Florianópolis has built its startup ecosystem; now Santa Catarina wants to take it global

Eight years after Florianópolis first hosted the Startup Summit, the question has shifted from whether Santa Catarina has a startup ecosystem to how it will leverage this ecosystem. At the Startup Summit 2026, which began in the city, technical director of Sebrae Santa Catarina Fábio Búrigo Zanuzzi emphasized the transition from building infrastructure to connecting startups with capital, talent, and markets beyond Brazil.

The event has grown significantly, now featuring over 10,000 participants, 283 speakers, 10 stages, and delegations from more than 30 countries. However, the community strength of the ecosystem, as highlighted by a Startup Genome study, plays a crucial role. Founders in Florianópolis receive twice as much support from other entrepreneurs compared to those in ecosystems like Stockholm, Frankfurt, or Tel Aviv. Furthermore, 96% of founders intend to stay in the city, indicating a strong retention rate.

The success of Florianópolis' startup ecosystem is attributed to nearly 40 years of collaboration among institutions such as universities, companies, support organizations, investors, and governments. This network is essential for the ecosystem's growth, as it provides support in various aspects of entrepreneurship, from training founders to connecting them with businesses and markets.

However, while Florianópolis has built an attractive environment for starting businesses, it still needs to develop better pathways for these companies to reach the global stage.