The second edition of the Entrepreneurial Journey took place from July 3 to 5 at the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal in Orlando (FL). The event aims to discuss Brazilian entrepreneurship in the United States, generating new business opportunities not only for those already residing here but also for Brazilians looking to internationalize their brand.
The journey featured renowned American and Brazilian speakers, such as Kevin Harrington and Camila Farani from Shark Tank USA and Brazil, respectively, along with other attractions that provided attendees with a true immersion in the business world. Among these attractions were the Pitch Zone, where participants could register their ideas or businesses, and at the end of the event, one was chosen to receive consulting from experts; a business fair where over 40 companies showcased their products and services, generating new business opportunities, partnerships, and fundraising for expansion on American soil.
The event was created last year by a group that wanted to bring together Brazilian entrepreneurs to help them develop their businesses in one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. This group consists of Alexandre Damiani, Anderson Ramos, Thiago Jorge, Christopher Regis, Vinicius Bicalho, and Renato Alves.
According to Anderson Ramos, one of the founding partners of the Journey, despite the large number of events held in the USA by and for Brazilians, there was still a need to gather various topics in one place that could assist, guide, and educate Brazilian entrepreneurs, as well as serve as a venue for creating a rich and diverse networking environment.
“Many Brazilians arrive in the USA hoping to develop a new business or implement existing businesses from Brazil and often lack support and direction,” Ramos observes. “The event was born to be a support point for these people and companies, where we bring together many professionals and companies that have market and business knowledge to somehow be a support point for this audience,” he explains.
The target audience is Brazilian business owners and entrepreneurs, whether they live in the USA or not, who intend to develop businesses on American soil.
The first edition, held last year at the same location, exceeded audience expectations—with around 900 participants—and achieved results, becoming the largest event for Brazilian entrepreneurs ever held in the USA.
The choice of Orlando as the event’s host city was due to several reasons: it is the city where all the partners reside; it is one of the American cities that receives the most visitors in the USA; and it is also one of the cities that is growing the most in various aspects, such as economy, infrastructure, tourism, and business, among others.
However, given the success of the event, the organizers plan to take the Journey not only to other American cities but also to other countries. “We are considering smaller events lasting just one day with the same goal of providing information and helping business owners who wish to do business in the USA or want to expand their network,” Ramos anticipates.
The desire to grow and provide information to those who wish to undertake does not stop there: “We want to become the largest business connection event in the USA to support not only Brazilians but also the Latino and American communities that wish to develop business with Brazilian companies,” Ramos concludes.