some of the lessons and stories he shared: 1. Borrow credibility to open doors In the early days, he picked up the phone relentlessly to speak with his first customers and ask a simple question: “Do you remember where you found us?” Many said “Google", until he pressed. The real answer: “My accountant told me to use Omie.” That’s when they realized accountants, not ads, were the real channel. They flipped strategy into partnerships with them. Today they drive 80% of Omie’s sales. 2. Commissions can erode trust “If my client finds out I’m making money from this, it hurts my credibility. Give them the discount instead.” the accountants would tell him. The best accountants valued trust over margin. Incentives that work in SaaS backfire when partners are fiduciaries. 3. Trust lowers walls faster than incentives When Marcelo asked accountants if he could sell to their clients directly, they handed him their entire client list. Why? “Because they trusted me.” he said. Alignment matters more than commissions. 4. Trust scales through presence “The job to be done is not to scale software sales, but to scale trust.” Omie’s AEs visit 3-4 accountants a day, every 15 days. Not to pitch, but to listen: “What’s your problem today? What’s your client’s pain?” That cadence compounds relationships and yields warm intros. 5. Trust is long-term leverage Instead of outspending competitors on ads, Omie built a distribution moat by being the most trusted partner to accountants. Other nuggets from our call: - Trust > commissions - Give partners the product for free so they become power users - Keep partnerships alive with cadence: 3–4 visits/day - Great partners protect client trust; weak ones chase margin - At every stage, the problems change, but trust is always the multiplier If you're building a compay, or operating, I encourage you to share what you learn, you never know who you help. Shoot me a comment or a dm. Now, back to building 💪. #startups

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Real World Assets (RWAs) are being transformed by blockchain technology, creating new opportunities for investors and businesses alike. Our CTO, Juan Manuel Sobral, explains how, its benefits and challenges: Key Benefits: 🔹 Fractional Ownership: Invest in high-value assets like real estate, art, or commodities without needing massive capital. 🔹 24/7 Trading: Tokenized stocks and bonds enable round-the-clock trading. 🔹 Transparency & Efficiency: Smart contracts automate processes like rent collection or royalty distribution. 🔹 Global Access: Investors worldwide can participate in previously inaccessible markets. Examples: 🔹 Real Estate: Fractional ownership = easier investing. 🔹 Commodities: Trade gold without storing it. 🔹 Stocks & Bonds: 24/7 trading, lower fees. 🔹 Luxury Goods: Own a piece of art or a Rolex. 🔹 Intellectual Property: Invest in music royalties. 🔹 Infrastructure: Crowdfund renewable energy projects. ⚠️ Challenges: Regulatory uncertainty, custody issues, and adoption barriers remain. But the potential is undeniable. 💼 Why It Matters: RWAs bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized solutions, offering improved liquidity, accessibility, and transparency. 🔗 Read the full article here! https://lnkd.in/ddy_TdyY #Blockchain #Tokenization #Investing #RWAs #Crypto #FutureOfFinance #DeFi #FinTech #Innovation

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Today, we look back on the day our CEO, Francisco Carvalho , brought a clear and powerful vision of blockchain’s real impact to the Grupo Flow Podcast. He explained how blockchain works as a decentralized, immutable, transparent, and reliable ledger. And he showed how smart contracts are revolutionizing operations that once depended on intermediaries automating everything from rentals to complex business models, bringing greater efficiency and reducing costs.

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Brazil is quietly becoming one of the world’s most advanced blockchain markets. In our latest XDC MENA Podcast, our host Rebecah Dausen sits down with Diego Consimo (Head of LATAM, XDC Network) and shares how: • Brazil processed over $55B in stablecoin transactions • PIX accelerated digital payments and crypto adoption • Credit card receivables, agribusiness, real estate & funds are being tokenized • Regulators and banks are actively enabling blockchain innovation This is real adoption - not speculation. 🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/dYdJ2hGt #XDCNetwork #RealWorldAssets #Stablecoins #TradeFinance #LATAM XDC Network | XDC Innovation Lab | XDC Foundation | Ritesh Kakkad | Atul Khekade | André Casterman | Sunil Senapati | Saloi Benbaha | Angus O'Callaghan | Ziv Keinan | Diego Consimo | Ken “KC” Chapman | Kenneth Cowan | Santosh Vishwasrao | Tadashi Yoshida | Matthew Weisenthal | Orren Lilly | Thibault Delrue | Amit M | Mia Sultana-Ball | Travis John | Beny Mohammadkhani | Nadar Suresh | Sean White | Sonny Mohanty | ✨Rachna Baruah | Aaditi Girkar | Anil Chinchawale | Omkar Mestry | Rebecah Dausen | Jeremy Noori |

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