Open Call for Brazil Hybrid Programme 2025

Building on the success of EIT Global Outreach’s flagship programme, Connect & Experience, which has supported dozens of European Startup Programme Managers in accessing international markets, ‘OPEN: Brazil’ is the next evolution, offering a refined hybrid model that delivers a more profound, more targeted impact.

This new startup support programme drives European startup growth and scale by equipping Startup Programme Managers and their portfolio startups with tailored go-tomarket strategies, access to co-funding opportunities, and direct exposure to Brazil’s dynamic tech ecosystem.

‘OPEN: Brazil’ blends strategic preparation, real-time collaboration, and hands-on engagement to build long-term opportunities across Latin America.

Goals

• Support European Startup Programme Managers & Startups in Entering the Brazilian Market: Provide direct exposure to Brazil’s tech ecosystem, enabling participants to map relevant opportunities, assess market potential, and take actionable steps toward launching and growing in LATAM.
• Generate Business Outcomes Through Strategic Pilots and Funding Opportunities: Facilitate partnerships and collaborations between EU startups and Brazilian corporates, investors, and accelerators—leading to pilot projects, proof-of-concepts (PoCs), commercial agreements, and access to co-investment opportunities.
• Implement global best practices at the EU Programme-Level to increase competitiveness: Equip Startup Programme Managers with concrete tools, real-case insights, and practical models that can be applied immediately to support better their startups’ go-to-market and scaling efforts in international markets.

Benefits

• Provide Access to the Brazilian Market for Your Portfolio Startups: Gain critical insights into Brazil’s booming innovation landscape—the largest startup ecosystem in Latin America and the sixth largest in the world—through expert-led sessions, strategic site visits, and hands-on market exploration. With major global tech hubs like São Paulo, and a dynamic investment environment, Brazil offers unmatched opportunities for international expansion.
• Build Strategic Partnerships: Forge meaningful connections with Brazilian innovation leaders, including corporates, investors, accelerators, and government agencies.
• Equip Your Startups for International Growth: Together with your selected startups, acquire best practices, funding strategies, and market entry tools essential for successful expansion into Brazil and the broader LATAM region.
• Join an Active Innovation Community: Become part of a dynamic network of startup programme managers and ecosystem builders. Gain ongoing access to exclusive events, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities beyond the programme, enhancing your capacity to support startups in scaling internationally.

Funding Information

• Grant amount: €34,000,00

Programme Specifications

• The ‘OPEN: Brazil’ programme takes place in 3 phases:
  • Brazil & LATAM Online Training Bootcamp for Startup Programme Managers & Their Portfolio Startups: offer deep dives into the ecosystem, along with hands-on tools and best practices to support international market readiness
  • 5-day Immersion Lab in São Paulo with Matchmaking Support for Startup Programme Managers and Selected Startups: designed to catalyse entry into the Brazilian & LATAM markets by connecting participants with key stakeholders
  • Ongoing Online Support for Startup Programme Managers & Their Portfolio Startups: dedicated matchmaking sessions, webinars with Brazilian stakeholders, and strategic networking opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria

• The programme is specifically designed for European Startup Programme Managers working in innovation hubs, labs, accelerators, and venture capitals (VCs) across the private and public sectors within the EU and Horizon Europe-associated countries. It focuses on EIT’s core and strategic industries that tackle societal challenges.
• Ideal participants include executives such as Accelerator and Incubator Managers, VCs, Technology Transfer Officers (TTOs), Portfolio Managers, Chief Innovation Officers, Business Development Managers, Investment Associates and other startup programme managers who oversee startups beyond the early stage and are prepared to scale their businesses from all across Europe.
• To be eligible for participating in the programme, the applicant:
  • must be established either in the member states of the European Union, including their outermost regions, or in the overseas countries and territories, or from Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

Ineligibility Criteria

• This programme is not suited for consultants.
• Individual startups should not apply; they can participate only through startup programme managers.

Application Requirements

• Applications must be submitted in English using the forms provided inside the electronic submission system. The structure and presentation must correspond to the instructions given in the forms.
• Applications must be readable, accessible, and complete and contain all the requested information and mandatory annexes and supporting documents.
• Submissions that are incomplete, late, or made through any other channel (for example, email or on paper) will not be accepted.
• In addition to the above admissibility conditions, document, page, or section limits may be applied to parts of applications.

For more information, visit European Commission.