Community Highlights: Meet Marcelo Guimaraes of Fashinnovation

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcelo Guimaraes.

Hi Marcelo, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, by a single mother. My father never recognized paternity, so I grew up without his presence. My mother supported us however she could — selling products door to door, reading tarot cards, doing whatever was necessary to survive and keep moving forward. My grandmother and my mother became my greatest references of strength, resilience, and intuition.

From a very young age, I was fascinated by the idea of building a successful life. I didn’t grow up around entrepreneurs or wealthy people, but I was drawn to the world of business, ambition, and possibility. I used to joke that I wanted to become the “Richard Gere in Pretty Woman” type of businessman — successful, respected, financially free. More than money itself, I think I was searching for independence, security, and a sense of identity.

I always felt that the traditional corporate path wasn’t fully aligned with my personality. Maybe it was instinct, maybe lack of patience for structure, but deep down I already believed that creating something of my own was the path that could truly change my life.

Interestingly, fashion was never part of the original plan.

My connection to fashion happened almost accidentally. My ex-wife was involved with small designers and the fashion world, and through that environment I started seeing a huge gap between fashion, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. I realized there were incredible creative people, but many conversations were disconnected from business, innovation, and future-thinking.

That vision eventually became Fashinnovation.

Before founding Fashinnovation, I worked within the Endeavor network, where I was constantly exposed to founders, innovation, and high-growth businesses. That experience deeply influenced the way I see industries: not as isolated sectors, but as ecosystems built through people, ideas, and collaboration. Fashinnovation was the idea of “Endeavor for Fashion”

In 2016, my life changed completely. After my ex-wife became pregnant in Brazil, I made the decision to leave everything behind and move to New York to build a family together. We had met only a year earlier, and suddenly I was starting over in another country. I quit my job, left my life in Brazil, and moved into the unknown — emotionally, professionally, and financially.

New York transformed me.

It forced me to grow faster, think bigger, and become more resilient. At the same time, entrepreneurship came with a cost. There were years of financial pressure, loneliness, uncertainty, and becoming extremely work-focused, always believing that the “next phase” would finally bring stability and fulfillment.

Also – move from NYC to Boca Raton/ Florida, almost COVID time, also was a change, for me, not aligned with my spirit of entrepreneur and social network DNA. Still hard to find this place outside. So I create inside my mind, with a mindset that “Boca Raton it’s my Baixo Leblon”. Whatever happens is not about the place, I create a reality on my mind. Positive vibes.

For a long time, I lived more for the future than for the present.

The biggest turning point in my life, without question, was becoming a father. My daughters changed everything. They gave meaning to my ambition. Later, after going through bariatric surgery and losing 60 kilograms, I experienced another profound shift. It made me confront mortality, health, self-love, and self-respect in a completely different way. I started revisiting not only my lifestyle, but also my priorities, relationships, and definition of success.

Today, beyond business, what truly moves me is being present for my daughters, inspiring people who are building their own next chapter, and continuing to explore life with curiosity — through new places, real conversations, and people I genuinely admire.

Fashinnovation became an extension of that philosophy. More than a company, it became a platform built around connection — bringing together fashion, technology, entrepreneurship, and human relationships.

If there’s one phrase that summarizes my journey, it would probably be:

“Stay strong. With good energy.”

Because no matter how difficult the road becomes, energy, resilience, and the people around you ultimately shape the future you build.

And you build inside to outside. Your mind and peace with clarity is priceless. Be alone and be yourself if needs. Don’t look for validation.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not. The journey has been filled with major personal and professional challenges.

I moved from Rio de Janeiro to New York in 2016 after my ex-wife became pregnant. I left my career, my comfort zone, and started over in a completely new country, new language, and new culture — while simultaneously trying to build a business and a family.

Building Fashinnovation while raising two daughters was probably the biggest challenge and transformation of my life. Entrepreneurship already demands a lot emotionally, but doing that while adapting to New York, and later rebuilding life again in places like Boca Raton, forced me to grow very quickly.

Another major turning point was my health journey. After bariatric surgery and losing 60 kilograms, I started reevaluating everything — my lifestyle, priorities, relationships, and definition of success. It made me realize how important balance, self-respect, and being present truly are.

The road definitely hasn’t been smooth, but every difficult phase pushed me to become more resilient, adaptable, and human.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Fashinnovation is a global platform created to bridge the worlds of fashion, technology, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and innovation.

What makes us different is that we don’t see fashion only as an industry focused on products or trends. We see it as an ecosystem built through conversations, relationships, ideas, and strategic collaboration.

Over the years, Fashinnovation evolved into a space where founders, executives, creatives, investors, media, and technology companies can connect in a more meaningful and curated way. We organize global talks, private dinners, Founders Tables, interviews, digital conversations, and strategic introductions designed to create real business opportunities and authentic industry dialogue.

Today, we’re especially known for creating curated environments where high-level leaders can exchange perspectives beyond the traditional conference format. Some of the brands and leaders connected through our ecosystem include companies like Gucci, Calvin Klein, Amazon, Steve Madden, Tommy Hilfiger, Daily Mail, and many others across fashion, retail, media, and technology.

One thing I’m very proud of is that Fashinnovation was built independently, through relationships, persistence, and vision. We started with very little, but over time built a respected global network by consistently bringing the right people into the same room.

I also believe what sets us apart is the human side of the brand. Even though we talk a lot about AI, technology, and innovation, we strongly believe the future of fashion will still be built through human connection, trust, creativity, and intuition.

At its core, Fashinnovation is about building bridges:
between fashion and technology,
between startups and enterprise brands,
between creativity and business,
and ultimately between people.

That’s what continues to inspire me the most.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I believe the fashion industry is entering one of the biggest transformation periods in its history.

Over the next 5–10 years, technology and AI will become deeply integrated into every part of the business — from design and merchandising to manufacturing, personalization, retail operations, and customer experience.

The brands that succeed will not simply be the ones adopting technology faster, but the ones using it in a way that still feels human and authentic.

We’re also moving away from mass communication toward much more personalized experiences.

Consumers increasingly expect brands to understand their identity, lifestyle, values, and even their body type intuitively. Data intelligence and AI will play a huge role in that shift.

At the same time, I think people are craving more human connection and meaning. Ironically, as technology grows, authenticity becomes even more valuable. Community, trust, storytelling, and curated experiences will matter more than ever.

Another major shift is that the traditional boundaries between industries are disappearing. Fashion is becoming increasingly connected to wellness, longevity, entertainment, gaming, hospitality, sustainability, and technology.

The future belongs to brands and leaders who understand culture as a whole ecosystem, not as isolated categories.

I also believe the industry will continue moving toward smaller, more curated, and relationship-driven environments. Some of the most important conversations and partnerships are no longer happening only on large stages, but in intimate rooms where real trust can be built.

Ultimately, I think the future of fashion will belong to brands that can balance innovation with humanity — using technology to enhance creativity and connection, not replace them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Fashinnovation.nyc
• Instagram: Fashinnovation.nyc
• LinkedIn: Fashinnovation
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelomartinsguimaraes