The room where Rio's best founders meet.
Sapient is a curated community for entrepreneurs in Rio de Janeiro. I build it personally . The intros, the events, the conversations. You bring the ambition.
Applications reviewed personally. Opens in a new tab.
I'm Nikita.
I first came to Rio in 2022. I didn't speak the language, didn't know anyone, didn't know who was worth knowing. I figured it out the hard way. Four years later, Rio is my base and connecting the right people is what I do every day.
Along the way, my friend Jona and I built Connecta Rio together. Two large networking events. I stepped away from the project and Jona continues to run it, doing a great job.
Sapient started as me solving that problem for myself. Then founders started asking me to make intros. Then more founders. At some point it became clear that the real value wasn't a community platform. It was the curation. The right person in the right room at the right time.
I run every introduction personally. I review every application myself. If you get in, you deal with me directly. Not an assistant, not a bot. Rio is my base, but Sapient is for founders everywhere.
“Building without the right people around you is harder than it needs to be.” Doesn't matter where you are. Sapient fixes that. In Rio and anywhere.
Words from the room.
“Meeting Nikita and becoming part of the Sapient community has been one of the highlights of my time in Rio. Through Nikita, I connected with inspiring entrepreneurs and truly like-minded people who made me feel at home from the very beginning. It's a rare thing to find a community that is both welcoming and deeply inspiring and Sapient has created exactly that for me. Thank you so much Nikita!”
“My first week in Rio I instantly met like minded people to work with, connect with and have good conversations with. We help each other with business and enjoy this amazing city together. Thanks Nikita!”
Three kinds of founders find their way to Sapient.
You live in Rio.
You want a peer group that challenges you. International connections. A room where the conversation matches your ambition.
You're relocating.
You're moving to Rio or already here. You want to meet the right people fast. Without wasting months figuring out who's worth knowing.
Rio keeps calling.
You come back every few months. You want a home base, warm intros every trip, and someone who knows the city the way you wish you did.
What you actually get in Sapient
Personal intros, made by hand
I connect you to specific people for specific reasons. Not a directory, not an algorithm. A personal handoff from me, every time.
Coffee, sport, and "only in Rio" moments
The kind of thing you'd invite a friend to. Not a contact. What exactly happens depends on who's in the room.
Questions answered fast
Stuck on a hire, a market entry, a deal structure? Drop it in the community. Real founders, real answers. Just people who've actually done it.
Simple. Personal.
Three steps.
You apply.
Fill out a short form. Your background, what you're building, and what you're looking for. No essays. No résumé. Just signal.
I review.
I read every application personally and reply within 24 hours. No automated filters, no algorithm, no waitlist purgatory.
You're in.
I match you to the right tier, make your first intro, and welcome you into the community. The room starts working for you immediately.
Choose how you want in.
Every tier is curated. Every intro is personal.
You're not in Rio. But the right doors open from anywhere.
- ✓Private Telegram group
- ✓Online meetings with members
- ✓Personal intros across any distance
- ✓Direct access. Questions, advice, support
Fill a short form. I review every application personally.
You live here. Now you're in the most interesting room in the city.
- ✓Private Telegram group
- ✓Online meetings with members
- ✓Personal intros to the right people
- ✓1-on-1 with me
- ✓Sport, coffee, activities. Join whenever
Fill a short form. I review every application personally.
Rio keeps pulling you back. Now you have a home here every time.
- ✓Private Telegram group. Year round
- ✓Online meetings with members
- ✓Full community access every visit
- ✓Fresh intros tailored to each trip
- ✓Direct access between visits
Fill a short form. I review every application personally.
One day. Full access to me, my network, and the city.
- ✓Morning. Coffee. We talk about what you actually need.
- ✓Afternoon. Exploring Rio together. No tourist traps.
- ✓Evening. Built specifically around you
- ✓5–7 targeted intros in a single day
- ✓I'm with you the entire day
- ✓All contacts stay after the day ends
Fill a short form. I review every application personally.
Limited availability. Most book 1–2 weeks in advance.
Simple rules. No exceptions.
The price you join at is yours forever, as long as you stay a member.
You can upgrade to a higher tier at any time. You pay the current price for that tier. Your previous price does not carry over.
Tiers don't go down, only up. If your situation changes, your price stays the same and you keep full access.
If you cancel your membership, you lose your founding price. If you come back, you pay the current price at that time.
Local members who leave Rio stay at their local price and keep full digital access. If they return to Rio, full local access is restored at the same price.
Your price is locked as long as you stay. The moment you leave, it's gone.
The things people usually ask.
No. Remote members join from anywhere and get access to the private community, online meetings, and personal intros. If you visit Rio, you can upgrade or book a Rio Insider Day whenever you're in town.
Very. I review every application personally. I'm looking for founders who are actually building something and who add something real to the room. Not just titles and follower counts. The size stays small on purpose.
Most networks are wide. This one is deep. No algorithm deciding who you meet. No feed, no engagement metrics. I connect you to specific people for specific reasons, and I'm personally invested in making sure it's worth your time.
Ready to get in the room?
Fill out the short form below. Takes 3 minutes. I review every application personally.
Usually hear back within 24 hours.