QED Investors

It’s been a busy October at QED, from hosting our 17th Annual CEO Summit, to publishing our new report, Seizing the Bank Charter Moment: Implications for Fintechs and Banks, to welcoming new faces across our team. Read the full update in our latest newsletter 👇

🤝 Are you heading to Las Vegas next week? The QED team will have a cabana at The Venetian on Monday, Oct. 27 and Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 10am to 4pm PT. We’re looking forward to connecting with our friends in the LV ecosystem, and would love for you to stop by. 👇 Leave a comment below if you’re interested in connecting with the team.

Crunchbase's latest report on third quarter funding in Latin America revealed that Brazil-based startups raised $692 million, which is an increase of 47 percent year-over-year and 92 percent quarter over quarter. Partner, head of Brazil, Camila Vieira Fernandes shared her perspective on the LatAm startup landscape with Mary Ann Azevedo, explaining that fintech remains a well-funded sector because trust, access and agency are still the most significant pain points in the region. Cami also expressed how big the opportunities are for stablecoins, trade and other cross-border activity in Latin America. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ehfYi8Tr

My thanks to Susana Sáenz Arelle for a wonderful conversation in Mexico City. I'm incredibly bullish on the fintech opportunity in LatAm and I think that we're riding a terrific wave here across the region. The talent in Mexico is on par with anywhere in the world and it's great to see the next wave of companies being built as confidence in the ecosystem continues to grow. https://lnkd.in/eyKepG2U

🎙️ How Amias Gerety Wins in Venture When Others Chase the Hype Partner Amias Gerety joined Alex RAWlings on private equity podcast Raw Selection where he shared insights on: 🤚 Avoiding VC pitfalls: Why ”paying ahead of growth”, especially in AI, can be dangerous 🎯 Staying disciplined: Using simple metrics and historical heuristics to guide smart investing. 🤝 Building real relationships: Why QED’s partners speak directly with founders from the first call. 🤔 Lessons from the Treasury: Making high-stakes decisions under pressure. 📚 Timeless thinking: Why Amias only reads only old books for unexpected insights. 🔗 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/e__rSwwH

🎙️ Have you ever heard of the jabuticaba risk? Jabuticaba is a Brazilian fruit that has inspired a term used by local funds to describe a market risk that is unique and specific to Brazil. The risk can often only be understood by those with local knowledge of the country's economic, political and social environment. As someone who deeply understands local market nuances, Partner and Head of Brazil, Camila Vieira Fernandes recently joined Zack Miller on the Tearsheet podcast for a deep dive into the Brazilian fintech ecosystem and crossborder investment opportunities across Latin America. From early stage investing to understanding how U.S. investors can engage in high-growth regions like Brazil, this conversation offers insights that both US investors and financial professionals can apply when looking to diversify their portfolios into these high-growth regions. Hear Cami’s take on: 🇧🇷 The evolving fintech landscape in Brazil and Latin America 📝 Key trends driving innovation and inclusion 🌎 Lessons for global investors looking to diversify 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ecYM6axA

Roughly 2️⃣ 0️⃣ fintech charter applications are pending or have been approved this year, the biggest surge since the financial crisis. What’s driving the wave? Our new report, produced in collaboration with Oliver Wyman, identified three reasons for this 🌊: 📈 Maturing fintechs: Leading fintechs are reaching new levels of scale and maturity, allowing them to reap greater strategic and financial benefits from a charter to offset the accompanying investments. 🏦 Sponsor bank risk: Some fintechs harbor continued concerns over the long-term risks that come with relying on a sponsor bank to access banking and payments rails, and the corresponding lack of control over their own destiny. 📄 Shifting regulatory winds: New leaders at supervisory agencies in the current administration have shifted regulatory priorities, leading to greater receptivity to bank charters from non-traditional applicants. 👉 Download the full report to learn more about the bank charter wave and why the decision to pursue a charter is not one-size-fits-all. https://lnkd.in/gHHVeggF

🌍 World Mental Health Day is a great day to remind ourselves that the health of a business is deeply connected to the health of its people. Our industry is fast-paced and has historically celebrated an ‘always on’ culture. We firmly believe sustainable success depends on balance, reflection and care. CEOs, founders and leaders need to prioritize their own mental wellbeing to lead others effectively. In their new video series, The Body is Your Boardroom, QED’s VP of Administration, Maryalice Giroux Viljoen, and health and wellness entrepreneur Mike Pincus offer insights, strategies and methods to help entrepreneurs manage stress and build healthier organizations by thinking and training like elite athletes. 📹 Watch the full video: https://lnkd.in/e-4bzx8b

🚨 New Report 🚨 Has 2025 been the year of the bank charter? Since January, 20 filings for de novo charters, bank acquisitions or conversions have been submitted by these players, representing an all-time high. 🛑 Why would fintechs — known for their nimble, innovative go-to-market approach — willingly subject themselves to the greater regulatory oversight that comes with a bank charter? Our new report, Seizing the Bank Charter Moment, co-authored with Oliver Wyman, sheds some light on this interesting paradox. This report examines: 💪 Maturation of scaled fintechs increasing their suitability for a bank operating model 📄 An assessment of which types of fintechs should pursue charters and an exploration of the economic trade-offs that come with bank status 🪟 An emerging window for charter approvals due to shifting political and regulatory winds 🌊 Hypotheses on how the current wave of charters will alter the future competitive landscape 📢 CTA for different stakeholders in the ecosystem What do you think. Is a bank charter right for you?