The initiative is part of the SAVOYA Innovation Program and will support entrepreneurs and startups in turning their ideas into innovative businesses by providing mentorship, infrastructure, market connections, and access to the Park’s ecosystem
The Santo André Technology Park has expanded its range of services and now features a Business Incubator, a new initiative focused on developing ideas, startups, and innovative ventures at various stages of maturity. This initiative is part of SAVOYA—the Innovation Program—and reinforces the Park’s role as a strategic environment for transforming knowledge, technology, and entrepreneurship into solutions with market potential.
The Incubator was created to support those who have an idea that hasn’t yet gotten off the ground, those who have already started a business and need to structure its growth, or companies seeking to innovate with a more systematic approach, a broader network, and clear direction. The goal is to offer a journey of growth that connects entrepreneurs to infrastructure, labs, mentorship, experts, investors, the market, and other players in the innovation ecosystem.
More than just a support program, the Business Incubator will serve as a gateway for entrepreneurs to move forward with a clear understanding of their next steps. The journey begins with Specialized Assistance, a free, personalized strategic assessment conducted by the Incubator team. Based on this initial conversation, each initiative can be guided according to its current stage: from validating the idea to developing the business model, from connecting with customers to preparing for growth.
According to Evandro Banzato, Secretary of Economic Development and Job Creation, the Business Incubator represents a significant step forward in establishing the Santo André Technology Park as a comprehensive innovation hub.
“The Park is structured around three key pillars: research, development, dissemination, and innovation; entrepreneurship and business; and capacity building and a culture of innovation. By supporting the transformation of ideas into practical solutions, bridging the gap between knowledge and the market, fostering the creation of viable businesses, and preparing talent for the challenges of today and tomorrow, we are strengthening a more dynamic, competitive ecosystem that is closely aligned with the real needs of the economy,” Banzato emphasized.
The journey was structured into four main stages: idea, structuring, validation, and growth. In the first phase, the focus is on transforming insights, hypotheses, and the desire to start a business into a clearer initial proposal. Next, the structuring phase addresses the business model, value proposition, and MVP development. The validation phase brings the initiative closer to real customers, real revenue, and applied learning. The growth stage, meanwhile, supports businesses that need to advance in traction, management, scaling, and fundraising.
The Incubator will offer three participation options. Pre-incubation will be 100% online and focused on developing ideas. Non-resident incubation will also take place online, aimed at those who are already in the business validation phase. Resident incubation, on the other hand, will be in-person at the Center for Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, allowing selected initiatives to be physically connected to the Park’s environment.
The selection process will be conducted through a call for applications, involving the submission of applications, review of information and proposals, contact with interested initiatives, classification into incubation categories, official notification of the selected startups, public announcement of the results, and the start of activities. The call for applications will be released in May.
The plan is to include up to 10 initiatives in the pre-incubation phase, lasting up to six months; up to 10 initiatives in the non-resident incubation phase, lasting up to 60 months; and up to 15 initiatives in the resident incubation phase, also lasting up to 60 months.
With this new initiative, the Santo André Technology Park is expanding its activities in the areas of entrepreneurship and business, creating a more structured pathway for innovative ideas to find the methods, guidance, and real-world connections they need to grow. The Incubator also strengthens the Innovation Center’s position as a hub for economic development, technological experimentation, and the creation of new opportunities for the city and the regional ecosystem.
Author: Thiffani Valeriano