One of the doubts of future legislation is about the scope of the startup concept. Rodolfo Fücher called for “simple and secure” taxation and labor relations, inclusion of individual microentrepreneurs (MEI) in digital platforms and government credit lines equal to those for micro and small businesses. “The PLP has to be clear to avoid misunderstandings in its interpretation. The company's classification as a startup should not be based on subjective criteria, otherwise we will have a major judicialization. We have to guarantee the attractiveness of talents and shield investors as much as possible, providing conditions to compensate for their eventual losses”, he added.
The undersecretary for innovation at the Ministry of Economy, Igor Nazareth, agreed with the more generic concept present in the proposal under consideration by the Chamber, but suggested new parameters for the classification of companies in the sector. “It is important for the project to include the need to inform the billing, opening time and self-declaration, that is, that company says it is a startup”, he declared.
Less bureaucracy
The e-net Chamber, an entity that represents a large part of the country's digital commerce, asked for legal security, reduction of bureaucracy and less “labor complexity”. A representative of Dínamo, an association focused on public policies in favor of startups, Rodrigo Afonso stressed that very specific sectorial issues should be out of the legal framework so as not to put a damper on it.
Rapporteur of the special commission, deputy Vinícius Poit (Novo-SP) stated that he will carefully analyze the suggestions presented today. “The discussion between a comprehensive or a restrictive startup description was in the speech of all the speakers. It is something that we have to take into account and seek balance”, he highlighted. “Self-declaration was cited as one of the criteria. Brazil needs to believe in the good faith of the entrepreneur.” Poit added that the idea, with the legal framework, is to create favorable conditions for startups, which will contribute to the country's economic growth.
Innovation in times of crisis
The president of the Brazilian Association of Startups, Amure da Rocha e Silva, stressed that companies in the sector need support especially in the initial phase of operation, when they are more vulnerable. Amure cited the Chamber of Deputies teleconference itself as an example of innovation arising from startups and fundamental in times of crisis, as in the current case of propagation of the coronavirus.
“For the future, we need to bet on our entrepreneurial brain and on the way we transform a country through innovation”, he argued. “In this world, startups are protagonists. Entrepreneurs learn in a different way that is not yet in high schools or universities.”
The president of the special commission, Deputy João Roma (Republicanos-BA), highlighted the commitment of parliamentarians, speakers and the public in debating the legal framework of startups through the digital audience. “For the initiative and the effectiveness of this action that we are using here, we have already received a lot of praise from other fellow deputies and also from those who are accompanying us”, he said.
Deputy Fábio Trad (PSD-MS) participated in the hearing at home, as he is in isolation for having maintained contact with his brother, senator Nelsinho Trad (PSD-MS), already diagnosed with coronavirus. Vinícius Poit recalled that several companies that started as startups, such as Facebook, iFood and Uber, for example, are already mobilizing to create a kind of fund to help their employees in the face of uncertainties with the coronavirus.
Source: ABES Portal Newsroom, with information from Agência Câmara de Notícias
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