99 Startups

Why Vertical SaaS Will Win the AI Era

For the past decade, most SaaS success stories followed the same formula:

Mar 11 • Luis Nicolas

February 2026

Credit in LATAM Is Still a Data Problem, Not a Risk Problem

Most conversations about lending in Latin America start with the same conclusion: credit is expensive because borrowers are risky.

Feb 12 • Luis Nicolas

January 2026

AI Startups Are Repeating the SaaS Playbook, and That’s a Problem

The comfort of old mental models

Jan 15 • Luis Nicolas

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December 2025

The LATAM IPO Window Won’t Open, But Founder Exits Will Boom Anyway

For the last decade, LATAM founders have been waiting for a dream that never arrives: the reopening of a healthy IPO window.

Dec 4, 2025 • Luis Nicolas

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November 2025

Growth ≠ Value. Cash Flow = Freedom.

Ask any founder what success looks like, and you’ll likely hear some version of this: “We’re growing fast.”

Nov 7, 2025 • Luis Nicolas

1

October 2025

Cross-Border Fintech: LATAM’s Next Big Opportunity

Latin America has long been a testing ground for financial innovation.

Oct 8, 2025 • Luis Nicolas

September 2025

Why Solving Lending in LATAM Is So Hard (and Still Worth It)

If the need is so huge, why is it so hard to build a sustainable lending business in LATAM?

Sep 9, 2025 • Luis Nicolas

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August 2025

Why Most US VCs Still Miss LATAM's Best Deals

Most people say LATAM is heating up. But when you ask founders who wrote their first check, it’s rarely a US fund.

Aug 7, 2025 • Luis Nicolas

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July 2025

This Isn’t a Bank vs Fintech Story Anymore. Nubank’s Real Fight Is with Mercado Pago.

Traditional banks are losing ground. Fintechs are growing. But only two players: Nubank and MercadoPago, are shaping the future.

Jul 3, 2025 • Luis Nicolas

June 2025

The AI Boom is real, but so is the race to the bottom

We’re currently watching the rise of AI: foundation models are improving, costs are dropping, and every startup pitch deck now has “AI” stamped across…

Jun 5, 2025 • Luis Nicolas

May 2025

99 Startups Monthly Newsletter - May 2025

Kavak’s $127M Down Round: What It Means for LATAM VC

May 6, 2025 • Luis Nicolas

April 2025

99 Startups Monthly Newsletter - April 2025

How are Trump’s tariffs affecting investment in LATAM

Apr 8, 2025 • Luis Nicolas