With two major global events coming up — the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics — now sounds like a good time for the Brazilian government to announce a startup accelerator program. The country’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is offering up to $78 million to entrepreneurs that apply to Start-Up Brasil for one of 100 slots. Selected participants will go through a business accelerator for six to 12 months. About one-quarter of available slots will go to foreign companies, but only if they plan to stay for a few years; the government will help them get visas.

Start-Up Brasil director Felipe Matos wasn’t a huge fan of the government when he started his own incubator, but when he was approached to run this project, he “thought that this would be a fantastic opportunity to do something for the Brazilian startup ecosystem.” He believes that businesses can take advantage of a shift towards those who can afford to choose entrepreneurship over other professions. Brazil is the second South American country to create this type of program; Chile began its version in 2010.   StartUp in Brazil

 Apply by November 19. 2013 startupbrasil.21212.com/