Mercado Libre vs OLX, Prosus, Encuentra24, and FDV: Where do they Compete in Central America?

After taking a break for the holidays, we’re back with the next installment of our Where Companies Compete infographic series. Last time, we looked at the MENA region where PropertyFinder and EMPG reign. This time, it’s back over to the Americas with Central America’s biggest names: Mercado Libre, OLX Group, Prosus, Encuentra24, and Frontier Digital Ventures. 

Mercado Libre, Inc.

Mercado Libre, Inc. is huge in LATAM. It’s no surprise that it’s shown up in both South and Central America. 

An Argentinian online classifieds giant, it’s no surprise that Mercado Libre has its fingers outside of South America.

Mercado Libre

Though the platform was originally launched within South America, it has since spread across the region. In 2006, MercadorLibre.com launched operations in Panama and the Dominican Republic, spreading throughout Central America. 

MetrosCubicos

A Mexican-based real estate portal launched by Grupo Expansión, MetrosCubiso.com was acquired by Mercado Libre in 2015, following a line of acquisitions throughout South America while Mercado Libre boosted support of API technology to expand its offerings. 

Encuentra24.com

Encuentra24.com is a classifieds platform based out of Panama, which has since spread throughout Latin America and even into Europe. The platform caters to helping those in LATAM and beyond, list items and assets for sell, and rent, including real estate. 

OLX and Prosus

Prosus, being under the same parent company as OLX (Naspers), the platform has taken part in all of the partnerships we’ve covered where OLX is involved. 

Earlier this year, OLX announced that it had entered a partnership with Encuentra24.com, launching its own services through the platform in four LATAM countries. Under the agreement, the Encuentra24 platforms servicing those countries would merge with OLX but keep the Encuentra24 branding. 

OLX currently holds a stake of 37.5% in Encuentra24.com.

Frontier Digital Ventures

We reported last month that FDV, having gone through an acquisition spree, had several platforms in its sights, upping its stake in Encuentra24.com, included. FDV, according to sources, currently holds a 26.3% stake in Encuentra24.com, along with control of accounting.