Associação Catarinense de Tecnologia

Hello dear! Dale, mô quiridu!

Welcome to Acate, the Technology Association of Santa Catarina. Hundreds of entrepreneurs pass through here. Some are linked to large technology companies that are a reference in the country and in the world.

Photo: ACATE website/ Reproduction

Acate also brings together hundreds of Startups: companies that are born from a different idea that can be scalable. That is, they have a great possibility of being reproduced in other places.

And Floripa is full of these companies and ideas. We have the highest density of startups in Brazil, in addition to having some of the largest companies in the sector installed.

Not by chance, we are also called Silicon Island - a comparison to Silicon Valley, in the United States. The British communication network BBC highlighted this feature.

The "ecosystem" of innovation companies and networking also means that more and more businesses arise and are developed in this area, creating new and better job opportunities.

Photo: ACATE website/ Reproduction

A BIG NETWORK

Acate began in 1986 when pioneering technology entrepreneurs came together to support each other. At the time, companies shared an office floor in a modest building.

Photo: ACATE / Reproduction

Today, Acate is the main representative of innovation in Santa Catarina, with more than 1,500 associates in 11 innovation centers.

In Floripa, it also has units in the Center (CIA Downtown) and CIA Sapiens (North of the Island). The offices in Boston (USA) and São Paulo support companies from Santa Catarina that need support.

The Miditec business incubator, created 20 years ago, has already been appointed as one of the five best in the world. From here, hundreds of companies emerged. Here at Acate, LinkLab also puts large companies and Startups side by side, improving innovation environments.

Photo: ACATE website/ Reproduction

MAKING CONNECTIONS

LinkLab is the first open innovation laboratory in the state that puts large companies and startups side by side. The Angel Investors Network (RIA SC) has already connected dozens of people interested in investing resources in innovative companies, also helping entrepreneurs to seek resources and connections to expand their businesses.

Photo: ACATE website/ Reproduction

If this is an environment less known to you, try to sit at one of the collective tables, try a different dish (we have cuisine options from all over the world) or a coffee. Maybe a conversation will come out of there. If it's Happy hour time, the chance is even greater. Maybe a new idea or business comes out?

Enjoy and until the next stop, which may be Santo Antônio de Lisboa, one of the most traditional neighborhoods in Florianópolis, which is a 15-minute drive away. There you find another board like that! Until later!