Brazil is home to numerous entrepreneurs with promising ideas and innovative solutions. However, many of these projects, with the potential to transform entire sectors, end up falling by the wayside; without the necessary investment, they miss the chance to achieve their true impact, which can affect market and economic growth.
With the goal of simplifying access to funding for real projects, Finme was founded in 2023 by Felipe Vergasta. It offers an accessible and sustainable alternative, financing projects through the model of crowdfunding, or collective investment, and creating high-potential profit opportunities. The company has positioned itself in the market as a modern and efficient solution to connect investors and businesses in an agile, strategic, and secure manner.
“During my experiences in the financial market, I always noticed that many operations and projects were rejected because they didn’t meet all the funding requirements. This really caught my attention because they were good projects with great innovation potential for certain sectors, and they would certainly attract investors. There was a missing link to connect these two parties. Finme was born when I recognized this pain, and the idea emerged to work with companies that had been rejected by the market,” says Vergasta.
The crowdfunding investment model is regulated and overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM). The model resembles social crowdfunding, the famous online ‘kitty funds,’ but with the added benefit of financial returns. In it, people collectively invest in a project and, in return, receive contracts or securities that grant credit rights or a stake in the invested business.
Finme coordinates public offerings (for the general market) and private offerings (only for selected investors) to fund projects with real assets, offering lower operational costs compared to traditional assets while potentially providing higher returns. One of the company’s first projects, focused on agribusiness, exemplifies the potential of crowdfunding: it raised R$ 640,000 in a private offering, demonstrating how the model can leverage strategic sectors with real assets.
“Our first private offering was a true trial by fire, and its success proved the demand for what we do. Since it was a private model, the offering could only be directed to clients with whom we already had a relationship. Even so, we managed to gather a group of investors who approved the business model and are now already receiving monthly dividends,” adds Vergasta.
With a focus on strategic sectors such as real estate, agribusiness, and renewable energy, Finme is becoming a market leader. For entrepreneurs seeking funding, the company conducts an in-depth financial analysis and creates customized marketing and outreach strategies for the crowdfunding, ensuring an effective approach to securing necessary credit.
“Entrepreneurs looking for funding for their projects often turn to bank loans. Many times, they don’t even know they can explore other paths, such as crowdfunding, and end up opting for more expensive options. The idea is to show both those seeking investment and those looking to participate in new businesses that there are profitable and secure alternatives,” he concludes.
