Distrito will become the platform for Techstars Startup Weekend in Brazil, the most important entrepreneurship event series in the country

Techstars, the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed, has just announced a partnership with Distrito, a data-driven open innovation company, considered today the largest independent startup ecosystem in Brazil.

With this partnership, Distrito will become the official platform for Techstars Community programs in Brazil, including Startup Weekend. Distrito and Techstars will work closely to support the community leaders behind these programs. The company will also use Distrito’s data platform, the largest and most relevant venture capital database in Brazil, to inform its investment analysis of regional startups and enhance its in-market investment strategy.

"Techstars believes entrepreneurs will create a better future," says Jose Iglesias, Senior Director of Community at Techstars. "We built our worldwide network because when entrepreneurs succeed, so do communities, companies and investors. Now we are on a mission to enable every person on the planet to contribute to, and benefit from, the success of entrepreneurs. To achieve this mission, we need great partners who share our beliefs and passion for entrepreneurs. We found that in Distrito and look forward to working together to support the Brazilian startup ecosystem."

Among the innovation programs that will be coordinated by Distrito and Techstars in Brazil is Techstars Startup Weekend. Techstars Startup Weekend events are marathon sessions of entrepreneurship and innovation. Participants learn how to think, work and build like a startup in 54 thrilling hours. Techstars Startup Weekend is an exciting and immersive entry into the world of startups. Over an action-packed three days, participants meet the very best mentors, investors, co-founders, and sponsors and learn how to get more done faster -- and, maybe even create a breakthrough business idea. The program allows participants to connect with designers, developers and industry professionals, who assist them in creating a way forward for nascent business ideas. 

Since its creation, more than 7,300 Techstars Startup Weekend events have taken place worldwide in 133 countries. In Brazil, in 2019 alone, there were 188 events in 119 cities across the country run by local Techstars community leaders. Easy Taxi, the recently acquired Agenda EDU and Agrosmart are some of the successful Brazilian cases that were born in the program.

Distrito will also support the program by offering to the top three startups of each Techstars Startup Weekend event a free pass to its Distrito for Startups program, which helps support and boost growth in early-stage companies with mentoring, education, data, and networking.

"Techstars is a pioneer in creating opportunities for early-stage startups and is today one of the most important global networks of mentorship, investment and support for entrepreneurs. This partnership reflects the maturing of the startup ecosystem in Brazil", points out Gustavo Araujo, CEO and cofounder of Distrito. “Not only entrepreneurs will benefit from the alliance. Techstars’ expertise and resources will also help accelerate the digital transformation of community ecosystems and large global companies with operations in Brazil,” he points out.

In addition to mentorship-driven accelerator programs, Techstars Pathfinder Membership, the newly launched corporate innovation program, will extend the many benefits of the Techstars network to companies in Distrito’s network and in the Brazil market who are looking to partner with startups on competitive and game-changing innovations. Pathfinder Membership helps larger companies partner with hand-picked, relevant startups. Corporate-startup collaboration allows innovation executives to rapidly move from idea to action, introducing them to founders, specialists and startups in the Techstars portfolio who can assist them in overcoming specific challenges.

 About Distrito

Founded in 2014, Distrito is a platform with the purpose of helping companies to transform themselves through innovation and technology. With its ecosystem of open innovation, empowered by data and AI, Distrito connects large companies, startups, investors and academics to generate new, more collaborative, efficient, transparent and sustainable business models.

Today, Distrito conducts open innovation with 65 large corporations and more than 420 startups that are connected to its platform, in addition to 11 Corporate Labs. Distrito also maps more than 13,000 startups in Brazil to generate insights and innovation intelligence, having published more than 50 sector reports.

In 2020, the District was elected as the best innovation hub in Brazil by the Startup Awards, an award from the Brazilian Association of Startups (ABStartups).

Read More