Building the Future: One Business at a Time

Dona Claudia makes the best brigadeiros in Santo Andre. Ask anyone in her neighborhood and they'll tell you — her cakes have been the centerpiece of every birthday party, wedding, and graduation for the past twelve years. She has a loyal customer base, a WhatsApp contact list with over 300 names, and a reputation built entirely on word-of-mouth.

What she doesn't have is a website. No Google presence. No online menu. No way for someone who just moved to Santo Andre to find her unless a neighbor happens to mention her name. She's a thriving business in her own block and completely invisible two streets over.

Claudia is fictional. But her story isn't. In Brazil, millions of independent professionals and microentrepreneurs run successful operations with zero digital presence. Electricians, seamstresses, bakers, mechanics, therapists, lawyers — people who are exceptional at what they do but who, when it comes to the digital world, simply don't exist.

This is the problem we decided to do something about.

The Invisible Majority

Brazil has nearly 15 million registered microentrepreneurs (MEIs), making it one of the largest populations of small-scale independent businesses in the world. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, 3.87 million new small businesses were opened — a growth of 18.7% compared to the previous year. Of those, 77% are MEIs. This is an entrepreneurial powerhouse.

But here's the disconnect. While Brazil boasts 188 million internet users and 87% penetration, the digital economy still largely bypasses its smallest players. Globally, research shows that roughly 27% of small businesses still don't have a website — and in emerging markets like Brazil, where the informal economy is massive and digital literacy varies wildly by region, that number is significantly higher among independent workers and micro-scale operations.

The consequences are real and measurable. Studies consistently show that 81% of consumers research online before making a purchase. A business without a website isn't just missing a marketing channel — it's missing the primary way modern customers discover, evaluate, and trust a service provider. For a baker in the interior of Sao Paulo, a plumber in Recife, or a therapist in Belo Horizonte, being digitally invisible means being economically capped. Your growth is limited to however far your reputation can travel on foot.

And that's the heart of the issue. It's not that these professionals lack talent, ambition, or demand for their services. They lack access to the tools that would make them findable. The technology gap isn't about willingness — it's about resources, knowledge, and the simple fact that nobody has shown up to help.

Our Commitment: One Business, Every Month

At Marlow.dev.br, we believe technology only truly transforms when it reaches the people who need it most. So we made a concrete commitment — not a vague promise, not a "someday" initiative. A specific, measurable, recurring action.

Here's what each selected professional receives:

• A professional, responsive website OR a functional iOS application — built to their specific business needs, not a cookie-cutter template
• A custom domain, configured and ready to go
• Hosting fully covered for up to 3 years — no hidden fees, no "free trial" that expires

There's no financial counterpart required. No equity ask. No catch. The only requirement is straightforward: you must be an independent professional or microentrepreneur who currently has no digital presence.

One business a month. Twelve a year. That's the commitment.

Why We Do This

I didn't start in tech. I started as a mechanical engineer from Santo Andre, in the ABC Paulista region of Greater Sao Paulo — the same kind of neighborhood where that fictional brigadeiro baker runs her business. A place where skilled tradespeople and small entrepreneurs are the backbone of the local economy.

My transition into technology — from mechanical engineering to RPA development, then to leading enterprise automation projects — changed the trajectory of my life. I went from designing physical systems in one city to building digital solutions that save millions across three continents, working from anywhere in the world. Technology gave me that. Not privilege. Not connections. Technology and the opportunity to access it.

Our tagline is "Building the Future, From Anywhere." And I take the "anywhere" part seriously. It means I can work from Lisbon, Tokyo, or Buenos Aires. But it also means the future shouldn't be built only for people who already have access. "Anywhere" has to include the bakery on Rua das Flores, the electrician in the suburbs of Fortaleza, the seamstress who's never had anyone explain to her that a simple website could double her client base.

This program is how we pay it forward. Not with charity, but with capability. We're not giving anyone a fish or teaching them to fish — we're building them a boat and putting them in the water.

How It Works

We designed the process to be simple. No bureaucracy, no complex application forms, no hoops to jump through. If you qualify, we want to make it as easy as possible.

Applications open on the 1st of every month. Anyone can apply — or nominate someone they know. You don't need to be tech-savvy to participate. You just need to be an independent professional or microentrepreneur with no current website or app.

Selection is based on two criteria: potential impact and genuine need. We look for professionals whose businesses would benefit most from digital visibility — people with strong local reputations who just need the tools to expand their reach.

Once selected, we start with a conversation. A kickoff call to understand the business, the clients, and what kind of digital presence would make the biggest difference. We don't assume a website is always the answer — sometimes an iOS app is the better fit, depending on how their customers interact with them.

Delivery happens within 30 days. No six-month timelines. No scope creep. A focused, professional build that goes live within a month.

After launch, we provide 3 months of support. Updates, fixes, guidance on how to maintain the site. We don't drop you off and disappear.

That's it. Apply. Talk. Build. Launch. Grow.

Three Ways You Can Help

This program only works if the right people hear about it. And that's where you come in.

1. Know an independent professional who deserves digital visibility?

A baker, mechanic, therapist, lawyer, electrician, or any skilled independent worker who runs a great business but has no website? Nominate them.

2. Are you an independent professional or microentrepreneur without a website?

If your business runs on referrals and WhatsApp but has no online presence, this program was designed for you. Apply now.

3. Are you a developer who wants to contribute?

We're always looking for fellow devs who share this vision and want to volunteer their skills for a build. Get in touch.

There are 15 million microentrepreneurs in Brazil. Millions more independent professionals who never formalized but do exceptional work every single day. They build houses, fix cars, bake cakes, heal bodies, style hair, and keep communities running. They don't need pity or handouts. They need a website.

We can't reach all of them. But we can reach twelve a year. And if that inspires one other company, one other developer, one other person with the skills to build for the web — then the ripple goes further than we ever could alone.

One business a month. Twelve a year. Technology that reaches those who build the future with their hands.

— Marlow Sousa
Founder, Marlow.dev.br