Inova Amazônia Promotes Forest Economy Standing in 8 Brazilian States
Inova Amazônia, the SiBay initiative, is entering the final stages of an innovative bioeconomy-related business acceleration in eight Brazilian states that make up the Amazon biome. Since last year, the program has supported the structuring of small businesses in Pará, Amazonas, Roraima, Amapá, Maranhao, Tocantin, Acres, Rondônia.
The initiative has attracted entrepreneurs, potential entrepreneurs and researchers from all over Brazil to develop businesses that actively use sustainable biodiversity inputs in the Amazon to generate high market value products or services.
After the first phase of the online pre-acceleration, 230 projects moved on to the second phase of the program in a face-to-face acceleration. Among the main selected bioeconomy sectors, agriculture and livestock (18%), food and beverages (14%) and information and communication technologies (12%) are highlighted .
It also tracks the acceleration of MSEs in the regions in the hygiene, perfumery and cosmetics sectors (7%); medicine and herbal medicine (7%); chemicals and new materials (7%); House and construction (6%) and eco-design (5%).
In addition to technical support for Sebrae, through expert mentoring, market and investor communication events, participants also received financial support through an entrepreneurship partner, with $6,500 per month to be devoted entirely to the six-month program. On September 30, the 27 Pará project completed the face acceleration phase.
Entrepreneurs participated in Demody, with presentations to a board of Sebrae partner investors, including João Kepler, considered the biggest angel investor in Brazil. Projects from the other seven states continue to participate in the latest mentorship, with a final presentation to a bank of residents through Nov. 25.
After the acceleration stage, small businesses move on to the final stage with internationalization and the possibility of participating in international missions. The first has already been marked by the participation of 16 companies that will leave Portugal, where they will make technical visits to learn a little more about the local Lusitanian innovation ecosystem and maintain meetings with potential business partners.
Between November 1 and 4, entrepreneurs also participate in Progmal Portugal. In December, another group of 20 companies participating in Inova Amazônia will take part in a mission to Germany (December 5-13).
National innovation analyst Valeria Schneider notes that the big difference with Inova Amazônia was to operate, and practically in Amazon’s legal jurisdictions, where there was little integration of initiatives. According to her, it was also important to allow the participation of actors from all over Brazil, provided that the company opens in one state, in order to promote local development.
“We have done very coherent and connected work with the whole region, and today Inova Amazônia is the largest program of entrepreneurship and innovation in the bioeconomy in the region.
It is possible to understand the change in mentality of the entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs who, by using biodiversity resources in a sustainable and innovative way to generate business, they become defenders of the forest.They want to stand on the forest because it is their support.
Understand the Program
Initially, 400 projects were selected, 50 per State, in a two-month pre-recruitment phase. In this first phase, on an opt-out basis, participants had online training and the opportunity to demonstrate the feasibility of a business or business idea from the point of view of the degree of innovation in the bioeconomy and sustainability generating positive effects. and the appropriate socio-environmental impacts for the community, as well as the technical and managerial capacity of the participants in the proposals.
At the end of this phase, 30 projects from each state have been selected for the six-month face-to-face structure acceleration phase and start small and small businesses, such as startups, in the legal district of Amazon. “During this period, the entrepreneurs also received financial resources through an entrepreneurial partner of up to two partners per company, in the amount of RM6,500 per month, to devote themselves fully to the development of the project.”
