Brazil in the spotlight at Web Summit Lisbon 2025
Brazil had a significant presence at the Web Summit Lisbon 2025, a global technology and innovation event that took place between November 10th and 13th in Portugal. The Brazilian delegation, organized by ApexBrasil in partnership with Sebrae and other institutions, included 350 startups and innovative companies, 151 of which were selected by the Agency, with strong participation from the Northeast region, representing 23,181 of these startups. Brazil is currently a benchmark for innovation in Latin America, with more than 20,000 startups attracting global investments, especially in information and communication technology.
Northeast Brazil is on the rise in the innovation ecosystem.
Northeastern Brazil has established itself as the second largest startup hub in the country, with approximately 24.7% companies in the sector, second only to the Southeast, which concentrates 35.8%. Startups from Ceará, such as Love Technology, Hublocal, Soffia, and Unum Sistemas, participated in the event after winning regional competitions, highlighting the maturation and decentralization of innovation in Brazil.
Challenges and opportunities for artificial intelligence startups
While the Web Summit highlights the expansion and internationalization of Brazilian startups, the artificial intelligence (AI) sector is facing a moment of global consolidation. According to research by S&P Global Market Intelligence, 42% of companies will have abandoned part of their AI initiatives by 2025, a significant increase compared to 2024. To survive, startups need to transform innovation into real revenue, clearly defining their monetization models, ensuring data governance, and focusing on business sustainability.
Marilucia Silva Pertile, co-founder of Start Growth, emphasizes that by 2026, AI will cease to be a differentiator and become a basic requirement for competitiveness, and only companies that generate real value will be able to attract investment.
Events and movements in the Brazilian ecosystem
In addition to the Web Summit Lisbon, other events such as the Startup Summit 2025, held in Florianópolis between August 27 and 29, reinforce the dynamism of the sector in Brazil. The event brought together more than 200 international speakers and 150 exhibiting companies, attracting delegations from 20 countries and presenting tracks on AI, fundraising, health, energy and agribusiness.
Impacts for the market and investors
The growth of Brazilian startups and increasing internationalization, especially in Europe, indicate significant opportunities for investors and companies seeking scalable innovation. Strengthening the ecosystem in the Northeast of Brazil and the need for sustainable profitability in AI startups are key points for this new phase of the market.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
English