Porto Alegre, Latin America’s innovation capital, hosts South Summit Brazil 2025

South Summit Brazil, the leading meeting of Latin America’s entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem, co-organized by IE University and the Government of Rio Grande do Sul, inaugurated its fourth edition in the city of Porto Alegre, Wednesday, April 9. South Summit Brazil 2025 will bring together the main players in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem in Porto Alegre through Friday 11, consolidating its position as the capital of innovation and entrepreneurship in Latin America.

Welcoming delegates at the opening ceremony, Maria Benjumea, CEO of South Summit, noted: "This year we have witnessed a transformation, a demonstration of resilience in Rio Grande do Sul and Porto Alegre. Ten months ago in our beloved Cais the water reached two meters, today it welcomes us more spectacular than ever. The theme of South Summit Brazil 2025, beyond resilience, represents how we recover and strengthen after adversity. An incredible transformation and the best example that all together, through innovation and entrepreneurship, we can overcome anything. South Summit is the driving force behind innovation, showing the world that we are in the most innovative state of Brazil. Here, startups, investors, and corporations come together to create opportunities and strengthen a powerful global ecosystem.”

At the welcome ceremony, José Renato Hopf, President of South Summit Brazil, also took part and stated that this new edition "is a great opportunity to establish connections and do business."

"South Summit Brazil is the perfect example of the entrepreneurial commitment between Spain and Brazil — a reflection of what both countries can achieve and showcase to the world."
Juan José Güemes, Economic Vice President of IE University and President of the IE Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation 

Eduardo Leite, Governor of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, also highlighted the collaboration between the region and South Summit in the face of “the intense transformations we are currently experiencing." He stated, "South Summit will provide us with opportunities and challenges, placing us at the center of all these discussions so that we can be at the forefront," adding, "Rio Grande do Sul has a plan, it has a future, and that future is about making this state stronger, more resilient, and increasingly innovative."

Also present at the official inauguration of #SouthSummitBrazil25 were Mar Fernández-Palacios, Ambassador of Spain to Brazil; Sebastião Melo, Mayor of Porto Alegre; and Jorge Audy, President of the South Summit Brazil Honorary Committee.