Edutechs, fintechs, healthtechs, biotechs, and innovative companies from various sectors and regions. This plurality characterizes the delegation of the Internationalization Mission to Web Summit 2024, organized by the Brazilian Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments (ApexBrasil) and the Brazilian Service for Support to Micro and Small Enterprises (Sebrae), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), and Serpro, which will bring more than 400 innovative companies to the event, taking place from November 11 to 14 in Lisbon.
“The Brazilian delegation is representative of our innovation ecosystem. Brazil has more than 20,000 startups and has been steadily climbing the Global Innovation Index. In other words, we are a reference in innovation in Latin America, with scalable technological solutions in various market segments that are attracting interest from around the world. And our delegation, which brings an unprecedented number of Brazilian companies to the event, will help consolidate Brazil’s image as a hub of innovation,” said ApexBrasil president Jorge Viana.
The evolution of the Brazilian ecosystem is noticeable in several areas. Brazil has established itself as the main destination for startup investments in Latin America. According to the Distrito innovation platform, Brazilian startups raised $1.46 billion in venture capital since the beginning of 2024, a 9.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The country has increasingly advanced innovation centers, more mature startup support programs, new business models being applied by both entrepreneurs and investors, and all of this generates more opportunities, exchanges, and competitiveness.
In partnership, ApexBrasil and Sebrae aim to open doors in the international market so that the potential of Brazilian startups can be seen and expanded in the world's innovation ecosystems, attracting investment and new business partners. "Innovation must consider humanist values because we cannot innovate the world with technology, with all the extraordinary creativity we produce, without considering that we live alongside billions of human beings going hungry. Therefore, innovation must also achieve social inclusion. I am convinced that many creative experiences are also aimed at promoting this inclusion," affirms Sebrae's president, Décio Lima.
All the potential of Brazil.
This year, the selection for the Brazilian delegation prioritized regional diversity and the encouragement of participation by women-led companies. The initiative aims to promote greater representation of the different regions of Brazil on the international stage, as well as to strengthen female presence in the innovation ecosystem.
This is the case of Amazon Bioprotein, led by CEO Antônia Bezerra, 76 years old, who found a solution for natural protein supplementation in the tradition of Amazonian cuisine. Cariru, also known as caruru, is a vegetable recognized for its rich nutritional properties.
Mrs. Antônia began her entrepreneurial journey in Amapá over 40 years ago, but it was last year that the nutrition student heard the following question from a teacher: "Do you know what a startup is?" That was enough for the CEO to embark on a new journey in the world of innovation.
Now, Amazon Bioprotein is preparing to take off. "Going to the Web Summit will be a major turning point, I have high expectations and I know what Amazon Bioprotein is aiming for. I gave my all in the training sessions, at the events, and in this opportunity I will show the world a product that promotes family farming, without pesticides, and that has many benefits," comments Mrs. Antônia.
Another startup with great potential is the Ceará-based Eduvem, a digital platform that focuses on building corporate universities. In October of this year, the company raised R$ 15 million in investments, and participating in Web Summit is strategic for the startup's international expansion.
According to your CEO, Vladimir Nunam, "one of the objectives of our fundraising was international expansion, and Apex has been our partner in this process. They not only take us to events like Web Summit but also offer consulting, courses, and mentoring." He says that the startup has already partnered with ApexBrasil on other initiatives that were fundamental to the development of the business. "I remember that for an edition of Gitex in Dubai, we even received tips on how to dress. That is the level of detail in the preparation. And now, at Web Summit 2024, we will showcase all our growth since our first participation in Web Summit 2022. We already have a company in Portugal, with clients, and after this consolidation, we want to expand into Europe, so we will seek partnerships and show what we have to offer."
Vô Contigo will premiere at the Web Summit this year. A startup was born to facilitate the mobility of elderly people, aiming to connect them with drivers who have undergone curation and qualification. "The idea is that our solution is a passport to freedom for the senior person," says Ivonete Guerino, who created this solution. Your startup was selected for Expo Favela 2023, an event that highlights entrepreneurs from vulnerable backgrounds across Brazil, and to participate in this innovation ecosystem, Vô Contigo underwent a qualification process at the Favela Business School, an institution that offers content on entrepreneurial management with straightforward language, free mentorship, and connections with market investors.
Ivonete went from Cuiabá, where the startup started, to Expo Favela. Now, through the partnership between ApexBrasil, the Central Única das Favelas, and the Favela Business School, Vô Contigo will reach the world's largest technology event. "I am a Black, peripheral woman who leads an impact business for an invisible audience. So, there are countless layers in which I am involved. When I looked at the system, I felt extremely intimidated," Ivonete said about the beginning of her journey. "Now, I am going to the Web Summit to prospect the Portuguese and European markets, where there is a stronger aging process than in Brazil, which can make my business even more meaningful," concludes the entrepreneur.
The Brazilian delegation includes ten startups created in Brazilian favelas. "ApexBrasil is committed to connecting Brazilian entrepreneurs with the world, and favelas are a rich source of creativity, innovation, and talent that we need to foster so that Brazil can succeed globally," stated Floriano Pesaro, the Agency's Corporate Management Director.
Following the success of the last edition
In the 2023 edition of Web Summit, Brazilian startups shined. Inspira won the pitch championship of the event, while startups like Buddieapp, HIT, and Luckie Tech were selected by the organization to participate in showcases on the Web Summit stages.
Buddie.ai uses artificial intelligence (AI) to offer a "24-hour friend-therapist," with a feature that calms anxiety attacks in up to 5 minutes. Ana Quiroz, the startup's representative at Web Summit 2023, says that the company's participation in the event was crucial for its internationalization. We went to show our app to the world and to have tested our chatbot live, and it was very rewarding to have such success.
According to the entrepreneur, ApexBrasil opened the doors to the world of internationalization and the results have already begun to appear. We had meetings with potential investors, individuals, and corporations interested in partnerships to offer our products as benefits for their employees. In addition to business opportunities, Ana highlighted the selection for the showcase. "The showcase was incredible. Without a doubt, one of the best parts of the entire event. We were part of the 'The Future of Medtech' showcase, where we were able to showcase, with all this spotlight, our mental health project for employees," said the entrepreneur.
During the three days of Web Summit 2023, Brazilian companies were able to identify partnerships, attract investments, and find opportunities to expand their activities into the European market. Patrícia Meirelles Palhares, founder of HIT: holistic therapies, states that the investments in the trip paid off and even resulted in contracts related to the Integrative Health market.
Subsequently, HIT won the top 5 award in Health Tech at the 100 Open Startups in Latin America, and the founder credits much of this to the maturity gained from the demands of the European market after Web Summit. "I think being part of the Brazilian startup delegation at an event like this helps your startup grow in the market. With everything we experienced at the event, we are excited to maintain our B2B and B2C strategy because the market has shown itself to be open to this, including platforms from there," says Patrícia, speaking about her startup's experience.
For ApexBrasil's Industry and Services Manager, Maria Paula Velloso, the Web Summit is a great showcase for Brazilian entrepreneurship. "I am sure that in the 2024 edition, we will have even more national startups shining, establishing partnerships, and attracting investments to scale their businesses," commented Velloso.
