Founder @ Fashinnovation | Strategic Advisor | Global Ecosystem Builder | Fashion-Tech & VC Specialist — Bridging the gap between the runway and the future.
In the frantic, high-velocity worlds of fashion and technology, most people are looking for the next trend or the quickest exit. Marcelo Guimarães is looking for the light. He often speaks of a unique personal duality: the turtle and the sun. The turtle represents long-term thinking, patience, and steady execution — but also the idea of carrying one’s home along the journey. Much like a turtle moves forward with its shell, Marcelo sees leadership as building while holding close what matters most: family, roots, and the inner structure that sustains everything else.The sun represents the vitality, optimism, and the ability to illuminate paths for others.
As the Founder of Fashinnovation, Guimarães has spent nearly two decades proving that while the fashion industry is built on the glamour of the runway, its future is built on what comes after: the technology, the sustainability, and the human connections that turn a creative vision into a global movement.
The Roots of Resilience
Marcelo’s story begins in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—a city defined by its vibrant energy and its inherent challenges. Growing up in Rio provided more than just a backdrop of creativity; it offered a masterclass in resilience and the importance of community. From an early age, Marcelo realized that in any environment, relationships and reputation are the true currency of success.
His journey into the professional world started far from the executive suites of New York. His first role was in sales and customer service, earning a modest hourly wage. It was here, in the trenches of daily interaction, that he learned the discipline of delivering value before expecting results. This grassroots education was further ignited during his time at Endeavor, where he was surrounded by high-impact entrepreneurs. This environment didn’t just teach him business mechanics; it infused him with a lifelong passion for “entrepreneurial energy”—that specific, relentless drive to make things happen where nothing existed before.
Building the Ecosystem
Marcelo’s career trajectory is defined by a shift from navigating established systems to building entirely new ones. After honing his skills in business development and strategic management across various sectors—including IT, retail, and finance—he recognized a massive disconnect in the fashion industry. While fashion was a multi-trillion-dollar global force, it was often siloed away from the very technological innovations that could make it more sustainable and efficient.
While Marcelo’s core insight was always about building an innovation-driven ecosystem — inspired by his experience at Endeavor and the idea of creating a sector-focused entrepreneurial platform — fashion became the initial canvas in part because of his personal context at the time.His former partner had a strong connection to the fashion world, which helped shape the industry focus. Had that context been different, he often notes, the same platform could have been born in health, education, or another sector where innovation meets human impact.
This realization led to the birth of Fashinnovation. Headquartered in New York City, the platform became a bridge between bold ideas and strategic partnerships. Under Marcelo’s leadership, Fashinnovation grew into a global network connecting startups to corporations and founders to investors. His philosophy was never about a rigid formula, but about collective discovery. As he once noted in a call for new talent: “We don’t have a formula. We build it together. Change is our routine.”
His progress was marked by a “one step at a time” approach, focusing on consistency and good energy. This steady momentum allowed him to scale Fashinnovation from a localized idea into a worldwide tour, recently featured in WWD, bringing the mission of innovation to the iconic stages of London, Milan, and Paris.
A Legacy of Connection
Today, Marcelo’s influence extends far beyond the events he hosts. He is widely recognized as a Strategic Advisor and global ecosystem builder, helping founders, startups, and organizations navigate the intersection of fashion, technology, and long-term growth. His work is grounded in a calm, systems-level perspective shaped by years of operating across industries and cultures, where leadership is less about visibility and more about alignment, trust, and momentum.
What truly sets Marcelo apart is his commitment to humanizing high-stakes environments. He approaches leadership as a shared endeavor, viewing teams not as structures to manage but as communities to cultivate. For him, sustainable success is built through care, consistency, and the belief that people perform best when they feel ownership of the vision they are helping to build.
Whether he is hosting a private “Founders Table” in NYC or mentoring the next generation of leaders, Marcelo remains focused on the “real” over the “perceived.” He advocates for building real relationships over just building resumes, believing that while technical skills are a commodity, integrity and curiosity are the ultimate differentiators.
Illuminating the Path
As Marcelo looks toward the future, his “North Star” remains clear: moving forward with consistency and positive momentum. His focus has expanded into board advisory roles and thought leadership, where he continues to advocate for a fashion industry that prioritizes sustainability and technology as core pillars rather than afterthoughts.
His leadership philosophy remains anchored in the symbolism he carries with him: the endurance of the turtle and the optimism of the sun. He is building a legacy not just of successful businesses, but of a more connected, purposeful industry. For Marcelo, the goal is simple yet profound: to leave a legacy, rather than being just another name in the crowd. As he often tells his community: “Fashion weeks are about the runway. We’re about what comes after.”
Editorial Note
Marcelo Guimarães’s journey reminds us that the most successful global platforms are built on a foundation of local values: discipline, community, and the courage to iterate in public. His story is a call to action for every aspiring leader to focus on the long game—to be the steady hand that executes and the bright light that inspires.
