They did it! The Brazilian price comparison site, created 10 years ago by 4 colleagues, was sold almost in its entirety to a foreign group. The media company Naspers announced today that it bought 91% of the Brazilian e-commerce business BuscaPé for US$ 342 million. I am in contact with them to get more information, especially the perspective of the entrepreneurs. Read more…
In the final days of August we could follow (in person or on the web) an array of Brazilian events related to the participative web. Some are more niche, but even so they are relevant in their context. They show that the Internet matters in Brazil. In September, there are as many events. Read more…
In his visit to Brazil this week, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg (pictured at left) announced a Brazilian Applications Challenge. Aiming at the development of third party applications within Facebook’s own site, as well as integration with external sites, the challenge will offer prize money to Brazilian developers.
Mark has involved the press, bloggers and students in his first visit to Brazil. He arrived Sunday night and stayed in São Paulo, where on the following day he gave interviews and participated in a chat with invited bloggers (including myself).
Read on to learn more about this meeting, see photos, and watch videos of the workshop with developers, which addressed strategies like that which the portal Terra just implemented. Read more…
Indica is a relationship network specifically for job listings. It has something in common with sites like LinkedIn and professional Human Resources services like CathOnline, but it is service of a type I had not seen before, launched by an exemplary startup.
The entrepreneurs did their homework well, defining a product, a business model and a strategy before approaching investors. They proceeded to support and launch the network. Are you familiar with it? I tried the service and spoke with the CEO about the project. Read more…
He is 25 years old, with a casual manner and enormous success: the idea he had turned into one of the most-used web services in the world, and they say it was influential in electing Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States.
He is Mark Elliot Zuckerberg; the toy he created that lays the golden eggs is Facebook; and he will be here in Brazil to give a lecture (to be transmitted via the web) and a workshop Tuesday, August 4th (see links below).
And what of it? What does this mean for him and for Facebook? And for the Brazilian Facebook users? If you don’t think this is very important, now’s the time to reconsider! After all, “what’s on your mind?” I say: welcome to the Brazilian Guide to Facebook!
What does big business have to do with the Internet, individuals, universities and the environment? The students sould tell that, and win gadgets - besides helping improve the quality of life on our planet. The rewards would be economic, social and environmental. It could be an new era. Read more…
