FIEMG Lab

What FIEMG Lab does

FIEMG Lab is an open innovation hub founded in 2016 and operated as a non-profit initiative of the Instituto Euvaldo Lodi (IEL) within FIEMG (Federação das Indústrias do Estado de Minas Gerais), headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. It functions as a two-sided intermediation platform connecting large industrial enterprises with B2B IndTech startups, with a stated track record of 260 industries impacted, 380 startups impacted, 160 paid proof-of-concepts completed, and 7,250+ business meetings mediated. The hub's product surface is structured around four components: the FIEMG Lab Digital platform (a phygital environment with AI-powered matchmaking between industry challenges and startup solutions), the Challenge FIEMG Lab program (a five-phase open innovation methodology that runs paid PoCs over approximately 12 weeks), the Impulso community (a curated membership base of 900+ startups with speed-dating and event programming), and the FIEMG Lab 4.0 B2B acceleration program. Auxiliary products include FIEMG Lab Inova Jovem (student innovation) and digital-twin partner integrations.

The enterprise customer base is anchored by marquee Brazilian industrial players — Vale, Anglo American, Gerdau, Stellantis, Novo Nordisk, Usiminas, RHI Magnesita, CNH Industrial, Belgo Arames, and Copasa — spanning mining, steel, automotive, pharma, energy, and sanitation verticals. The hub supplements enterprise-facing programs with an Open Innovation Playbook series published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, and was ranked #1 in the 100 Open Startups ranking.

Business model revenue is generated through two recurring streams: (1) industry partner subscriptions and program fees for the Indústrias do Futuro / Challenge programs, paid by large enterprises seeking structured startup scouting and validated pilot outcomes, and (2) Impulso community membership fees paid by startups seeking access to corporate decision-makers. The non-profit institutional structure under FIEMG/IEL means revenue is reinvested into program operations rather than distributed, and the hub operates with a lean team of 11–50 employees. Geographic footprint is concentrated in Brazil, with the institutional anchor in Minas Gerais providing regulatory and political goodwill from the federation system.

Name

FIEMG Lab

Legal name

FIEMG Lab

Website

https://fiemglab.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FIEMG Lab is Brazil's first open innovation hub, founded in 2016 under FIEMG/IEL, connecting large industrial enterprises (Vale, Anglo American, Gerdau, Stellantis) with B2B IndTech startups via AI-powered matchmaking, structured Challenge programs with paid PoCs, and the Impulso community of 900+ startups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Open Innovation Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

Keywords

• Open innovation hub
• Corporate-startup matching
• Industrial proof of concept
• Startup acceleration programs
• Innovation consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Belo Horizonte

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industry Partnership Programs: FIEMG Lab generates value by connecting industries to innovative startups through Challenge programs and community membership. Revenue is derived from industry partner subscriptions and program fees for the Indústrias do Futuro (Industries of the Future) program.
2. Impulso Community Membership: Startups pay to join the Impulso community, gaining access to speed datings, challenge presentations, paid PoCs, and strategic events. Revenue model based on community membership fees.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FIEMG Lab is an open innovation hub that connects industrial enterprises with startups through structured Challenge programs (paid Proofs of Concept), a digital matching platform (FIEMG Lab Digital), a startup community (Impulso), and an acceleration program (FIEMG Lab 4.0). It serves industrial companies seeking open innovation partnerships and B2B startups (IndTechs) offering industrial solutions, facilitating connections through AI-powered curation, structured methodologies, and in-person events.

Product overview

FIEMG Lab is Brazil's first open innovation hub connecting startups with industries, operating as a platform-plus-program architecture. The core platform is FIEMG Lab Digital, a phygital environment integrating AI-powered matchmaking between industry challenges and startup solutions. The ecosystem includes the Challenge FIEMG Lab program for structured open innovation challenges, the Impulso Community for ongoing startup-industry connections, FIEMG Lab 4.0 acceleration program for B2B startups, plus educational playbooks/e-books and networking events (Expresso, Estação 4.0, Summit). The hub has facilitated connections with 260 industries, 380 startups, and 160 Proofs of Concept, ranking #1 in the 100 Open Startups ranking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FIEMG Lab Digital: Digital platform that connects industrial challenges to startup solutions using artificial intelligence and specialized curation.
• Impulso
• FIEMG Lab 4.0
• Challenge FIEMG Lab

Products and services

• FIEMG Lab Digital A phygital platform that integrates FIEMG Lab's initiatives and uses AI and specialized curation to connect industries with innovative startup solutions, providing access to a mature technology network and facilitating real business opportunities. Targets industrial enterprises and B2B startups.
• Challenge FIEMG Lab An open innovation challenge program that connects industries with startups to solve specific business challenges through 5 structured phases (inscription, classification, technical leveling, contracting, and paid Proof of Concept execution over ~12 weeks). Targets industrial enterprises and B2B startups (IndTechs).
• Impulso Community A startup community that connects industries with innovative solutions through speed dating sessions, challenge presentations, paid proof of concept opportunities, and networking at strategic hub events. Targets B2B startups seeking access to industrial decision-makers.
• FIEMG Lab 4.0 A B2B startup development and acceleration program that supports startups with business and technology guidance, connects them to the market, and provides financial resources for Proof of Concept projects between startups and industries. Targets B2B startups offering industrial solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 260 industries impacted by open innovation programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IEL (Instituto Euvaldo Lodi)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIEMG Lab is a pioneering initiative of IEL (Instituto Euvaldo Lodi), within the scope of FIEMG (Federação das Indústrias do Estado de Minas Gerais). IEL provides institutional backing and operational support for the hub's programs and activities.
• FIEMG (Federação das Indústrias do Estado de Minas Gerais)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIEMG is the parent organization of FIEMG Lab. The hub collaborates to position Minas Gerais as a reference in industrial innovation in Brazil and strengthen production chains.
• ValecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVale is a core partner and participating industry (Indústria do Futuro) in the Challenge FIEMG Lab program, with multiple editions of the Vale Challenge focused on mining innovation challenges such as conveyor belt roller replacement, ore contamination detection, locomotive starting, and ore moisture prediction.
• Anglo AmericancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnglo American is a core partner (Indústria do Futuro) with 6+ editions of the Anglo American Challenge FIEMG Lab, addressing challenges in mining operations including diesel consumption reduction, hydrocyclone data collection, refractory lining lifespan prediction, and alumina content reduction.
• GerdaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerdau is a core partner (first industry partner of FIEMG Lab) with 6+ editions of the Gerdau Challenge FIEMG Lab. Challenges include buried pipeline anomaly detection, metallic structure inspection automation, charcoal monitoring, and pest counting in eucalyptus.
• StellantiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStellantis participates in Challenge FIEMG Lab with multiple editions addressing freight payment management and ethanol usage incentives in flex-fuel vehicles. FIEMG Lab connected Stellantis with the Trashin startup which won the Stellantis Venture Awards.
• Novo NordiskcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovo Nordisk participates in Challenge FIEMG Lab with 3+ editions addressing particle counting automation, waste management automation, and batch changeover optimization at their pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Montes Claros/MG.
• UsiminascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUsiminas participates in Challenge FIEMG Lab with challenges including cylinder profile measurement, blending optimization for sintering, conveyor belt monitoring, and integrated load planning.
• RHI MagnesitacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRHI Magnesita participates in Challenge FIEMG Lab with challenges focused on CO2 footprint reduction, intelligent planning of recyclable refractory material purchases, and smart service contract management.
• CopasaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCopasa is listed as an Industries of the Future partner, providing water and sanitation sector perspective to the innovation ecosystem.
• Belgo AramesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgo Arames is listed as an Industries of the Future partner participating in the FIEMG Lab ecosystem.
• CNH IndustrialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNH Industrial (parent of Case New Holland and Iveco) is an Industries of the Future partner. Their executive Paulo Máximo serves as Director of Commercial Services and Planning, leading innovation for CNH Latin America.
• Newton PaivaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNewton Paiva collaborated on the 'Transformando Talentos' e-book, developed to prepare professionals for innovation roles, providing educational content and methodology.
• BIP BrasilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIP Brasil partnered with FIEMG Lab on the 'Mineração do Futuro - Radar de Startups' publication, presenting startups and trends for the future of mining with focus on ESG, safety, recycling, and resource management.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Distrito: Distrito operates a corporate innovation platform in Brazil, offering startup scouting, mapping, and open innovation solutions to enterprises. Its model of building curated startup databases and matchmaking tools directly overlaps with FIEMG Lab Digital.
• Cubo Itaú: Cubo Itaú is a major innovation hub in São Paulo backed by Itaú Unibanco, fostering connections between startups, corporates, and investors. It competes for the same enterprise open innovation and startup community engagement that FIEMG Lab pursues in the industrial sector.
• Liga Ventures: Liga Ventures is a Brazilian open innovation platform that connects large corporations with startups through corporate venture, scouting, and structured innovation programs. It competes directly with FIEMG Lab's Challenge FIEMG Lab and Impulso community in the corporate-startup matching space.

Others

• Endeavor Brasil: Endeavor is a global organization supporting high-impact entrepreneurs, with a strong Brazil presence. It is not a direct competitor but operates in the same ecosystem, supporting scale-up startups that may eventually join FIEMG Lab's industrial challenge programs.
• 100 Open Startups: 100 Open Startups is a ranking and open innovation network that recognizes the top corporate-startup collaboration programs in Brazil and Latin America. FIEMG Lab has been ranked #1 by this organization, indicating the network both validates and competes for attention in the open innovation ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Techstars is a global accelerator network with accelerator programs and corporate innovation partnerships. While it does not focus on industrial verticals in Brazil, it is a comparable global model of structured startup acceleration and corporate-startup connection.
• Wayra (Telefónica): Wayra is Telefónica's global corporate innovation and venture arm with a presence in Brazil, offering startup acceleration, corporate venture, and open innovation services. It is a broader incumbent operating across multiple sectors rather than specializing in industrial verticals.
• ACE Startups: ACE Startups is one of Brazil's largest startup accelerators, offering acceleration programs and corporate-startup connections. While broader in scope than FIEMG Lab, it competes for the same pool of Brazilian startups and corporate innovation budgets.

Regional players

• SEED (Startups and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development): SEED and other Minas Gerais-based innovation initiatives operate in the same regional ecosystem as FIEMG Lab, often partnering with FIEMG/SENAI/SESI. They overlap on startup community building and corporate-startup engagement in the Minas Gerais market.

Emerging players

• Darwin Starter: Darwin Starter is a Brazilian pre-acceleration program for early-stage startups. It operates in the same Brazilian startup ecosystem, addressing an adjacent stage of the startup lifecycle compared to FIEMG Lab's B2B/industrial focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/FiemglabBrasil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fiemglab
• Instagraminstagram.com/fiemglab
• Xx.com/fiemglab
• Facebookfacebook.com/fiemglab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FIEMG Lab