Os desafios de empreender novos negócios com startups em Quixadá

Abstract

Innovation, driven by technological advances, has favored the emergence of startups in various regions of Brazil, including in the central hinterland, specifically in Quixadá. However, many of these startups face unique challenges due to their location, outside the major urban centers, where access to resources, training, networking and funding opportunities is limited. In this context, UFC, Quixadá Campus, stands out for its work in promoting entrepreneurship through INOVE. This nucleus plays a key role in providing support to startups by helping with pre-acceleration programs, mentoring, monitoring and creating a favorable environment for the development of innovative technologies. This study investigated the main challenges faced by technology-based startups linked to the Quixadá Campus. The research, conducted through semi-structured interviews with the founders, revealed challenges such as limited access to investors, a lack of specialized training and the difficulty of finding mentors with experience in the area in which the startup operates. In addition, it was found that geographical location imposes additional barriers, such as less participation in events, difficulties in establishing a basis of trust with investors and difficulties in finding specialized mentors. Based on these findings, solutions were suggested to mitigate the mortality of startups and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem.