Sustainable Startups in São Carlos: Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Innovation

• Grant number: 25/04681-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Administration - Business Administration
• Principal Investigator: Euro Marques Júnior
• Grantee: Isabelly Rosa Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de São Paulo (IFSP). Campus São Carlos. São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The rise of sustainable startups has been a key factor in driving innovation and sustainable development in various regions. This project aims to investigate the landscape of sustainable startups in São Carlos, one of Brazil's main technology hubs, analyzing their environmental, economic, and social impact. The study seeks to identify the challenges these companies face, including financial, regulatory, and market barriers, while also mapping opportunities for growth and sustainable innovation in the region.The adopted methodology is qualitative and exploratory, based on a documentary survey to map local sustainable startups and their business practices. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with entrepreneurs and managers of these startups to understand their sustainability strategies and the challenges they encounter in consolidating their market presence. Additionally, the study will analyze public policies and incentives available for the development of sustainable businesses in the municipality, assessing their effectiveness in fostering the sector.The expected results include identifying the main sustainable startups in São Carlos, categorizing the challenges they face, and formulating strategic recommendations to strengthen the city's sustainable innovation ecosystem. The project aims to contribute both to the academic literature on sustainable entrepreneurship and to the formulation of public policies and business strategies that encourage more sustainable practices in the sector. In this way, it is expected to provide insights that enable startups to align innovation and sustainability in an economically viable manner, positioning São Carlos as a reference hub in the field.