2024-11-12 20:27:00
Launch of the Sebrae Startups Award at Web Summit Lisbon attracts global audience
The Brazil Pavilion at the Web Summit Lisbon, in Portugal, was the stage for the launch of the Sebrae Startups 2025 Award, a recognition that boosts Brazilian innovation on the global stage. With a prize of R$250,000 for the big winner, the initiative is part of a broad relationship and acceleration strategy Sebraedesigned to integrate startups from all over Brazil and connect them to a dynamic ecosystem of support and mentoring. The announcement took place within the international mission of 400 startups to the Portuguese capital, which continues until November 15th.
Initiative launched at Web Summit Lisboa is part of the relationship and acceleration strategy designed to connect Brazilian startups to a support and mentoring ecosystem
Sebrae’s technical director, Bruno Quick, explained that the proposal is not only to recognize, but to offer a path of support and growth for startups to reach the global market. “The Sebrae Startups Award brings together small businesses that already receive our support and attracts new ones, which come to get involved in the journey of ideation, mentoring and acceleration,” declared Quick, inviting startups and future entrepreneurs to participate in this edition.
In 2023, the Sebrae Startups Award brought together 3,300 entries, of which 1,000 reached the final.
The breadth of the award, which ranges from the Information Technology sector to the areas of bioeconomy, energy, food and health, was also highlighted by Bruno Quick. He mentioned projects emerging from different regions, including the Amazon, where startups use sediments from the Amazon River to develop construction materials in places without conventional resources. “We have unimaginable innovations emerging and we will put Brazil at the top of the global innovation map,” revealed the director of Sebrae.
The speech by Marcela Flores, president of the National Association for Research and Development of Innovative Companies (ANPEI) during the launch, highlighted the synergy between large companies and startups. According to her, innovation in large companies happens much more slowly, which makes the connection between these two actors essential. “We have many innovative Brazilian companies here interested in the technologies developed by our startups. So, take the opportunity to connect and do business”, encouraged the executive.
Renato Campos Carvalho, vice-president of Fecomércio and president of the Deliberative Council of Sebrae in Santa Catarina, highlighted the growth of Startup Summit-SC and the ambition of making it the biggest startup event in Latin America. “We want to bring more maturity to Brazilian startups, so that they are prepared to compete in the global market,” said Carvalho. He invited the public to participate in the event in August next year in Florianópolis, positioning Santa Catarina’s innovation hub as an international reference.
Valuable resources and opportunities
In practice, the Sebrae Startups Award is a gateway to accelerating the growth of Brazilian companies, offering a cash prize that can be decisive for the future of the business. Furthermore, it provides visibility, networking, intensive training and opportunities to attract investment.
“It’s not just the cash value that counts. There is support from partners, such as AWS, which complement the award, offering valuable resources and opportunities,” explained Cristina Mieko, national manager of Sebrae Startups. According to her, Sebrae, in partnership with 1,500 partners and 300 ecosystems spread across Brazil, takes Brazilian startups to events such as Web Summit, Startup Summit (Florianópolis) and Startup Nordeste, to give visibility and expansion to businesses.
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**Interview with Bruno Quick, Technical Director of Sebrae, on the Launch of the Sebrae Startups Award at Web Summit Lisbon**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Bruno. We’ve seen an exciting launch of the Sebrae Startups 2025 Award at the Web Summit in Lisbon. Can you tell us more about the purpose of this award?
**Bruno Quick:** Thank you for having me! The Sebrae Startups Award aims to not only recognize innovative startups in Brazil but also to provide them with the support they need to scale and reach global markets. With a prize of R$250,000 for the winner, we are creating a pathway for startups to receive mentoring and acceleration, which is crucial for their growth.
**Editor:** That sounds promising! How does Sebrae plan to integrate and connect startups across Brazil to this global ecosystem?
**Bruno Quick:** We have a broad relationship strategy in place. By engaging with startups from all over the country, we can harness diverse ideas and innovations, including some extraordinary projects from different regions, such as the Amazon. This initiative will help create a network of support that connects these startups to valuable resources, mentorship, and potential partnerships.
**Editor:** Last year, the Sebrae Startups Award attracted 3,300 entries, with 1,000 reaching the finals. What are your expectations for this year’s competition?
**Bruno Quick:** We’re hopeful for similar, if not greater, participation this year. The response has been overwhelming, demonstrating the appetite for innovation among Brazilian entrepreneurs. We’re keen to see how many groundbreaking projects will emerge and contribute to placing Brazil on the global innovation map.
**Editor:** You mentioned innovations from different sectors, including projects focused on sustainability. Can you give us an example?
**Bruno Quick:** Certainly! One remarkable project comes from the Amazon region, where startups are utilizing sediments from the Amazon River to develop eco-friendly construction materials. It’s a fantastic example of how innovative thinking can address both local challenges and contribute to global sustainability efforts.
**Editor:** Marcela Flores highlighted the importance of collaboration between startups and large companies. How does Sebrae facilitate these connections?
**Bruno Quick:** We actively encourage partnerships between startups and established companies during events like the Web Summit. We recognize that while larger companies may innovate at a slower pace, they can benefit significantly from the agility and creativity of startups. By fostering these connections, we hope to create a thriving innovation ecosystem in Brazil.
**Editor:** Thank you, Bruno, for sharing your insights on the Sebrae Startups Award. We look forward to seeing how Brazilian startups will impact the global stage!
**Bruno Quick:** Thank you! I look forward to seeing the incredible innovations that will arise from this initiative.
