In 2024, the traditional Entrepreneurship Week of the National Institute of Telecommunications – Inatel, organized by Inatel Startups for 19 years, evolves into a new phase: the Connect Summit. With an expanded format and new interaction opportunities, the event positions itself as one of the most relevant in the South of Minas Gerais for entrepreneurs, university students, and entrepreneurs, reaffirming its authority in promoting entrepreneurial culture and innovation in the region.
“The Connect Summit represents the maturation of an event that is already a reference. With the name change and the expansion of the program, we want to open up even more opportunities and connections for companies, startups, researchers, entrepreneurs, and university students from all over the South of Minas,” highlights Rogério Abranches, coordinator of Inatel Startups. “Our goal is to connect these agents to a universe of innovation and new businesses.”
Integrating the Global Entrepreneurship Week – an international initiative that brings together leaders and institutions in more than 180 countries – the Connect Summit will take place between November 5 and 7, with the theme “Frontiers of Connectivity.” The event this year also becomes part of actions of the EMBRAPII Inatel Competence Center in 5G and 6G networks – xGMobile. The program is structured on various stages, on the Inatel campus, strategically planned to address, including, the main transformations and opportunities that technologies like 5G and 6G bring to society and businesses.
Highlights of Connect Summit 2024
This year’s highlights, among more than 25 experts from various regions, include João Branco and Jorge Audy, who will share their visions on entrepreneurial ecosystems, innovation, and leadership. João Branco, former VP of Marketing at McDonald’s and one of Brazil’s most recognized marketing professionals, will deliver the event’s Keynote Address on November 5. In “Bringing Heart to Work,” he will address the importance of purpose in professional relationships, emphasizing that technology should always serve human connections.
On November 6, Jorge Audy, an expert in agile methodologies and a professor at PUCRS, will present the “Pacto Alegre Case: From Caldeira Institute to Innovative Territories.” He will discuss the role of collaborative ecosystems in strengthening innovation, highlighting his experience with initiatives that connect companies and universities, including the case of Tecnopuc, which is one of Brazil’s most important Science and Technology Parks.
In addition to these talks, the Connect Summit will offer panels on entrepreneurship in agribusiness, innovations in the aerospace sector, and investment opportunities in Minas Gerais, as well as workshops, classes, and a special edition of the Entrepreneurs’ Observatory and moments of connections and networking.
With this new stage, the event consolidates itself as a space for learning, offering new connections for those who wish to explore the frontiers of connectivity and turn ideas into reality. Check out the Connect Summit schedule and learn how to participate here.
