As startups emerge with disruptive ideas, often revolutionizing traditional sectors with unique solutions. In Brazil, there are already more than 12 thousand, according to a report by Cortex Intelligence in partnership with the entrepreneurship network Endeavor. This means that many Brazilians may not even know what the word ‘startup’ means, but a good part of them already use the services of these companies, which are operating in increasingly more market areas, bringing technology to make life easier.
According to Marilucia Silva Pertile, mentor of startups and co-founder of Start Growth, which supports visionary founders on the journey to the next level, combining expertise, capital, and experience, startups are gaining more and more space. ‘They are divided by verticals related to the sectors or specific industries in which they operate, and each vertical represents a market segment or a business area with its own characteristics and needs. At Start Growth, we usually support HRtechs, FINtechs, EDUtechs, DATAbases, MARtechs, and HEALTHtechs,’ she says. According to the startup mentor, it is common for some of them to belong to more than one vertical as well.
Check out the main startup verticals and some successful cases in the market:
FINtechs: These are startups that offer financial solutions, such as digital banks, payments, loans, insurance, and investments. Among the successful cases are Nubank, Creditas, and Méliuz. ‘At Start Growth, we usually support FINtechs. In fact, our newest investment is Smart Save, a startup that offers an innovative solution for those who want to save and invest money automatically, according to their daily expenses, like a digital piggy bank,’ she says.
HEALTHtechs: Focus on technology for the healthcare sector, including telemedicine, medical devices, hospital management, and wellness. Some well-known cases in Brazil are Doctoralia and Dr. Consulta.
EDUtechs: Startups that develop technologies for education, such as online learning platforms, learning tools, and solutions for school management. Some examples include Coursera, Descomplica, and Eduk.
AGtechs: These companies focus on agriculture and agribusiness, providing solutions for agricultural production optimization, resource management, and sustainability. Some examples are Agrorobotics and Agromatic.
MARtechs: Focused on marketing and advertising, these startups develop tools for marketing automation, data analysis, and campaign personalization, such as Google Analytics and Salesforce.
HRtechs: Startups that develop solutions for human resources management, such as Gupy, Revelo, and Sólides.
INSURtechs: Companies innovating in the insurance sector, offering more accessible, personalized, and efficient products through technology. Examples include Pier and Minuto Seguros.
FOODtechs: Startups focused on innovation in the food sector, including food delivery, protein alternatives, and sustainability in the food chain. IFood is the largest example in the vertical.
MOBILITY: Companies operating in the mobility sector, including shared transportation, electric vehicles, and solutions to improve urban mobility. Examples are Uber, 99, Bird, and Tesla.
