For the fourth consecutive year, the RS Innovation Stage will serve as a hub for innovation ecosystems from the state and across the country, featuring panels, lectures, and interactive activities with diverse content. This platform aims to foster discussion and showcase solutions in innovation, science, and technology developed locally. It will also promote collaboration among participants from the quadruple helix (government, academia, private sector, and organized civil society), both nationally and internationally.

According to Simone Stülp, the Secretary of Innovation, Science, and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul, the RS Innovation Stage is a showcase for solutions developed in the state, which have significant potential to contribute to mitigating the effects of the climate crisis and advancing economic, social, and environmental recovery. “The success of this space has grown with each edition, with packed sessions throughout the three days of the event. We are now focused on delivering the best possible program for 2025,” she said.

To participate, startups, companies, universities, and other institutions must submit a proposal for review by the Advisory Board (Decree No. 57,865 of November 8, 2024, and Sict Ordinance No. 064/2024) by 11:59 p.m. on February 24. Selected applicants will be notified by email starting March 12.

In the 2024 edition, over 200 proposals were submitted, representing all regional innovation ecosystems of Rio Grande do Sul and covering a wide range of topics.

Access the application form here.

The main goal of the event is to connect startups from Rio Grande do Sul with the public sector by showcasing projects and initiatives from the State Treasury aimed at contracting innovative solutions. The program includes presentations on ongoing actions and future plans, along with networking sessions with leaders from the Treasury and Sict.

Jeferson Padilha, Innovation Advisor for the Treasury, emphasizes that the event offers a unique opportunity for startups to engage directly with project managers. “We will detail the legal mechanisms available for contracting innovative solutions by the public sector and showcase what the State Government has been doing to implement these mechanisms”.

Registration

Registration is exclusive to startups and can be completed via this link.

PIT Conecta Startups represents a significant step forward in integrating the government with the innovation ecosystem, reinforcing the State’s commitment to driving digital and technological transformation within the public sector.

The final event, the Super Pitch Day, will award R$ 220,000 to the first-place winner, R$ 150,000 to the second, and R$ 130,000 to the third, providing funding to foster new businesses.

Held across 15 Innovation Centers that form the Santa Catarina Network of Innovation Centers, the Nascer Program set a record for registrations this year, with 1,211 projects submitted, 483 of which were approved. During the local stage, hosted at the Luiz Henrique da Silveira Innovation Center in Lages, 21 projects were evaluated by a panel of specialists, including Gabriel Borba, Claiton Camargo, Mayra Juline, and Vitor Bona, who assessed criteria such as idea maturity and feasibility.

According to the program coordinator in Lages, Salomão Eineck, the agile format adapted to participants’ schedules was key to the success of this edition.
“The methodology, evening meetings, and support for academia allowed shelved projects to be developed and make it to the finals. At least five initiatives that were dormant are now coming to life through the Nascer Program,” he said.

The Y Corps project, led by researchers Sandra Davi Traverso, Cláudia Pies Biffi, and Camila Martins Conti, originated from the difficulty of accessing imported antibodies, which often arrive late or deteriorate during transport, negatively affecting scientific research in Brazil.

The proposal aims to manufacture antibodies within the country, utilizing local pathogens and reducing dependence on imported supplies. “Brazil needs to become independent in producing scientific supplies. Our project addresses this necessity,” the team explained.

Sandra emphasized the transformative impact of the Nascer Program on the participants.
“We are researchers and professors with no commercial experience. The knowledge gained through Nascer was crucial for structuring our business and understanding how to bring it to market,” she said.

Next Steps
The Y Corps project will now compete for the state title and the top prize at the Super Pitch Day, scheduled for next year in Florianópolis. The finals will gather regional winners to present their ideas to a panel of investors and innovation specialists.

Focused on fostering innovative businesses, the Nascer Program continues to transform ideas into tangible solutions, contributing to the advancement of Santa Catarina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The event was attended by Marcelo Fett, Secretary of State for Science, Technology, and Innovation of Santa Catarina, Tubarão Mayor Jairo dos Passos Cascaes, and State Representative and Mayor-Elect Estener Soratto Júnior.

During the ceremony, Governor Jorginho Mello highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of the people of Santa Catarina and the strategic importance of the technology sector. “The people of Santa Catarina are entrepreneurial across all areas. Technological innovation has the power to simplify and improve the daily lives of our population, while also bringing efficiency to public services. This is why we are heavily investing in this sector, to foster creative ideas and strengthen the state’s economy”.

Managed by the Rota Sul Institute of Science and Technology, the Sigma Tech Park was developed through a partnership between the State Government, which invested R$ 10.8 million, and the Tubarão City Hall, which donated the land and contributed an additional R$ 172,000.

Marcelo Fett, Secretary of Science, Technology, and Innovation, emphasized the strategic role of innovation centers in bridging traditional economies with technological advancements. “Spaces like Sigma Tech Park are essential to turning ideas into products and services that generate value for society. This center reinforces Santa Catarina’s capacity to lead in innovation while respecting the productive vocations of each region”.

Mayor Jairo Cascaes also highlighted the impact of the new center on the city’s development. “This space will become an experimentation hub where companies and talents can develop innovative solutions. It will boost Tubarão’s competitiveness and pave the way for a diversified and sustainable economy”.

Growth in the Innovation Sector

Santa Catarina’s technology sector continues to expand its influence. Between 2022 and 2023, the sector’s contribution to the state’s GDP rose from 6.5% to 7.5%, generating 86,000 direct jobs and earning approximately R$ 36 billion annually.

With Sigma Tech Park, Tubarão gains a key asset to solidify its innovation ecosystem and strengthen its role as the second-largest commercial hub in southern Santa Catarina.

Sigma Tech Park is the 12th center in the Santa Catarina Network of Innovation Centers, which aims to reach 21 units by 2026. The space will serve as a hub for collaboration between government, universities, private sectors, and society, promoting innovation and fostering a culture of collaboration throughout the region.

In 2024, this marks the second innovation center inauguration in the state. In April, the CRIO in Criciúma also began operations, solidifying Santa Catarina’s position as a reference for innovation in Brazil.

The Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance (IBGC) defines corporate governance as a “system formed by principles, rules, structures, and processes through which organizations are directed and monitored, aiming for sustainable value generation for the organization, its shareholders, and society in general.” The institution has developed a free self-assessment tool to measure adherence to best corporate governance practices tailored to the company type, whether it’s privately held, a startup, or a scale-up.

The study Startups & Scale-ups: Governance Maturity, conducted by Better Governance, a consultancy specializing in governance, reveals that 82.4% of Brazilian startups and scale-ups are still in the early stages of corporate governance. The research also highlights the high mortality rate of startups in the country, with only 25% surviving after an average of 10 years.

In a highly competitive market with high failure rates among startups, the implementation of effective governance practices can be the deciding factor between success and failure. The governance maturity model developed by Better Governance, inspired by the progression matrix for small and medium-sized enterprises proposed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), outlines practices in six governance dimensions:

• Commitment to ESG and culture.
• Strategic decision-making and monitoring.
• Control environment.
• Disclosure and transparency.
• Ownership.
• Stakeholder engagement.

These pillars are fundamental for guiding Brazilian startups toward more structured governance. However, it’s worth noting how international ecosystems have advanced in this area. Countries such as the United States and Israel stand out for implementing collaborative practices that go beyond traditional models, offering valuable lessons for the Brazilian context. Adopting these practices in Brazil could be a promising path to strengthen local startups, particularly in an increasingly globalized and competitive environment.

Nevertheless, the lack of alignment on long-term vision, dividend distribution, and professionalization of management are among the most common sources of conflict within boards of directors. According to Susana Azevedo, an expert in professional development and organizational change, when these issues are not discussed transparently, governance can become unstable, compromising efficiency and employee engagement. “Governance plays a crucial role in this process, particularly in aligning strategies among shareholders, boards, and leadership teams,” she emphasizes.

Expert Insights from Quantum Development

Susana Azevedo is a partner at Quantum Development, a consultancy focused on medium-sized family businesses and executives from large companies, helping organizations transform their visions and plans into reality by connecting various elements of business structure. “We support leaders in making the necessary adjustments to respond to organizational realities. This includes both individual and collective development, using structured conversations as tools to align expectations and create a shared vision,” she explains.

The consultancy’s role is to connect the diverse elements of an organization’s structure, bridging business vision and strategy with organizational culture. “We work to engage executives—both top leaders and leadership teams—in dialogues that clarify these connections,” adds Susana.

These dialogues extend to the stakeholder ecosystem, adopting a systemic approach to align communication dynamics and governance practices. The goal is to build a solid foundation for developing the technical and behavioral competencies required, both individually and collectively, to sustain an organizational culture that supports leadership. “This leadership, in turn, is responsible for implementing strategy and achieving the organization’s purpose and vision,” Susana reinforces.

Transparency as a Cornerstone

Addressing and discussing difficult issues is essential in a collaborative governance model. For Tiziano Pravato Filho, CEO of Grupo Leveros, acting transparently is fundamental. “There’s a lot of talk about investment, but the real challenge in shareholder relations is bringing reality to light and having the tough conversations. In Brazil, especially, there’s a tendency to avoid conflicts.”

Grupo Leveros was founded by Tiziano Pravato in 1978 as an authorized service provider for Brastemp. Today, the company operates nationally in the air conditioning sector, focusing on distribution through physical stores and marketplaces. Its differentiator lies in developing technological solutions for sales, service operations, and management, aiming to professionalize and train service providers. “Our group’s key strength is our origin: my father founded the company, and we started as service providers. We bring to the market a purpose of elevating professionalism in the sector, training partners to sell, install, and grow efficiently,” explains Pravato Filho.

In 2016, Grupo Leveros received investment from 2B Capital, a private equity fund controlled by Bradesco, which brought not only financial resources but also a new governance and strategic dynamic to the company. “This experience was the starting point for my journey in boards and relationships with financial investors,” notes Pravato Filho.

Seizing a market opportunity in 2023, Grupo Leveros invested R$ 10 million in Uappi, a company specializing in e-commerce solutions with nationwide operations. Pravato Filho explains that the investment aimed to combine expertise in both businesses, enhancing operations and strategies. “We currently own 25% of Uappi, and I serve as a board member, primarily contributing to its growth and strategy, even though I’m less involved in daily operations.”

Having worked as both an investor and a representative of invested companies, Pravato Filho highlights the significant challenge of transitioning from a traditional shareholder agreement model to a more dynamic governance approach driven by strategy and innovation. He notes that conventional shareholder agreements typically focus on legal and formal aspects such as risk management, basic governance, and even bankruptcy scenarios. However, they often lack clarity regarding the board’s dynamics—how it operates in practice, interactions among members, and strategic decisions. “This gap can be felt from the earliest stages of a business journey and must be addressed to ensure the board functions effectively and aligns with the organization’s objectives,” emphasizes the CEO of Grupo Leveros.

Key Takeaways

Collaborative governance is not just a trend but a necessity in the competitive startup landscape. Companies that adopt transparent, strategic, and inclusive practices have greater potential to create sustainable value and overcome market challenges. In the upcoming articles of the series Collaborative Governance in Startups, we’ll delve deeper into control environments, decision-making processes, and strategic monitoring to help build governance in practice.