Sectet selects projects for economic subsidy through the Tech Entrepreneur Notice
The event brought together entrepreneurs and startup members, who can receive up to R$ 80,000 to boost their businesses
The State Secretariat for Science, Technology and Higher, Professional and Technological Education (Sectet) held the DemoDay at the Science and Technology Park (PCT Guamá) in Belém. The event, which brought together entrepreneurs and startup members, marked the end of the acceleration phase of the Tech Entrepreneur Notice. The initiative aims to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in Pará by selecting projects that will receive an economic subsidy of up to R$ 80,000 to boost their businesses.
The DemoDay culminates a process that involved training, mentoring, and networking, preparing entrepreneurs for quick presentations (pitches) to a panel composed of specialists and investors. In the end, the five best businesses will be chosen, which after evaluation will receive financial support from Sectet to develop their innovative solutions.
For the Deputy Secretary of Sectet, Keynes Silva, the Program reaffirms the State's commitment to encouraging local entrepreneurship. "Investing in startups is investing in the future of Pará. The 'Tech Entrepreneur' demonstrates that, with training and support, our entrepreneurs are capable of creating innovative, sustainable solutions that generate jobs. The DemoDay represents not only the end of a stage but the beginning of a new phase for the selected projects," emphasized Keynes Silva.
Trajectories - Among the participants, stories of overcoming, innovation, and regional impact stand out. Entrepreneur Ewelyn Silva, founder of Click Vet, shares her growth experience throughout the Program. "I am the founder of Click Vet, a pet industry startup, born in Belém. After a long journey with training and mentoring, we managed to apply everything we learned directly in the company. We summarized months of learning into five minutes of pitch at the DemoDay. If we are selected, I already have everything planned: we will launch version 01 of our app and invest in marketing to strengthen the brand. All this to offer more convenience to pet owners," she explained.
Beatriz Ornela, an entrepreneur leading two businesses, highlighted the transformative impact of the Program: "Being in 'Startup Pará' is a unique opportunity. We started with a small project and, during the Program, we had access to a network of contacts and knowledge that might have taken us years to acquire. Today, we have Combinô, a circular fashion startup, and Texbr, a reverse logistics company for textile waste. If we are awarded the R$ 80,000, we will invest in digital infrastructure for the Combinô app and in machinery for Texbr, consolidating our businesses in the region," she informed.
For Renato Cortez, coordinator of "Startup Pará", it is an important moment for the entrepreneurs who made it to the end of the Notice. "The 'Tech Entrepreneur' was a turning point for our project. The mentoring opened our minds to strategies we never imagined. Reaching the DemoDay is a victory and a great opportunity to showcase what we have built with so much effort," he assured.
The 34 coordinators deemed eligible during the DemoDay have until May 22 to re-register on the Startup Pará Program platform to compete for the economic subsidy offered in the next stage.
The Startup Pará is a government initiative that assists in the development of innovative ideas and companies, developed by Sectet. The Program is a state strategy for technology-based entrepreneurship.
Text: Carla Couto – Ascom/Sectet
