SP's innovative business acceleration program opens enrollment

What do they have in common a delivery of religious products, a website that uses AI and geolocation to connect specialized professionals and platforms that only promote the work of black people and immigrants? These are some examples of successful businesses accelerated by Vai Tec – a program for the valuation of technological initiatives -, which opens registration for its 11th edition on January 23rd. 

The acceleration of the up to 25 selected from this edition starts in June and lasts for 6 months. During this period, each business will receive a total of R$ 52 thousand and technical support to boost the business. 

“ In 10 years of the program, 320 projects were accelerated by proving the value of a public policy that reinforces the ecosystem of entrepreneurship, technology and innovation in the city of São Paulo”, informs Renan Vieira, president of Ade Sampa (Agência São Paulo de Development), which executes the initiative of the City of São Paulo, through the Municipal Secretariat for Economic Development and Labor. 

“With Vai Tec, the City of São Paulo reinforces its commitment to innovation as a tool for inclusion, economic development and generation of opportunities throughout the city, especially in the peripheries. By supporting technological-based businesses with financial resources, training and technical monitoring, the program strengthens the São Paulo entrepreneurial ecosystem and boosts creative solutions that respond to real challenges for the population, generating employment, income and positive social impact”, says Rodrigo Goulart, municipal secretary for Economic Development and Work.

In the 10 editions of the program, the South Zone represents 29.41TP3 t of the accelerated business, followed by the east side with 24.5%, and the north zone with 22.1%. The West Zone represents 13.6% and 10.1% center. Among the accelerated businesses are Happ Fé, which works in the niche of Afro-Brazilian religious articles, working with delivery. The founders of Happ Fé participated in the 2025 edition of Vai Tec alongside Mais Afro, a platform that maps and promotes professionals and businesses led only by black people. Vem Bumbar, on the other hand, promotes the insertion of immigrants in the labor market. The program also helped the professionalization of Cuid, a website that uses a geolocation system to identify caregivers of elderly people closest to families who seek specialized services.

To participate in Vai Tec in 2026, entrepreneurs must have innovative businesses, formalized or not, that use technology as an essential part of the business model and have the potential for local development and job and income generation. The program covers the entire city of São Paulo, especially the peripheries, and businesses that propose AI solutions in health, urbanism, mobility and education can be enabled, and management systems or software; Development of innovative applications and/or platforms; cybersecurity and data privacy; augmented reality and virtual reality for immersive experiences; blockchain and distributed technologies. 

The selected enterprise must, necessarily, consist of two members over 18 years of age at the time of registration and residents in São Paulo, who must participate in at least 85% of the activities, carried out during business hours. In this edition, projects from the audiovisual, games and green economy sectors will be sent to participate in specific acceleration programs by ADE Sampa for these areas.

SERVICE: Registration 11th edition of the Vai Tec Program

Period: from 01/23 to 02/23/2026

Website:  https://adesampa.com.br/vaitec/ 

Information: vaitec@adesampa.com.br 

Realization: City Hall of São Paulo (Municipal Secretariat for Economic Development and Work)

Operation: Ade Sampa (São Paulo Development Agency)