Otavio Chaves
Hey — I’m OT, the one behind SMAC.After building my first company in architecture, I shifted into the startup world and began leading communities across Canada, Brazil, and the U.S. Along the way, I worked with innovation hubs, wellness brands, and purpose-driven founders — and I started to notice a pattern:Companies that thrive aren’t just the loudest. They’re the ones that build real connection.That’s what SMAC is about.I help organizations create strategic communities and transformative events — the kind that turn attention into traction, growth into loyalty, and ideas into movement.
Community Building
Brazil, Canada, and the U.S.
Techstars
Startup Weekends
Five Startup Weekends, impacting 1,000+ entrepreneurs across Brazil and Canada.
Brazil - Teresopolis 2019, 2022
Brazil - Petropolis 2019
Brazil - Online - 2020
Canada - Kelowna - 2023
SPACES Coworking, Canada
Business Community
Built a business community inside the coworking space, shifting the focus from just renting offices to offering connections, resources, and support. This increased tenant retention, led to upgrades, and helped new clients close deals by seeing the space as a platform to grow their businesses.
Heal with Kelly, LA
Wellbeing Community
Led the first in-person event for Heal with Kelly, handling logistics, venue, sponsors, tech, marketing, and attendee experience
Agriculture Summit, Brazil
Event Facilitation
Facilitated a full-weekend program with 100+ participants, mentors, judges, and sponsors, guiding teams from idea to execution. The event resulted in 7 new startup projects launched.
Innovation Center, BC
100+ events per year
Delivered 100+ events per year at the Innovation Centre, managing on-site execution, vendor coordination, tech setups, and real-time problem-solving. Streamlined operations and improved workflows, resulting in smoother events, higher satisfaction, and strong client retention.
AI Tool
Smart Connect
Smart Connect uses AI to match event participants based on complementary goals, helping them form meaningful, useful connections. At the same time, it generates high-quality leads for organizers and sponsors by linking attendees with relevant brands. Users have already closed deals through these matches, and sponsors have seen stronger exposure and engagement after events.
Who We’ve Built With
Let's Keep This Conversation Going
I’d love to hear more about your project and explore solutions together.
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Solutions for Growth
We co-create meaningful communities with organizations like:
Community Building
Event Series
We design everything from cozy founder circles to big-stage summits — all built to spark real connection. Whether it’s 10 people or 500, the goal’s the same: keep your community alive, engaged, and coming back for more.
Project Management
Branded Event
Have a big idea and no time to pull it off? We plan and manage high-impact events that make your brand shine — from intimate VC dinners to full-blown summits.You bring the vision, we handle the chaos (and the catering).
Event & Networking Platform
Smart Connect
Use Smart Connect platform to simplify event networking — from registration to AI-powered matches that actually make sense. Attendees get personalized intros, you get a lightweight CRM, and your event becomes a hub for real connection.
🎉 You’re In.
Thanks for joining the SMAC community.
You're now part of a growing circle of founders and creators building startups with purpose — and not just noise.Every few weeks, I’ll drop insights on traction, retention, community strategy, and behind-the-scenes lessons from real events.Until then, here’s what I believe:
The quality of your relationships is the quality of your company.See you in your inbox soon.– OT
With belonging
• Organic growth through advocacy• Users stay longer — they feel part of something• Deeper, ongoing insights that guide better products• Marketing becomes storytelling — clear, authentic, trusted• Growth is fueled by relationships, not just ad spend
Without belonging
• High CAC, low conversion• Users drop off fast• Shallow product feedback• Marketing feels like noise• Growth depends entirely on paid channels
Join forces to
Scale
Build strategic partnerships and community structures that amplify your reach, deepen your impact, and unlock financial sustainability — all while staying true to your values and purpose.
Create spaces for your people to thrive and
Connect
Help your audience go further — together.
Foster spaces where people don’t just consume, but engage, exchange, and grow through meaningful peer-to-peer interactions.
Design powerful experiences that move people
Transform
Create unforgettable event experiences that inspire action and build emotional resonance with your audience.
We design purposeful gatherings — online or in-person — that spark curiosity, deepen connection, and move people to care, share, and return.
Event Project Management
Branded
Event
While your administrative assistant or marketing person can probably throw a pretty good event, your team is busy — and great events demand time and expertise. With 10+ years of experience, we know what works and how to make every hour and dollar count.
Events + Community
Branded Community
Full strategy considering events series and community building, including project management and community moderation..
Become a partner
Sponsor our flagship events
Plug into our flagship events, and