Brazilian startups look to Singapore as internationalization destination

Press release by Apex 

This is a machine translation of the original release, issued in Portuguese

October 24, 2023

Despite being a small city-state, Singapore has a global influence disproportionate to its geographic size. A commercial and financial center, the market is recognized for its favorable business environment, especially for technology companies. In search of these opportunities, 13 Brazilian startups selected by the Startup OutReach Brasil Program carry out an internationalization mission for the island.

Between October 25th and November 3rd, companies will participate in the immersion phase of the Program cycle promoted by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), in partnership with different government institutions. The agenda in Singapore includes seminars, networking sessions, presentation of pitches to investors and potential partners, and participation in the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH), the region's main technology fair.

After months of preparation and online training offered by the Program, the immersion mission is a unique opportunity for Brazilian companies to access growing markets and build strategic partnerships in Asia. The objective of the initiative is to strengthen commercial relations between Brazil and Singapore, promoting the Brazilian technology sector in the region.

One of the highlights of the agenda is "Demo Day", which will be held on October 27th, when Brazilian companies present their pitches to potential business partners. The event brings together local investors and strategic players in the ecosystem. Additionally, between October 31st and November 2nd, companies will participate in SWITCH, the largest annual event dedicated to startups in Southeast Asia. At a Brazilian stand, offered by the Brazilian Embassy in Singapore, those selected will have space to showcase their solutions, in an environment conducive to networking.

Preparing to expand

Among the 13 startups selected for the mission in Singapore, there are veteran companies in the Program, such as Fastdezine, which is entering its fifth cycle of participation in Startup OutReach, and newcomers, such as desbrava.ai, which launches its internationalization plan in this edition . Regardless of accumulated experience, a key factor in preparing for an international expansion mission is the active search for contacts in the target market.

Startup OutReach offers participating companies a free on-site matchmaking service with potential customers, but nothing replaces active prospecting by companies for partnerships. After all, internationalizing your business requires planning and dedication.

Úrsula Aleixo, CEO of Fastdezine, a startup specialized in delivering communication and marketing pieces on demand, highlights that the return on missions is much greater when there is investment in market study and engagement with local players. Her strategy this year was to contact partners in the region in advance and carefully analyze the SWITCH program to schedule conversations with some important speakers.

Even before arriving in Singapore, Úrsula notices the high receptivity of her interlocutors. “When we show our portfolio, their eyes light up in relation to the quality of our deliveries”, he celebrates.

The objective of the company, which already operates in 15 countries, is to offer services to Asian startups, relying on the uniqueness of Brazilian talent in the marketing sector. With the necessary adjustments to adapt the business to the demands and particularities of the market, Fastdezine wants to contribute to taking Brazilian creativity to the world.

Desbrava.ai, a startup that provides social media targeting for micro and small companies, seeks to begin its internationalization journey across Asia. CEO Paulo César Pereira says that the idea for the business came precisely when he had the opportunity to study in Singapore. Now, he will take advantage of the contacts already established to transform the country into a hub for the company. “Going to another country requires a lot of care, a lot of meetings, presentations and, above all, a lot of time. You need to have a defined plan”, he warns.

Based on data crossing, artificial intelligence and analytics, desbrava.ai is a tool for smaller companies to increase their digital presence. They receive guidance via WhatsApp on the best channel, format and time for posts.

Paulo César reports that he has studied market opportunities and noticed that Indonesia is fertile ground for the startup, as there are a large number of small businesses there, a high rate of digitization and use of commercial WhatsApp. The company's objective is to establish itself in Singapore to reach the Indonesian market. “Normally the entrepreneur goes on a mission to discover a path. We are going with a very defined purpose”, he highlights.

Singapore at the technological forefront

With its emphasis on research and development, quality infrastructure and strategic focus on technology, Singapore offers significant opportunities for Brazilian technology companies. The Global Innovation Index 2023 ranked the country as the most innovative in Asia, and fifth in the world.

Singapore still offers unique advantages for technology companies: the government provides financial support, subsidies and collaboration programs, as well as an infrastructure developed for setting up new startups. The country prioritizes strategic sectors, such as agritech/foodtech, smart cities, health and biomedicine/healthtech, clean energy, digital industry, electronics industry and industry 4.0.

Another important factor is the international co-innovation program promoted by the Enterprise Singapore Agency, which seeks to strengthen collaboration between local and international companies in the development of technology and innovation. Furthermore, the EntrePass work visa allows qualified foreign entrepreneurs to start and operate innovative businesses in Singapore.

Selected companies

• JettaCargo – Offers logistics and cargo transportation solutions. Through their online platform, they connect companies that need to ship goods to a wide network of specialized carriers. With an innovative technological approach, JettaCargo promotes safer and faster delivery throughout Brazil.
• Fine Instrument Technology – Company that uses nuclear magnetic resonance technology in the time domain – DT-NMR – which acts at the nuclear level of the sample, analyzing the amount of oil, for example, that the sample contains and, thus, in less than 60 seconds, it is possible to obtain the desired result.
• Bykonz – Company concentrates reliable data on maritime assets in a simple, practical and intuitive platform for all stakeholders in the maritime industry, through telemetry, IoT and industry 4.0.
• Trakto – Founded in 2013, Trakto began as an app for professionals to quote services. Realizing that selling professionally was more difficult than creating a budget, in 2015, the founders turned Trakto into an editor for creating marketing materials.
• Yosen – Technology-based startup that develops intelligent bioactive delivery systems using nanotechnology for the production of innovative vitamin supplements and cosmetics. The products combine nanotechnology and lipid delivery systems, using only natural ingredients and a sustainable process.
• Cognisigns – Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a challenge for many families. Cognisigns helps identify the disorder with its VERA (Virtual Empathic Robot Assistant) platform. The tool facilitates diagnosis and assists health and education professionals through a chatbot capable of performing digital screening.
• Navalport – Offers Port Insight, an intelligent waterway management platform that integrates ship scheduling, stations and notifications with groups of stakeholders to provide real-time knowledge of the status of operational stages, automatically, to the entire port community.
• EletroBlocks – Startup that facilitates the teaching of programming and robotics. The company uses magnetic blocks that allow you to explore electrical circuits in a fun, easy and safe way. Schools and parents can encourage their children and students to create and learn with technology, without risks and without the need for auxiliary materials.
• Fastdezine – Delivers on-demand online and offline communications pieces to corporate marketing departments and agencies, expanding the production capacity and knowledge of the design and programming team.
• Desbrava.AI – It has a solution for micro and small companies that provide strategic planning and guidance for social networks, through AI and analytics. The startup monitors results, comparing with other competitors, so that they have a clear and accurate digital presence.
• BioUs – Biotech that works with a technological platform focused on the production of biopolymers from waste from intensive aquaculture production and agribusiness, generating products aligned with nanoparticles and the ESG ecosystem.
• Ris3d – Born with an international innovation patent. The startup solves obsolete documentation problems through industrial digitization, issuing reliable documents as constructed in the field. It also has ultra-realistic VR simulators to optimize time and costs with training on complex equipment.
• Netconv – Offers perishables management software for Darkstores. With anti-waste pricing (ESG), the startup informs the expiration date in real time on marketplaces, focusing on transparency and efficiency in online commerce.

Startup OutReach Brasil 

Startup OutReach Brasil is an internationalization and support program for the insertion of Brazilian startups into the most promising innovation ecosystems in the world. Carried out by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) and National Association of Entities Promoting Innovative Enterprises (Anprotec).

Created in 2017, the program has already visited Buenos Aires, Paris, Berlin, Miami, Lisbon, Santiago, Toronto, Boston, Shanghai, New York, Bogotá-Medellín, Chicago, Madrid-Barcelona and Singapore. Served almost 300 startups and generated more than US$25 million in business.