You’re reading The Brazilian Report’s weekly tech roundup, a digest of the most important news on technology and innovation in Brazil. This week’s topics: Brazilian big retailers on startup-hunting mode; old problems prevent Brazil from becoming a leader in innovation; and how poor internet access is increasing inequality in Latin America.
This week, two e-commerce giants went shopping in the local startup market, as the battle for dominance in a burgeoning sector becomes fiercer by the day. On Tuesday, Mercado Livre announced it had acquired a minority stake in last-mile logistics startup group Kangu, after a year of using its services. Two days later, Magazine Luiza made its entry into the food delivery market, purchasing startup AiQFome.
Last-mile meets click-and-collect. Mercado Livre’s investment in Kangu is part of its strategy to reduce its reliance on state-owned postal service Correios, a company riddled with crisis and currently facing a nationwide strike.
Super-apps. Magazine Luiza openly talks about its aspiration of becoming “Brazil’s Amazon Inc.” Startup AiQFome will be the first food delivery service on its one-stop-shop super-app, which already includes e-commerce household names such as Netshoes (sporting goods and footwear), Zattini (clothing), and Época Cosméticos (cosmetics). The goal is to increase customers’ recurrent...
The specialization trend among corporate board members It is not only a matter of perception:…
Panama will hold its presidential elections on Sunday, months after huge protests saw thousands descend…
The city of Rio de Janeiro estimates that a Madonna concert this Saturday on Copacabana…
Latin America’s trend of banning opposition candidates from elections has caught on in an ever-growing…
The São Paulo City Council on Thursday approved legislation authorizing Brazil’s largest city to sign…
The proposal is the first step in a long legislative process. The ground rules are…