Maria Silveira

Meet 28-year old Maria Silveira, the visionary founder of Barkus, an innovative ed-tech platform that is transforming lives across Brazil. Barkus democratizes access to financial education and inclusion by leveraging a humanized chatbot that serves as a financial educator on WhatsApp.

Maria’s journey is deeply personal. “Acquiring financial education early on was transformative for me, a young black woman from the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” she shares. “I aspire to extend this impact to other young individuals facing vulnerable situations.”

The results of her efforts speak for themselves. Barkus boasts an impressive completion rate—over 40% of users finish their financial education programme, far surpassing the industry average of 5% to 15%. Additionally, Barkus makes financial education more accessible with an average ticket price lower than other solutions in the market. Since its inception, the platform has impacted over 140,000 people throughout Brazil.

Maria’s entrepreneurial journey began with the support of YBI’s member in Brazil, Aliança Empreendedora, a vital partner in her success story. In 2017, Barkus participated in Pense Grande, a social business acceleration programme run by Aliança Empreendedora. Through this programme, Maria and her team received crucial guidance at the early stages of their business.

“Aliança Empreendedora not only assisted us in formalizing Barkus but also played a key role in helping us build our first product, create our business model, structure processes, and even make our first sales,” Maria recalls. “Their support laid the foundation for the impact we’re creating today.”

Maria’s passion and drive reflect her belief in the transformative power of diversity and innovation. “Every day, I wake up knowing that my work, as a black woman in the financial market, is, in itself, part of my legacy,” she says. “My legacy is to leave not only a future but also create a better present. I strongly believe that innovation resides in diversity. And it is an innovation that the world needs.”

Through Barkus, Maria Silveira is not just building a business—she’s creating a movement. By equipping young people and vulnerable communities with the tools they need for financial empowerment, Maria is shaping a more inclusive and equitable Brazil.

Maria was a finalist in the Social Entrepreneurship category at the YBI Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2024.