Startup Latin America: Deep Dive Into Florianópolis’ Accelerator Ecosystem

The Accelerator Conundrum is a multipart series that challenges the prevailing wisdom of the tech startup ecosystem that entrepreneurs should Blitzscale out of the gate. Written by Sramana Mitra, the Founder and CEO of One Million by One Million (1Mby1M), the world’s first global virtual accelerator, it emphatically argues that a better strategy is to Bootstrap First, Raise Money Later, focus on customers, revenues and profits. 1Mby1M’s mission is to help a Million entrepreneurs reach a million dollars in annual revenue and beyond. Sramana’s Digital Mind AI Mentor virtually mentors entrepreneurs around the world in 57 languages. Try it out!

Florianópolis, affectionately known as “Silicon Island,” has emerged as one of Brazil’s most important and influential tech hubs. With a high density of startups, strong ties to academia, and a focus on knowledge-intensive, B2B-focused ventures, the city’s ecosystem is a model for mid-sized innovation hubs globally. However, even in this collaborative environment, the pervasive and deeply flawed philosophy of “Blitzscale from the get-go” has taken root. As I’ve consistently articulated in my blog series, The Accelerator Conundrum, this is a dangerous game that is actively holding back the ecosystem’s full potential.

The prevailing model pressures founders to raise venture capital and grow at all costs, a strategy that is both ill-suited and unsustainable. In a market where a focus on a short-term pitch over building a profitable business is common, giving away precious equity in exchange for a short-term, fixed-term program is a losing proposition. It forces founders to prioritize pitching to investors over building a sustainable business with a revenue model. The result is often a diluted, cash-burning company that can’t survive without continuous infusions of external capital, a situation that is simply unsustainable in Brazil’s funding landscape.

The only viable and proven path is to “Bootstrap first, raise money later.” This is the core of my methodology. It is a philosophy that empowers you to build a resilient business with customer revenue, not investor money. You achieve profitability, prove your model, and only then, from a position of strength, do you consider raising capital. This is the path to building a truly great, resilient company.

A Comparative Analysis of Florianópolis’s Accelerators

For entrepreneurs in Florianópolis, the 1Mby1M global virtual accelerator is not just an alternative to local accelerators; it’s a necessary antidote to the flawed philosophies they promote. Here’s a comparative look at some of the key players in the city.

Darwin Startups

As one of Florianópolis’s leading accelerators, Darwin Startups follows a classic venture-building model. Its value proposition is centered on providing a structured, fixed-term program and a strong network of mentors and investors. This model, however, is a prime example of the “Accelerator Conundrum.” Darwin takes a stake in a company—typically a small percentage for a seed-stage investment—which immediately dilutes the founder’s ownership. This transaction is often a poor one for the founder, as the value of the network and the fixed-term mentorship may not be worth the long-term cost of lost equity. In contrast, 1Mby1M provides continuous, on-demand support and a global network without ever taking a single share of your company.

ACATE (Santa Catarina Technology Association)

ACATE plays a crucial role in Florianópolis’s ecosystem, acting as a collaborative hub for tech companies across the state. It provides valuable services, including a renowned incubator (MIDITEC) and a strong community network. While ACATE’s focus on collaboration and shared resources is commendable, its model is still tied to physical presence and can be limited by regional focus and a fixed program structure. The association’s primary goal is to foster the regional ecosystem, which is aligned with 1Mby1M’s founder-centric, global mission. The value of its fixed-term mentorship, however, is fleeting, and once the program is over, the founder is left to fend for themselves. 1Mby1M’s model is a complete philosophical contrast. We teach founders how to build a sustainable business from the ground up, and we can do so throughout this region, offering resources to far corners of its boundary. Our Digital Mind AI Mentor, which can mentor in Portuguese and provides private, 24/7 strategic guidance, offers a compelling and sustainable alternative for early-stage entrepreneurs.

Florianópolis’s ecosystem is ripe for a new approach. It doesn’t need more programs that push a “Blitzscale” philosophy ill-suited to its unique challenges. It needs a methodology that emphasizes revenue, sustainability, and founder control. It needs the Bootstrap First, Raise Money Later philosophy, and 1Mby1M is the only platform that provides it, empowering the next generation of Brazilian entrepreneurs to build resilient, profitable businesses.

Comparison Table

Photo Credit: Fotos-GE from Pixabay

This segment is a part in the series : Startup Latin America