HackTown 2023: Brazil’s innovation festival aims to boost business and global collaboration

Amid large international innovation festivals coming to Brazil, the homegrown event, HackTown, aims to attract professionals to delve into trends, culture, and entertainment.

Running from Thursday to Sunday, this seventh installment will feature over 800 panels and anticipates over 30,000 attendees.

Originating in 2016, the event is hosted in the tech-centric city of Santa Rita do Sapucaí in Minas Gerais, dubbed the “Electronics Valley.”

Home to over 150 companies, including 50 startups, the city annually generates over R$3.2 billion (US$640 million).

With the festival influx, the town’s 40,000-strong population is expected to nearly double.

This surge could bolster the local economy by an estimated R$30 million, a R$5 million increase from the previous year, factoring in expenditures related to consumption, accommodation, and tourism.

HackTown offers discussions and immersive experiences throughout the city, adopting a decentralized approach and utilizing diverse venues, including restaurants, bars, and theaters.

This year’s theme, “Reinvention,” encourages discourse on how creativity and innovation can bring forth new business structures and insights.

The event’s co-founder, João Rubens, remarked on its intent to spotlight fresh perspectives and foster innovative solutions with global implications.

Founded by Rubens and two innovation enthusiasts, the event now sees discussions on topics like the influence of generative AIs.

A notable milestone was Google’s participation in 2017, drawing more corporate attention. This year, major firms like Unilever, Banco BV, and Sebrae are supporting the event.

Growing investments have expanded the festival, with a 20% increase in speakers from last year, including international experts.

Highlighted speakers for this edition include Ester Sabino, who led the sequencing of the Sars-CoV-2 genome, and Laura Ancona, the Head of Content for Amazon’s Alexa in Brazil.