Michael Nicklas is a managing partner at Valor Capital Group who lives and works between Rio de Janeiro and New York, focusing on backing Brazilian and Latin American companies that can become global references in sectors like fintech and crypto rather than importing Silicon Valley models. He has strong conviction that Brazil will be the first fully tokenized economy and maintains close alignment with Brazil's central bank on regulatory innovation like Pix and Drex, while integrating geopolitical risk and macro dynamics into his cross-border venture decisions.

• Deep focus on the Brazilian and Latin American startup ecosystems, frequently highlighting market opportunities and cross-border comparisons. He regularly shares data points illustrating regional growth, such as comparing non-cash payment volumes in Brazil against other major economies like China and India, or discussing the entry of major tech players like Amazon into the Brazilian market.
• Active participant in the venture capital community, often bridging the gap between Silicon Valley, major academic institutions, and Latin America. He consistently tweets about speaking engagements and takeaways from high-profile events, such as discussing what makes Silicon Valley unique at the Valor Capital Summit or speaking on emerging market funding at MIT Sloan.
• Enthusiastic support for portfolio companies and the broader entrepreneurial network, often acting as a cheerleader for launches and exits. He frequently posts congratulations to founders, such as the teams at Sontra and GuiaBolso, and shares updates on specific investments like the e-commerce site AmoMuito or the satellite company Satellogic.
• Interest in design thinking and the intersection of arts and technology. Beyond pure financials, he values creative frameworks, evidenced by his praise for the Stanford d.School's approach to education and his sharing of content related to digital art initiatives or design awards.