The trip to Spain is part of the Brazilian Startups Worldwide (BSW) Program, which aims to support the internationalization of startups.

Another mission of the Brazilian Startups Worldwide (BSW) Program, designed by the Espírito Santo Research and Innovation Support Foundation (Fapes) in partnership with Mobilização Capixaba pela Inovação (MCI) and FindesLab, began last Wednesday (29). Representatives of the Foundation are in Madrid, Spain, and attended the opening of Brazilian Impact Techs in Spain (BitS), a 10-day mission that allows Espírito Santo–based startups to take part in a strategically structured agenda focused on connecting Brazilian technology-based companies with the Spanish ecosystem.

Fapes’ Director of Innovation, Elton Moura, who is in Spain accompanying the delegation, highlighted how valuable it has been to closely follow the startups’ opportunity to build new connections, as well as to reflect on future internationalization initiatives.

“Many of the startups here were born through internationalization, through business conducted abroad, and they are taking advantage of this opportunity to consolidate their operations. We are also interested in attracting these startups to Espírito Santo, encouraging them to invest in the state, open branches, and do business from our territory. That is our goal,” he stated.

Pitches and Connections

The first day of the mission began with pitches by impact tech startups, with CEOs presenting their solutions and value propositions to the stakeholders in attendance. The agenda continued with strategic institutional sessions, such as the presentation by the Brazil–Spain Chamber of Commerce, which outlined perspectives on economic integration and cooperation opportunities. Shortly thereafter, the Brazilian Embassy in Madrid detailed the role of the Innovation Diplomacy Program (PDI), reaffirming the institutional support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) and strengthening Brazil’s image as a country of technology and innovation.

During the Bcome.global Moment, members of the organization had the opportunity to introduce themselves, share their motivations, and highlight what they hope to build during BitS 2025. To close the day, the Charla de Impacto featured a discussion on the real challenges of the entrepreneurial journey and internationalization, fostering genuine and spontaneous interaction among entrepreneurs, the organizing team, and partners involved.

Visit to Tech Show Madrid

On the second day of the BitS 2025 Mission, a highlight was the visit to Tech Show Madrid, allowing participating impact tech startups to connect with the “heart” of European innovation. The event, Spain’s leading technology fair, brings together more than 400 exhibitors and focuses on key areas of digital transformation such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, serving as a gateway to the innovation ecosystem of the Community of Madrid.

Why Spain?

Spain stands out as one of Europe’s leading climate innovation hubs, with more than 11,000 startups and significant investments in impact-driven technologies. Particular emphasis is placed on Catalonia and its capital, Barcelona — the sixth-largest startup hub in Europe and host to global events such as the Smart City Expo World Congress.

The choice of Barcelona as the anchor destination of the mission, focused on Smart Cities, reflects the urgency of rethinking urban centers in the face of climate change. Cities concentrate some of the greatest socio-environmental and financial challenges of the 21st century, requiring innovative and sustainable solutions. In this context, impact techs take center stage.

The mission aims to support the internationalization of these solutions by connecting the Brazilian ecosystem with a vibrant global innovation landscape.

How Does the BSW Program Work?

The Brazilian Startups Worldwide (BSW) Program supports startups in achieving international success across four verticals:

• Industry, through indtechs;

• Commerce and Retail, through retail techs;

• Agribusiness, through agrifood techs;

• Impact Businesses, through impact techs.

Each mission takes place in a different country with an active innovation and technology ecosystem aligned with the chosen vertical.

“Our idea is that Italy, for example, will be the country where we take agrifood techs. We are studying future destinations according to the vertical of each mission, always following the same model: participation in a major industry event, training sessions, networking, mentoring, connections with the local market, and cultural immersion,” explained Elton Moura.

The Director of Innovation also emphasized that all missions are supported by the Brazilian Embassy:

“In all missions, we will have representatives from the Embassy with us. It is important to highlight that BSW is directly connected to the Innovation Diplomacy Program (PDI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which aims to promote Brazil’s image as an innovative nation,” he concluded.

Press Information:
Fapes Communication Office
Samantha Nepomuceno | Igor Gonçalves
+55 (27) 3636-1867 | 3636-1858
comunicacao@fapes.es.gov.br