Mike Packer (QED) on the Post-2021 Reset—and Why AI-Driven Platforms Win

Welcome to Season 4 of The J Curve with me, Olga Maslikhova. Last week I got to spend a few days in cidade maravilhosa—Rio de Janeiro—for Web Summit, which this year attracted over 37,000 people. The event was action-packed—both inside the venue and across the city, with an incredible lineup of side events. It was a milestone week for The J Curve. We recorded our very first live episode on stage—a conversation I’ve been wanting to have for a long time, and the one we’re releasing today: a live interview with Mike Packer, partner at QED Investors. QED is the legendary firm founded by Frank Rotman and Nigel Morris—the creators of Capital One and pioneers of data-driven credit long before it became mainstream. They’ve been betting on Latin America for over a decade. Their first investment in the region was Nubank, now the most valuable digital bank in the world. Here’s what we cover: — Why growth capital is the new frontier in LatAm — What makes a founder truly fundable in 2025+ — AI’s real impact across QED’s portfolio — What it really takes to IPO from LatAm — The vertical SaaS trap—and the case for vertical AI More from us: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The J Curve Insider⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we go beyond the podcast to break down the most exciting investment & tech trends in LATAM. Sharp. Concise. Real business strategies and market insights you won’t find anywhere else. Delivered straight to your inbox.Follow us on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram