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Rio is considered the most promising emerging ecosystem for startups in Latin America
Published on 22/06/2023 - 11:14 | Updated on 22/06/2023 - 11:29
Porto Maravalley will be built in the port region - Marcelo Piu/City of Rio Rio de Janeiro is considered the most promising emerging ecosystem for startups in Latin America. The data comes from the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023 (GSER2023) ranking, released last Thursday (June 15), and considered one of the most comprehensive on the startup ecosystem in the world. Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, Monterrey (Mexico) and Porto Alegre complete the list of the top five.
According to Mayor Eduardo Paes, this result shows that the actions to transform Rio into the capital of innovation in Latin America are on the right track.
– Rio de Janeiro has developed several initiatives to establish itself as a reference in innovation and technology. The arrival of the Web Summit in Rio, the construction of Porto Maravalley, and workforce training programs, such as Programadores Cariocas, are just a few examples of what we have done. We are happy to see that this is already yielding positive results – said the mayor.
The City Hall's initiatives include, according to the Municipal Secretary of Economic Development, Innovation and Simplification, Chicão Bulhões, the construction of innovation and technology hubs in the city, investment in training and qualification of workforce, as well as the simplification of laws and processes to make life easier for entrepreneurs.
– We have been making a daily effort to improve the business environment, simplifying laws and ensuring greater legal certainty for those who want to invest and undertake business in the city. These actions, combined with projects such as Porto Maravalley and the Energy and Finance Center of Tomorrow, which will give density to this ecosystem, certainly contribute to Rio's improvement in the ranking – analyzed Chicão Bulhões.
Emerging ecosystem
Being classified as an “emerging ecosystem” in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report means being among the communities that have great potential to achieve exceptional global results in the coming years.
For the president of Invest.Rio, Alexandre Vermeulen, Rio de Janeiro is an economic powerhouse in several sectors and through innovation the city can enhance all its vocations.
– Rio is already a reference in sectors such as oil and gas, tourism and the creative economy. Now, we also want to be the capital of innovation in Latin America. Through the various projects of the City Hall, incentive programs and investments in technological infrastructure, we are creating an environment conducive to this development and consequently to attracting investments to the city. And this is just the beginning, we still have many good things ahead – said Vermeulen.
According to The Global Startup Ecosystem Report, the first edition of Web Summit Rio, hosted by Invest.Rio and held in May 2023, indicates the ecosystem’s growing reputation as a startup hub. Rio Innovation Week, Rio2C and the Global Sustainable Technology and Innovation Conference are other annual events in Rio de Janeiro that indicate the city’s great potential.
Furthermore, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), ranked 8th in the QS Latin America University Rankings 2023, has also played a key role in this scenario. The university is recognized for its excellent teaching and research and has been providing a steady pipeline of talent. Significant funding news including the acquisition of healthcare platform Conexa Saúde in June 2022 and the $10 million seed round of digital bank NG CASH in 2022 represent an exciting prospect for the city.
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