Podcast about the subject Listen on Spotify
Brazil has once again taken center stage in the global innovation landscape by bringing over 300 startups to Web Summit Lisbon 2025, one of the world's largest technology events. Between November 10th and 13th, Lisbon hosted more than 70,000 people, 2,500 startups, and approximately 1,000 investors, solidifying the country as one of the five largest innovation ecosystems represented at the event.
Brazilian delegation in high spirits.
The Brazilian delegation, organized by ApexBrasil in partnership with Sebrae and other entities, included 350 innovative companies, 151 of which were directly selected by the agency. Of these, 35 are from the Northeast region, representing 23.18% of the total. The Northeast is currently home to 24.7% of the country's startups, according to the Sebrae Startups Observatory, and is the second region with the highest concentration of startups in Brazil, behind only the Southeast (35.8%).
In addition to startups, the event featured eight tourism-related companies, selected by Embratur to promote sustainable technological solutions. More than 501 of the Brazilian startups present are led by women, reinforcing the commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Economic impact and internationalization
According to data from Sebrae, Brazilian startups generated almost R$$ 94 million in business at the Web Summit in recent years. Sebrae's president, Décio Lima, highlighted that Brazil is positioned among the world's leading innovation ecosystems, alongside the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States.
According to the president of ApexBrasil, Jorge Viana, the event is one of the main initiatives to promote the internationalization of Brazilian startups. “Brazil is home to more than 20,000 startups, and that number continues to grow. The country is now a benchmark for innovation in Latin America, with scalable technological solutions in various sectors that are attracting the interest of investors and companies worldwide,” he stated.
Regional and sectoral highlight
- Ceará was represented by four startups, after winning the Siará Tech Summit.
- Startups in fields such as health, technology, tourism, and agribusiness presented innovative solutions.
- The EmbraturLAB program promotes sustainable tourism, focusing on authentic experiences and generating value for the tourism industry.
Web Summit: a global stage for innovation
The Web Summit Lisbon 2025 brought together leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs from 153 countries, with over 2,000 members of the press in attendance. The event also benefited from the support of programs such as Road 2 Web Summit, which has supported over a thousand startups since 2016, generating €40 million in investments.
Photo by Dan Taylor on Unsplash
English