TerraMagna

TerraMagna operates as a specialized financial technology firm focused on Brazil's agricultural sector, a market where agribusiness constitutes over 25% of the national GDP. Founded in 2017 by Bernardo Fabiani and Rodrigo Marques, the company addresses a significant credit gap for small and medium-sized farmers who have been historically underserved by traditional banks. The founders, both engineering alumni from the prestigious Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA), applied their technical backgrounds to solve a critical financing problem. Fabiani, the CEO, previously served as a first lieutenant in the Brazilian Air Force's engineering corps, with research experience in remote sensing and RADAR, which directly informs the company's technological approach. Marques, the CFO, brings expertise in control theory.

The company's core business revolves around an 'embedded financing' or 'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL) model for agricultural inputs. It partners with input retailers, cooperatives, and industries—the very channels farmers already use and trust—to offer point-of-sale financing for essentials like seeds, fertilizers, and machinery parts. This model is mutually beneficial: farmers gain simpler and more affordable access to credit, while partner retailers can see revenue increases of over 20% by facilitating more sales without shouldering the credit risk themselves. Revenue is generated by providing these secured credit lines, transforming a traditionally high-risk process into a more stable investment opportunity for capital markets.

TerraMagna's distinct capability lies in its sophisticated risk underwriting platform. This system leverages a wide array of alternative data sources, including satellite imagery, climate data, and government records on environmental compliance, to accurately assess farmer creditworthiness and monitor crop collateral in real-time. This technological foundation allows the company to underwrite loans more safely and efficiently than traditional lenders, who often lack the infrastructure and specific knowledge to serve this geographically dispersed market. Since its inception, the company has secured significant funding, including a $40 million round in 2022 led by SoftBank, to expand its product offerings and regional footprint.

Keywords: AgFintech, agricultural credit, embedded finance, risk underwriting, satellite data, rural financing, asset-backed lending, supply chain finance, Brazilian agriculture, farmer loans