Brazil is home to countless 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.
Thinking about streamlining access to resources for real projects, Finme was born in 2023, founded by Felipe Vergasta. It proposes an accessible and sustainable alternative, financing projects through the crowdfunding model, or collective investment, and creating opportunities of great profit potential. The company positioned itself in the market as a modern and efficient solution to connect investors and businesses in an agile, strategic, and secure way.
“During my experiences in the financial market, I always noticed that many operations and projects were rejected because they did not meet all the requirements to receive financing. This caught my attention a lot because they were good projects, with great innovation potential, for sectors that would certainly attract investors. Something was missing to connect these two parts. Finme was born when I noticed this pain, and the idea of working with companies that had been rejected by the market emerged,” Vergasta says.
Investment crowdfunding is regulated and supervised by the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM). The model is similar to social crowdfunding, the famous online “crowd-funding,” with the differential of bringing financial return. In it, people invest collectively in a project and, in return, receive contracts or titles that confer credit rights or participation in the invested business.
Finme coordinates public (for the general market) and private (only for selected investors) offerings to finance projects with real assets, with lower operational costs compared to traditional assets while potentially offering higher yields. One of the company’s early projects, focused on agribusiness, exemplifies the potential of crowdfunding: raised R$ 640 thousand in a private offering, demonstrating how the model can leverage strategic sectors with real assets.
“Our first private offering was a real 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 we already had a relationship with. Nevertheless, we managed to gather a group of investors who approved the business model and are now reaping monthly dividends,” Vergasta adds.
Focusing on strategic sectors such as real estate, agribusiness, and renewable energy, Finme is becoming a reference in the market. For entrepreneurs seeking funding, the company conducts a thorough analysis of the financial structure and creates customized marketing and crowdfunding promotion strategies, ensuring an effective approach to obtaining the necessary credit.
“Entrepreneurs seeking financing for their projects often go after a bank loan. Many times, they don’t even know they can explore other avenues, such as crowdfunding, and end up opting for more expensive lines of credit. 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.
