Eight Uruguayan Startups Present Projects to Brazilian Investors at Gramado Summit

Uruguayan talent took center stage at the Gramado Summit in Punta del Este, where innovation and entrepreneurship converged during a Demoday organized by Uruguay XXI and Uruguay Innovation Hub, in collaboration with the Brazilian accelerator Ventiur. At the event, eight local startups presented their ideas to a panel of Brazilian investors, marking the culmination of an intensive investment readiness training program, during which 19 Uruguayan companies honed their understanding of the Brazilian market to prepare for fundraising.

The eight startups selected for the Demoday were Rocket, Manuar, Boxes, Yeda, metaBIX Biotech, Intellia, Lolos AI, and GoDoWorks. Each had three minutes to pitch their proposal and answer questions from the investor panel.

Gabrielly Balsarin, Head of Acceleration and Portfolio at Ventiur, praised the quality of the Uruguayan startups. "It was a pleasure to conduct this training and learn more about Uruguayan startups, which feature outstanding entrepreneurs and strong presentations," she said.

Carlos Klain, Ventiur's Founding Partner, added: "We saw very high-quality work and exceptional startups. This aligns with what we know about Uruguay's emphasis on education and how much the country values the development of its citizens. The panel recognized that the quality of the projects is largely due to the high caliber of the people behind them."

During the event, Agustín Mimbacas, Export Promotion Specialist at Uruguay XXI, emphasized the importance of these initiatives for startups. "We’ve been organizing activities like this for several years to ensure that when startups pitch to investment funds, they do so in the most professional way possible, enhancing their chances of securing capital. This year, with the first edition of the Gramado Summit in Punta del Este, we felt it would be productive to focus on the Brazilian market, so we partnered with Ventiur."

Startup Competitions at Gramado Summit

In addition to the Demoday, the Gramado Summit in Punta del Este also hosted startup competitions that showcased Uruguayan talent.

In the Startup Battle organized by Ventiur, metaBIX Biotech, led by Uruguayan entrepreneur Laura Macció, won a $75,000 prize for its innovative technology to detect pathogens in the agricultural sector. Genba Robotics was crowned the winner of the Startup Race, organized by FCJ Group, a competition aimed at connecting startups with investors.

The Demoday and Gramado Summit competitions not only boosted the visibility of Uruguayan startups but also demonstrated the country's high level of innovation, making it an attractive destination for international investors.