Danielle Marques aims to connect the black founders with the world’s main innovation centers
In 2022, Danielle Marques found herself in what would become a decisive moment in her life. Walking through her neighborhood on the outskirts of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil one day, she was boarding a plane at Silicon Valley the next day. The contrast she saw between these two worlds – a Brazilian neighborhood against the epicenter of global technology innovation – was not merely geographical, but a confrontation with representation itself.
With a business backdrop, the trajectory of marks was driven by education and a discovery about the racial secession of the entrepreneurship. During the pandemic, while working in a technological company in the real estate sector, Marques began to actively redirect her career to innovation while studying the landscape for black founders.
She then found that most Brazilian entrepreneurs are black – 53%, according to data from the National Service for Small and Medium Enterprises (SEBRAE) – still excluded from innovation conversations. “I would often go to technological events discussing the diversity that only white men presented,” Marques told Forbes in an interview.
This contradiction aroused an idea. “If Silicon Valley’s innovations were affecting my community without our participation, I decided that I would relieve it myself, even if I had no means to get there,” she said. Through a campaign to raise funds that went viral, she raised enough money to make that first trip to San Francisco, without predicting how dramatically it would reshape her future.
“I was shocked that many things considered super innovative [in Silicon Valley] There were parallels with my reality at home, and thought that black entrepreneurs could escalate if they had access to knowledge and networking, “she noted. Among a group of 70 people, marquet was the only black woman.
Marques then turned her discomfort into action. “I couldn’t keep all that knowledge of myself,” she explains. “I felt responsible, because so many people had contributed to my fundraising campaign to make the trip possible.”
Upon her return to Brazil, he made the marquet launch “Do Silêncio Ao Silício”, an initiative that aims to bring black technology entrepreneurs from Brazil to Silicon Valley and using that experience and networking to increase their businesses. The name itself embodies the marriage mission – breaking the silence around the black venture, bringing these innovators directly to Silicon Valley.
Building bridges through experience
The program offers an experience that goes beyond simple tourism. In his 2024 inaugural group, ten technology entrepreneurs were selected by over 300 applicants for a western weekly experience in San Francisco. The program included visits to Stanford University, as well as accelerators such as Plug N’Play and companies such as Google and Meta, meetings with investment funds and participation in Brazil at the Silicon Valley (BSV) conference, organized by Stanford and Berkeley Alumni.
The initiative received personal donations from some visible names of the Brazilian innovation ecosystem. Donors included Fabricio Blois, CEO in the Prosus; Diego Barreto, CEO in the IFOood Food Distribution Giant, Brian Requarth, CEO and founder in the Latitud Venture Capital Fund, among other things. With funds and a series of partnership, Marques was able to get the trip completely covered, from visa applications and passport fees to flight and accommodation. Before the dormitory, participants participate in an eight-month program, including English lessons, and mentoring sessions for aspects such as networking.
“Many of these entrepreneurs are already creating solutions for black and suburban communities,” he noted marks. “This experience strengthens their influence by connecting them to resources, knowledge and networks in which they can never use.”
What began as an initiative to build bridges between black entrepreneurs and the main technology centers has been made since then a business, and by counting its founder the impact is already measurable. “Many of our participants saw an increase in income, new strategic links and expanded employment after returning to Brazil,” Marques said, adding that one of the participants shared their business model, while another provided new mentors who continue to guide their growth.
Addressing systemic barriers
Marques initiative deals with deep systemic challenges. While most Brazilian entrepreneurs are black, many are barely minimal wages. Moreover, less than 5% of Brazil’s black population speaks English – which means that black founders are usually against an important obstacle to international opportunities.
“When you look at the founders of the leading Brazilian technology companies, you will find many studied at American universities such as Harvard or Stanford,” noted marks. “How many black entrepreneurs even consider following an MBA abroad? But after being there, you realize that if you’ve done it so far, you can take even bigger steps.”
The program is not about repeating American innovation models in Brazil, Marques said. On the contrary, it emphasizes the importance of understanding global developments while adapting them to local contexts. “Not everything I consume can adapt to our reality, but it is important to know what is going on and how we can accelerate our models,” noted the founder.
The impact of expansion
Looking forward, the marriage envisions the escalation of the company’s opportunities and influence. It is developing educational offers to democratize access to knowledge, network opportunities through events and a platform to connect entrepreneurs. A podcast and a future newspaper are intended to further extend the extension of the initiative.
The program developed by the Marques business also includes a “give again” component. Entrepreneurs who participate are committed to teaching young people from suburban communities that want to start technology businesses, creating a virtuous cycle of knowledge sharing and opportunities.
“I’ve always believed in making room for more people,” she said. “I have known so many talented individuals who simply haven’t been able to do. If I can reach a place and bring others with me, I will make it happen.”
While currently preparing for a second group focused on Brazil at the Silicon Valley conference in April, Marques dreams of expanding into numerous international innovation centers and increasing the number of entrepreneurs served from ten to fifty or more. In terms of opportunities to develop business, he is also watching opportunities to serve “Intrapreneurs” – professionals working within created companies that face similar challenges in accessing global innovation networks.
Through silêncio ao silício, marques is not simply creating opportunities for a small proportion of entrepreneurs. “We are addressing the gaps of representation that have long excluded black Brazilians from global technology conversations – and ensuring that today’s silence is transformed into tomorrow’s innovation,” she concluded.