Web Summit Warm-up, which precedes the world's largest innovation conference, brings together more than 500 people in Rio

The Esquenta Web Summit addressed the new developments that will be presented at the international conference. Photo: Disclosure/City Hall

Web Summit Rio, the world’s largest innovation and technology conference, returns to the Marvelous City for the third consecutive year, from April 27 to 30, at Riocentro. The trends that will be discussed during the four days of the event were previewed at a preparatory event held at Maravalley, Rio’s innovation hub, last night.

The Esquenta Web Summit addressed the latest developments that will be presented at the international conference and provided networking opportunities for participants. During the evening, the 10 Rio startups that won the Road to Web Summit competition, promoted by Maravalley, were announced. They will have access to the conference and will form the Hub's first group of accelerated companies. With institutional support from Invest.Rio, Maravalley hosted the Esquenta Web Summit for the second time.

According to the Secretary of Economic Development Osmar Lima, who participated in the ceremony, Porto Maravalley is the result of an efficient public policy by the City Hall that is already yielding results.

– Porto Maravalley is an investment by the City Hall that began to be designed a long time ago. It is a milestone in the city’s economic development and in strengthening the innovation ecosystem. Web Summit Rio is a global event that enhances this ecosystem, attracting the world’s attention to Rio in this important sector. So, it is only natural to combine Maravalley and Web Summit, contributing to the consolidation of the sector in the city of Rio –, stated Osmar Lima.

Also participating in the ceremony were Web Summit's deputy country manager, Guilherme Carames, and Maravalley CEO, Daniel Barros. The Maravalley Ambassadors Program was also launched on the occasion, comprising influential professionals from different economic segments who will be tasked with promoting the hub and the institution's projects, connecting companies, brands and professionals.

– Maravalley currently has four sponsors, Eletrobrás, PD7 TECH, Radix and LaenderLaw, 50 residents and 500 people in the community. This is just the beginning to contribute to the formation of an innovative and technological city. With these first ten accelerated startups, we have taken the first step towards our goal of creating 1000 startups in Rio de Janeiro -, shares Daniel Barros, CEO of Maravalley.

Rio: capital of innovation

According to the president of Invest.Rio, Sidney Levy, Rio is positioning itself as the capital of innovation and technology in Latin America, and holding the Web Summit here is proof of that. The conference is the result of the successful collaboration between Invest.Rio, the investment attraction and promotion agency of the City of Rio, and the Municipal Secretariat for Economic Development of Rio de Janeiro (SMDE) and plans to hold six editions in the city. In 2023, the event will be held for the first time outside Europe.

– Our goal goes beyond hosting major events – we want to transform these opportunities into investments, strategic connections and sustainable growth for the city. The Esquenta Web Summit is another step on this path, preparing professionals and entrepreneurs to make the most of everything that Web Summit Rio 2025 has to offer -, explains Sidney.