Innovation, startups and entrepreneurship ecosystems in Brazil play an important role, as these spaces are responsible for fostering the generation of new ideas, creativity, entrepreneurship and business, which can turn into large companies. In addition, these ecosystems also create jobs, contribute to the social development and growth of the country.
In this article, we are going to talk about a vibrant ecosystem located in Rio Grande do Sul: the Tecnopuc, linked to PUCRS and partner of ABES STARTUP INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, a space for innovation and interaction, designed to encourage collaboration between people and companies.
Rafael Chanin
The site has several shared spaces that allow different groups to work together and share ideas and resources. “In addition, Tecnopuc has common areas where people can gather and relax; and networking areas, where it is possible to make contacts and establish new partnerships. All of this is done with the aim of promoting innovation and business growth.”, highlights Prof. Rafael Chanin, leader of the startup area at Tecnopuc.
This ecosystem currently brings together 258 organizations, 132 of which are startups, 81 companies, 17 associations and entities, among other research and administration structures at PUCRS and public institutions.
Prof. Chanin explains that “O Tecnopuc has been working hard on a concept we call “Tecnopuc Anywhere”, which aims to support startups anywhere on the planet. In other words, Tecnopuc's deliverables go beyond the walls of our headquarters in Porto Alegre”.
Tecnopuc programs for startups
Tecnopuc's programs support startup businesses at different stages, from ideation, through validation, traction to scale. Among them are:
Startup Garage: Tecnopuc's business modeling program, aimed at entrepreneurs who have an innovative technology-based idea or project with potential for scale.
Startup Road: through monthly follow-up, workshops, content and events, it aims to help entrepreneurs develop a functional MVP and validate their business model.
Startup Orbit: through monthly monitoring, workshops, content and events, the program aims to help entrepreneurs establish their business and prepare to scale.
Tecnopuc's main means of connecting with PUCRS students is through TRACK Startup, an initiative that integrates schools, Idear and Tecnopuc with the aim of strengthening the innovation ecosystem, based on an entrepreneurial experience from academia to the market, impacting on the attracting and developing talent and supporting the generation of new businesses, in addition to mapping the different paths of entrepreneurship within the university.
In the evaluation of Prof. Chanin, Tecnopuc had a very productive 2022, with programs that reached significant numbers for the innovation ecosystem: “the Startup Garage, for example, reached its 13th edition and helped develop more than 400 startups. The Road program had 32 participating startups and 42 certified since 2019. The Orbit program had 45 startups in the program and 103 graduated startups, in these 20 years of trajectory. These results are an indication that Tecnopuc is fulfilling its objective of promoting innovation and business growth in the region”.
ABES and Tecnopuc partnership: goals for 2023 and challenges
The benefits of the approximation between ABES and Tecnopuc are synergistic. “The world is increasingly digital and looking for innovative solutions. And all this happens with intensive use of software. The rapprochement between these two organizations brings our stakeholders closer together, interacting and envisioning opportunities for working together. For 2023, in addition to reinforcing the benefits that ABES offers, I believe it is important to promote events in partnership to precisely provide this greater approximation”,
In March 2023, Tecnopuc will take four startups from Rio Grande do Sul to participate in South by Southwest, better known as SXSW, a set of film, music and technology festivals that takes place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States. “These startups will have the possibility of immersion in Austin from March 9th to 16th, where they will connect with companies and investors to generate business and investment opportunities. A similar action will be held in São Paulo. In partnership with Sebrae-RS, we will provide an immersion for seven startups in the São Paulo ecosystem”, added Prof. Chanin
Studies and research show that the innovation and startup ecosystem in Brazil has been growing every year and this has brought greater maturity to businesses and entrepreneurs. “This has been possible thanks to the increase in investors and innovation hubs, which are increasingly supporting entrepreneurs at the beginning of their journey. In addition, these investors and hubs are also contributing to the ecosystem becoming more vibrant, which is essential for the success of startups. One of the main challenges of the innovation ecosystem and startups in Brazil is the capillarity of actions. It is still quite challenging to reach places less connected with large urban centers”, he concluded.
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