São Paulo launches Fashion Sampa accelerator; Santo André opens free women’s entrepreneurship course

The São Paulo municipal government is accepting applications until 22 July for the third edition of Fashion Sampa: Acelerando Moda e Costura, a program that will select 25 sustainable fashion businesses to receive R$30,000 each for equipment, materials and free technical training. The accelerator, which begins in September, aims to strengthen creators such as e‑commerce Afrikini and Ateliê Transform, which turns Brás‑area textile waste into new fabrics. Secretary of Economic Development Rodrigo Goulart said, “Fashion Sampa is a concrete opportunity to strengthen entrepreneurs in fashion with creativity and purpose.”

Meanwhile, the Santo André city hall opened registrations for the second edition of the Circuito Mulheres Empreendedoras course, a free 32‑hour program running 20–29 July at the Cras Vila Luzita. Limited to 40 women, the course covers marketing, finance and business formalisation, part of the broader Sebrae Delas – 1000 Women initiative that supported over 3,500 female entrepreneurs in 2022. The municipality also highlighted a new tech‑park portal to connect local startups, investors and service providers.