A study by ABStartups in partnership with USP shows the panorama of agtechs in Brazil.

The Brazilian Association of Startups (ABStartups), in partnership with the University of São Paulo (USP), has just released a new study on the agtech ecosystem in Brazil. The survey, based on data from 170 startups, paints an updated picture of how innovation is reshaping Brazilian agribusiness, a sector that remains one of the main drivers of the economy and is increasingly driven by technology, efficiency, and scale. The profile of the companies reveals a still lean and relatively young ecosystem. Approximately 39.4% of agtechs have been in existence for up to three years, while 32.9% have already been operating for more than five years. Furthermore, 51.4% have already undergone pivoting processes, adjusting their strategies throughout their journey. “The ability to adapt is an important characteristic of this ecosystem. Startups that can pivot quickly tend to find solutions that better meet the real demands of the field,” highlights Claudia Schulz, CEO of ABStartups. Access to capital also appears as a key factor for growth. Almost half of the startups (47.6%) have already received some type of investment, with a focus on resources from public funding (25.5%) and angel investors (23.6%). A relevant point is the regional nature of these investments: 54.8% of the investments come from the startups' own state of origin. "Strengthening local investment networks is essential to unlock the potential of agtechs, especially outside major urban centers," assesses the executive. The regional analysis shows a significant concentration in the Southeast, which accounts for 52.9% of the mapped agtechs, followed by the South, with 25.9%. Among the states, São Paulo leads with 38.8% of the startups, while Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais follow, both with 12.4%. For the CEO, this data reinforces both the strength of consolidated hubs and the sector's expansion potential. “Brazilian agribusiness has always been highly competitive, but now we are seeing a more structured advancement of technology applied to the field. The trend is for this innovation to spread more and more to other regions, following the dynamics of agribusiness itself,” says the executive. Another highlight of the study is the strategic role of partnerships. About 79% of startups have two or more partners, with innovation hubs (52.9%) and academic institutions (50%) being the most frequent. This data highlights the importance of the connection between science, technology, and the market to drive more robust solutions. For ABStartups, the survey reinforces that the future of Brazilian agribusiness increasingly depends on the integration of technology and production. “Agribusiness has always been a powerhouse in Brazil, and innovation is further enhancing this position. Agtechs have a central role in making the sector more efficient, sustainable, and globally competitive,” concludes Schulz. The research reinforces that, in a scenario of accelerated digital transformation, Brazil has unique conditions to lead innovation in agriculture — combining productive scale, regional diversity, and an increasingly mature startup ecosystem.

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.