monashees is Latin America's pioneer venture capital firm, founded in 2005 by Eric Acher and Fabio Igel as the first Silicon Valley-style VC in the region. Its guiding belief is that 'the future is human' - it backs bold, technology-driven founders building category-defining companies 'from the region to the world,' with a conviction that this generation of Brazilian and Latin American startups is born global. monashees is a multistage firm that leads at seed and Series A and reserves capital for follow-on rounds; it rejects thematic, top-down investing in favor of betting on founders with grit, unique market vision, and the endurance to build durable, people-first businesses.
A real, lived problem worth solving - ideally one the founder has personally experienced - framed as giving people agency and improving lives, not a thin wrapper over a trend. monashees backs ventures that 'put people first' and tackle meaningful inefficiencies, especially the deep inequality and lack of access in Latin America.
“Most people don't need more investment products, they need someone in their corner.” — Astor Raises $5M Seed Led by Monashees
“Every time I look around and I see the deep inequality that exists in Brazil and Latin America, it gives us incredible motivation to continue to democratize access to capital.” — Eric Acher
Technology that enhances human potential rather than 'fancy tech' for its own sake - increasingly AI-native solutions where AI is structural to the product. The solution should 'not only innovate but also put people first, making lives better and tackling global challenges.'
“We back passionate founders, supporting ventures that not only innovate but also put people first, making lives better and tackling global challenges.” — monashees portfolio - The future is human
“Exceptional Brazilian founders building AI-native companies for Brazil, at pre-seed or seed stage, where AI is structural to the product.” — Gama Fund - monashees and Google's AI Futures Fund
Markets large and global enough that a winner must operate across Latin America's major economies, and increasingly companies that are 'born global.' monashees believes any billion-dollar-plus company in the region will have a relevant presence in Brazil and/or Mexico, and that LatAm founders can now build category-defining companies 'from the region to the world.'
“I don't see billion-dollar plus companies that don't have operations and don't have a relevant presence in Brazil and or Mexico.” — Parallels and Synergies between Latin America and Southeast Asia (Eric Acher, monashees)
“Agora, nessa terceira onda, acreditamos que as startups brasileiras ja nascam globais” — Eric Acher
Early signs that founders can endure and execute through difficulty rather than headline metrics - monashees invests early (seed/Series A) and reserves capital to keep backing companies as traction compounds. The bar is evidence of perseverance and real user pull, not vanity growth.
“We invest a lot in seed and Series A. And we reserved capital for follow on rounds.” — Parallels and Synergies between Latin America and Southeast Asia (Eric Acher, monashees)
“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.” — Eric Acher
Founders with grit (passion plus perseverance), a strong and unique market vision, and the endurance to absorb years of difficulty. monashees rejects thematic investing and bets on the founding team; it especially values lived conviction in the problem paired with genuine technical depth, and people-first founders who build authentic, long-term relationships.
“It's grit. This combination of passion and perseverance.” — Parallels and Synergies between Latin America and Southeast Asia (Eric Acher, monashees)
“Bruno brings the investor perspective from his years at Monashees and the personal conviction of having lived this problem, while Daniel brings technical depth from building financial products at Stripe” — Fabiola Quinzanos
“Fabio has always believed that people come first” — Fabio Igel
Durable, long-lasting businesses that create real value and can endure across cycles, not short-term plays. monashees frames its work around sustainable companies that matter and contribute to society, and over nearly two decades has explicitly built for the long term rather than quick flips.
“when doing business his focus is on building long term authentic relationships” — Fabio Igel | monashees
“We back passionate founders, supporting ventures that not only innovate but also put people first, making lives better and tackling global challenges.” — monashees portfolio - The future is human
Founders with a unique, differentiated market vision rather than copycats - monashees explicitly contrasts the early 'copycat' era with today's globally-native companies, and looks for category-defining differentiation rather than localized clones of foreign models.
“Depois, deixamos de criar copycats para desenvolver empresas locais em padrao global.” — Nova geracao de startups brasileiras ja nasce global, diz fundador da Monashees
“Bold, technology-driven founders building category-defining companies from the region to the world” — monashees - The future is human
A clear sense that the timing is right - monashees is convinced LatAm is at a 'third wave' inflection where startups are born global, and that the AI revolution arrives with the region more prepared than ever to capture value. Founders should articulate why this moment, this technology shift, makes their company possible now.
“Se essa revolucao tivesse acontecido 20 anos atras, a gente nao estaria tao preparado para capturar valor” — Nova geracao de startups brasileiras ja nasce global, diz fundador da Monashees
“Agora, nessa terceira onda, acreditamos que as startups brasileiras ja nascam globais” — Eric Acher
Founders who want a true early partner, not just capital - monashees leads at seed/Series A and reserves follow-on capital, positioning the ask as the start of a long, hands-on relationship from inception to scale. For AI-native founders the ask can also unlock ecosystem resources (e.g. Google DeepMind models and cloud credits via the Gama Fund).
“We invest a lot in seed and Series A. And we reserved capital for follow on rounds.” — Parallels and Synergies between Latin America and Southeast Asia (Eric Acher, monashees)
“Up to US$350K in Google Cloud + Gemini credits” — Gama Fund - monashees and Google's AI Futures Fund
“We basically bet on two things: that the entrepreneurial revolution was going to be global and that Brazil and Latin America were going to be fertile ground for this revolution.”
“Most people don't need more investment products, they need someone in their corner.”
“Fabio has always believed that people come first”