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Startups are transforming the future of agribusiness in the Ribeirão Preto region, creating technological solutions that accelerate processes, boost productivity and attract million-dollar investments. Between challenges and opportunities, they promise to change the Brazilian countryside.
The Ribeirão Preto region is experiencing a true technological revolution in agribusiness, driven by innovative startups that promise to transform the future of the countryside.
With technological solutions that optimize time, increase productivity and offer new paths to sustainability, these companies are gaining space in a market that, although saturated with ideas, remains hungry for assertive innovations.
The development of this ecosystem reflects a unique moment for the “capital of agribusiness” and neighboring cities such as Sertãozinho and Jaboticabal.
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- The government opens its coffers and will pay MORE than R$1 MILLION to anyone who captures and slaughters these animals
But how do these initiatives manage to stand out? And what challenges do they face in an increasingly competitive market? Find out in this special about the impact of agritechs in the heart of Brazil.
Innovation and growth: revealing data
According to the “Innovation Ecosystem”, an annual report developed by the Supera Technology Park, in partnership with USP and the City of Ribeirão Preto, the region currently has 328 mapped startups, an increase of 81% compared to 2019.
Among them, agritechs stand out, with 44 companies focused on technological solutions for agribusiness, an annual growth of 34%.
These startups are not only in Ribeirão Preto, but also in cities strategically positioned along logistics corridors such as the Anhanguera, Washington Luís and Brigadeiro Faria Lima highways.
Jaboticabal, for example, is the second city in the region with the most startups, including those focused on sustainability, bioinputs and precision agriculture.
“The strategic location facilitates the strengthening of innovation environments”, says David Lopes, professor at Unesp and one of the founders of Inova Jab, an incubator that has welcomed startups in the region since 2017. Currently, four companies that are already consolidated in the national market emerged from this initiative.
Technologies that are transforming the field
Companies like IA Sense, based in Sertãozinho, are at the forefront of innovation. Founded by computer engineer Diego Moraes, the startup uses artificial intelligence to monitor and control pests in crops such as sugarcane and eucalyptus.
“A process that used to take days can now be done in seconds”, explains Moraes. The AI Sense application captures images, uses georeferencing and processes the data in the cloud, delivering results in real time. The solution not only reduces operational costs, but also improves the accuracy of analyses.
Other startups also develop technologies such as:
- Nanotechnology for rooting in agricultural crops.
- Foliar fertilizers that improve productivity.
- Robots for cleaning in confined spaces.
- Simulation of agricultural scenarios using artificial intelligence.
Innovation hubs as drivers of development
Innovation hubs play a fundamental role in the expansion of agritechs. One example is the Bio Energy Hub, in Sertãozinho.
Created in 2020, the hub emerged from an innovation marathon at Fenasucro, a globally recognized event in the bioenergy sector. Today, it houses 20 startups and provides support from the conception of ideas to fundraising.
In 2024, the Bio Energy Hub received R$5 million in contributions, showing its potential as a catalyst for technological solutions.
Marcos Eduardo de Oliveira, founder of the hub, believes that startups' revenue could grow tenfold by 2025, even in a market considered saturated.
“There is a maturation of ideas and a search for assertiveness. The market demands real solutions, not just promises,” comments Oliveira.
Saturation or opportunity?
Although agritechs attracted R$955 million in investments in Brazil between January and September 2024, according to Startup Scanner, the market is facing a period of complacency. During the pandemic, there was a boom in startups, but many ideas did not convert into viable commercial solutions.
“Today, it is necessary to have more maturity to develop ideas that meet the real demands of the market”, says David Lopes. He highlights that digital agriculture and solutions focused on sustainability still have great potential for growth.
The relationship with the region
Diego Moraes, from IA Sense, believes that proximity to the “capital of agribusiness” was a determining factor in the success of his company.
"We chose the sugarcane market because the region is extremely well supplied with mills and producers.. This facilitated the initial adoption of our solutions.”
This synergy between tech and agribusiness in the region reinforces the importance of investing in innovation as a strategy to boost the local economy.
Promising future or inevitable challenges?
With startups in the region projecting a significant increase in revenue by 2025, the future of agritechs looks promising.
However, there are challenges ahead: the need for sustainable investments, greater integration between startups and rural producers and the maturation of ideas to serve broader markets.
And you, do you believe that agritechs can solve the challenges of Brazilian agribusiness or is there still a lot to be done? Leave your opinion in the comments!
