Monashees, one of Latin America’s earliest and most influential venture capital firms, has established a permanent presence in Silicon Valley as it seeks to connect regional startups with the AI developments and investment opportunities flowing out of the Bay Area. This move reflects the firm’s strategy to back Latin American entrepreneurs building global businesses and leverage proximity to U.S. tech hubs.
- Monashees opened a San Francisco office in 2025 to support Latin American startups.
- The firm partners with Google’s Gama Fund to co-invest in Brazil AI startups.
- Monashees has invested $370M across roughly 35 companies mostly in early-stage rounds.
What happened
Monashees, a venture capital firm founded in Brazil in 2005, has expanded beyond Latin America by establishing a San Francisco office in September 2025. This expansion reflects its strategic focus on engaging more directly with Silicon Valley’s investment opportunities, especially in the AI sector. Monashees has been a crucial player in building Latin America’s startup scene—from nurturing Brazil’s nascent tech ecosystem to investing in high-growth companies across the region.
The firm announced a collaboration with Google’s Gama Fund to jointly invest up to $2 million in pre-seed and seed-stage AI and deep tech startups in Brazil. This partnership and physical presence in Silicon Valley enable Monashees to connect founders with cutting-edge technology, capital, and research that are critical for scaling globally competitive businesses.
Why it matters
Monashees’ move to Silicon Valley marks a significant milestone in the maturation of Latin America’s tech ecosystem. Brazil, in particular, stands out as a digitally advanced market with widespread adoption of innovations like the Pix payment system and extensive usage of digital platforms such as Uber and ChatGPT. By bridging Latin America’s startup ecosystem with Silicon Valley, Monashees is positioning regional founders to leverage global AI advancements and investor networks.
The firm’s evolution also signals a broader trend where venture capital firms from emerging tech markets are increasing their presence in global innovation hubs to better support founders who are building businesses with a global reach. This is particularly critical in the current AI-driven startup wave, where proximity to talent and labs plays a pivotal role in early-stage company success.
What to watch next
Monashees plans to host its first AI-focused summit in San Francisco later this year, gathering Latin American founders dedicated to AI-driven ventures. This event will likely showcase emerging startups and strengthen cross-border links between Latin America and Silicon Valley investors and partners.
Going forward, the firm’s ongoing deployments from its $370 million fund and the new Gama Fund partnership with Google are expected to accelerate investments in Latin America’s AI-native startups. Observers should watch for which startups and sectors receive funding as Monashees doubles down on its core focus areas and expands its footprint in the U.S. market.