Considered a pioneering model for supporting startups, the initiative combines financial investment and mandatory training. The agreement between the entities aims to attract more investment for the program and disseminate training opportunities to accelerate innovation in Brazil.
The Brazilian Association of Software Companies (ABES), a leading player in the discussion on innovations and challenges that impact the future of the global market, has signed an agreement with the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) of Santa Catarina to support the 3rd Inova Startups Investment Program. The initiative, which is the result of a partnership between Sebrae/SC, Bossa Invest, Raja Ventures and other institutions, aims to support the development of innovative and scalable startups throughout Brazil.
The Inova Startups Program is a pioneering model for supporting startups, which combines financial investment of up to R$750,000 with a mandatory training path. This edition will have a total investment of R$11 million, earmarked for selected startups, and the expectation is that more than 18 startups will be included. Entrepreneurs will participate in workshops and mentoring sessions, covering essential topics such as strategy, legal, operations and sales, totaling more than 500 hours of content and access to a network of experienced mentors.
For Marcos Regueira, Special Projects Manager at Sebrae/SC, the combination of investment, training and networking creates an environment conducive to innovation, and ABES’ support for the project will add even more value to the processes. “Our goal is to provide not only financial resources, but also the skills and support needed for startups to grow and stand out in the market,” he says.
According to ABES’ 2024 Software Market Study, the software market in Brazil is expected to grow by 10% in 2024, reaching an estimated revenue of R$$ 44 billion. This growth is driven by increased digitalization, strong demand for technology solutions, and the growth of the software as a service (SaaS) sector. “Our study indicates that the cloud and mobility solutions areas are the most promising, with significant growth forecasts and, in this context, startups are increasingly playing a relevant role in innovation, contributing with new solutions that meet these emerging market demands. With such a favorable scenario, initiatives such as the Inova Program become essential to foster competitiveness and innovation in the technology sector,” says Jamile Sabatini Marques, director of development and innovation at ABES. “We will support Sebrae/SC to help attract more investments to the program and disseminate training opportunities and, in this way, accelerate innovation in Brazil,” she adds.
The Inova Startups Program is an opportunity for companies that already have a B2B, B2C or B2G business model, with validated products or services and a minimum recurring revenue of R$10,000 per month. In the last edition of the program, in 2022/2023, R$16 million were invested in 41 startups, resulting in significant growth in revenue, with some companies registering increases of up to R$9,971.
About ABES
ABES (Brazilian Association of Software Companies) aims to contribute to the construction of a more digital and less unequal Brazil, in which information technology plays a fundamental role in the democratization of knowledge and the creation of new opportunities for all. In this sense, it aims to ensure a business environment conducive to innovation, ethical, dynamic, sustainable and globally competitive, always in line with its mission to connect, guide, protect and develop the Brazilian information technology market.
Currently, ABES represents around 2,000 companies, which total approximately 80% of revenue in the software and services sector in Brazil, distributed across 24 States and the Federal District, responsible for generating more than 260 thousand direct jobs and annual revenue of around R$. 107 billion in 2023. Access the ABES Portal or call +55 (11) 5094-3100.
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