Unpublished study points out that Rio gathers about 600 startups and moves R $ 5.3 billion

The city of Rio consolidates its position as one of the country's main innovation centers. The study Panorama Startups Cariocas, elaborated by Prefeitura do Rio, through the Riotur and the Municipal Secretariat of Economic Development (SMDE), in partnership with Maravalley, points out that the city houses approximately 600 startups, responsible for an estimated revenue of R$ 5.3 billion in 2025 — equivalent to about 1.3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Rio. Companies also employ approximately 14.4 thousand people, evidencing the growing importance of the sector for the economy of Rio de Janeiro capital.

The survey was developed based on information from the Zoox Eye platform, which specializes in analyzing the municipality's startup ecosystem. According to the research, each carioca startup registers, on average, annual revenue of R$8.8 million and maintains about 23.7 employees. Companies work mainly in the segments of Information Technology, Education, Health and Welfare, Management and Consulting and Socioenvironmental Impact.

The startups are concentrated in important urban hubs of the city. The neighborhoods with the highest number of companies are Centro, Barra da Tijuca, Botafogo, Santo Cristo and Ipanema, reinforcing the vocation of these regions for innovation, entrepreneurship and technological development.

Featured microenterprises

The study also shows that the ecosystem is mostly formed by small businesses. Of all startups identified, 44.7% are micro-enterprises, 35.7% are small companies and 19.7% are medium or large companies. On average, these companies have 7.1 years of activity and social capital of R $ 85.5 thousand.

Another important feature is the geographical proximity between startups and Maravalley, the city's main innovation hub. Almost 40% of the companies are located within a radius of up to five kilometers of space, while about 72% are less than ten kilometers away, showing the concentration of the ecosystem around this innovation environment.

The survey was presented during the fourth edition of the Web Summit Rio, held between June 8 and 11 in Riocentro. In addition to bringing together global leaders of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, the event reinforces the city's strategy of consolidating itself as an international reference in the sector.

In 2026, the Web Summit Rio has the potential to generate an estimated economic impact of R$ 219.1 million in the Rio economy. The event also has a guaranteed stay in the capital of Rio until at least 2030.

Considering the eight editions between 2023 and 2030, the expectation is of an accumulated economic movement of approximately R $ 1.9 billion (about US$ 370 million), as well as an audience of more than one million participants over the period. The figures reinforce the strategy of the City Hall to consolidate Rio de Janeiro as an international reference in innovation and technology, while strengthening the position of the city as the Capital of the Great Events.