Rodrigo Tavares

Rodrigo Tavares is a Managing Partner at Smart Money Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in São Paulo, Brazil. Before establishing his current fund, he spent over 15 years in corporate finance and technology leadership, including strategic roles collaborating with institutions like Banco Itaú. Throughout his investment career, Tavares has deployed capital into more than 45 emerging technology startups, primarily targeting the fintech, enterprise software, and digital commerce sectors. He earned his academic credentials from Fundação Getulio Vargas and frequently partners with global accelerator programs such as 500 Startups and Wayra to source deal flow. His investment methodology prioritizes rigorous financial governance and operational scaling for founders operating within complex emerging markets. Tavares currently focuses on leading seed-stage funding rounds and providing board-level advisory support to high-growth technology enterprises across Latin America.