Brazil (is not) for Beginners

Welcome to the new season of Brazil (is not) for Beginners! To kick things off, host Isaac Matzner sits down with Louize Oliveira, Coordinator of Sustainability at Sicoob, one of Brazil’s largest banking cooperatives.
While Brazil has historically been dominated by big-banks, Louize explains how Sicoob, which serves over 9 million members across 2,400 cities – including 450 communities where traditional banks simply don't exist – together with other cooperatives, are charting a different course. She shares the largely unknown history of cooperative banking in Brazil, from its origins in Brazil’s 19th-century colonies to Sicoob's powerful "phygital" model that blends local presence with digital solutions.
Louize further delves into Sicoob's innovative approach to financial education, particularly how identifying "teachable moments" can transform financial literacy, reduce credit risk, and build customer loyalty. This conversation reveals how understanding local needs, fostering community, and embracing a sustainable growth mindset are not just good principles but crucial competitive advantages in Brazil's unique market.
Other key topics include:
The fundamental differences between cooperative banking and traditional banks.

Sicoob's growth and its impact on financial inclusion throughout Brazil.

The historical roots and evolution of the cooperative banking movement in Brazil.

The critical role of financial education and literacy in Brazil's post-pandemic economic landscape.

How "teachable moments" are utilized to increase financial understanding and reduce debt.

Sicoob’s "phygital" model: leveraging both physical branches and digital tools for broader reach.

Navigating the complexities and vast opportunities within Brazil's financial sector.

And lots more...

In this special Season 3 recap of Brazil (is not) for Beginners, we look back on 19 episodes featuring founders, executives, investors, and creators working across Brazil’s most dynamic sectors. Through extended excerpts and fresh reflections, this recap highlights the themes that emerged most clearly in 2025: complexity, adaptability, creativity, and the deep importance of relationships.
Across conversations about fraud prevention, beer innovation, agroforestry, search funds, insurance, pet care, governance, culture, entrepreneurship, and many more topics, a picture emerges of a country that is challenging, sometimes unpredictable, but endlessly rewarding for those who choose to build and work here.
Guests this season showed how Brazilian business is shaped not just by regulation and bureaucracy, but by human behavior, local rhythms, community connections, and cultural fluency. This episode revisits some of the season’s most powerful moments, including reflections on trust, social mobility, uncertainty, innovation, purpose, and the small expressions that reveal how Brazilians think, act, and relate.
From micro-entrepreneurs to CEOs, early-stage founders to corporate leaders, everyone faced the same reality: Brazil demands adaptability — but rewards those who commit.

In this episode of Brazil (is not) for Beginners, Isaac Matzner sits down with Lucas Lima, partner at LASP Capital and experienced angel investor, to explore the many facets of investing in new entrepreneurs in Brazil. Lucas explains how the early-stage investment process works, from identifying promising opportunities and evaluating potential businesses to understanding founder motivations and deciding when and how to get involved.
The conversation also delves into Lucas’s own experience as an entrepreneur, including the story of his company, Men’s Market. He reflects on the lessons he learned from founding, running, and eventually selling the business, and how those experiences inform the way he supports and mentors the companies he invests in today.

Other topics include:
Identifying a market opportunities and understanding product market fit as well as capital dynamics

The challenges and learnings that come with building a startup

The process of evaluating startups and spotting green and red flags

Challenges faced by new founders in Brazil

Building trust and managing relationships between founders and investors

Advice for new investors and mistakes to avoid

Understanding the Brazilian startup ecosystem

And lots more…

In this episode of Brazil (is not) for Beginners, Isaac Matzner hosts Alexandre D’Ambrosio, a lawyer and former executive at major corporations such as Votorantim, Santander and Vale. Together, they explore the nuances of corporate governance and the bicultural perspective of business that Alexandre brings from his years living and working in both the United States and Brazil. Throughout the conversation, Alexandre reflects on the processes of developing professionalization and strong corporate governance at large companies while navigating the cultural and structural realities of the Brazilian corporate environment. He and Isaac also discuss board relationships, change management and crisis management inside large organizations and what it takes to do business in Brazil (as a local and as a foreigner), offering an insider’s look at the challenges and opportunities of operating or working in Brazil.

Other topics include:
The process of privatizing Brazilian companies

The important role of Boards in supporting strong corporate governance

Lessons from the Vale tragedies in Brumadinho and Mariana

Shifting the company’s leadership perspective

Rebuilding stakeholder trust after company crises

Adapting to the Brazilian corporate style

Bringing executives and employees together toward a common goal

And lots more…

In this episode of Brazil (is not) for Beginners, Isaac Matzner hosts Gustavo Ruiz and Gustavo Zago, the co-founders of Caccao, an early-stage startup that combines AI with relationship intelligence to increase companies sales and growth. This is an open conversation with two entrepreneurs who are in the midst of their journey, who recently pivoted their thesis and who are searching to find product market fit. Gus and Zago pull back the veil what it is like to be an entrepreneur and to try to build something from zero. They talk about the risks and decisions that define the startup journey — from launching a product in uncertainty to recognizing when it’s time to pivot. Throughout the conversation, the duo delve into the initial challenges of finding product-market fit, making decisions and building a product and a company. They also reflect on the unique aspects of starting a business in Brazil, including the importance of personal connections and the collaborative nature of the local startup ecosystem.
Other topics include:
How to develop and build a strong company culture

The importance of balanced leadership

Having a team aligned with the company’s stage and goals

The role of intuition in decision-making

Navigating uncertainty

Identifying the right moment to pivot or change direction

And lots more…