(ZD Net) The launch of the new base coincides with a conference to promote the Brazil tech sector and entrepreneurs touring Silicon Valley to network and attract investments.
The trade and investment body of the Brazilian government is launching an office in San Francisco this coming Friday (23) to incentive business between national technology start-ups and American companies based in the area.
The Silicon Valley business center will be managed by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Agency (Apex Brasil) and is linked to the objectives of the Startup Brasil programme of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The project has the objective of fostering the development of the Brazilian technology start-up community.
According to Apex Brasil, the San Francisco office will act as a point of support for Brazilian companies that prioritize the US West Coast as target market. Brazilian entrepreneurs will get access to services to support internationalization, market intelligence, trade promotion and market access. It is understood that some companies will also be able to operate from the office.
Mauricio Borges, the government’s presence in Silicon Valley will be helpful to Brazilian start-ups as the experiences in the US could be implemented in their own business plans: “Brazil will go [to Silicon Valley] to learn, get to know [people] and also to show its potential in technology and innovation,” he adds.
On the same day of the launch of the Brazilian government’s Silicon Valley base, a conference will be held in San Francisco to discuss Brazil’s investment potential as a center of excellence in technology and innovation. Speakers at the event will include Brazilian entrepreneurs and private equity and investment associations, as well as Brazil and US government representatives and companies such as Google, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Tech Mission 2013
Also this week, another initiative also focused on supporting tech entrepreneurs is talking place. The Tech Mission 2013, organized by entrepreneurship network Brazil Innovators and supported by Apex Brasil, has taken a group of 11 technology-based companies to the Silicon Valley.
During the six days of the programme, these Brazilian founders of start-ups from various stages will be meeting and greeting Silicon Valley moguls and looking to attract investment. The idea is to also disseminate an entrepreneurial culture in Brazil, since all participants will continue to take part in the events and networking provided by Brazil Innovators back home.
Entrepreneurs supported by the Tech Mission this year include Meu Carrinho, a mobile price comparison website, online payments firm Moip and Colab, a social network that enables interaction between citizens and government representatives, through the submission of proposals and evaluation of public services.