The Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2025. Florianópolis may be most well known internationally for its natural beauty and world-class beaches. But the city has much more to offer than sun and sand. Over the last decades, the southern Brazilian city has transformed itself from primarily a tourist destination into an innovation hotspot.

Among Brazil’s state capitals, Florianópolis is the national leader in tech contribution to GDP, with the sector representing 25% of its economy. The city’s tech economy has grown 23.4% since 2018 and now ranks 7th nationwide in absolute terms, despite its smaller population compared to other major tech hubs. The ecosystem boasts up to ten times more startups per capita than São Paulo and is home to more than 6,000 tech companies that generate more...

The Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2025. Florianópolis may be most well known internationally for its natural beauty and world-class beaches. But the city has much more to offer than sun and sand. Over the last decades, the southern Brazilian city has transformed itself from primarily a tourist destination into an innovation hotspot.

Among Brazil’s state capitals, Florianópolis is the national leader in tech contribution to GDP, with the sector representing 25% of its economy. The city’s tech economy has grown 23.4% since 2018 and now ranks 7th nationwide in absolute terms, despite its smaller population compared to other major tech hubs. The ecosystem boasts up to ten times more startups per capita than São Paulo and is home to more than 6,000 tech companies that generate more than 38,400 direct jobs. From 2020 to 2024, early-stage funding here grew 19%, driven by Fintech startups like Payface and Parcela Mais.