The presence of women in leadership positions within the Brazilian innovation ecosystem is advancing, especially in strategic areas such as socio-environmental impact startups and deep tech companies. Data from the Sebrae Startups Observatory indicates that women already represent 21% of leadership in startups focused on socio-environmental impact. In deep tech companies—companies based on advanced science and technology—the participation is even more significant: 43% of the projects approved in Sebrae’s Catalisa ICT program are led by women, a percentage that remains high until the final stages of the initiative.
The information was released by Sebrae and is included in a survey by the Sebrae Startups Observatory. Despite performance in more specialized segments, the overall picture still reveals a lower participation of women in the universe of Brazilian startups. According to data updated in February 2026 from the Sebrae Startups Platform, they represent 18% of registered ventures — equivalent to 4,282 businesses with female presence in the ownership structure. The rate is similar to that identified by the Brazilian Association of Startups (ABStartups), which recorded 19% female founders in 2024.
According to Fernanda Zambon, an analyst at the Innovation Unit of Sebrae Nacional, the numbers indicate that the growth of female leadership in the sector depends on structured incentive initiatives.
“When there is an organized support environment, with training, mentoring, and connections to the market, female participation grows and becomes sustainable,” she says.
According to the analyst, the challenge now is to move towards a deeper transformation in the innovation ecosystem. “We are still below an ideal level of representation in the founding and formal society of startups. It’s not enough to expand entry into the ecosystem; it’s necessary to guarantee permanence, access to capital, strategic networks, and conditions to scale up,” points out Fernanda Zambon.
Another relevant finding from the survey shows that 61% of startups led by women are in the early stages of development, between ideation and validation. Although this profile is similar to that observed in Brazilian startups as a whole, the transition to the traction and growth phases is usually more difficult, especially in a more restrictive macroeconomic environment and in the face of historical barriers related to access to investment.
For Sebrae, increasing female representation in the innovation ecosystem also has a direct impact on economic development. “Startups with gender diversity show better governance and long-term performance indicators. Expanding this participation is a strategy for sustainable economic development,” emphasizes Fernanda Zambon.
Women-led businesses are gaining ground
In practice, this progress is already translating into high-impact initiatives led by female entrepreneurs in different regions of the country. One example is T-Access, a startup based in Recife (PE), created to develop solutions focused on digital accessibility. The company works on evaluating platforms, training, and developing inclusive technologies, after identifying difficulties faced by visually impaired people in using software and digital environments.
The startup’s founder, Tarciana Katter, explains that the idea arose from tests conducted with screen readers. “When we started using screen readers in the tests, we realized there was a whole universe we weren’t seeing. That’s when we understood that there needed to be a real concern for inclusion,” she says.
For the entrepreneur, female leadership contributes to broadening the perspective on the impacts of innovative businesses. “Women have a very strong active listening ability; they can look at the people and the business at the same time. We think about the impact, the psychological safety of the team, and the transformation we want to generate,” she emphasizes.
Another example comes from the climate technology sector. The startup Compensai, based in São Luís (MA), was founded by Vilena Silva after more than two decades of experience in corporate environmental management and applied research in sustainability. The company developed a digital platform that simplifies the measurement, monitoring, reduction, and offsetting of carbon emissions.
The solution was created based on internationally recognized standards, such as the GHG Protocol and ABNT PR 2060, with the goal of making the climate agenda more accessible to small businesses as well.
“I have always believed that sustainability cannot be restricted to large corporations. Small businesses are what drive the Brazilian economy, and they need to be included in this agenda,” says Vilena.
The entrepreneur also highlights the importance of bringing scientific knowledge closer to the productive sector. “Science needs to leave the laboratory and reach companies, communities, and public policies. And we, women in academia, are fully capable of building that bridge,” she concludes.
Source: brasil247.com