With an atmosphere of resilience, collaboration, and high-value connections, the fourth edition of South Summit Brazil concluded on Friday, April 11, at Cais Mauá in Porto Alegre. The event welcomed 23,000 participants from 62 countries, reinforcing its role as one of Latin America’s most important gatherings for innovation. The next edition has already been confirmed for March 25, 26, and 27, 2026, coinciding with Porto Alegre’s 254th anniversary.
Held in Brazil for the first time in 2022, South Summit has become a strategic hub for business, technology, and social impact. The 2025 edition featured 900 investors, 140 investment funds (managing a total of US$ 215 billion), more than 3,000 startups, and 800 speakers. Key topics included the future of work, climate action, artificial intelligence, diversity, and smart cities.
During the closing ceremony, South Summit Brazil President José Renato Hopf moved the audience by recalling that the venue had been “2.5 meters underwater” during the 2023 flood. “It wasn’t just about rebuilding a structure; we had to rebuild an entire society. This was the South Summit of resilience, of strength through social impact, purpose, and community”.
South Summit founder María Benjumea added. “We lived three magical days. We welcomed the best people, the best ideas. It was amazing to see that we can overcome any adversity”.
Startup Competition highlights global innovation
One of the most anticipated moments of the event, the Startup Competition drew more than 2,000 entries from 79 countries. After a rigorous selection process, the final round took place on the “The Next Big Thing” stage. Five standout startups were crowned winners for offering scalable, disruptive, sustainable, and globally impactful solutions.
2025 Startup Competition Winners:
Global Winner – Atacama Biomaterials (Chile)
Develops carbon-zero biomaterials to replace single-use plastics, using robotics, AI, and circular economy principles.
Most Scalable – Jusfy (Santa Maria, Brazil)
Legaltech SaaS platform centralizing tools for lawyers, boosting efficiency with automation and data-driven decision-making.
Most Disruptive – Nanogrow Biotechs (Uruguay)
Biotech startup creating localized therapies with nanoantibodies derived from llamas, offering safer and more accessible treatments.
Most Sustainable – umgrauemeio (Jundiaí, Brazil)
Certified B Corporation that built Pantera, a platform for managing wildfires using AI, sensors, and satellite imagery.
Best Team – ALTAVE (São José dos Campos, Brazil)
Provides smart video surveillance solutions powered by AI, computer vision, and machine learning for various sectors, including defense and infrastructure.
Innovation beyond the capital: regional highlights
Beyond major funds and international startups, South Summit Brazil also highlighted the growing role of regional innovation ecosystems. Cities such as Gravataí, Caxias do Sul, Santa Maria, and São Leopoldo participated with their own programs, showcasing how innovation is expanding across Rio Grande do Sul.
Gravataí brought entrepreneurs and government representatives to the state government’s Marketplace area and plans to present an institutional space in 2026. Caxias do Sul gathered local universities, innovation hubs, and companies from the Serra Gaúcha region, strengthening the collaborative environment in southern Brazil.
Porto Alegre as a symbol of resilience
Governor Eduardo Leite and Mayor Sebastião Melo attended the closing ceremony, along with national and international leaders. The event also marked the transformation of Cais Mauá — heavily damaged in the 2023 floods — into a thriving innovation and creativity hub.
About South Summit
Founded in Madrid in 2012, South Summit has generated over US$ 14 billion in investments raised by participating startups. In Brazil, the event is co-organized by the Government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul and supported by global partners including Banco do Brasil, Caixa, Sebrae, the Federal Government, and the Municipality of Porto Alegre. IE University leads the international platform.