Startup OutReach Brasil

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Government-funded internationalization program that supports Brazilian technology startups to expand into global innovation ecosystems.
What are the main aims and objectives?

Startup OutReach Brasil aims to promote the internationalization of Brazilian startups by facilitating their insertion into dynamic and advanced innovation ecosystems that encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. The program serves Brazilian technology entrepreneurs who want to immerse themselves in the world's most promising entrepreneurship ecosystems and expand their businesses to international destinations. The initiative helps startups develop international expansion capabilities without compromising their operations in Brazil. By selecting strategic cities with Brazilian embassies or consulates, the program creates ideal destinations for startups to seek connections, business evolution, and international expansion. Beyond individual company support, the program contributes to showcasing Brazilian innovation on the global stage and positioning Brazilian startups competitively in international markets.

How does the program work?

Startup OutReach Brasil operates through a three-stage structure designed to progressively prepare and integrate Brazilian startups into international innovation ecosystems.​

The first stage is the Virtual Mission, conducted entirely online, which selects 40 startups from various sectors. During this phase, which typically runs for two to three months, participants receive comprehensive preparation for international expansion. The activities include international pitch training to help entrepreneurs present their businesses effectively to global audiences, technical and group mentorship sessions with specialists, internationalization training focused on the target market, and a business agenda organized by a local matchmaker who facilitates connections with potential partners, clients, and investors in the destination country. This virtual phase trains and guides startups in prospecting business partners and understanding the target market without requiring physical travel.​

The second stage is the Immersion Mission, where the 15 best-performing startups from the Virtual Mission are selected to participate in intensive in-person activities in the target country. This mission typically lasts between 5 to 10 days and combines both virtual and in-person programming. During the immersion, entrepreneurs visit innovation environments such as accelerators, incubators, and technology parks, participate in seminars and workshops on market entry strategies with support from local institutions, attend major innovation events in the destination country, engage in structured business meetings with investors and potential clients facilitated by professional matchmaking services, present their businesses through demo days to panels of investors and ecosystem leaders, and receive specialized consulting on legal, financial, and operational aspects of entering the target market. Throughout the immersion, startups benefit from the credibility and institutional support of the Brazilian government, which significantly facilitates access to key stakeholders.​

The third stage is Post-Mission Support, where after returning from the international experience, entrepreneurs receive continued assistance to validate their internationalization strategy, attract investment, pursue export opportunities, or establish operations in the destination country. The organizing institutions and their partners offer local services to support the startup's ongoing international expansion efforts.​

Eligibility criteria require that participating startups be established Brazilian technology companies with either revenues exceeding R$500,000 or having received investment. Entrepreneurs must be fluent in English, and the company's entire staff must be dedicated to the business with demonstrated ability to expand internationally without compromising operations in Brazil.

What is the overall cost?

No information available. 

How was it implemented?

Startup OutReach Brasil was created in 2017 as a strategic initiative to address the growing need for Brazilian startup internationalization support. The program emerged from collaboration between five major Brazilian institutions with complementary mandates: Apex-Brasil brought its expertise in export promotion and international trade facilitation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided diplomatic infrastructure and overseas connections, the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services contributed policy alignment and economic development strategy, Sebrae offered its extensive experience supporting micro and small businesses, and Anprotec added its specialized knowledge of innovation ecosystems and technology parks.​

The program built upon earlier Brazilian government efforts to support startups, notably the Start-Up Brasil program launched in 2012 by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, which focused on domestic acceleration. However, Startup OutReach Brasil distinguished itself by focusing specifically on internationalization rather than early-stage acceleration. The implementation strategy involved selecting strategic international destinations that met specific criteria: dynamic and advanced innovation ecosystems that actively encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, strategic cities with existing Brazilian embassies or consulates to provide diplomatic support, markets with strong potential for Brazilian startup expansion and connection-building, and ecosystems with demonstrated receptivity to foreign startups and available venture capital.​

Timeline:

  • 2017: Program launched with first cycles in Paris and Buenos Aires​
  • 2018-2019: Expanded to Berlin, Miami, Lisbon, Shanghai, and Boston​
  • 2020-2021: Continued with missions to Toronto, Santiago, and New York​
  • 2022: Launched cycles in Bogotá-Medellín and Chicago​
  • 2023: Conducted missions to Madrid-Barcelona and Singapore​
  • As of 2023: Completed 16 internationalization cycles across 11 countries​

Each cycle is carefully designed with local partners who provide on-the-ground expertise. For example, in the Singapore 2023 cycle, the program partnered with Orissa International for consulting and matchmaking services.

What impact has been measured?

Startup OutReach Brasil has demonstrated significant measurable impact since its inception in 2017. The program has supported more than 3000 startups across 16 internationalization cycles in 11 different countries. Most significantly, participating startups have generated over US$24-25 million in closed business deals resulting from connections and opportunities facilitated through the program.​

Participation and Activity Metrics: The program's structured approach has proven effective in facilitating meaningful business relationships. During the Chicago 2022 cycle alone, 120 virtual business meetings were organized for the 40 participating startups in the Virtual Mission, and the 15 selected companies conducted 68 in-person meetings during the immersion phase. The Toronto cycle generated more than 120 business meetings designed exclusively for participating startups, enabling connections with approximately 30 institutions in the Canadian ecosystem.​

Ecosystem Recognition: The program has also contributed to broader ecosystem recognition. Startup OutReach Brasil was elected to the Top 10 Ecosystems ranking for System S, Public, Labor and Business Entities, rising from eighth place in 2022 to fourth place in 2023. This recognition reflects both the program's direct impact on participating startups and its contribution to strengthening Brazil's overall innovation ecosystem reputation internationally.

What lessons can be learned?
  • Limited scalability: With only 40 startups selected for the Virtual Mission and 15 for the Immersion Mission per cycle, the program serves a small fraction of Brazil's startup ecosystem, which includes over 13,000 startups. Expanding access while maintaining quality remains a challenge.
  • Travel cost barriers: While the program is free, participants must cover their own travel and accommodation expenses for international missions. This requirement may exclude promising early-stage startups with limited capital, potentially favoring ventures that already have funding or revenue.
  • Absence of formal evaluations: No comprehensive formal evaluation reports or academic assessments specifically focused on Startup OutReach Brasil have been published. This limits opportunities for systematic learning, program refinement, and demonstrating value to stakeholders.
  • Post-mission support needs strengthening: While post-mission support is included in the program structure, this phase appears less defined than the Virtual and Immersion Mission components. Long-term tracking of internationalization outcomes and sustained soft-landing support could be enhanced.
  • Geographic concentration: Although the program has operated in 11 countries, destinations have focused primarily on established innovation hubs in North America, Europe, and select markets in Latin America and Asia. Emerging ecosystems in Africa, Southeast Asia beyond Singapore, or Eastern Europe remain largely unexplored.
  • Multi-institutional partnership model as strength: The collaboration between five major institutions (Apex-Brasil, MDIC, MRE, Sebrae, and Anprotec) demonstrates the value of combining diplomatic infrastructure, trade promotion expertise, small business support, and innovation ecosystem knowledge to provide startups with credibility and access they could not achieve independently.
  • Structured matchmaking proves effective: Professional matchmaking services and structured business meetings significantly enhance outcomes compared to unstructured ecosystem exposure, generating over 120 meetings in single cycles and contributing to US$24 million in business deals.

CURATED BY

Tom Hancock

Research Associate
Global Entrepreneurship Network
United Kingdom