Innovative Women Program ("Mulheres Inovadoras")

The program selects 30 startups for acceleration which includes specialized mentoring, support and monitoring by market professionals. In addition, up to 15 of these startups are selected to receive a prize Award of R$ 120,000 each (approximately US$ 23,500).   

For the selection of these startups, a panel formed by representatives of FINEP, MCTI and invited specialized experts in different sectors, take into account the business model, the positioning of the products and the way the company will meet a specific market demand, existing or potential, as well as its production, pricing and marketing strategies. 

The latest edition of the program partnered with 33 mentors to deliver an 8 weeks acceleration program which included individualised mentorship, several lectures as well as networking opportunities for the selected startups.  

Technological-based companies with high growth potential who are innovative and work in conditions of uncertainty, with a repeatable and scalable business model, capable of solving a real problem, may apply to the program. It is necessary to meet all of the following conditions: 

• The startup has at least one woman among the entrepreneurial team, in an executive or managerial role. In addition, one of these condition must be met: a) a female entrepreneur's individual shareholding must either be greater than or equal to the individual shares of the other entrepreneurs, or b) the sum of the equity shared by the female entrepreneurs in the team must be greater than or equal to the sum of that of other equity shareholders.  

• The startup had been registered with the competent Commercial Registry for at least three months prior to the call for proposals 

• The startup must report in the previous 12-month period a Gross Operating Revenue (ROB) of less than or equal to R$ 4,800,000 (approx USD $950,000).  

• The startup must develop an innovative technology, an innovative business model, or products, services or processes are markedly innovative and produced from new technologies or from the integration of existing technologies with added new development (i.e. not limited to reselling, deploying and/or installing third party products and services). 

For the 2021 edition, the program incorporated some changes. In particular, applicants will compete regionally, and six from each of the five regions of Brazil will be selected to be accelerated. Of these, two startups from each region will receive the prize money. 

In addition, each of the regions will call for applications in two priority themes, involving a set of innovations in the sectors of productive competitiveness and quality of life. At the time of applying, the startup must choose one of the themes of the region where it is located.