Photo: Florianopolis City Hall/Disclosure

One of the premier conferences of the Brazilian startup ecosystem and the largest Sebrae event in the country, Startup Summit 2023 gathers in Florianópolis from Wednesday (23rd) to this Friday (25th) in person with over 10,000 people. and about 30,000 online among start-up entrepreneurs at different stages of maturity, investment fund managers and innovation centers of large companies, as well as public and private leaders promoting the ecosystem.

Organized by Sebrae in partnership with Acate (Association of Technology Companies of Santa Catarina) and Acif (Business Association of Florianópolis), the event is part of the Floripa Conecta program and features more than 200 lectures spread over 21 thematic areas covering a wide variety of topics. from growth strategies to attracting investment.

Giuliano Richter Pires, Executive Secretary for Economic Development, Science and Technology, Florianopolis City Hall, is following the event and says the implications are very positive for the city. “This is very important because the Startup Summit brings together emerging companies and also allows you to create valuable business connections,” he estimates.

Photo: Florianopolis City Hall/Disclosure

He also highlights the growth of the sector and how these indicators contribute to the development of the capital. Today, according to the Acate Observatory, there are about 7,300 companies in Greater Florianopolis, employing 38,000 people, and generating an annual income of 10.2 billion reais — about 6.5% of the state’s GDP (gross domestic product).

“Startups are the most amazing thing about our economy. They are usually young, work day and night, and have few resources to innovate and succeed in their ventures. Now we are also the most competitive capital in the country, all the result of the work of Florianopolis,” explains Secretary Pires.

According to Sebrae, one of the stakes of this event is to expand business opportunities and connections between participants, as well as to internationalize the event, attracting audiences, speakers and managers from Latin America, the United States, Canada and Europe.

According to the organizers, 3,000 startups, managers of 100 national and international investment funds, as well as 150 exhibitors from medium and large technology and service companies passed through Centosul at the business fair in three days.

To encourage even more connections in 2023, the event launched a 1k+ program through the Sebrae Startups platform, hosting over 850 startups completely free of charge. In addition, the event app also allows you to schedule 1:1 meetings between entrepreneurs, more than 100 national and international investment funds, and connect with up to 90 major corporations during the LinkLab Open Day. as a fundamental part for companies in the verification, operation or launch phase.

“This initiative is a big step forward for the innovation and technology ecosystem, which will see the growth of new businesses that are better prepared to enter the market,” said Luc Pinheiro, CTO of Sebrae/SC. He also notes that the ability to structure these activities together is extremely beneficial for players and participants in the Startup Summit, as well as for institutions. “For us, as supporters of micro and small companies, it is extremely important to be aligned and constantly exchange information with converging poles of trade and industry, such as ACIF, and the technology field, such as ACATE. This partnership only strengthens and expands our work,” he says.

Photo: Florianopolis City Hall/Disclosure

Sebrae Santa Catarina CTO Luc Pinheiro is stepping up the scope of the System’s main event in the country, bringing together participants from all Brazilian states. In 2022, 31,000 people were affected – almost 6,000 participants in the face-to-face event and 25,000 in the online version. “The Startup Summit has become a movement and an ideal space where investors, large companies, governments and representatives from different countries can meet and do business with our startups, especially those associated with the Sebrae system throughout Brazil,” he says.

Foripa Conecta reschedules Capital until the next 31st

The Startup Summit is one of the attractions of Floripa Conecta, which is being held for the third time this year and since the beginning of this month brings a real immersion in culture, innovation and creativity.

This year the event is dedicated to the 350th anniversary of the capital of Santa Catarina with attractions on the mainland and in the four corners of the island. There are 150 attractions in total, including music, audiovisual, games, cinema, technology, entrepreneurship and gastronomy, for all audiences and ages.

More than 100,000 people expected to move: a jump in audience and number of events compared to the previous edition. In 2022, Floripa Conecta brought about BRL 15 million positive impact to the capital’s economy. These figures are expected to be surpassed in 2023.

“Floripa Conecta was a success. Several events for all types of publics and tastes make the city vibrant, and people on the streets make the most of what the city has to offer. Music, fashion, culture, gastronomy, children’s games, exhibitions, innovations, technologies and much more. The August events in Florianopolis exceeded all expectations,” says Minister of Economic Development, Science and Technology Giuliano Richter Pires.

Giuliana Galliano, Economic Development Director of Florianopoilis, also stresses the importance of this event for the capital.

“The Floripa Conecta movement has already entered the calendar of Florianopolis and shows that unity is crucial and brings great results for everyone. Demand has been excellent and we are very pleased with the results so far. Since the entire city has been focused on promoting the creative economy, we have been successful in local economic development and have become an example for other municipalities,” he says.

The event is carried out through the association of the main organizations of the sector in the city, as well as in state and public bodies such as the Municipality of Florianopolis, Sebrae-SC (Support for Micro and Small Companies), CDL (Chamber of Shopkeepers), Acif (Business Association of Florianopolis) and Acate (Technological Association of Santa Catarina.

See the full schedule of attractions on the website www.floripaconecta.com.br, as well as on the social networks of the movement @floripa.conecta.

“Florianopolis is already a magnet for creativity, tourism and technology. With Floripa Conecta we create powerful synergies, reinforcing our vocation and stimulating local economic development. It is a celebration that goes beyond August and sows the seeds of the future of Florianopolis,” says Tynan Mariano, Executive Director of Floripa Conecta.

What: Floripa Conecta 2023

When: from 1 to 31 August

Where: Florianopolis, South Carolina

Website: floripaconecta.com.br

Instagram: @floripa.conecta