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The Santa Catarina Association of Technology Companies (ACATE)

Established in 1986, ACATE’s mission is to strengthen the technology and innovation companies in Santa Catarina and to consolidate the sector as a unit in order to sustain development.  ACATE serves as the voice for technology companies in Santa Catarina when communicating with local/federal governments, business entities, and institutions of the technological realm. 

Technological MIDI incubator within ACATE supports small IT companies.
Provides critical services such as infrastructure, IT training,  and advanced business skills.

Offers consulting, inexpensive rental business offices, phone lines, and Internet service. Contains office space with the capacity to hold 50 companies.
Each company usually employs 6 employees.

Incubator offers 21 to 55 square meters of office space or 2 cubicles.

Angels can engage the developing companies as they mature through the incubators. Angels are individuals/entities that are willing to invest in the start-ups; this is similar to that of a venture capitalist.  The angels and venture capitalists can supplement incubators during a course of 2-4 years.  Benefits include infrastructure, knowledge sharing, increased market exposure, finance, and legal assistance.

Brazilian citizens can submit business proposal to fund their innovated ideas from the government entities, such as BNDES. Businesses can receive investments of $4 billion a year. Incubators receive financial assistance as grants with both no interest and payback commitment.

IS 597 Study Abroad, Brazil DePaul University

1 East Jackson Chicago, Illinois 60604