AGP Executive Report

MSME Capacity Building: The Virgin Islands and the Caribbean Development Bank launched a three-part, expert-led training series for micro, small and medium businesses, covering business continuity, digital marketing, and financial management, with bi-weekly virtual/hybrid sessions to help entrepreneurs grow without heavy travel. SME Finance & Growth: Nubank reported record Q2 income of $1.1B (first time above $1B), while pushing expansion plans including a U.S. bank and a Brazilian digital bank acquisition—signals for Latin America’s fintech competition and funding appetite. Tax Enforcement for Small Firms: El Salvador boosted its tax-to-GDP to 22.1% by relying on enforcement against evasion and smuggling, plus electronic invoicing and amnesty programs aimed at bringing small businesses and the informal sector into the tax base. Local Business Resilience After Shocks: Colombia’s new president declared an economic emergency to speed recovery after a 7.4 earthquake, with major damage to homes, schools, healthcare and infrastructure—setting up urgent needs for local suppliers and contractors. Caribbean Road Repair Startup: Trinidad and Tobago’s New Wave Road Solutions is expanding across the region as a distributor of EZ Street cold-mix asphalt for faster pothole repairs, targeting a widespread maintenance gap. Business Climate Shift: A new sustainability study finds “climate-first” travelers are moving from niche to mainstream, pushing travel operators to rethink how they design and market greener offerings.

MSME Training Push (Caribbean): The Virgin Islands, with the Caribbean Development Bank, launched a three-part MSME capacity-building series for micro, small and medium firms, covering business continuity, digital marketing, and financial management, with bi-weekly virtual/hybrid sessions across islands. SMB Finance Momentum (Latin America): Nubank reported record Q2 net income of $1.1B (+49% YoY) as it pushes expansion plans, including building a U.S. bank subsidiary. Tax Enforcement to Bring Informal Firms In (El Salvador): El Salvador hit the highest tax burden in Central America in 2025 (22.1% of GDP), driven by enforcement against evasion and smuggling plus electronic invoicing, with a stated goal of widening the tax base to small businesses and the informal sector. Local Business Growth via Payments (Saint Lucia): A look at Saint Lucia’s fintech ecosystem highlights how QR payments and cross-border digital finance are helping small businesses and tourism operators reach customers beyond the island. Disaster Shock to Local Commerce (Colombia): Colombia’s earthquake response is colliding with business disruption in places like Dosquebradas, where damaged storefronts and infrastructure are threatening local livelihoods.

Business Survival Watch (Argentina): New data tied to Argentina’s labor-risk system shows registered employers fell by 30,633 from Nov. 2023 to May 2026, with May alone seeing 2,371 fewer firms—an ongoing hit to small-business stability under Javier Milei. MSME Support (Caribbean): The Virgin Islands and the Caribbean Development Bank launched a three-part MSME capacity program for micro, small and medium firms, covering business continuity, digital marketing, and financial management, with bi-weekly virtual/hybrid sessions. Tax Push (Central America): El Salvador reported the highest tax burden in the region at 22.1% of GDP in 2025, driven by enforcement against evasion and smuggling plus electronic invoicing—explicitly aiming to broaden the tax base to include small businesses and the informal sector. Fintech Growth (Latin America): Nubank posted record Q2 net income of $1.1B (+49% YoY) and is moving toward a U.S. bank launch, signaling more capital and competition for SMB banking options. Local Markets & Tourism (Panama): A Panama City neighborhood revival story highlights how boutique hospitality and craft spots are reshaping foot traffic—good news for small vendors tied to tourism flows. Food Business (Local): A Bowie food-truck event showcased diverse regional vendors, reflecting how mobile formats keep small operators visible and selling.

MSME Training Boost: The Government of the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean Development Bank launched a three-part MSME capacity-building series for entrepreneurs, with bi-weekly virtual/hybrid sessions on business continuity, digital marketing, and financial management. Banking Growth in Latin America: Nubank reported record quarterly income of $1.1B (first time above $1B), while pushing ahead with plans to open a U.S. bank within a year. Tax Crackdown with SME Focus: El Salvador hit the highest tax burden in Central America in 2025 (22.1% of GDP), driven by enforcement against evasion and smuggling, plus electronic invoicing—aiming to broaden the tax base by bringing small businesses and the informal sector in. Digital Payments for Small Firms: Saint Lucia’s fintech push is being driven by tourism QR payments and small businesses selling online, supported by regional financial institutions building cross-island digital infrastructure. Energy Investment in the Region: Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners closed Growth Markets Fund II at about $3B, backing energy projects including Chile battery work and Mexico solar-plus-storage construction. Cross-Border Trade Payments: dLocal and XTransfer highlighted continued momentum in emerging-market payments, with XTransfer saying it served over 1M enterprise clients in 2025. Disaster Shock to Local Commerce: Colombia’s earthquake response is turning into an economic hit for small businesses, with damage across homes, shops, schools, and healthcare facilities.

MSME Capacity Building: The Government of the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean Development Bank launched a three-part, bi-weekly MSME training series for entrepreneurs, covering Business Continuity, Digital Marketing, and Financial Management, with virtual and hybrid options to reduce travel burdens. Banking Growth: Nubank reported record quarterly income, with net income hitting $1.1B (+49% YoY) and said it’s pushing ahead on a U.S. bank plan after conditional charter approval. Tax Enforcement Push: El Salvador recorded the highest tax burden in Central America in 2025 at 22.1% of GDP, driven by enforcement against evasion and smuggling plus electronic invoicing—aiming to bring small businesses and the informal sector into the tax base. Digital Payments for SMEs: Saint Lucia’s fintech push is being powered by QR payments and online sales by small businesses, supported by regional digital infrastructure efforts. Energy Investment in LatAm: Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners closed Growth Markets Fund II at about $3B, backing energy projects across Latin America, including Chile battery work and Mexico solar-plus-storage construction. Disaster Impact on Business: Colombia’s earthquake response is escalating, with officials declaring an economic emergency to speed recovery—after major damage to homes, schools, healthcare, roads, and airports.

Tourism & Local Business: Peru is pitching “Paths of Pope Leo XIV” as a connected pilgrimage route across Chiclayo, Piura, Trujillo and Callao—shifting tourism from one-off visits to multi-community spending that can boost hotels, food, transport, guides and small makers. Payments for SMEs: XTransfer says it served over 1 million enterprise clients in 2025, processing $60.5B, and highlights SME optimism on cross-border trade despite disruptions. Startup Setup Simplified: Airwallex and Air Corporate in Hong Kong launched a one-application setup that bundles company registration with a live multi-currency account, aiming to cut the “can’t transact yet” gap for founders. Risk & Compliance: LSEG’s due-diligence/risk intelligence push for Citizenship by Investment programs stresses biometrics and stronger vetting processes. SME Tech in the Region: BSJ Technology will showcase AI video telematics and connected fleet tools at ESS Colombia 2026 in Bogotá. Energy Access for Small Firms: Cuba’s private Solguara opened a fast solar charging station outside the national grid, offering emergency power for phones and lights during long blackouts. Disaster Impact on Commerce: Colombia’s earthquake response shows how damaged storefronts and infrastructure can quickly hit local livelihoods, with Dosquebradas still clearing debris and reopening access. Cybersecurity Watch: Colombia’s Justice Ministry reported a ransomware attack that disrupted public services ahead of the presidential handover.

Earthquake Response in Colombia: Colombia’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, declared an economic emergency to speed recovery after a 7.4 quake left thousands displaced, with major damage to homes, schools, clinics, roads, aqueducts, and airports—an immediate hit to local commerce and small operators. Local Risk & Business Continuity: In Dosquebradas, merchants and residents are still clearing debris and dealing with unsafe buildings, showing how past warnings didn’t prevent ongoing seismic vulnerability. Cybersecurity for SMEs: Colombia’s Ministry of Justice reported a ransomware attack that disrupted public services tied to legal and drug-monitoring processes, underscoring the growing operational risk for smaller firms that rely on government systems. Digital Payments & Growth Capital: Yuno, a Colombia-founded payments platform, raised $45M Series B to scale its AI-native payments stack and push toward profitability—relevant for SMBs watching faster, cheaper transaction rails. Tech for Latin American fleets: BSJ Technology will showcase AI video telematics and connected fleet tools at ESS Colombia 2026, aiming to help transport operators improve safety and monitoring. SMB Hiring/Services: TalentOurs highlights remote virtual assistant matching for Latin American talent serving U.S. small businesses, with 24/7 support as a key selling point. Energy Resilience in Cuba: A private solar fast-charging station in Cuba is operating outside the national grid, offering practical backup during long blackouts—an example of small-business innovation filling infrastructure gaps.

SMB Hiring & Outsourcing: TalentOurs says it’s making it easier for Latin American small businesses to find 24/7 virtual assistants for admin, customer service, and marketing, with a growing pool that includes web design, accounting, and SEO. Healthcare Services Growth: American Shared Hospital Services reported Q2 revenue up 19% to $8.4M, driven by faster growth in direct patient services and international centers in Peru and Mexico—good news for smaller providers watching demand for advanced cancer care. Recycling Supply Chain: Toppoint Holdings posted Q2 revenue up 17% to $4.6M and returned to positive gross margin as it shifted mix toward higher-value import and metal loads. Payments & Fintech Funding: Colombia-founded Yuno raised $45M Series B to scale its AI-native payments and financial services platform, targeting big transaction-volume growth and expanding into banking momentum. Local Energy Resilience: Cuba’s Solguara opened a fast solar charging station outside the national grid, offering emergency phone and light charging during long blackouts—an example of small-business tech solving daily survival needs. Cyber Risk for Governments: Colombia’s Ministry of Justice confirmed ransomware hit parts of its tech infrastructure days before a presidential handover, disrupting public-facing services. Disaster Impact: A 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, with deaths rising and thousands missing, threatening local commerce and small-business recovery.

SMB Talent & Outsourcing: TalentOurs says it’s making it easier for Latin American small businesses to hire remote help, matching clients with virtual assistants for admin, customer service, and marketing, with 24/7 support and a growing client base. AI Payments Funding: Colombia-founded Yuno raised $45M Series B to scale its AI-native payments and financial services platform, aiming to expand agentic commerce and banking momentum. Cyber Risk for Public Services: Colombia’s Ministry of Justice confirmed a ransomware attack that encrypted files and disrupted public-facing services just days before a presidential handover. Energy Resilience for Entrepreneurs: Cuba’s Solguara opened a fast solar charging station outside the national grid, offering emergency power for phones and lights during long blackouts. Cross-Border Finance Expansion: StoneX agreed to acquire Brazil’s Banco Travelex to expand FX and payments for Brazilian clients, including PIX-related banking services. SME Credit Model: MCC Banking launched an international push to expand access to basic financial services for people and small businesses left out of the formal system. Disaster Impact: A 7.4 earthquake hit western Colombia, with hundreds dead and thousands missing, leaving many areas cut off and businesses scrambling to recover.

SME Finance & Inclusion: MCC Banking rolled out an international financial inclusion strategy to expand access to basic services for people and communities still outside the formal system, combining training, simpler tech, and small-business credit. SMB Capacity Building: DCCDC BOSSTANK launched a one-year back-office support pilot in Washington, DC, giving 40+ small businesses (22 entrepreneurs) hands-on help with bookkeeping, taxes, compliance, branding, and sales pipelines. Payments & Trade Tools: StoneX agreed to acquire Brazil’s Banco Travelex to deepen FX and payments for Brazilian firms, including local accounts and PIX-enabled banking features. AI for Business Growth: Qintess committed to spend at least $6.5M over three years on Fusemachines’ agentic AI products, aiming to become more “AI-native” and roll the tech into its enterprise offerings across South America. Crypto/Fintech Ecosystems: Bitget Wallet launched a global affiliate program offering up to 60% commission on trading and rebates tied to referred card spending. Disaster Impact on Local Economies: Colombia’s 7.4 earthquake left hundreds dead and thousands missing, with major cities hit—an immediate stress test for small firms and supply chains.

SME Capacity Building: Washington, DC’s DCCDC BOSSTANK launched a $2M small-business capacity program, pairing 40+ entrepreneurs (including 22 in the inaugural cohort) with one-on-one back-office support to strengthen bookkeeping, tax compliance, branding, and contracting pipelines. Financial Inclusion: MCC Banking rolled out an international strategy to expand access to basic banking for people still outside the formal system, combining training, simpler tech, and small-business-friendly credit terms. Nearshoring + Tech Finance Gap: A Dominican Republic push for AI, fintech, data centers, and semiconductors is running into a core question: who will finance the early-stage companies expected to compete in these sectors? Stablecoin Payments for Trade: XDC Tech integrated Bridge’s regulated stablecoin infrastructure, enabling faster fiat-to-stablecoin settlement for payments and trade finance across Latin America. Honduras BPO Jobs: ibex met with Honduras leaders to grow the BPO sector and plans to hire 400 employees in Tegucigalpa by year-end. Cold Chain for DTC: Americold said it’s enabling direct-to-consumer growth via integrated cold-chain ecommerce fulfillment.

SME Credit Funding: Jenfi secured a US$2.5M mezzanine facility from ICU Ventures to expand SME lending across Singapore and Vietnam, adding a junior capital layer to its existing senior funding. Local Business Capacity Building: Washington, DC’s DCCDC BOSSTANK launched a $2M small-business back-office support pilot for 40+ entrepreneurs in Wards 7 and 8, pairing BOSSES with 20 expert BASE contractors for 1-on-1 help on bookkeeping, taxes, compliance, branding, and contracting pipelines. Cold Chain for Retailers: Americold is pushing direct-to-consumer growth by offering integrated cold-chain ecommerce fulfillment, aiming to help food brands scale order-level logistics without losing product integrity. Payments & Fintech Infrastructure: XDC Tech integrated Bridge’s stablecoin infrastructure to enable regulated cash-to-stablecoin on/off-ramps and near-real-time settlement for commerce and trade finance, with licenses covering Latin America. Nearshoring Jobs in Central America: ibex met Honduras leaders to grow the country’s BPO sector and plans to hire 400 employees in Tegucigalpa by end-2026. Community Impact: Crisis Text Line acquired Aselo, an open-source contact center platform, to strengthen crisis helplines with unified phone/text/chat support across countries. Business Growth in Latin America: Ticketplus closed its IPO in Chile, raising $15M gross proceeds as its live entertainment platform expands across Latin America.

SMB Finance & Payments: Ticketplus closed its $15M IPO, with shares starting trading on NYSE American as it scales its live-entertainment tech platform across Latin America. Nearshoring & Jobs: ibex met Honduras’ president and investment minister to push growth in the country’s BPO sector, including plans to hire 400 employees in Tegucigalpa by year-end. Digital Tools for Operators: Nayax reported strong Q2 growth for its merchant payments and loyalty devices, topping 1.55M installed units, signaling continued demand for cashless upgrades. Creator Economy in the Region: New data highlights how Latin American small businesses are riding the creator economy wave, using digital audiences to drive sales. Local Business Resilience: Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in with tight security, and the ceremony included a focus on support for small business and entrepreneurs. SME Tech Enablement: Tyms launched an AI accounting feature that lets business owners connect their books to major AI assistants and ask questions using their real ledger data. Infrastructure for Growth: PCL Construction completed upgrades to South Florida’s Norwood Water Treatment Plant, a reminder that reliable utilities underpin business continuity.

Nearshoring & virtual support: Virtual Edge Assistance says nearshore BPO and virtual agent teams help Latin American businesses cut overhead and scale customer support without the hiring drag. Payments growth in Brazil: EBANX reports that adding Pix can lift international merchants’ revenue by up to 37% and expand customer reach by about 25% within six months, citing real-time confirmation as a key driver. SME fintech push in Colombia: A new analysis argues Colombia’s fintech boom can help close the SME credit gap, but warns the formal system still leaves many microenterprises unable to save, pay, or finance without informality. Local entrepreneurship via digital rails (Peru): A Lima soccer club, Deportivo Municipal, launched a “1,000 sponsors” pixelated kit where each square sells for $60, turning the jersey into a micro-donation crowdfunding platform for small businesses. Policy & business climate (Bolivia): Bolivia’s president says he emerged stronger after a blockade crisis, with protests split via deals—an environment that can quickly affect local commerce. Creator economy in Panama: A feature highlights how Panama’s small businesses are monetizing social content, using high smartphone use and bilingual reach to compete with bigger brands.

SMB Payments Boost: EBANX says adding Brazil’s Pix at checkout can lift revenue up to 37% and bring 25% more customers within six months, giving international merchants a fast growth channel in a market where Pix is set to dominate online payments. Fintech for Inclusion: A new look at Colombia’s fintech boom argues the country’s payments and startup ecosystem can help close gaps, but notes microenterprises still lack formal credit access and SMEs face a sizable financing shortfall. Local Business Funding via Sports: Peru’s Deportivo Municipal launched a “1,000 sponsors” pixelated jersey, selling each square as a $60 ad spot for small businesses around Lima and raising 254k soles so far. Digital Bookkeeping for SMEs: Tyms rolled out an AI accounting feature that lets business owners connect their real books to Claude/ChatGPT/Perplexity and ask for live balance-sheet and invoice insights. Policy & Security for Entrepreneurs: Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in amid tight security, with the ceremony spotlighting support for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Caribbean Fintech Push: Finovate Global Caribbean highlights Belize Bank’s six-year partnership with Backbase to modernize retail and business digital banking with AI onboarding and unified cash-flow visibility.

Fintech for SMBs in Colombia: A new piece argues Colombia’s fintech boom can help close the financing gap for micro and small firms, but notes the system is still too shallow for many entrepreneurs to save, pay, or borrow without falling into informality. Payments growth in Brazil: EBANX reports that merchants adding Pix in Brazil can see revenue jump up to 37% and gain more customers within six months, pointing to instant confirmation and wider reach as key drivers. Local business tech for real books: Tyms’ AI-native accounting platform lets business owners connect their ledgers to Claude/ChatGPT/Perplexity and ask questions based on live financial data. SMB-friendly digital banking in the Caribbean: Belize Bank signed a six-year partnership with Backbase to roll out an AI-native digital banking stack for both retail and business customers. Colombia leadership and small business symbolism: Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s president amid heavy security, with the ceremony framed as support for entrepreneurs. Peru micro-sponsorships via football: Deportivo Municipal’s new kit sells 1,000 sponsor squares to Lima small businesses, turning the jersey into a crowdfunding platform. Brazil mobility from below: A report on Rocinha’s mototaxi economy shows how motorcycles fill transit gaps and keep daily commerce moving.