The audio and video are in Spanish. These notes are a translation.
0:00 - The Personal Origin of Avi
The story of his mother trying to buy a house marked him deeply.
- Why was it so difficult for his mom to get access to a mortgage loan?
- What did Sebastián learn about how people build wealth?
- How did that story inspire the mission of Avi?
2:00 - Housing as a Means to Generate Wealth
Sebastián explains why buying a home can have more impact than a credit card.
- What motivated him to solve this problem instead of building a simpler business?
- What was the opportunity he saw in access to mortgage credit?
5:00 - The State of the Real Estate Market in LATAM
The market is full of friction: slow processes, a lack of data, and manual paperwork.
- What barriers exist today to buying or selling a home in the region?
- Why do homes not have a legal “history” that is easily accessible?
9:00 - Mission, Values, and Culture at Avi
Avi values empathy, mission, and execution with a “human touch.”
- How do they balance technology with human sensitivity?
- What kind of internal culture are they building at Avi?
12:00 - Designing a Company for 20 Years
Inspired by Mercado Libre, Sebastián believes that real impact takes decades.
- What makes him believe that he can last 20 years building Avi?
- How does he design a company with that horizon in mind?
14:00 - Choosing a Capital-Intensive Business Model
Avi buys houses, finances mortgages, and takes care of the paperwork.
- Why did they choose a model that is so difficult to execute?
- What upside does he see in a low-margin, capital-intensive business?
18:00 - Culture, Resilience, and Transparency
Avi’s culture demands commitment, intensity, and clear values.
- What kind of people thrive at Avi?
- How do they apply the principle of radical transparency?
21:00 - Artificial Intelligence Applied at Avi
They built “Gaby,” an artificial intelligence agent that automates sales processes.
- What impact has artificial intelligence had on their costs and operations?
- What tasks has Gaby replaced, and how did that affect the sales team?
- Which parts of the process still cannot be automated?
26:00 - The Importance of Data and Trust
The key problem is not speed, it is trust.
- Why do users feel afraid when selling their house?
- How does a company like Avi build trust?
30:00 - Avi as a Long-Term Company
Sebastián pictures Avi as a platform that enables wealth.
- How does he imagine that Avi will impact the Latin American economy in 20 years?
- Will Avi be a bank, a marketplace, or a new category?
35:00 - Lessons on AI and Advice for Entrepreneurs
Avi trains its entire team in artificial intelligence.
- Why does artificial intelligence make this the best moment to start a company?
- What kind of businesses should founders build today?
48:00 - The Importance of Telling the Story
For years, Avi avoided telling its story to the public.
- Why does Sebastián consider this a mistake?
- How are they changing their approach to communication?
- What did they learn about connecting with users through the “why”?
53:00 - The Legacy of Avi
Sebastián dreams of Avi being an enabler of opportunities.
- What impact does he hope to have at the family level and at the macroeconomic level?
- What does the success of Avi look like in 20 years?
Episode Mentions
You can find Sebastián on LinkedIn Discover More of the Startupeable Podcast
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