Insper was present at the Web Summit Rio 2025 with its first official delegation of startups, organized by the Paulo Cunha Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub. Considered one of the largest technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship events globally, the Web Summit gathers startups, investors, executives, and leaders from various countries. This is the third Brazilian edition of the event, which will take place between April 27 and 30 in Rio de Janeiro, aiming to attract over 30,000 participants seeking networking, business, and trends.

 

The Insper delegation will include 12 startups founded by students and alumni of the institution, selected among participants of programs and initiatives within Insper itself, such as the José Eduardo Ermírio de Moraes Award, the accelerator FOKS and the Fellowship Early Stage. The diversity of the sectors was also a decisive factor in choosing the enterprises that will integrate the delegation. For Rodrigo Amantea, head of the Hub, presence at the event represents an important step in consolidating Insper's role in the innovation ecosystem. “Being at the Web Summit with our own delegation is a strategic step for Insper. It shows the market that innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership formation go hand in hand with our mission,” says Amantea. “It is a way to create opportunities for our talents to connect with other relevant actors in the ecosystem, promoting the growth of founders and startups, generating real impact.”

 

Participation in the Web Summit is part of the Hub's broader effort to increase the insertion of startups from the Insper ecosystem in events and international networks. The delegation was collaboratively organized by different areas of the Hub and includes a support package that includes mentorship, preparation for the pitch (quick presentation for investors), and access to the exhibition space at the event. For Dannielle Miranda Maciel, manager of Marketing, Communities and Content at the Hub, the action marks a new moment in consolidating the institutional strategy. “It is an initiative that gives visibility to entrepreneurs, strengthens the Hub's positioning, and expands the insertion of startups in the innovation market,” she says.

 

All startups in the delegation are in alpha stage — companies in early stages that are still validating their solutions with the first users, testing the business model, and adjusting the product based on market feedback. These startups will undergo specific pitch training before the event. Luiz Amboni, community manager for entrepreneurship at the Hub and responsible for the Fellowship Early Stage, explains that the program was created with the goal of organizing and strengthening existing initiatives. “We packaged everything Insper already offered and created a structured program with its own identity,” he explains. Currently, 32 startups are part of the Insper fellows network, with access to mentorships, events, and strategic connections.

 

Technology with purpose

 

Among the businesses selected to participate in the Web Summit Rio, there are solutions in education, health, social impact, and sustainability. One of the participants is the startup Nero.AI, which will bring Edu.AI to the event, a free platform aimed at preparing public school students for the Enem. João Gabriel Valentim, undergraduate student in Computer Engineering at Insper and one of the founders of Nero.AI, shares: "I came from public school and know what it's like not having access to teachers or good materials. This product was designed for students like me." For Valentim, participating in the Web Summit is also a way to show the solution's potential beyond education. “It's the chance to show that there is a powerful tool to be used daily, not just for education. Even those working in other areas, like finance or law, can see how to adapt our solution to their context.”

 

Another highlight is Huboo.ai, a platform created by João Furlan, alumnus of the Business Administration program at Insper. The platform is aimed at building and managing digital communities with artificial intelligence support. The solution is used by content creators, innovation hubs, companies, and associations seeking to connect people around common themes. Huboo integrates tools for event organization, mentorships, discussion forums, content publications, and personalized learning paths. The differential, according to Furlan, lies in using artificial intelligence to automate tasks like content moderation, post generation, interest matching among members, and engagement reports.

 

“It will be the first time we present Huboo to the market in a structured way. And doing this alongside Insper, which is the school of my heart, makes it even more special," says Furlan. Currently, the startup is developing, in partnership with the Hub, a digital platform aimed at innovation professionals, with the goal of making Insper a national — and even international — meeting point for leaders wanting to share experiences and collaborate with startups and transformative initiatives.

 

The CannaCare, a health and wellness platform specializing in access to treatments with medical cannabis, is another startup present in Insper's delegation. They hope to leverage the event to increase their visibility and connect with investors and suppliers. “Our motivation is to increase CannaCare's visibility by taking advantage of the event's significant exposure to audiences relevant to our business. We seek connections with potential investors and also want to learn new insights in our sector,” says Alberto Ferreira, co-founder of the startup. For him, Insper has been fundamental in the company's journey. "The Hub's ecosystem at Insper and the FOKS accelerator contribute to our journey with the combination of access to systematic methodology and mentorship from Hub professionals and entrepreneurs in its network," says Ferreira. “Additionally, the Hub facilitates access to investor networks, either by fostering relationships or granting endorsement to participating startups.”

 

Felipe Ruiz, founder of Moxen and alumnus of MBA at Insper, also emphasizes the importance of participating in the event. “We have never had the opportunity to attend the Web Summit, but we are aware of the event's reputation, attracting the best startups, major investors, and serving as a showcase. This exposure will help legitimize our proposal in the market,” says Ruiz. For him, it will be a strategic reading opportunity for the sector. “We want to understand the current moment of the Brazilian innovation ecosystem. Will 90% of startups present lean toward artificial intelligence? Or will there be more balance? The event will allow us to see this zeitgeist, the current spirit of the Brazilian ecosystem." The entrepreneur also highlights the institutional support from Insper that made participation possible. “Before joining the Insper ecosystem, attending an event like this would be unfeasible. Today, we have access to structure, connections, and opportunities accelerating our development,” he states.

 

João Bruno Palermo, co-founder of ZNIT — a startup geared towards the carbon credit market — underscores the expected impact of participating in the event. “We're attending the Web Summit Rio to connect with ecosystem leaders, finalize strategic partnerships, and attract investors or potential clients. We aim to expand our network and create opportunities accelerating our market growth,” says Palermo. He also highlights the Hub's role in the company's development. “The Hub's ecosystem at Insper has been fundamental to our growth by offering specialized mentorship, access to investor networks, and strategic connections with other startups and corporations. Furthermore, the Hub's structure and resources helped us validate and scale our solution more efficiently.”

 

During the Web Summit, each startup will have a day of exhibition and participate in networking activities, pitches, and panels with investors and industry leaders. More than a business event, the Insper delegation perceives the experience as a time for learning, validation, and growth. By gathering startups of various profiles in a structured initiative, Insper demonstrates how education, innovation, and impact can walk together — both inside and outside the classroom.

 

 

The 12 startups comprising Insper's delegation

 

 

Aurica – ESG indicators management platform

 

CannaCare – Marketplace for medical cannabis treatment

 

Edubot – Artificial intelligence system for Enem preparation

 

Hemodoctor – Artificial intelligence for interpreting medical exams

 

Huboo.ai – Community management and content creation platform

 

Kolek – Financial management platform for small and medium enterprises

 

Lummen – Governance platform for artificial intelligence

 

Mentora.ai – Artificial intelligence for mentorship

 

Moxen – Marketplace for collectible items

 

Openpbl – Artificial intelligence for schools in developing students’ and organizations' behavioral competencies

 

Passabot – Platform to simplify the purchase of airline tickets

 

ZNIT – Platform for carbon credit management