M3 Lending invests R$ 500,000 in artificial intelligence startup Valence

In the country with the largest fintech ecosystem in Latin America, Minas Gerais-based M3 Lending aims to occupy a strategic niche and facilitate credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with cutting-edge technology and streamlined processes. To this end, the fintech has just announced an investment of R$ 500,000 in Valence, a startup also from Minas Gerais that specializes in artificial intelligence (AI).

This move occurs within a rapidly expanding market. Brazil leads the fintech market in Latin America, with 1,706 fintechs operating in 2025, according to Distrito, representing approximately 31% of the region's financial startups, driven by demand for credit, digital payment methods, and banking as a service.

“Artificial intelligence allows us to evolve every day. With Valence, we have expanded our analytical and service capacity, reduced processing times, and improved the customer experience. This is part of our purpose to make credit more accessible for those who drive the country's economy,” states Gabriel César, CEO of M3 Lending.

Founded in Belo Horizonte, M3 connects investors with SMEs, offering rates up to 22% lower than those of traditional banks, through a 100% digital and bureaucracy-free process. Now, with the use of AI, the fintech intends to create a complete financial ecosystem, combining credit, data, and integrated services for businesses.

In Brazil, micro and small enterprises account for approximately 27% of the GDP and form the base of more than half of formal jobs, according to data from Sebrae/IBGE, but they face historical difficulties in accessing credit under viable conditions. Experts believe that incorporating artificial intelligence into credit analysis can reduce costs, improve risk assessment accuracy, and accelerate the granting of funds, unlocking growth in a segment that is strategic for the economy.

“We want to build an efficient bridge between investors seeking stable returns and companies needing capital to grow. We are creating a safe, transparent, and simple channel that circulates money where it generates real value: in small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the engine of the country,” concludes M3's CEO.

Gabriel states that the investment in Valence “is a move aligned with the scenario where fintechs cease to be mere credit intermediaries and begin to position themselves as integrated financial service platforms, driven by data and technology.” For the market, it is a clear signal that, in the competitive fintech environment, efficiency and embedded intelligence will be increasingly decisive differentiators.