Brazil highlights innovation and digital transformation.

Brazil leads delegation of 340 startups at Web Summit Lisbon.

Brazil had a significant presence at the Web Summit Lisbon 2025 with a delegation of 340 startups and companies, coordinated by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) in partnership with Sebrae and other entities. According to data from the Sebrae Startups Observatory, the Brazilian ecosystem surpassed 20,000 active innovative companies, a growth of 30% in one year.

The president of ApexBrasil, Jorge Viana, highlighted Brazil as a benchmark for innovation in Latin America, with scalable technological solutions that attract global investors. Participation in the event aims to boost the internationalization of these startups, especially those led by entrepreneurs from the North, Northeast, and Federal District regions, as well as businesses originating from favelas and urban communities.

Regional distribution and focus on inclusion.

• The Northeast region accounts for 24.71% of active startups;
• The Southern Region represents 20.7%;
• The Central-West and North regions have 9.5% and 9.2%, respectively.

The Industry and Services Manager at ApexBrasil, Maria Paula Velloso, highlighted Brazil's transformative potential, with innovation present in all regions, and the importance of the Web Summit for startups at different stages.

Advances in the modernization of the State and digital transformation

Meanwhile, the Brazilian government presented significant progress in modernizing the State and fostering federative coordination for digital transformation during the XXX International Congress of Public Administration and Government. Francisco Gaetani, Extraordinary Secretary for State Transformation, highlighted three main axes of the agenda: People Management, Digital Transformation, and Public Organizations.

The focus is on cooperation between the federal government, states, and municipalities to strengthen local capacities and expand access to technology, with an emphasis on digital inclusion as a democratic necessity and a federal agenda.

Featured initiatives and panels

• Debate on digital transformation and public innovation in Latin America;
• Experience of the Contrata+ Brasil program for productive inclusion;
• Presentation of the National Management and Innovation Program (PNGI) and other initiatives;
• Governance of payment records and data management in the public sector.

Impacts and outlook for the market

These movements reflect a global trend of valuing innovation and digitalization as drivers of economic growth and social inclusion. Brazil's robust presence at international events and progress in digital public policies indicate a promising scenario for business and investment, especially in technology and entrepreneurship.

Photo by Charles Forerunner on Unsplash