FAPESP and Sebrae created the PIPE Start program, aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in the initial stage of validating ideas for new technological solutions and business models that have potential for market viability.
The first call of the initiative, focusing on technological and business challenges linked to plant and animal production and sustainability, was announced at an event held on May 4th during the International Agricultural Technology Fair (Agrishow), which took place between the 1st and May 5th in Ribeirão Preto, in the interior of São Paulo.
“The idea is to offer, through PIPE Start, non-refundable resources so that entrepreneurs and technology-based companies based in the State of São Paulo can plan the beginning of their journey in the market”, said Anapatricia Morales Vilha, member of the coordination of the FAPESP Research Program Innovative in Small Businesses (PIPE).
“The objective is to support startups that are in the initial phase to have their first approach to the business model of the technological solution they are interested in developing”, he explained.
The call will support proponents who wish to validate their business with actors from the company's external environment (potential customers, partners, competitors, distributors, suppliers, among other entities involved), in addition to carrying out initial prototyping of technological solutions.
New companies from São Paulo, with up to 12 months of activity and annual revenue of up to R$4,8 million, or entrepreneurs with at least 18 years of age and domiciled in the State of São Paulo can submit proposals.
Proposals must necessarily be linked to technological and business challenges linked to plant and animal production and also to sustainability, and may be connected to technologies related to sensors, software and applications, drones, autonomous machinery, artificial intelligence, internet of things, robotization, automation, agriculture 4.0, precision agriculture, biotechnology, among others.
“We hope to receive proposals that move towards the development of transversal technologies, that is, that flirt with agriculture and sustainability and cover these major themes”, highlighted Vilha.
The selected projects must be carried out within a period of up to nine months and may receive resources of up to R$100, arising from the FAPESP-Sebrae agreement.
Those selected will also participate in a free training program, lasting 30 hours, online and in person, on topics such as innovation management, idea validation and business modeling.
“At the end of the project, we hope to have a minimally structured idea, tested and with preliminary prototyping and a business model validated through interviews with the market”, explained Vilha.
Proposals must be submitted via FAPESP's SAGe system by the responsible researcher by August 4, 2023 and must be accompanied by the proponent's presentation, an ideation plan for the new technological solution or business model and a physical-financial schedule.
The expectation is that the result of the selected proposals will be announced in December 2023.
It is expected that, at the end of the call, the proponent will be better prepared to submit proposals in the subsequent phase of the PIPE Program, as well as to enter pre-acceleration and angel investment capture programs.
“The goal is to take ideas that are being born by companies and encourage them so that startups can structure them better and then be able to insert them in the wake of projects supported by PIPE-FAPESP”, said Marcos Leite, program manager for deep techs at Sebrae for Startups.
Under the technical and scientific cooperation agreement signed by FAPESP and Sebrae in 2021, each institution committed to contributing R$75 million to stimulate the advancement of scientific and technological-based entrepreneurship in the State of São Paulo.
Four notices have already been launched, aimed at facilitating the entry of technological innovations into the market or for startups to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) in partnership with companies. So far, 116 startups from São Paulo have been supported through the partnership.
“Of the R$150 million in resources committed to the agreement, almost half has already been spent. R$63 million has already been committed, but half of it still remains to be executed and the startups that were selected in previous calls are being monitored”, stated Leite.
The first PIPE Start call is available at the link.
Receive the latest agriculture news by email
Receive the latest agriculture news by email
Inspection of rural properties and agricultural machinery in transit is carried out mainly in the neighboring Goiás municipalities of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul
