Brazil

Open Call: Startup Camps Q1 2026

Are you a Swiss startup ready to connect with the Brazilian market? Applications are now open for the Q1 2026 Startup Camps, powered by Innosuisse and managed by Swissnex.

Ready to take your first step into the Brazilian market? There are two types of internationalization camps for Swiss startups:

  • Market Validation Camp | A one-month program to test a startup’s business idea on-site and develop a market entry strategy.
  • Market Entry Camp | A three-month program to accelerate a startup’s market entry, giving it a jump-start in a new country.

In Brazil, Swissnex runs market validation and entry camps through quarterly calls. Each startup can choose between Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo as a camp location and agree with Swissnex on an appropriate start date. The startup then completes a program of one month (market validation) or three months (market entry), during which it benefits from individual and tailored support from Swissnex. It also receives a stipend allowing it to visit the selected location during the chosen time frame.

  • Applications for the Startups Camps in Brazil in Q1 2026 open on September 1, 2025.
  • Application deadline: October 31, 2025.

Why Brazil?

Brazil is one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse innovation ecosystems, with vast opportunities for technology-driven solutions. Its thriving Foodtech & Agritech sector leverages the country’s role as a global agricultural powerhouse to drive sustainable food production, traceability, and the circular economy. In Cleantech & Climate Tech, Brazil’s potential toward decarbonization and resilience creates fertile ground for innovations in renewable energy, carbon capture, and climate adaptation. The Energy Transition & Decarbonization agenda is fueled by a rapidly growing renewable energy mix and increasing corporate commitments to net zero. Meanwhile, the country’s unparalleled Bioeconomy & Biodiversity assets open up unique possibilities for bioproducts, sustainable forestry, and biodiversity-based innovations. Together, these sectors are examples of how Brazil can be a strategic market for Swiss startups looking to scale impactful technologies globally.

Who can apply?

  • Innovative Swiss startups enrolled in Innosuisse’s Initial, Core, or Scale-up Coaching programs.
  • Innovative Swiss startups have been awarded the Innosuisse Certificate within the past three years.

Startups not meeting either of these criteria must first apply to Innosuisse’s Core Coaching.

 

What’s in the program?

During the Startup Camps, startups will get a deep dive into their chosen location. Swissnex will work with each participant to develop a tailored market validation or entry program, including virtual meetings and travel to either São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. During their stay, startups can use Swissnex’s offices as a home base while building their local network and exploring the ecosystem. They may schedule their visits around relevant conferences or participate in sector-specific cohort camps. Participants will also have access to Swissnex’s network and ongoing updates about relevant events and programs.

 

Contacts

    Vincent Neumann

    Head of Programs

    Isabela Temístocles

    Program Manager for Innovation and Startups
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