The progress shows how an environment that brings Inaitec-backed startups closer to the market can accelerate the growth of companies from Santa Catarina.
Among the businesses incubated at Inaitec are Zedia, which operates in 24 Brazilian states and reaches around 25 million people a month, and Oktopus, which is taking Brazilian technology to three continents.
Santa Catarina companies in new markets
Inaitec was actively involved in the conception phase of Oktopus, a Santa Catarina startup that developed a platform for remote monitoring and management of routers used by internet providers.
The tool tracks devices installed in subscribers' homes in real time, cutting operational costs and improving service quality.
During the incubation period, the company received support to set up operations, validate its business model and prepare to enter the market.
Today it is present on three continents, operating in countries such as England, Austria, Italy, Taiwan and the United States.
Television, data and artificial intelligence
Another example of a startup incubated at Inaitec that has expanded its market is Zedia. The business started with two people and today has around 35 employees.
Specialized in technology and artificial intelligence for media, content and advertising, Zedia develops tools that bring traditional television closer to the logic of digital platforms.
It works in partnership with broadcasters to map audience behaviour and offer viewers more targeted interactions.
The company maintains partnerships with more than 200 television stations, operates in 24 states and records average fivefold annual growth in revenue, customer base and team size.
Why do innovation environments accelerate startups?
Innovation environments bring knowledge, infrastructure, contacts and market access together in one place. Startups backed by Inaitec receive support to create competitive products and reach new regions.
For Diego Chierighini, the institute's executive director, the numbers show the strength of Palhoça's entrepreneurial environment.
“Seeing Inaitec-backed startups reaching new states and international markets demonstrates the potential of the innovation ecosystem we are building in Palhoça,” he says.
The institute, created in 2010, has supported more than 350 companies and the development of startups through incubation and acceleration programs, mentoring, business contacts and internationalization initiatives.
Its model brings together universities, companies, investors, government and community in an environment recognized as Latin America's first city lab.
