A City for Startups: A Case Study of the City of Porto Alegre

Abstract

This article analyzes the startup ecosystem of the city of Porto Alegre using a multidimensional approach, based on the framework proposed by PASQUALOTTO et al. (2024), which considers six dimensions: environmental, economic, societal, human capital, infrastructure, and political-legal. Based on collected data, the research demonstrates that Porto Alegre stands out as an innovation hub in Brazil, bringing together structural, institutional, and human factors conducive to the development of innovative businesses. The city presents a highly qualified human capital, public policies that encourage entrepreneurship, robust technological infrastructure, and an efficient regulatory environment. However, it still faces social and economic challenges that may compromise equity in the development of the ecosystem. The results suggest that the continuous strengthening of innovation policies and the promotion of social inclusion are essential to consolidate Porto Alegre as an international reference in innovative entrepreneurship.