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Meet GuruMatch, a startup that wants to be the “Tinder” of Education

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Meet GuruMatch, a startup that wants to be the “Tinder” of Education

Nos últimos anos a educação digital tornou-se essencial na profissionalização e treinamento contínuo de equipes. Observando esse movimento, a GuruMatch, edtech brasileira, para o impulsionamento do aprendizado, surge como uma solução inovadora e a proposta de ser o “Tinder” da Educação.

With only three years of existence, the startup stands out as the new force inCreator Economy, a market that currently has around 7 million Brazilians monetizing digital content and is expected to double in size by 2027, reaching the US$ 480 billion mark, as predicted by Goldman Sachs, by making aplatform of teachingúnica que conecta criadores de conteúdo, denominados Gurus, a aprendizes de forma altamente interativa e personalizada.

Furthermore, thelearning platformoffers a flexible white label model, allowing complete customization of the interface and functionality for companies, educational institutions and professionals offeringonline courses. “We offer a robust and scalable infrastructure capable of efficiently integrating with various systems via API, ensuring a high-quality and tailored educational experience,” explains Ari Martire, Founder and Director of Marketing, Growth and Strategy at GuruMatch.

O crescimento do ensino a distância é outro fator que impulsiona a relevância do GuruMatch no setor. Entre 2011 e 2021, o EAD cresceu 474%, e, em 2023, o mercado de e-learning no Brasil movimentou mais de US$ 4,5 bilhões, conforme dados do PagSeguro. This context reinforces the need for innovative solutions in thedigital education, such as that offered by edtech.

“We noticed this gap in the market, with many people and companies not being able to count on avirtual learning environment adequada para o treinamento de equipes, comercialização de cursos e até se conectar a professores e especialistas em determinadas atividades e cursos. Our purpose is to ensure that this content reaches people by using the best of technology to createlearning trailspersonalized where each person receives specific training aligned with their functions and that companies are environments that foster education”, reinforces Ari.

Desde sua fundação, a startup  estabeleceu parcerias estratégicas com empresas e instituições renomadas, já são mais de 50 clientes na cartela. Essas colaborações destacam a capacidade da GuruMatch em romper barreiras e promover tanto o desenvolvimento profissional quanto o pessoal.

In its virtual environment, the startup offerscorporate training toolswith gamificationon the LMS platform (learning management software) proporcionando aos aprendizes uma experiência única e personalizada, se consolidando não apenas como uma plataforma de ensino digital, mas uma solução completa e estratégica que une conhecimento e desejo em um ambiente virtual de aprendizagem interativo e adaptável.

“We use technology totraining, training and people management e isso tem dado muito certo! Nossos clientes têm números impressionantes de engajamento e de melhoria significativa na vida de seus colaboradores. Todas as empresas têm um processo de onboarding e isso define a jornada do colaborador, estamos aqui para impulsionar carreiras e melhorar a experiência do funcionário”, finaliza Martire.

Zup announces former Itaú Unibanco as new CEO

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Zup announces former Itaú Unibanco as new CEO

A Zup, empresa de tecnologia do Itaú Unibanco, anuncia André Palma como seu novo CEO. Palma deixou suas atividades como Superintendente de Tecnologia do banco e assumiu integralmente a nova função desde a última semana. Bruno Pierobon, co-fundador e até então CEO da empresa, torna-se advisor de Palma e também da Zup, além de assumir uma posição no Conselho.

Em 13 anos de existência, essa é a primeira vez que a companhia faz a mudança do seu mais alto executivo. A escolha passou pela busca de um profissional que traz experiência de mercado, habilitado tecnicamente, com históricos de transformações, com admiração pela Zup e sua cultura de empreender e inovar.

Among his activities at the bank, Palma dedicated his last two years at Itaú Unibanco to the adoption and operation of StackSpot, a product co-created between Zup and Itaú that makes software construction more efficient through generative artificial intelligence.

The change is part of an internal restructuring at Zup, which gives strength to the company's current strategy based on GenAI and ensures the expansion of StackSpot, consolidating its position as a product company offering Professional Services/Consulting.

“Our mission at Zup will always be to create innovative solutions and products that transform the way people and companies interact with technology. With this new challenge, I am committed to excellence in delivering results that not only meet the needs of our customers, but also anticipate the construction of the future. And I will do this by maintaining the DNA of Zup, a company with entrepreneurial energy, competitive in the market, that cares for people and inspires as a tech leader,” says Palma.

In over 20 years of experience at Itaú Unibanco, André Palma has accumulated experience as superintendent of infrastructure engineering, systems, architecture, governance and operations in Technology, in addition to having acted strategically in the journey of modernizing the bank's platforms, cloud and AIOPs.

Palma explains that he takes on the leadership with the aim of continuing Zup's trajectory, with a focus on the customer and the brand's growth in the national technology market, seeking to lead innovation and excellence in GenAI.

“Zup is an AI-First company. Over the past year, we have seen a global window of opportunity for GenAI and we want to take advantage of it to be the main partner for our customers and future customers in the use of this technology. The constant search for delivery with ever greater excellence explains, for example, our recent affiliation with MIT, working in a mutual collaboration with the GenAI core that provides access to laboratories, professors and researchers who are dedicated to the subject. On the business front, in 2024, we increased our investment in AI by almost 80%, challenging us to go beyond code assistance and platform engineering. Our desire is to become a reference in the market by creating AI agents that act throughout the development cycle, hyper-contextualized with the needs of each challenge and ready to generate efficiency throughout the entire journey.”

Artificial Intelligence at the boardroom table

Fabio Chamber
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Artificial Intelligence at the boardroom table

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most important advances when it comes to innovation. The size of your impact is reaffirmed by hundreds of market professionals. The research "Before IT, Strategy," from 2024, presented by IT Forum Intelligence in June of this year, shows that 49% of the 308 respondents consider Artificial Intelligence "very important" for business – a relevance reiterated, also, with the forecast of a $200 billion investment by next year in technology companies, according to the IDC Worldwide Artificial Intelligence Spending Guide.

Belonging to the technology sector, it is common to think that those responsible for creating new AI applications are developers, right? Because I say no. For solutions to be developed accurately, the guidance must come from those who understand the pains of the business.

Let me explain better. The team leading the projects in a certain area has the necessary knowledge to identify where AI can have the greatest impact. They know what the market needs, the demands of the clients, and the specific challenges of each segment. Without the assertive understanding of how the solution should operate, the process cannot flow 100%. Recently, NetApp sponsored the study "Scaling AI initiatives responsibly: the critical role of intelligent data infrastructure," which showed that 20% of AI projects fail without data infrastructure.

Research with this focus is essential to reinforce the need for the specific business team to determine how AI solutions should be directed to solve real problems, increase efficiency, and generate tangible value. On the other hand, IT professionals, with their technical expertise, turn these ideas into reality, ensuring that technology functions effectively.

After clarifying the question of who thinks about the solution and who develops it, it is important to highlight the synergy between the two areas. The collaboration between strategy and technology is essential for success in the application of the tool. It's not just about creating the technology, but ensuring that it is implemented safely and efficiently.

Another point that reinforces the need for business leaders to be at the forefront of creating AI solutions is that these are not universal. What is effective in the financial industry may not be suitable for retail or healthcare. Therefore, the business, with industry knowledge, guides the development of these solutions to meet the specificities of each segment.

Finally, frequent monitoring by developers and business feedback are essential for the continued effectiveness and evolution of the tool. Since technological solutions are always evolving and a single tool and version will not deliver the expected effectiveness and evolution forever.

When those in charge of the business understand how AI can be applied to their operations, collaboration with the development team flows smoothly. In this way, misunderstandings or communication failures are minimized or even cease to exist. Clarity about the needs and objectives of the solution allows the technical team to deliver tools more aligned with specific needs, resulting in more agile projects with greater return on investment.

Technology helps insurer increase profitability

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Technology helps insurer increase profitability

The API (Application Program Interface) has become an important tool for customer service by integrating, on a single platform, channels such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and website, thus enabling all of a company's chats to be centralized on a single platform.

Alberto Silva Filho, CEO of Poli Digital, a startup that unifies and automates contact channels for small and medium-sized businesses, explains that centralizing the relationship in a single location speeds up service, as there is no longer a need to check the chats of different apps separately. "Integrating communication channels is a differentiator because it allows a unified view of the customer's interactions with the company. This means that, regardless of where the customer starts the conversation, agents have access to the entire interaction history, enabling continuous and personalized service," he emphasizes.

The CEO of Poli Digital explains that integration not only makes service more efficient but also creates a more pleasant and consistent experience for the customer. When each customer feels that their needs are understood and met in a personalized way, it increases satisfaction and loyalty, as well as facilitates proactive problem-solving and the offering of additional services.

Other benefits include speed due to automation in responses and the distribution of service among departments and attendants after initial qualification or screening, without leaving anyone waiting. "Additionally, there are features such as the creation of automatic messages that keep customers engaged with the company," says Alberto Silva Filho.

In the insurance sector, this strategy has also played an important role in customer relationships.

An example of companies that use this technology is Real Travel Insurance, which chose Poli Digital's platform, directly integrated with Meta's official APIs, owner of WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. The insurance company, which entered the Brazilian market as the country's first travel insurance comparison platform, has already helped nearly 1.5 million people choose the right insurance to ensure a smooth trip. After going through four offices, today Real Seguros is a digital nomad company, with consultants working remotely in ten cities across Brazil.

According to operations director Hugo Reichenbach of Real Travel Insurance, implementing the interface significantly improved the customer experience. Problems such as disconnections, data repetition, and long waiting times are no longer part of the company's routine. Now, the insurance company welcomes its clients with agility, security, and precision. It is worth highlighting that the first ten seconds of communication are crucial to winning or losing the customer in a phone service, for example:

“Before implementation, our customers would wait around ten minutes to be served; now it’s only five, which means we’ve cut that in half. Greater satisfaction with service also resulted in a 9% increase in revenue, so we validate the importance of digital optimization for companies in our industry,” explains Reichenbach, from Real Seguro Viagem.

Digital interfaces still offer solutions for integrating payment systems across various communication channels, both by simplifying business routines and by making the purchasing process easier through the generation of payment links, for example. The Poli Digital payment system, which has already processed more than 5.5 million reais, is also part of the solutions that have generated greater credibility for the insurer.

“Operational improvements have optimized work, reducing operational errors and motivating employees. With the cost reduction, we have also been able to double the sales team and provide quick responses. Customers can now access products and services, as well as details of these products and services, such as photos, documents, quotes and contracts,” says Reichenbach.

The reports and insights received from Poli Digital are also making a difference in Real Seguro Viagem’s routine: “Satisfaction surveys indicate that our customers rate our agents highly, demonstrating an improvement in the quality of service and overall user experience. This positive feedback is an indicator that Poli not only met, but exceeded the expectations of both the company and its customers, setting a new standard of excellence in the insurance industry,” concludes Reichenbach.

GoDeep participates in the 6th edition of the Digital Industry Congress, in São Paulo

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GoDeep participates in the 6th edition of the Digital Industry Congress, in São Paulo

For the second consecutive time, GoDeep will be present at the Digital Industry Congress, which takes place on October 15 and 16 in São Paulo. The E-commerce Brasil initiative brings together specialists and industry leaders to discuss and learn how technology can help drive business growth.  

In addition to being the sponsor of the congress, GoDeep will also be one of over 80 exhibiting companies, with a strategically located booth and a highly qualified team to showcase the brand's innovations and answer all visitors' questions, providing a perfect environment for networking. 5,000 participants are expected, including decision-makers from companies in Brazil and abroad.

The audience is mainly composed of B2B, D2C, B2B2C industries, and marketplaces. According to the organizers, 68% of the participants are between 25 and 55 years old, with 65% men and 35% women. CEOs, vice presidents, directors, managers, and entrepreneurs make up 78% of the registrants.

"We are excited to participate again in such a significant event for the industry ecosystem in Brazil. This is a strategic opportunity to highlight our unique strengths in online sales and reinforce our operations. We have already had the opportunity to serve major companies such as Tambasa, JBL, and Positivo, and we are ready to face the complex challenges of e-commerce, delivering significant results for our clients," states Eduardo Oliveira, CEO of GoDeep.

Digital Industry Congress 2024 

A meeting point between industry and the digital universe, the event features six content plenaries and a business hall with standardized booths in an executive environment conducive to networking between sponsors and participants. Recognized as a reference for the entire industrial sector, the congress provides essential discussions and learning opportunities, contributing to the transformation and growth of the participating companies' businesses.

Service 

Digital Industry Congress 2024 

Date: October 15th and 16th

Schedule: 15/10: 12pm to 6pm; 16/10: 9am to 6pm

Location: Transamerica Expo Center – Av. Dr. Mário Vilas Boas Rodrigues, 387 – Santo Amaro, São Paulo – SP

More information:https://eventos2.ecommercebrasil.com.br/congresso-industria-digital/ 

MB and Prata Digital announce the structuring of R$50 million in tokens backed by FGTS Consignado bonds

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MB and Prata Digital announce the structuring of R$50 million in tokens backed by FGTS Consignado bonds

Mercado Bitcoin (MB), the largest digital assets platform in Latin America, announces in partnership with Prata Digital, a fintech specializing in personal credit issuance, the structuring of the first Digital Fixed Income Token (RFD) backed by FGTS payroll deduction bonds in the birthday withdrawal modality. The assets were issued by QI Tech, a fintech infrastructure company for financial services. The operation totals R$50 million and its commercialization was divided into tranches.

MB Corporate's expertise, the MB ecosystem area specialized in tokenization, was used to structure the product, while Digital Silver is responsible for credit origination. The profitability of token-holders will be linked to the anticipation of the FGTS for the birthday withdrawal. Thus, the asset revolutionizes the investment universe through tokenization: in the traditional market, only large banks or FIDC managers have access to these investments. Now, the reach expands to retail.

QI Tech acted as the banking partner for the CCBs for the end customers of Prata Digital. She is responsible for granting credit, given her SCD (Direct Credit Society) license, to end customers who wish to advance their accumulated FGTS resources. Recently, the company received an A+(bra) rating from Fitch, in addition to becoming Brazil's first unicorn of 2024.

Among the product features are CDI + 1.5% yield and a term of 77 months. The token can be purchased starting from R$ 100.00. Being included in the RFD modality, the return potential is over 14% per year. It is worth noting that the FGTS constitutes a set of assets that has already moved more than R$1 trillion in resources over six years and five months.

“In a very short time, we have put together an unprecedented product that allows retail investors to participate in anniversary withdrawal consignment receivables,” says Reinaldo Rabelo, CEO of MB.

“MB has increasingly established itself as a complementary player to other credit structurers. While the market is more accustomed to looking at corporate debt, MB Corporate has specialized in recent years in offering individual clients, or 'flesh and blood' as we like to joke here, structured and dispersed credits with a very advantageous risk/return profile. These products usually remain in the portfolio of bank treasuries or FIDCs, with little access to retail and less attractive conditions than ours,” adds Alexandre Reda, head of structuring and products at MB Corporate.

Digital Silver is one of the leading FGTS credit originators in Brazil and, in 2020, was one of the pioneers in the birthday withdrawal payroll loan, expanding the usability of the Guarantee Fund. Currently, the company is a leader in origination in this modality, with a volume of R$1.2 billion, a total considered a record in the market.

“When we analyze the percentages of use of the anniversary withdrawal, more than 60% of the advances were transferred to financial institutions. Working together with MB allowed us to democratize this market through Digital Fixed Income, in order to align profitability and security for the investor, in addition to diversifying the portfolio. And this is just the beginning,” says Eduardo Mauro Prates, CEO of Prata Digital.

The asset structuring was completed in just 45 days, a process that without the use of Web3 could take up to four months. The operation was completed on Saturday (August 17), highlighting the efficiency and agility of blockchain technology, decentralized and operating 24/7, brought to the market.

Bitcoin Market and B2B Tokenization
The partnership with Prata Digital is part of MB's strategy to expand its B2B presence through the tokenization of corporate assets, in order to facilitate access to the capital market.

To occupy segments “underserved” by the Brazilian private credit market, mainly for transactions of up to R$100 million, MB has a strategic approach carried out through blockchain technology.

Making operations more efficient and economical, tokenization allows MB to reduce the time to raise funds by up to three times when compared to the traditional market.

Microsoft announces investment of R$14.7 billion over 3 years in cloud infrastructure and AI and training to qualify 5 million Brazilians

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Microsoft announces investment of R$14.7 billion over 3 years in cloud infrastructure and AI and training to qualify 5 million Brazilians

A Microsoft anunciou hoje o maior investimento feito de uma única vez no Brasil, englobando o valor de R$ 14,7 bilhões em infraestrutura de nuvem e inteligência artificial (IA) ao longo de três anos. Esta iniciativa visa a fomentar o desenvolvimento do ecossistema de IA no Brasil, acelerando a inovação em IA no país. A Microsoft também incentivará a vantagem competitiva do país a longo prazo, por meio do programa ConectAI, em que oferecerá treinamento para 5 milhões de pessoas nos próximos três anos em habilidades de IA, criando benefícios de longo prazo para a economia brasileira.

A Microsoft expandirá sua infraestrutura de nuvem e IA em vários campus de datacenters no estado de São Paulo. Este novo investimento está alinhado com o objetivo que a companhia tem de apoiar a inovação e aumentar a competitividade do país, e está alinhada com a visão do governo de melhorar a eficiência do setor público, a resiliência nacional e incentivar a sustentabilidade. A Microsoft já possui duas regiões do Azure localmente: a Brasil South, com sede no estado de São Paulo e que foi anunciada em 2014, e a Brasil Southeast, com sede no Rio de Janeiro, lançada em 2020.

“Estamos comprometidos em apoiar a transformação da IA no Brasil e garantir que ela beneficie a todos”, disse Satya Nadella, CEO da Microsoft. “Nossos novos investimentos em infraestrutura de nuvem e IA e em capacitação no Brasil ajudarão a garantir um amplo acesso tanto à tecnologia quanto às habilidades necessárias para que a população e a economia brasileira prosperem nesta era de IA.”

ConectAI: empowering 5 million Brazilians with essential AI skills

Microsoft is launching ConectAI, a program that will provide AI skills training to 5 million people, with the goal of addressing the AI-driven workforce shift and ensuring an equitable future for all by delivering AI fluency at scale.

Um estudo encomendado pela Microsoft e conduzido pela consultoria FrontierView, em 2020, mostra que, se o Brasil adotar a IA massivamente poderá adicionar 4,2 pontos percentuais ao crescimento do PIB do país até 2030. Mesmo com uma adoção mínima da IA, o Brasil poderia ver um aumento de 1,8 pontos percentuais no PIB no mesmo período.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to supporting inclusive economic growth in Brazil. We are empowering individuals, companies and society to increase innovation and democratize the use of AI through skills development, knowledge sharing and access to cutting-edge technology and digital infrastructure, while meeting our sustainability goals,” said Tania Cosentino, president of Microsoft Brazil.

O programa ConectAI torna essa premissa tangível e apoiará a população brasileira a extrair os benefícios da adoção da IA. A empresa está colaborando com 26 organizações, incluindo governos, instituições educacionais e ONGs para alcançar esse objetivo. A Microsoft fechou uma nova colaboração com o SENAI São Paulo (Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial) para oferecer cursos de fluência em IA e treinamento para a certificação AI-900 para seus alunos, professores e a comunidade.

Além disso, a Microsoft continuará a colaboração com o Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego (MTE) para oferecer treinamento em habilidades de IA por meio do programa “Escola do Trabalhador 4.0”, que visa a fornecer acesso a habilidades digitais para que os brasileiros possam se manter atualizados nas tecnologias demandadas pelo mundo do trabalho.“The MTE has been working with Microsoft for years to build digital skills training to support the Brazilian population in becoming qualified in current technologies. The new initiatives we are developing together to disseminate knowledge in artificial intelligence will be essential to promote the inclusion of people in the digital environment and generate more employment opportunities in the country, supporting the economic and professional growth of citizens,” says Luiz Marinho, Minister of Labor and Employment.

Além disso, a Microsoft, em colaboração com a Nova Escola, uma organização sem fins lucrativos focada em apoiar professores brasileiros, fornecerá treinamento em habilidades de IA para educadores. Esta iniciativa busca capacitar os professores com recursos para simplificar a preparação das aulas e melhorar a educação pública por meio de recursos e treinamentos inovadores. Para atingir os jovens, a Microsoft está se associando ao UNICEF para levar habilidades de IA ao programa 1MiO, com o propósito de reduzir o número de pessoas entre 18 e 25 anos que não estudam e não estão trabalhando. Outro público importante são os trabalhadores do governo. Para capacitar os servidores públicos a serem mais produtivos e, com isso, melhorar os serviços prestados à sociedade, a Microsoft está se associando à ENAP para fornecer tanto conteúdo de fluência e produtividade quanto habilidades técnicas para fomentar a inovação tecnológica no setor público.

In addition to the initiatives carried out through the 26 ConectAI partners, Brazilians will also have access to a Microsoft website (https://aka.ms/conectAI) no qual poderão acessar mais de 130 trilhas de aprendizagem gratuitamente. Essas trilhas cobrirão temas como a alfabetização digital, produtividade, IA e treinamentos técnicos. Esses cursos abordam tópicos como aplicativos do Microsoft 365, a história da IA, inteligência artificial generativa, engenharia de prompt (comandos/perguntas para a IA) e como usar o Microsoft Copilot. Também serão disponibilizados cursos mais técnicos, com foco em fornecer conhecimento sobre fundamentos de IA na nuvem.

A Microsoft já ajudou muitos brasileiros a adquirirem habilidades digitais por meio dos programas que fazem parte do plano Mais Brasil, do ConectAI (antigo Conecta+) e iniciativas de parceiros. De janeiro de 2021 a agosto de 2024, impactamos 12,7 milhões de pessoas para aprender mais sobre alfabetização digital e produtividade, e treinamos e certificamos 2,8 milhões de pessoas em habilidades digitais.

Fostering the AI Ecosystem in Brazil

Para apoiar a crescente demanda por serviços de nuvem e IA no Brasil, temos investido no ecossistema de IA brasileiro, incluindo desenvolvedores e startups. Hoje, a comunidade de desenvolvedores do GitHub no Brasil conta com mais de 4,8 milhões de pessoas*. O país é a sexta maior comunidade de desenvolvedores, contribuindo para projetos de IA generativa, e espera-se que o Brasil ultrapasse a China em número de desenvolvedores até 2028, tornando-se a terceira maior população desses profissionais globalmente**. A Microsoft também está apoiando a comunidade local de startups, oferecendo mais de USD 9 milhões em créditos de Azure para cerca de 3.300 startups locais desde julho de 2023 por meio do Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub.

Além disso, a empresa possui um ecossistema de 25.000 parceiros e centenas de milhares de clientes no Brasil. A Microsoft empodera as organizações brasileiras a se beneficiarem do poder da IA. Este investimento em infraestrutura e desenvolvimento de habilidades visa a fomentar a inovação em empresas estabelecidas, novos empreendimentos e na renomada comunidade brasileira de startups, e também endereça a necessidade crítica de capacitação em competências de IA.

“The use of generative AI combined with a responsible AI discipline allowed the delivery of a unique cloud native solution for digital service to our customers with resolution rates above 90%”, comments Rafael Cavalcanti, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Bradesco.

Driving sustainable, secure, world-class cloud and AI infrastructure

A sustentabilidade é essencialmente importante para a Microsoft e está refletida em nossas ambiciosas metas corporativas de nos tornarmos uma empresa negativa em carbono, positiva em água e zero resíduos que protege os ecossistemas até 2030. Na Microsoft, projetamos, construímos e operamos uma infraestrutura de computação em nuvem abrangendo toda a cadeia, desde datacenters até servidores e silício customizado. Com essa expansão a nuvem da Microsoft abrangerá mais de 60 regiões de datacenters globalmente. Isso cria oportunidades únicas para orquestrar um trabalho que aprimore tanto o desempenho quanto a eficiência e a sustentabilidade.

A Microsoft continua a avaliar e atuar intensamente para atender às necessidades de sustentabilidade e recursos associados ao crescimento da infraestrutura. A Microsoft adotou uma abordagem pioneira em seu planejamento, fazendo investimentos de longo prazo para trazer mais eletricidade livre de carbono para as redes onde opera. Nossos Contratos de Compra de Energia, ou PPAs, estão no centro de nossa abordagem. Hoje, contratamos mais de 34 GW de energia renovável em 24 países, marcando um progresso em direção à aceleração dos mercados de energia renovável e apoiando a transição energética global. Continuamos a defender a expansão de soluções de energia limpa em todo o mundo.

Além disso, seguimos com nosso objetivo de nos tornarmos Negativos em Carbono até 2030, sendo um dos maiores compradores de remoção de carbono do mundo. No último ano fiscal, a Microsoft comprou dezenas de milhões de toneladas de remoção de carbono, em um portfólio global de iniciativas ambientais, como o reflorestamento, e soluções como a captura direta de ar e biochar (charcoal).

Em 2023, a Microsoft assinou um contrato de energia renovável de 15 anos com a AES Brasil, para um projeto de geração eólica que iniciou suas operações comerciais em julho de 2024. A energia será gerada pelo Complexo Eólico Cajuína, localizado no Rio Grande do Norte, aproximadamente 130 quilômetros de Natal. O projeto será conduzido por uma equipe de operações e manutenção (O&M) composta integralmente por mulheres. A AES Brasil é a primeira empresa no país a ter um parque eólico composto e mantido localmente por uma equipe feminina.

Em alinhamento com a meta de se tornar Negativa em Carbono até 2030, a Microsoft assinou um acordo com o Amazon Reforestation Fund operado por uma startup brasileira chamada Mombak, para fornecer remoção de carbono de alta qualidade por meio de projetos de reflorestamento da biodiversidade nativa na Amazônia, totalizando até 1,5 milhão de toneladas de remoção de carbono até 2032 a partir de milhões de árvores plantadas. Com base nesse acordo, o Banco Mundial emitiu um título de resultado (outcome bond, em inglês) vinculado ao Reflorestamento da Amazônia de USD 225M – o primeiro título desse tipo – para fomentar mais investimentos nos esforços de reflorestamento da Mombak. Um segundo acordo com outra empresa brasileira, a re.green, prevê a entrega de aproximadamente 3 milhões de créditos de remoção de carbono ao longo de um período de 15 anos por meio da restauração de florestas, usando exclusivamente espécies nativas, incluindo o plantio de pelo menos 10 milhões de mudas. A estimativa desse acordo de compra é apoiar a restauração de mais de 16.000 hectares em todo o Brasil, incluindo os estados do Maranhão e Bahia.

Por fim, um acordo com o BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (TIG) planeja fornecer à Microsoft até 8 milhões de créditos de remoção de carbono baseados na natureza até 2043 – a maior compra corporativa de remoção de carbono anunciada até hoje. Os créditos serão disponibilizados por meio da estratégia de reflorestamento e restauração de USD 1 bilhão do TIG na América Latina, na qual a Conservation International atua como consultora de impacto para auxiliar o TIG a alcançar resultados positivos nas esferas ambiental, climática e social. Essa estratégia foca na conservação, restauração e plantio em áreas desmatadas e degradadas em regiões selecionadas da América Latina, incluindo o bioma do Cerrado brasileiro, um dos ecossistemas sazonalmente secos mais biodiversos do mundo.

A infraestrutura e a suíte de serviços em nuvem da Microsoft são construídas desde o desenvolvimento para proteger os datacenters contra o acesso não autorizado, riscos ambientais e outras ameaças físicas. A empresa usa uma arquitetura resiliente, planos de continuidade de negócios e etapas de recuperação de desastres para manter os serviços disponíveis e atender a altos padrões de segurança e privacidade. A Microsoft segue normas de excelência do setor na implementação de padrões de IA Responsável e na criação do Programa de Garantia de IA, que visa promover as melhores práticas para o uso dessa tecnologia.

Promoting responsible advancement and community engagement

This infrastructure will operate under theMicrosoft AI Access Principles, que foram criados para fomentar a inovação e a competição saudável dentro da economia de IA em rápido crescimento. Eles refletem o papel e a responsabilidade crescentes da Microsoft como líder em IA e o comprometimento da empresa em fazer investimentos, formar parcerias comerciais e criar programas que garantam o amplo acesso à sua tecnologia de IA, empoderando organizações e indivíduos a desenvolverem e usarem a IA de forma a beneficiar a sociedade como um todo.

Additionally, Microsoft reinforces itsGlobal Community Commitment de Datacenters, que reconhece seu comprometimento em ser uma empresa responsável no Brasil e nos lugares onde mantém operação, contribuindo positivamente para as economias e ecossistemas locais enquanto avança na transformação digital global. A Microsoft trabalhará em estreita colaboração com governos locais, cidadãos e tomadores de decisão para garantir que sua infraestrutura seja um recurso que contribua para um futuro sustentável e avance na prosperidade e no bem-estar da comunidade.

Self-proclaimed as the 'Free Market' for franchise projects, they continue to grow and have a goal of moving R$6 million in projects this year.

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Self-proclaimed as the 'Free Market' for franchise projects, they continue to grow and have a goal of moving R$6 million in projects this year.

When entrepreneur Iuri Lenzi founded Zinz in January 2020, he certainly did not expect that three months later, a pandemic (COVID-19) would spread across the planet and trigger an alert signal in businesses. Because the company, currently a platform that makes life easier for franchisees in carrying out works and renovations, not only overcame this period of global turbulence but also reaches four years of growth.

"We should close 2024 with more than R$ 6 million in projects," says the founder and CEO of Zinz. This amount represents one-third (33.3%) more than the amount recorded in 2023, approximately R$ 4.5 million, and more than eight times the value of 2022 (R$ 700 thousand). "And remember that, in the first year, we hardly made any revenue," he recalls. In 2021, still facing many difficulties, it was not until 2022 that the decision to focus the platform on the franchise segment gave Zinz a new boost.

Today, Zinz operates as a marketplace that connects franchisees with service providers for the execution of store construction and renovation projects. The focus is on medium-sized projects. We handle the entire project from start to finish, from budgeting to final payment. Payments are made to the service provider only after the services are approved by the client himself," explains Lenzi (check the step-by-step in the box at the end of this article).

In this operation mediated by Zinz, in addition to the franchised retailers, who are the platform's clients, other actors include the franchising companies and the service providers for construction and renovations. The franchisors (or "finders") use the platform as a referral to franchisees so that they can estimate and hire the work. Service providers are already working by quoting budgets at Zinz to meet the requests of franchisees.

Zinz’s CEO explains: “The franchisor does not pay anything to Zinz. Our company is paid a commission on the service provider’s sales. The franchisee also has no usage costs. In addition, the company uses Zinz as a competitive advantage, in addition to using it to manage its franchisees’ construction projects – so they know exactly the status of the project, remotely. Service providers have their profile on the Zinz platform and can receive customer reviews as they carry out projects.”

As an indicator of the business's viability and sustainability, Zinz works with the calculation that the franchise market has 4,000 brands, with around 3,800 of them being brick-and-mortar stores. That is, establishments that require construction and renovations to meet the architectural standards and visual identity established by the franchisors. "And the trend is that the franchise market will continue to expand," projects the CEO.

Furthermore, it is estimated that on average, these franchises open five other stores per year, totaling a market of 19,000 new stores annually. "Some grow, others do not, but a conservative estimate points to this number," he notes, reiterating that these expansions therefore require new works.

Therefore, the company works with a bold goal: to reach 2030 with 1 million square meters renovated through the platform's mediation. Currently, this number is 10,500 square meters.

What does Zinz do – and how?Check out the step-by-step guide, 100% digital:

  • The customer accesses the Zinz website and requests a quote, sending the architectural design of their store.
  • Zinz prepares a reference quote for the client, informing them how much, on average, it will cost to carry out this renovation.
  • With the client's approval, Zinz asks service providers to prepare a quote.
  • On the Zinz platform, construction companies can submit their quotes. The client (franchisee) will have access to a comparison of each proposal.
  • The client chooses the construction company or contractor they wish to hire.
  • The customer selects the payment method and deposits that amount on the platform.
  • Zinz passes on the amounts to the contracted provider – this only happens when the client approves the services performed by the provider.

Business ecosystem can lead retail to face a more resilient and sustainable future

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Business ecosystem can lead retail to face a more resilient and sustainable future

Desde a retomada econômica pós-pandemia, em 2021, o varejo brasileiro tem dados sinais de crescimento em ritmo lento e também com o cenário preocupante de reestruturação de grandes redes, como Marisa e Americanas. “Esse é um fenômeno que reflete a necessidade de adaptação das companhias em um ambiente de negócios que passa por rápida transformação”, diz Júlio Takano, CEO da KT Arquitetura de Negócios (www.kt.com.br).

Desafios econômicos, aumento dos custos e dificuldades financeiras têm levado muitas empresas varejistas a reavaliarem suas estratégias para melhorar a gestão com eficiência e redução de custos, como lembra Takano. A crescente adoção do e-commerce e a mudança nas preferências dos consumidores também vêm forçando as companhias a adaptarem suas operações para avançar mais nos canais digitais e melhorar a experiência do cliente, ponto focal do varejo atual.

Business Ecosystem to Save Retailers – Referência na discussão do conceito no país, Takano diz que construir um ecossistema de negócios para salvar varejistas em dificuldades exige uma abordagem colaborativa, que deve combinar inovação tecnológica, parcerias estratégicas e um foco constante na experiência do cliente. Entre as empresas que se deram bem no modelo estão Magazine Luiza e Casas Bahia, que contam com lojas físicas e online, e Mercado Livre, com uma plataforma de marketplace.

In physical units, Magalu and Casas Bahia have adopted the modelstore in store para oferecer produtos de diferentes categorias, como eletrônicos e cosméticos. “Esse movimento indica que o setor está se ajustando às novas realidades econômicas e de mercado. Ninguém avança no mercado atuando sozinho, isso é fato”, diz Takano. Alguns centros comerciais no Brasil têm utilizado o conceito para criar uma experiência de compra mais completa e diversificada, com lojas especializadas oferecendo produtos e serviços complementares.

À medida que o varejo continua a evoluir, o ecossistema de negócios deverá continuar se expandindo e se adaptará para atender às novas demandas e oportunidades do mercado. “Com a integração de marcas e a adaptação às tendências de consumo, o store in storehas proven to be an effective strategy for boosting sales, improving the shopping experience and creating synergies between different players”, explains the CEO of KT Arquitetura de Negócios.

How AI has made B2B sales easier through digital platforms like LinkedIn

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How AI has made B2B sales easier through digital platforms like LinkedIn

Present in virtually all sectors of the modern economy, the internet increases its share in the sales segment every year. And in addition to its importance for the B2C (Business to Consumer) sector, those working with B2B (Business to Business) have been gaining many benefits from digital platforms.

Gartner revealed that since the COVID-19 pandemic, B2B digital commerce has experienced significant acceleration. According to the Gartner report "Future of Sales 2025," by the end of next year, 80% of B2B sales interactions will occur through digital channels.

Despite the room for growth, the Brazilian scenario also shows that businesspeople, entrepreneurs, executives and salespeople are also taking the internet into serious consideration.

Around 50% of all B2B purchases are made online. The trend is that this number will increase to over 60% in the next 5 years, according to the Wunderman Thompson's The B2B Future Shopper Report 2023.

The Importance of LinkedIn for B2B Sales

In a context where online B2B sales are already becoming dominant, LinkedIn appears as one of the main platforms.

In 2024, Microsoft's corporate social network announced it had reached 78 million users in Brazil. Counting the whole world, there are more than 1 billion members.

Denise Maia, CEO of DMS — a B2B business prospecting company — and author of the recently released book “LinkedIn found me, and now?”, indicates that the so-called Sales Navigator specifically is a very useful tool for those who want to generate qualified leads.

The specialist, who was certified as a Social Selling Expert by LinkedIn, points out that Sales Navigator is enhanced by AI to perform intelligent searches, for example. With more than 50 filters available, the salesperson can search for potential clients and decision-makers based on keywords, location, current and previous job titles, types of companies, level of experience, and accounts with purchase intent.

Another task performed by LinkedIn's AI is displaying updated company information. With this, it is possible to check news, team changes, and all movements of the potential client on Microsoft's social network.

“Knowing these details makes a difference when sales teams approach potential customers,” adds Maia.

AI also enables Sales Navigator to automate tasks, recommend leads that make sense for salespeople’s scope, show results and sales funnel performance, and personalize approaches.

“Like generative AI tools, LinkedIn Sales Navigator provides inputs for professionals to make more informed strategic decisions. Knowing how to make the most of all these platforms ensures that the best possible results will be achieved,” concludes Denise Maia.

In this scenario where the virtual environment has become so essential to reach potential customers, partners and collaborators, terms such as generative AI, language model, neural networks and algorithms have entered the popular vocabulary.

AI transforming B2B sales

The B2B sales sector is undergoing a revolution thanks to various AI tools. And since many of these platforms are free, they end up offering a great potential for new business opportunities.

Denise Maia states that those who know how to use these new technologies will have an advantage over competitors. Actually, she says that in a very short period of time, knowing how to use AI will no longer be a differential, but rather an obligation.

“We are seeing the revolution happening before our eyes. Soon, AI software will be as common as the use of cell phones and computers,” he predicts.

The specialist argues that AI offers great improvements in customer service and experience. Starting with chatbots, for example, it is possible to clarify doubts, provide information, and even create a sense of closeness. It's no coincidence that many companies have been investing in more humanized figures to interact with the public.

Maia recalls that those who use the internet to make B2B sales can still perform predictive analyses with the help of AI. She explains that through machine learning and big data, platforms can predict purchasing behaviors and also infer the best moments to contact the customer and decision-makers.

And another capability of artificial intelligence — mainly generative AI — is to perform personalizations. Generative technologies can analyze specifics from inputs (commands) and generate new information that has been cross-referenced from an extensive database. In other words, with generative AI tools, it is possible to analyze text suggestions for landing pages, gain insights for outbound marketing emails, and even verify ideas for social media posts, for example.

“Platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Anthropic and others help in the sales process from the point where they serve as inspiration to create content and have ideas to achieve new sales solutions. They serve as a starting point for human beings to optimize their work,” argues Maia.

In the book “LinkedIn found me, and now?”, Denise presents other tools and strategies to build a personal brand on the platform, expand your network of contacts and boost sales.

Released on September 27th, the book can be purchased at this link: https://www.neo21.com.br/negocios/o-linkedin-me-achou-e-agora-do-perfil-estrategico-aos-segredos-do-sales-navigator

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