AI, Brazil, and the Future of VC: Insights from Manoel Lemos (Redpoint eventures) - #233

In this episode, Manoel Lemos, a managing partner at Redpoint eventures and a key player in Brazil’s startup scene, takes us on a ride through his 30+ years in tech and venture capital. Starting as a kid tinkering with computers in the small Brazilian town of Araguari, Manoel became a Java architect in the early days of the internet, founded multiple startups, and eventually found himself in Silicon Valley. He shares stories of his wins and losses, like selling his company to one of Brazil’s largest media conglomerates, navigating Brazil’s tough VC scene, and later helping shape the next generation of tech entrepreneurs. Manoel also dives into what makes Brazil’s ecosystem unique, how Latin American founders are using AI, and the lessons he’s learned about being a founder, an investor, and sometimes, a corporate outsider. He reflects on the challenges of breaking into the global market, what keeps Silicon Valley special after all these years, and why he’s now taking time in the Bay Area to dive deeper into AI. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to balance being a tech nerd, a mentor, and a global VC, this episode is packed with real talk and advice. 0:00 Introduction03:15 Who is Manoel Lemos?05:16 The uncommon path in Brazil: Becoming a Java Architect in 199610:45 The new wave of AI in LATAM18:05 The beginning of the Internet in Brazil23:12 Lessons learned from fundraising36:09 From founder to executive after an acquisition40:15 Changes in acquired startups in Brazil throughout the last 15 years42:56 Being in the eye of the storm during tech disruptions45:15 Exits as a source of optionality48:38 Angel investing and VC experiences52:41 Coping with VC contradictions58:05 Redpoint Eventures: From Brazil to Silicon Valley1:01:24 Exits, portfolio strategies, and investment patterns1:04:05 Investing in Brazil: Advice, mistakes, and learnings1:07:57 Banco Itaú1:10:55 Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)1:12:59 Next moves1:16:05 Things that haven’t changed in Silicon Valley over the last 15 years1:18:06 Manoel's learning strategies1:21:22 Startups evolving with AI1:25:11 Growing wiser with age1:28:51 Content recommendations