The financial services company’s Mexico and Brazil units will each have $100 million in funding, with corporate venture capital arm Saison Capital playing a key role.
Photo of Saison International President and CEO Kosuke Mori
Japanese financial services group Credit Saison is investing $200 million in Latin American startups to expand into Brazil and Mexico.
The company is investing $100 million each in its newly established subsidiaries, Credit Saison Brazil and Credit Saison Mexico, which will provide equity and debt financing to entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs. Equity investments will be made either directly through Saison Capital or through local venture capital funds.
Saison Capital, the corporate venture capital arm of Credit Saison, established in 2019, invests up to $30 million annually in pre-seed to Series B stage companies around the world, with an initial focus on Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and India. Its targets include finance, e-commerce and Web3 technology development companies.
Credit Saison Brazil’s São Paulo office includes Country Manager Kenichi Ito, Senior Vice President and Head of Investments Alvaro Landi, and Vice President Li Jiheng, while the Mexico operation is led by Country Manager Carlos Rios, supported by Vice President Fernando Gonzalez and Vice President of Investments Felix Sanchez.
“We chose Mexico and Brazil among the countries in the region due to the potential of their markets and the maturity of their fintech systems,” Saison International CEO Kosuke Mori said.
“Latin America represents our greatest growth potential outside Asia and marks an important next chapter for us as a global group.”
Edison Hu
Edison Fu is a reporter and Asia liaison for Global Corporate Venturing.
