Pagaleve was created as a way to democratize access to credit in Brazil and eliminate the debt often caused by credit cards. In an increasingly technological and connected market, Henrique Weaver saw an opportunity to meet the needs of millions of Brazilians who 1) don't have credit cards, 2) have low available credit limits, or 3) simply don't like traditional payment methods, by developing a fast and easy installment method that doesn't require credit cards. And better yet: it uses Pix as its payment platform.
Pagaleve operates a B2B2C model, connecting to retailers (both online and offline stores) through integrations with their e-commerce platforms. This allows consumers to purchase items on a payment plan using Pix, eliminating the need for a credit card.
The company has significant investors, including Banco do Brasil, Salesforce Ventures, OIF Ventures, Founder Collective, Entrée Capital, among others. The fintech was recognized as Brazil's greatest innovation in credit in 2022 by Cantarino, and the best credit solution for e-commerce in 2023, by FIDinsiders. Recently, Pagaleve also announced the structuring of a R$$250 million FIDC (Investment Fund in Credit Rights), led by the Belgian investment platform Credix Finance.
Henrique Weaver attributes the company's success to the high consumer acceptance of Pix Parcelado, particularly among young people who avoid using credit cards for purchases, either due to personal preference, access restrictions, or credit limitations. "Having a vision in the business world and understanding your target audiences very well is essential to identifying opportunities before they become obvious and to anticipating trends that will shape the future," he reflects. He says this mindset has been shaped by his entire professional journey.
While still a student of Business Administration at the University of Brasília, Henrique interned at Brasil Telecom in the Contracts and Procurement area. Shortly after graduating, his first experience was as a Trainee at Coca-Cola, where he worked for several years in various Brazilian cities. After completing an MBA at the University of California in 2012, he began a strategic consulting career at McKinsey & Company. In 2016, Henrique was invited to contribute to the structuring and expansion of Uber in Brazil, serving as General Manager for a little over two years. Following this, he served as the Brazilian CEO of the Indian hospitality unicorn, OYO.
With a long and established career in the business world, when asked about the key skill a professional should strive to develop, Henrique Weaver points out that there are several fundamental skills for a successful career: extreme resilience, curiosity, boldness, and financial proficiency are some of them. But, if he had to choose one, it would undoubtedly be the ability to extract value from his/her network of contacts.
Observing successful business leaders, I see that this is the competency with the greatest intersection among the various leadership profiles I've met or read about. This competency isn't about being extroverted or charismatic. Nor does it mean using people selfishly. It actually means: (1) dedicating significant time and energy to getting to know new people, (2) maintaining connections with people you already know, (3) being highly organized and strategic about recording who is in your network of influence, and (4) proactively seeking opinions and help systematically—both from people in your professional circle, e.g., your team members, and from those with less visibility," explains Weaver.
He further emphasizes that in situations where a challenge needs solving within the company, for example, a person's ability to strategically solicit opinions, combine those opinions with their own perceptions, reach a new level of understanding, and repeat this cycle, is extremely powerful and can be the crucial difference between achieving or failing a specific objective.
Henrique Weaver adds: “I would also advise focusing on the things that were truly key to getting me here: (1) Be more ambitious than might seem reasonable; (2) Ensure you're communicating as strategically as possible; (3) Work hard – unfortunately, a successful career isn't built from 9 to 5. (4) And the last, and most important: invest disproportionate time and energy in developing good connections. Absolutely every important achievement in my career was directly or indirectly influenced by a connection I developed over my 18 years in the industry. Doing it well is both a science and an art,” concludes the CEO of Pagaleve.
