When people talk about the factors that lead to a thriving venture capital ecosystem, they normally mention proximity to a top institution of higher learning, flexible immigration policies, access to capital, and a talented labor pool.
But what about the role of the press?
I would argue that the press plays an equally important role in the development and growth of any venture capital ecosystem.
Those of you who were around during the Dot Com era will surely remember the seminal contributions made by magazines such as The Industry Standard and Red Herring.
Though the format in which information is delivered has changed--from magazines to blogs--the essential role of the press, in disseminating that information, has remained the same.
While there are numerous excellent sources to choose from in the United States, including: PEHub, VentureBeat, AlwaysOn, GigaOM, Read Write Web, Mashable, TechCrunch, and others, there has historically been a lack of information in Brazil.
That is why I was so happy when I first learned of the existence of Startupi.
Startupi, whose name derives from the Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation of the word, "start-up", is a site dedicated to covering the nascent Brazilian start-up scene.
Startupi is important because it provides Brazilian entrepreneurs, start-ups, and venture capitalists with a source of news, ideas, know-how, and inspiration.
Since I believe strongly in the role of the press in creating a thriving venture capital ecosystem, I recently contributed a presentation to Startupi, Understanding Venture Capital, which attempts to orient entrepreneurs on the logic underpinning the practice of venture capital.
As a member of the start-up/venture capital ecosystem in Brazil, I see it as my duty to help them build a vibrant community and hope that my contribution will stimulate others to begin contributing material to support their efforts.
Aside from Startupi, two other sites that feature information for start-ups in Portuguese are Juliano Vasconcelos' blog for Globo, Acelerando a Inovacao, and Read Write Web Brasil, which just launched a Portuguese language site a few weeks ago.
With the rapid growth and professionalization of the Brazilian start-up scene, I wouldn't be surprised if these blogs were to join the ranks of the Mashable and TechCrunch's of the world in the not too distant future! :)
