During the third panel of AS/COA's Rio conference, moderated by Rio Negócios CEO Marcelo Haddad, participants examined steps Rio de Janeiro can take to become a place for technology research and development. Karin Breitman, general manager of EMC Corporation's Brazil R&D Center, said that brain drain is an issue, and she expressed the need to entice Brazilians with advanced degrees to return to or stay in Brazil.

Speakers:

• Guruduth Banavar, Vice President, Industry Solutions Research, IBM Corporation
• Karin Breitman, General Manager of the Brazil R&D Center, EMC Corporation
• Marco Stefanini, Founder and President, Stefanini IT Solutions
• Marcelo Haddad, CEO, Rio Negócios (moderator)

Partipicants of the second panel during AS/COA's Rio conference came to the conclusion that the Brazilian city doesn't necessarily need to become a Silicon Valley, but that it should embrace entrepreneurship. Felipe Matos, chief operations officer of Startup Brasil, said that Brazil's Y Generation is more entrepreneurial, which will help build startup networks.

Speakers:

• Kevin Efrusy, Partner, Accel Partners
• Scott Cutler, Executive Vice President, Global Listing, NYSE Euronext
• Felipe Matos, COO, Startup Brasil
• Juliano Seabra, Managing Director, Endeavor Brasil (moderator)

During the first panel of AS/COA's Rio de Janeiro conference, participants discussed Brazil's growing startup ecosystem and the challenges that remain ahead. Benjamin White, one of the founders of 21212 Digital Accelerator, said that in Rio "there's an abundance of opportunity but a dearth of experience."

Speakers:

• Francisco Alvarez-Demalde, Founder and Partner, Riverwood Capital Partners
• Márcio Kumruian, Founder and CEO, Netshoes
• Eduardo Klingelhoefer, Head of the Department of Funds, BNDES
• Benjamin White, Founder, 21212 Digital Accelerator
• Moderator: Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

In partnership with Rio Negocios, AS/COA held a conference in Rio de Janeiro focused on entrepreneurship and innovation, recreating Silicon Valley in Latin America, and technology in Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro is attracting billions of dollars in investments leading up to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, as well as a result of recent offshore oil discoveries. But infrastructure and oil are not the only sectors booming in the state. Entrepreneurs are choosing Rio de Janeiro as a base to found startups, and a flourishing technology scene is emerging as large foreign companies build world-class research centers.

Panelists:

• Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro
• Maria Silvia Bastos Marques, President, Municipal Olympic Company
• Francisco Alvarez-Demalde, Founder and Partner, Riverwood Capital Partners
• Guruduth Banavar, Vice President, Industry Solutions Research, IBM Corporation
• Karin Breitman, General Manager of the Brazil R&D Center, EMC Corporation
• Scott Cutler, Executive Vice President, Global Listing, NYSE Euronext
• Kevin Efrusy, Partner, Accel Partners
• Marcelo Haddad, CEO, Rio Negocios
• Eduardo Klingelhoefer de Sá, Head of the Department of Investment Funds, Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES)
• Marcio Kumruian, Founder and CEO, Netshoes
• Felipe Matos, COO, Startup Brasil
• Juliano Seabra, Managing Director, Endeavor Brasil
• Susan Segal, President and CEO, AS/COA
• Marco Stefanini, Founder and President, Stefanini IT Solutions
• Benjamin White, Founder, 21212 Digital Accelerator

In partnership with Rio Negócios, AS/COA held a half-day conference in Rio de Janeiro focused on entrepreneurship and innovation, recreating Silicon Valley in Latin America, and technology in Rio de Janeiro.

Opening keynote speaker, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes, focused on Rio as a global city, as well as the constructive impact of upcoming mega-events. He noted that Rio is "a city that believes in entrepreneurship," and one with great opportunities given the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.