Matheus Danemberg, Founder & CEO, Nav9

In the rough-and-tumble world of entrepreneurship, it’s often said that success isn’t about getting it right the first time—it’s about bouncing back one more time than you hit the ground. Maybe you’ve got a brilliant idea that seems like a surefire winner. But as soon as you take that leap of faith, reality smacks you square in the face. Dead ends, setbacks, and failures lurk around every corner, threatening to snuff out your entrepreneurial flame. Yet amidst the hustle and grind, there exist those resilient few who refuse to call it quits. They dust themselves off, roll up their sleeves, and dive right back into the fray, soaking up lessons, adapting, and emerging even stronger. For these tenacious trailblazers, failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s a vital part of the recipe. This story is going to unfurl the inspiring journey of one such exemplary entrepreneur, Matheus Danemberg, a programmer who found the path to success after facing several failures in his entrepreneurial journey.

A Journey of Resilience and Perseverance

Born and raised in Rio Grande do Sul, Matheus was drawn to entrepreneurship from a young age. He started working at the age of 17, and by 20, he was already co-founding a programming company with a friend. Their plans seemed foolproof—compete with the companies he had worked for by offering the same services. But despite their technical prowess, the venture crumbled within a year, teaching Matheus a harsh lesson in business dynamics. “We were two developers armed with ambition and a handful of freelance projects. We thought we had it all figured out, but neither of us knew the first thing about running a real business – we were flying blind,” shares Matheus.”

Despite the setback, Matheus dove headfirst into new ventures, only to taste failure again… and again… and again. “It was incredible, my knack for failing,” he recalls wryly. That’s when he decided— he would never become an entrepreneur again. Thus, he returned to the corporate world, this time wielding a newfound understanding of business dynamics. But the nine-to-five grind couldn’t contain his entrepreneurial spirit. Frustrated by stagnant growth and insurmountable ceilings, Matheus found himself at a crossroads. It was then that he made up his mind to give entrepreneurship another shot. Teaming up with a partner, he ventured into the world of chatbots—a move that landed his startup a coveted spot in Google’s development program. However, reality hit hard once again as they were swiftly disqualified. “It was a brutal wake-up call,” he admits. “We were the first ones disqualified. I finally understood why I’d failed so miserably: I was obsessing over the tech while neglecting the actual business side.” Armed with newfound insight, Matheus sought guidance from mentors like Alan Leite, CEO of Startup Farm, who guided him in his future projects. With these new partnerships, Matheus realized his forte lies in crafting digital products, even if they didn’t initially align with market demands. That’s how Nav9, his first successful company, was born.

Nav9: A Trusted Technology Partner

After a string of startup failures, Matheus finally found his stride with Nav9, a digital product studio that has been making waves since its inception in 2017. With a keen understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and established companies alike, Nav9 serves as a trusted technology partner, bridging the gap between innovative ideas and tangible solutions. At the heart of Nav9’s ethos is a commitment to understanding client needs before taking action—a philosophy that sets them apart in a crowded marketplace. “Our role is to be the technology partner for all companies, whether they are startups or large companies, that have the difficulty of putting their digital solutions into the world,” Matheus explains.

With services spanning product discovery, business agility consulting, full-cycle development, and on-demand engineering, Nav9 has the software arsenal to tackle any digital hurdle. Through their Product Discovery service, they meticulously analyze ideas, gather data, and map out the problems to be solved, ensuring that every proposed direction delivers tangible value for the business. Once the roadmap is set, Nav9’s Product Agility service comes into play, organizing agile processes and assembling the perfect team to execute the plan. From there, their Product Development team takes the reins, leveraging agile management, design, and software engineering to craft effective digital solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs. But Nav9 doesn’t stop there. With their Outsourcing service, they offer specialized technical skills to augment existing teams or tackle long-term projects, empowering clients with greater delivery power. What truly sets Nav9 apart is its Agile Thinking approach—a holistic methodology that guides clients through every stage of the development process, from understanding and exploration to materialization and improvement. From startups looking to build MVPs to established enterprises seeking to scale and improve their products, Nav9 has assisted over 25 companies in realizing their digital ambitions.

Charting Future Horizons with Visionary Expansion

From humble beginnings, Nav9 has skyrocketed its revenues from R$ 180 thousand to a staggering R$ 9 million in just five years, catering to esteemed clients such as Iguatemi, Banco ABC, and SBT. With a projected 43% growth in 2023, Matheus’ sights are set on reaching a remarkable R$ 13 million in revenue. “We’re hitting our stride, tackling more sophisticated challenges, and attracting bigger clients,” he remarks confidently. For Matheus, the secret sauce lies in the seamless integration of technology and strategy—a winning formula that continues to yield dividends. “The sky’s the limit for us, With the freedom to set new goals and tackle fresh challenges, we’re breaking free from the constraints of the corporate world,” he asserts. With a team of 70 employees and ample room for growth, Nav9 is poised to continue its upward trajectory, fueled by Matheus’s vision and determination.