Ceará Launches New Funding Program to Boost Tech-Based Impact Businesses Amid SME Management Challenges
Ceará launches a new funding edital supporting tech-based impact businesses, while a Visa study sheds light on management challenges faced by Brazilian SMEs.
- • CENI launches 'Você, é Empreendedor! Negócios de Impacto' to fund 10 tech-based impact ventures with up to R$50,000 each.
- • 82% of Brazilian SMEs make decisions based on urgent needs rather than ideal timing, per Visa study.
- • 46% of SMEs still use non-digital financial management methods despite 82% engaging with some technology.
- • 91% of SMEs want to improve management skills, highlighting a need for practical business education.
Key details
The State Committee for Impact Businesses (CENI) in Ceará concluded its final 2025 meeting on December 25, unveiling a new initiative to support technology-driven impact ventures. The "Você, é Empreendedor! Negócios de Impacto" program will provide up to R$50,000 and an acceleration process for ten selected businesses, helping them validate business models, prototype products, and prepare for fundraising. Secretary Domingos Filho stressed the urgency of immediately implementing the strategic agenda, with an emphasis on expanding impact economy initiatives to Ceará’s interior through regionalization and consortia engagement.
In tandem with this push, a study by Visa and BMC revealed challenging realities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Brazil: 82% do not wait for ideal moments to make decisions, acting instead out of urgent necessity. Nearly half (46%) still rely on non-digital tools for financial management, though 82% engage with some technology, including AI. The research shows SMEs grapple with maintaining emergency financial reserves, supplier optimization, team management, and expense handling.
Carla Mita, Vice President of Marketing at Visa Brazil, highlighted that 91% of SMEs express a strong desire to improve management skills, favoring practical, easily implementable solutions. Moreover, 58% wish to dedicate more time to growing their businesses, while 54% prioritize balancing financial and emotional health before planning expansion.
CENI President Rennys Frota underscored the committee's collective resolve to build a cohesive impact ecosystem that marries economic development with social justice and environmental sustainability. The next committee meeting is set for January 21, 2026, aiming to reinforce inter-institutional collaboration and territorial reach.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.