en.Wedoany.com Reported - The fourth edition of Minas Summit will be held on the 17th and 18th of this month at BeFly Minascentro in downtown Belo Horizonte. For the first time, artificial intelligence and the gaming market are the core themes of this largest innovation and entrepreneurship event in the state of Minas Gerais. The event is expected to bring together 2,000 startups and 400 speakers, with the connections generated during the event potentially driving approximately R$100 million in business.
Weber Rangel, CEO of Minas Summit, stated that the event aims to bridge the gap between startups, the tech market, and traditional markets, allowing participants to connect with entrepreneurs, investors, and media, thereby providing a positive boost for startups. The event is expected to attract approximately 11,000 participants across seven simultaneous stages, covering business negotiations, startup competitions, investor meetings, thematic exhibition areas, and a dedicated zone for the gaming market. With the theme "The Future is Now," the event will address topics including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, health, industry, mining, entrepreneurship, science, and technology.
Data for the 2026 Minas Summit indicates 11,000 participants, 80 exhibitors, 2,000 startups, 400 speakers, 100 hours of content, and an expected R$100 million in business volume. A key innovation of this edition is the presentation format, with most sessions limited to around 30 minutes to increase thematic diversity and adapt to new information consumption habits.
Artificial intelligence will take center stage at the event. Besides being integrated into most discussions, it will have a dedicated space on the Casa do Baile stage, showcasing its practical applications in economic sectors such as agriculture, health, industry, marketing, and services, with a focus on productivity, competitiveness, and business opportunities. Rangel emphasized that the goal is to help participants develop critical thinking about the application of AI in business and daily life. He noted that the market is still in a learning phase, with potential for massive disruption in the next five years, and that proper use of AI could increase productivity by up to 50 times.
In addition to AI, the event features dedicated tracks on health tech, science and technology, corporate venture capital, and innovation applied to mining, steel, industry, and cybersecurity. Rangel pointed out that cybersecurity is one of the most important topics in Brazil today, as the country is among the most targeted by cyberattacks globally, and the event has scheduled a full day of content on this subject.
This edition of Minas Summit has, for the first time, reserved part of its agenda for the gaming market. Rangel explained that this sector is composed of 98% independent game developers who work from home and have already generated millions in revenue. This model brings financial returns to the state and city through game development, global outsourcing, and selling dollar-denominated products to the U.S. market. Paulo Justino, CEO of the FCJ Group, stated that these game developers need support to expand their production and promotion, and that successful cases originating from Belo Horizonte and reaching the world could emerge by 2027.
The FCJ Group's support begins with the fundamentals of structuring a business plan, provides access to funding through crowdfunding platforms, and creates networking opportunities. The CEO of the FCJ Group, which organizes Minas Summit, also stated that gaming is the next wave of support for the group, following startups and corporate sectors. The Belo Horizonte Technology Park (BH-TEC) is participating as a co-organizer for the second consecutive year. Its president, Marco Crocco, emphasized that participating in the event is crucial for building bridges between science and business and driving the development of the innovation ecosystem in Minas Gerais.
In the second half of the year, the Minas Summit project will again tour inland cities of Minas Gerais. Confirmed partners include Betim in the Greater Belo Horizonte region, Congonhas in the central region, and Viçosa in the Zona da Mata region. Rangel emphasized that these cities have different economic potentials, and the event aims to bring the innovation movement to these locations, diversify the economic base, and foster new business development. Additionally, the 20 most promising startups will compete in an innovation contest. A panel of experts, investors, and market representatives will evaluate them based on criteria such as innovativeness, growth potential, business model, and execution capability. The top three will receive prizes of R$50,000, R$30,000, and R$10,000, respectively.
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