Exploring other countries to learn the landscape and grow a business is not something every entrepreneur has the opportunity to do. But for Brazilian startup founder Arthur Rozenblit, that dream became a reality when he visited North America in May.

The Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) was first introduced to Rozenblit at the Brazil-Canada 3.0 Conference in João Pessoa, Brazil, in December 2013. The conference, funded by the Comitê Gestor da Internet (CGI), was created to enhance digital media collaboration between Canada and Brazil, a commitment made by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in 2011.

It was there that Rozenblit’s startup eStoks, an online marketplace that connects companies that have surplus or overstock to buyers, was recognized during a pitch-off competition between 10 Brazilian companies and ten Canadian companies in Sao Paulo.

“We were elected the best startup there in Brazil,” Rozenblit said during his visit to Waterloo Region’s Communitech Hub on May 22.

That recognition secured Rozenblit a trip to North America, sponsored by OpenText and CDMN, as an opportunity to meet with North American companies and technology hubs, as well as travel to Calgary in October to participate in the Canada 3.0 Conference.

“I’m here to talk to people; I’m here to make this connection.”

After visiting the Communitech Hub, his next Ontario stops included the Accelerator Centre in Waterloo, and MaRS Discovery District and Ryerson University’s Digital Media Zone in Toronto. He then travelled to New York City for meetings and to explore the American business landscape. The last leg of his North American trip took him to Vancouver to visit the BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) and Wavefront in Vancouver.

Now back in Brazil, Rozenblit reflected on the trip. To him, it helped to narrow the gap between Brazilians and Canadians doing business. He believes a soft landing in Canada would be easier to do because of the valuable connections he’s made in North America.

“Hopefully in the future, if we want to open a Canadian branch of eStoks, we now know people who can help us,” he said.  “Networking was the biggest value of all. I believe business is only done by the people. Businesses are for people to perceive their goals and make a better place for themselves and their country. So you need to know the right people, and that was the biggest thing I took out of this trip.”

He also thinks his biggest lesson learned was becoming acquainted with Canadian culture.

“Once you go to a different market, you have to understand that market. You have to understand the culture differences. You really have to understand that before investing. Every country has its own way of behaving and seeing business,” he explained. “When you open your company, the landscape is there for you to explore. I think I needed that innovative dream in my day-to-day.”