Episode 012 - Alberto Gaidys, Chief Investment Officer & Founding Partner of Wright Capital Wealth Management & Pioneer in Brazilian Fintech; São Paulo, Brasil

Episode Overview:

• My guest today, Alberto Gaidys is a Brazil Fintech Pioneer.  He was involved in creating some of the first Fintech companies in Brazil, even before it was called “fintech.”  Settle in for a highly informative and detailed look at Brazilian Financial markets and Brazilian Fintech.
• Alberto takes you on a remarkably interesting journey through the creation of the first fintech companies in Brazil in which he was directly responsible with building.
• Some of the companies you will hear about include:  Grana AQUI, Brazilian Mortgages, BankFacil, and Creditas, among others.
• In this Episode, Alberto provides an in-depth, well-informed analyses of credit and capital markets in Brazil along with incredibly interesting first-hand accounts of the beginnings of Fintech in Brazil.

Introduction

• Welcome to Distilling Venture Capital.  I am your host, Bill Griesinger;

Distilling VC is a visionary podcast that provides an insightful and informed view of the key trends affecting the VC and tech startup world.  My mission is to cut through and go beyond the hype that tends to dominate the tech and VC landscape.  And provide you with information you can use. 

• Welcome back everyone.  It is great to be back with you in 2021 providing you with the quality content you´ve come to expect and rely on at DVC.
• Today’s Episode is another in my Focus-on-Fintech Series where I provide you with a close-up look into the top companies in the Financial Technology sector that are bringing new innovations to financial services markets globally;  
• I am super excited about today´s show because, while it is in the Fintech theme common to this podcast, it will have a bit of twist.  We will focus on Brasil Fintech and dig into characteristics of Brasil Capital, Credit and Financial markets as it relates to Fintech in Brasil.
• My excitement is because my guest today is not only very knowledgeable regarding Fintech in Brasil, and brings a unique perspective on the role of capital markets in scaling Brasil Fintech;  but he happens to be one of the leading experts on Brazil´s Capital Markets, Credit Markets and the Brazilian financial system.
• It is my pleasure to welcome to the program Alberto Gaidys.  Alberto, thank you very much for making the time to join me today…
• I was going to detail some of your impressive credentials, but I think it´s better for me to allow you to tell us a about your background and expertise and then we can move into our topic.
• So, Brasil is reported to have over 400 Fintech companies in operation.  
• One of the most recognized names on the list is Nubank, which just raised another $400MM round in its Series G and has raised more than $1.8B since 2013.  It claims to be the largest digital bank in the world, starting with a simple no-fee credit card offering.  
• It has grown its customer base from 12 million to 34 million, freeing millions in one of the most concentrated banking environments in the world.  The new funding will be used to expand in Colombia and Mexico.
• Alberto, you are an advisor on another successful Brazilian Fintech co., Creditas, a secured lender to consumers.
• Creditas has an interesting back-story as it relates to its stages of development as a Fintech in Brasil…can you tell us how this company evolved to its current model and your role…?
• • The Grana AQUI story:  (Acquired by Creditas)
  • • “Too early in the game when cap. markets buzz was not as strong…”
    • Banco Central even looked at this co. with suspicion of its P2P lending model…expand on this…

• Your perspective and thesis related to all of this Fintech activity and assessment of the Fintech landscape in Brasil:
• • Focus on disintermediation – a key objective of Fintech – related to evolutio