StartupRio Launches R$6 Million Bid for Innovation and Technology in Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The StartupRio program is currently accepting proposals for the 5th edition of the Startup Rio 2020 Program – Support for the Dissemination of Digital Technology Innovation Environment in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The initiative enjoys the institutional backing of the Rio de Janeiro State Department of Tourism (SETUR-RJ). The public notice will amount to a total of R$6 million (US$1.5 million) for investments in its different stages. This time around, the number of cities reached has increased from three to ten.

The StartupRio program is linked to the State Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation (SECTI), which in this edition will select up to 240 proposals. The project aims to foster a culture of entrepreneurship to turn Rio de Janeiro into an international reference center in digital technology.

For the first time, in addition to the capital city of the state of Rio de Janeiro and the cities of Petrópolis and Barra Mansa – sites that had already been included in the previous edition of the program – the bidders will be able to choose the cities of Macaé, Paracambi, Engenheiro Paulo de Frontin, Campos dos Goytacazes, Mangaratiba, Mesquita, and Nova Iguaçu as locations for their projects.

For the State Secretary of Tourism, Otavio Leite, being attentive to innovations, searching for methodologies, tools, apps, and intelligent and modern procedures is an imperative of our time in all sectors.

“Tourism is a fertile ground for the application of new technologies. Be it in the perspective of service innovation, be it in the promotion of destinations and attractions, or even in the operational structuring of companies in the sector. At StartUpRio, many ideas will surely spring up. And effective solutions, too. It is worth taking part!”

According to the State Secretary of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Leonardo Rodrigues, enabling proponents to choose new locations is an excellent opportunity, as it will allow a greater flow in these cities’ economy and, consequently, for the State as a whole.

“The promotion of new businesses in these specific areas and the incentive to regional development with innovative solutions is the goal we are seeking for the construction of a new Rio de Janeiro in the technological and research area. It is a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs to develop their proposals and connect with different agents that work in this ecosystem,” noted the secretary.

According to the general coordinator of the StartupRio Program, Paulo Espanha, this edition is the most ambitious project ever for the state promotion and innovation program:

“The Program is based on fostering the development of ideas whose results may lead to the opening of technology-based companies, typically called startups, enhancing ventures that may be validated and market-relevant, thus encouraging the quality growth of the digital entrepreneurship ecosystem in the state of Rio de Janeiro,” noted Paulo.

How to join

The projects submitted should propose the development of an innovative business model or innovative products, services or processes in the following segments: Internet Services, Internet Applications, Sustainable Technologies, Electronic Games and Digital Technology Applications in general, based on the use of enabling technologies such as Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Extended Reality (XR).

The period for submitting proposals began on December 3rd, 2019 and runs until March 31st, 2020. The program will be implemented from mid-December 2020.

The projects’ total execution time will be eight months, divided into three stages. In the first three months, the selected participants take part in the Advanced Entrepreneurial Training Program (PAFE), consisting of training, consulting, leveling activities, management techniques, idea validation, and business plan preparation.

In the next two stages, with duration of two and three months, respectively, the selected participants will be granted a budget of up to R$60,000 each, split into two installments of R$20,000 and R$40,000, and will have access to mentoring, product development, sales, and management techniques, and minimum viable product construction.