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For the fourth consecutive year, the startup from Rio Grande do Sul, Pix Force, is highlighted in the ranking of 100 Open Startups, an international platform dedicated to connecting large corporations to startups that present innovative solutions to the market. In 2018 and 2019, the Rio Grande do Sul startup achieved the first position in the Computer Vision category, while in 2020 and 2021 it led the list of innovative businesses in Artificial Intelligence, proving its expertise in an increasingly competitive market. The annual classification of thousands of startups is based on levels of attractiveness to the market, being a recognition for the Brazilian startup ecosystem, business models capable of expanding national competitiveness in different sectors, generating economic growth through innovative solutions. The startups participating in the ranking are evaluated by a network of experts, investors, executives, and large corporations that have programs aimed at fostering innovation. The greater the number of contracts signed and relationships established with the market, the better the final position in the ranking. The prospecting and search work for new business models carried out by the startup from Rio Grande do Sul also resulted in sixth place in the overall listing of 100 Open Startups in the last two years. A reference in promoting solutions in Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to images, the Rio Grande do Sul startup presents to the Brazilian innovation market the advantages of doing business with giants of different sectors, contributing to healthy economic development. Among the companies served are ArcelorMittal, CPFL, Eneva, and Suvinil, organizations already consolidated in the market and willing to introduce innovation into their processes. Driven by the work carried out by Brazilian startups in different segments, the introduction of new technologies has brought benefits to the most varied economic sectors. For the mining industry, Pix Force has been developing projects that guarantee efficiency and safety for the transport of ore and other inputs, acting directly in the incorporation of solutions in AI applied to computer vision. Founded in 2016, the Rio Grande do Sul startup develops technologies using AI and machine learning, generating information for different sectors through the automatic acquisition and interpretation of images and videos – a process also called computer vision. The initiative has already consolidated itself through contracts with giants from different segments, such as the mining and electric power industries, resulting in investments in projects exceeding R$ 7 million. According to one of the co-founders of the startup, Renato Gomes, the need to democratize the use of images, making their capture and analysis more accessible to the Brazilian industry, led the startup to bring solutions to a latent pain point in the market. Quote: “When we began the first conversations about founding Pix Force, in 2014, capturing and analyzing images was an extremely expensive process and difficult to access. But we have always chosen to work very closely with the real challenges faced by the market, meeting industrial parameters linked to large-scale production, speed, and precision in delivery,” he explains.
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Pioneering role in different segments
Created from the real demands of the forestry sector for image capture and processing, Pix Force solidified itself by presenting high-precision solutions with fast delivery and low cost. In 2014, when the initial conversations that resulted in the creation of the startup took place, the use of drones was gaining ground and the availability of images was becoming increasingly accessible. Initially, the forestry sector proved to be fertile ground for the work carried out by the startup. The broad and solid structure of the market made Brazil one of the global leaders in the production of forests for pulp and paper, allowing the introduction of new technologies to find openings to make the scale of production even more efficient. After serving already consolidated companies in the area, the business opportunity expanded, leading Pix Force to reach other sectors and establish partnerships with giants from different segments. One of the startup's differentials is related to the choice of working with real demands presented by clients, distancing itself from the so-called ideation, a phase in which business models are created based on what is believed will be absorbed by the market. This choice forced the startup to adapt, since its foundation, to high-level industrial parameters, taking into account strategic points that encompass large-scale production, high precision in relation to products, and technological adaptability. Quote: “We chose to work very closely with the real pain points of customers, understanding the challenges they bring to us. Based on this, we present solutions around demands that already exist in the market, a choice that is in Pix Force's DNA, seeking challenges presented by large companies that are references in their sectors,” explains Renato.
One of the solutions developed by Pix Force, Deeptrack, is capable of ensuring greater agility, practicality, and safety for the logistics of the mining industry. Drones equipped with infrared and RGB sensors are capable of flying over kilometers of conveyor belts for iron ore and other inputs, transforming the images captured by the aircraft into thermographic inspection reports that will be evaluated later. By integrating computer vision into the mining industry, the solution acts directly on problems faced by the transport of raw materials and inputs, preventing unexpected stoppages, risks to workers, and wasted money.
Need for innovation in the Brazilian market
The ability of technology to reach more and more markets has never been faster, as has the Brazilian innovation ecosystem, which is undergoing an unprecedented process of expansion. According to 100 Open Startups, 3,334 corporations signed contracts with startups in 2021, a number that already exceeds last year's total figure. The number of startups that collaborated with large companies jumped from 13,092 in 2020 to 18,355 in 2021. The introduction of new technologies into the market becomes increasingly urgent if Brazilian companies want to increase their competitiveness. After all, by working directly with data management, AI solutions allow managers to make more assertive decisions, following their strategic priorities. Quote: “Much of our consolidation is related to the moment we are living in. Today we have a confluence of factors that make it possible for companies to incorporate technology in a much more democratic and affordable way,” says the co-founder.
In addition to the work carried out by the Brazilian startup ecosystem, the incorporation of new technologies in the Brazilian scenario depends directly on companies being open to innovation. Data released by the National Confederation of Industries (CNI) point to the introduction of innovative solutions in the market as a decisive means to minimize damage caused by the pandemic. According to the survey, 83% of industries state that they will need more innovation to survive in the post-Covid-19 scenario. Another co-founder of the Rio Grande do Sul startup, Pix Force, Daniel Moura, reinforces the need for innovation so that established companies continue to grow in the coming years. Quote: “There are consolidated organizations that get complacent and don't make a point of innovating, but our clients are indeed differentiated in this aspect. In addition to having this desire to continue carving out new paths, the companies we serve are looking for the best in terms of technology,” he said.
Expansion through the creation of verticals
Attentive to market demands, in 2019 Pix Force went through a new transformation, reaching the stage it is at currently. To achieve this, it was necessary to decline proposals that had small markets, focused on non-scalable solutions or those highly customized for a specific reality. It is in this scenario that the so-called verticals, new startups born from the demands of Pix Force, gain ground and begin to develop new products. In general, the verticals increased service efficiency in distinct segments, allowing scalable products to reach even more customers. Quote: “At the end of the day, we serve large companies with similar profiles, with demands for high-precision solutions. But each sector has its own way of operating, so we found it more efficient to have verticals that could speak the same language as the customer, presenting the products in a more objective and focused way,” explains Daniel.
One of Pix Force's verticals, Pix Grid, applies technology to increase safety and standardization of operations in the electricity sector, developing solutions for faster access to data, issuance of automatic alerts, increased productivity, and guaranteed agility in results. Through AI, drones equipped with sensors are enabled to perform inspections on transmission lines. Quote: “Today we have products that are unique in the world, which is also part of our DNA. Solutions like those that combine AI for image processing tend to be pioneers in the market, giving us great opportunities to bring innovation to the clients we serve,” he said.
Click here to learn more about the vertical operating in the electricity sector.
AI and computer vision solutions
One of the foundations of Pix Force, AI applied to computer vision has already proven to be extremely efficient in solving different market pain points. In the mining sector, for example, image capture using drones can facilitate various activities, including topographic surveying of the area, ore volume assessment, environmental risk measurement, and increased worker safety. Precisely because it deals with data management and analysis, AI becomes increasingly relevant for managers to make assertive, safe, and precise decisions. Information transparency takes the technological incorporation process to other levels, going far beyond the simple automation of production steps. By betting on innovation, managers rely on partnerships with startups specialized in meeting different demands. While science, innovation, and technology are considered expenses by more conservative groups, in the highly competitive market they are the key to survival and growth. #100open #computervision #startup #ArtificialIntelligence #innovation #technology #pixforce #deeptrack
Fabio Caraça
Fábio Caraça is the Chief Growth Officer at Pix Force. He leads Pix Force's transformation into a scalable SaaS operation, combining strategic vision, culture, and high-impact execution.
