Rio Grande do Sul

SebraeX

Wise

Rio Grande do Sul, one of the three federal states comprising the South of Brazil region, is a Brazilian leader in innovation. Between 2021 and 2022, the state invested R$18 million into the innovation ecosystem, including foundational elements for the science and technology sectors, such as universities and funding opportunities for investment and research.

With over sixteen technology parks, forty-three incubators, eight Senai Institutes of Innovation and Technology, and eight Embrapii units, Rio Grande do Sul is home to more than a thousand startups and dozens of R&D centers. It also brings national visibility to the innovation ecosystem by hosting the South Summit Brazil in the capital, Porto Alegre, attracting thousands of international entrepreneurs.

With a culture of entrepreneurship and its ongoing investments in education and innovation, Rio Grande do Sul is building a world-class innovation ecosystem and a promising international startup hub.

Rio Grande do Sul Startup Ecosystem Overview

Rio Grande do Sul's contribution to Brazil's economy

Getting Your Paperwork Right

Starting a Company

Cost of Living

Moving to RGDS

Renting an Apartment

Meeting People / Networking / Hubs

Culture and Language

Living in RGDS

GOVERNOR’S LETTER

A thriving innovative culture

OPENING LETTER

Guide’s Powering Institution

An Open Window to the World!

COMMUNITY LETTER

Welcome to the startup ecosystem in Rio Grande do Sul!

Agidesk

Anota AI

Augen

DigiFarmz

Elysios

hygia saúde

MyWaste

Pix Force

Raks

StarGrid

Syntalgae

Tecredi

TerraMares

Trashin

Yours Bank

A few interesting, newly developed businesses usually under five years old.

Startups

AceleraX

BanriTech

BRDE Labs

Ebulição Caldeira

Escola Startup

Founder Institute 

Startup Lab 

Speed Hélice

Startup Gravataí

StartupRS Sebrae RS

Tecnopuc Startup Garage

Vibee Unimed

WOW Aceleradora

The ambitious accelerator and incubator programs in the city that help startups become established.

Programs

Popular coworking hubs, both new and well established, where entrepreneurs can work and grow successfully.

Spaces

Discover more startup ecosystems

How Higher Education Can Empower Startups

What Can Startups Learn from Corporations Regarding Disruption?

Top Advice for Entrepreneurs Trying to Break into the Retail Sector

Why Supporting Meaningful MSMEs and Startups Creates Positive Impact for Communities

Instituto Caldeira: How Does an Innovation Hub Support Startups?

Instituto Hélice: How Open Innovation Can Boost a Startup’s Growth

How Profit and Sustainability Can Work Together

BADESUL’s policies to support innovation in Rio Grande do Sul

Insight from the “experts” — established organizations that can Aid and provide advice to young entrepreneurs.

Experts

Alexandre Trevisan

Cesar Paz

Fausto Vanin

Gabriel Engel

Gustavo Lembert

José Renato Hopf

Juliano Murlick

Katiuscia Schröer

Kelly Gusmão and Tito Gusmão

Mariana Gutheil

In-depth Q&A’s with seasoned entrepreneurs, who have founded or cofounded companies and share their experience, insights and advice.

Founders

Atitus Educação

ESPM

Universidade Feevale 

Faculdade da Serra Gaúcha (FSG)

Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG)

Fundação Liberato

Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS)

Universidade Católica de Pelotas (UCPel)

Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS)

Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel)

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)

Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM)

Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (UNIJUÍ)

UniLasalle

Unipampa

Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC)

UNISINOS

Universidade do Vale do Taquari (Univates)

University of Passo Fundo (UPF)

A collection of well-known schools, colleges and educational programs specifically tailored towards entrepreneurship studies.

Schools

Rio Grande do Sul is home to one of the best universities in Brazil, UFRGS.

Did you know?

+A Educação

Badesul

Comunitá Sicredi

Grow+

Meta Ventures

Panvel Ventures

Randon Ventures

RBS Ventures

SLC Ventures

Ventiur

A description of the investor and finer points such as, how much they typically invest and who they invest in.

Investors

City Essentials

Data overview

Funding

Directory

Startup Guide Rio Grande do Sul explores the region's key players and provides essential tools for starting up. This includes profiles of innovative startups, insights from experienced entrepreneurs, and valuable information about the area’s investors, programs, schools, coworking spaces and regional initiatives. 
 
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Featured in the book:
 
 
Startups
 
Agidesk Anota ai Augen Digifarmz Elysios Hygia MyWaste Pix force Raks StarGrid Syntalgae Tecredi TerraMares Trashin Yours Bank
 
<meta charset="utf-8">Founders
 
Alexandre Trevisan Cezar Paz Fábio Palma Fausto Vanin Gabriel Engel Gustavo Lembert José Renato Hopf Katiuscia Schröer Kelly Gusmão and Tito Gusmão Mariana Gutheil
 
<meta charset="utf-8">Spaces
 
CIDICA Co.nectar Hub Conexo Criatec Feevale Techpark Flowork Instituto Aliança Instituto Caldeira Lab Fecomércio Nau Live Spaces <meta charset="utf-8">Oceantec Pampatec Pelotas Parque Tecnológico PradoTech - Casa das startups Tecnopuc Tecnosinos TecnoUCS UPF Parque Verso Habitat Criativo Wework 
  
 
 
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. 
Programs
 
Acelera X Sebrae RS Banritech BRDE Labs <meta charset="utf-8">Ebulição Caldeira Escola Startup - Rede Calabria <meta charset="utf-8">Founder Institute Speed Hélice Startup Gravataí StartupRS Sebrae RS Tecnopuc Startup Garage Vibee - Unimed VTRP  
 
Schools
 
Atitus ESPM Feevale FSG Fundação Escola Técnica Liberato Salzano Vieira da Cunha FURG PUCRS UCPel UCS Ufpel UFRGS UFSM Unijui UniLasalle Unipampa UNISC Unisinos Univates UPF
 
Investors
 
Badesul Comunitá Sicredi Grow+ Grupo A+ Meta Ventures Panvel Ventures Randon Ventures Rbs Venture SICT / Fapergs SLC Ventures Ventiur Wow Aceleradora
 
Experts
 
Atitus Badesul Fecomércio-RS Sebrae
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Available after the Launch, expected by mid-2023.

Startup Guide Rio Grande do Sul

With a rapidly growing number of startups and increasing investment, Rio Grande do Sul is proving itself as one of the leading innovation hubs in Brazil.

Startup Guide

Rio Grande do Sul

SebraeX

Wise

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