Programas de apoio/aceleração de startups no Brasil: características centrais e questões abertas

Abstract

After the appearance of the first American startup acceleration program in 2005, this kind of structure to support startup spread worldwide, and hit Brazil a few years later. Nowadays, a consistent number of acceleration programs can be found throughout Brazilian territory. Despite the increasing interest in the subject by many different agents, such as: governments, private companies associations, investments groups, among others, there are still a few formal attempts to analyze the phenomenon and its main characteristics at both, national and international levels. Standing among this scenario, the following study aim to identify the main characteristics that defines and qualifies the startup acceleration program in this country. Such elements will be listed through bibliographical research, research of secondary data from 49 acceleration programs spread among the Brazilian territory and interviews with five specialists in this subject. To allow the analysis and comparison of the programs found, a data table with 34 parameters with strong potential to characterize the Brazilian program and reunited in nine categories such as: (i) general and status; (ii) focus of activity; (iii) governance; (iv) internationalization; (v) duration of the phases; (vi) activities; (vii) nature of the selection process; (viii) investment and remuneration; and (ix) completion of the program. Based on the information collected, though bibliographical research, from the identified parameters and profile analysis of the studied programs. It can be verified that, in general, the Brazilian startup acceleration program encourage the development of startups, from: (i) selection progress; (ii) previously determined steps in the execution of the program; (iii) network support, both internal than external, from mentors, specialists, among others. Based on the analysis of the programs profile, and supported by the identified parameters, many non-asked questions by the subject literature appeared. Starting from these non-asked questions, a questionnaire was made to the semi structured interviews with the five experts. The conduction of the interviews permitted a comprehension of the: profile, characteristics and qualifying parameters from the programs, particularly, it was possible to identify the organizational dynamics of the programs, as well as their interaction with the main external agents. Therefore, it was possible to identify the two main startups acceleration models in Brazil: (i) programs focused on the initial stages of the startups development; and (ii) programs focused on the more developed levels. Besides that, such programs can or cant held: (i) focus on a specific field of work; (ii) focus on a specific kind of business; (iii) eliminatory stages; (iv) stages and/or remote activities or online. Also, were identified programs with: (i) continuous process of selection or public notice and public announcement; (ii) possibility of enrolment by an individual or teams; (iii) corporate Taxpayer registry (CNPJ) requirement; (iv) financial counterpart requirement from the participant startup; and (v) awards for the startups that finalized the acceleration program.