The Venture Codex

Participated · Equity · Jan 2023

Diferente operates a subscription model that sources directly from organic farmers to deliver fresh produce at prices reportedly around 40% below grocery-store rates. Customers choose weekly or bi-monthly delivery slots and a proprietary algorithm predicts and customizes baskets based on preferences, availability, seasonality and recurrence. The company says it is already profitable per order while operating in 12 cities within the State of São Paulo, and has grown sevenfold in revenue since launching in early 2022. Average order volume rose from 13.8% to 17.2% in the past 10 months, with customers ordering an average of two $15 boxes per month; Diferente forecasts more than $30 million in revenue by the end of 2024. The startup has rescued 300,000 kilograms of food to date, offers roughly 50 SKUs on average (up to 170 seasonally), and employs about 75 people with plans to hire 20–30% more. Planned product work includes launching an app, entering new categories and SKUs, and deploying a second phase of AI-powered customization; the company also plans to expand its delivery radius and enter additional cities around São Paulo. Mercado Diferente is a foodtech that promotes access to organic foods by offering items that would otherwise go to waste. Its business model sources surplus organic produce that might be discarded and sells it to make healthy food more affordable. The startup plans to use a recent R$24 million seed investment to grow and expand its operations across Latin America. Company leadership says the funds will help revolutionize the organic and healthy-food market and bring this type of food to many more people. The model is intended to generate impact for both producers and end customers. Executives including CMO Saulo Marti framed the raise as joining heavyweight partners to scale impact; investor Abhi Ramesh compared the opportunity to Misfits Market’s U.S. experience.

Participated · Equity · Jul 2014

Wideo provides an animated online video-creation platform that lets users create, edit and share videos for free. Users can choose or upload images, backgrounds and music to build their videos. The company aims to support education technology by helping teachers enhance the learning experience. Wideo intends to use newly raised funds to innovate in the education technology space. The company participated in the 500 Startups accelerator in 2013. Co-founder Agu De Marco is a serial entrepreneur and a professor involved in entrepreneurial education at the University of Buenos Aires.