Apex-Brasil Reflects on SXSW 2019: Takeaways from "The True Makers" of Brazil

SAO PAULO, March 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Apex-Brasil, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotions Agency that works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy, today shared insights following another successful year at South by Southwest (SXSW), an annual conglomerate of film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences that take place in Austin, Texas.

Since 2014, Apex-Brasil has supported Brazilian companies and startups at SXSW – an event the agency considers to be one of the world's largest and most important creative economy festivals. During SXSW 2019, Apex-Brasil supported more than 40 of the most innovative companies from Brazil, ranging from startups focused on healthcare and wearables, to audiovisual (animation, film, virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality), to artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and other emerging technologies.

Throughout the interactive media festival, held this year from March 9-14, these Brazilian startup companies had the chance to participate in panels at Apex-Brasil's Casa Brasil, a "house" located in downtown Austin that offered attendees a peek into Brazil's business and culture. They also had the opportunity to showcase their products, solutions, and innovations on the trade show floor and present their "elevator pitches" during a Brazil Innovation Hour at the International Innovation Platform, which also took place on the SXSW trade show floor.

The following quotes underscore the value and power of the SXSW experience for these Brazilian entrepreneurs:  

• Marco Poli, Chief Investment Officer, Apex-Brasil: "SXSW conference is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for entrepreneurs from all around the world. Brazilian startups travel with Apex-Brasil to Austin each year with the goal of raising not only awareness about their companies and innovative ideas, but also to raise capital and attract international investors. Beyond SXSW, we are extremely proud of the innovation and startup ecosystem in Brazil. The growth we have seen over the past several years has been truly incredible. Consider the number of unicorns in the country – in November 2016 we did not have any unicorn companies and within less than three years' time, we have seen seven unicorns emerge. I expect this growth will continue in the future and I strongly believe that the future is bright for Brazilian entrepreneurs."
• Tracy Mann, Brazilian Consultant, SXSW: "The number of Brazilians who attend SXSW has consistently increased over the past several years. I am proud to share that 2019 marked the first year that Brazil had the largest international delegation at the conference, with more than 1,600 Brazilians traveling to Austin to experience SXSW. This year, Apex-Brasil's manifesto at SXSW was 'Meet the True Makers,' which I saw come to life at Casa Brasil and during my conversations with the different startups in this year's SXSW delegation. Brazilians, especially entrepreneurs, are some of the most creative people I've ever met – they have an uncanny ability to create solutions and make the world a better place by evolving with the changes taking place around the world, especially within the area of technology."
• Fernando Godoy, Founder and Executive Director, Flex Interativa: "In our journey to create immersive experiences for consumers using virtual reality and augmented reality, we have seen time and time again that demonstrating and allowing people to interact with our products at technology conferences helps our business. As one of the most important technology and creative conferences in the world, I can already say that it was valuable for us to be here at SXSW to share our innovations on a global stage. For example, I am happy to say that we met and had good conversations with at least three interesting companies – one in the U.S., one in China, and one in the United Kingdom – that I anticipate will lead to new business partnerships in the months following SXSW."

About Apex-Brasil
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotions Agency (Apex-Brasil) acts to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. Apex-Brasil carries out diversified commercial promotion actions and works with public and private actors to develop the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country at large.

Media Contacts
Clarissa Furtado
Apex Brasil
[email protected] 
+55 (61) 98141 2255

McKenzie Naylor
Ruder Finn – PR on behalf of Apex-Brasil in the U.S.
[email protected] 
(212) 593-6434

SOURCE Apex-Brasil