Santa Catarina, Brazil2023
Ipê City
A techno-optimist community which built Brazil's first pop-up city to experiment with blockchain governance, AI solutions, and start-up societies in a month-long co-living environment.
What is Ipê City?
Ipê City is a community of techno-optimists building social technologies for internet-native cities and prototyping governance through pop-up villages in Brazil.
Principles
- Pro-Tech Innovation
- Pro-Freedom
- Pro-Human Progress
History
Ipê City was founded in 2023 by Jean Hansen, driven by the frustration with the stagnant, deteriorating state of Western governance and culture.
In 2025, it hosted Brazil's first pop-up city, Ipê Village I, a one-month event in Florianópolis. Over 300 participants lived together and prototyped solutions for governance.
In 2026, Ipê City is hosting Ipê Village II, expanding on the previous edition with a focus on prototyping the operating system of a new city.
Location
Ipê City runs its events in Florianópolis, Brazil, specifically in the Jurerê Internacional neighborhood for pop-up villages.
Florianópolis is one of Brazil's largest tech hubs with 2,000+ start-ups.
Duration
Both pop-up villages - Ipê Village I and Ipê Village II - run for 1 month. Participants can join for the full duration or shorter periods.
Ipê City aims to evolve into a permanent network of villages, condominiums, cottages, and small towns worldwide where members can move, stay, and own property.
Pricing
Pricing is tiered. For Ipê Village II, as reference:
Explorer
$400 full month or $150/wk
- Access to coworking and events.
- Daily breakfast.
- 6-month access to Ipê community.
Architect
$400
- Everything in Explorer.
- Access to $10k+ in grants.
- 1-year access to Ipê community.
Team
Price info upon request
- Launch in real-world sandbox.
- Iterate daily with early adopters.
- Integrate product and collect data.
Architect passports are limited. Applicants must undergo a selection process and stay in the pop-up village for at least 3 weeks.
Amenities
- Co-working hub.
- Daily breakfast.
- Fitness sessions.
- Grants.
- Talks and conferences.
- Hacker houses hosting workshops, lectures, and events.
Participants must book their own accommodation on Airbnb or hotels. Ipê City might share a list of discounted places.
Reviews
" This was a breath of fresh air. " Aaron Stanley, ex-Coinesk
I had an incredible time in Florianópolis this weekend at the Ipê City Start-up Societies Conference in Jurerê. The event was focused on exploring technology solutions related to the theme of human resilience — education, network state concepts, on-chain governance, healthcare and longevity, digital economic zones, etc.
" Ipê aims to expose the extreme difference between the digital-native and the bureaucratic dysfunction. " Tails Pineda, Chief of Staff at Infinita City
Ipê aims to expose the extreme difference between the digital-native and the bureaucratic dysfunction and make Brazilians more aware of solutions like regulatory sandboxes and special zones where new systems can thrive.
How can you get involved?
- Apply for the upcoming pop-up village, typically announced on X.
- Reach out directly via jean@ipe.city.
FAQs
What is the goal of Ipê City?
To build a network society with crypto governance, and citizens highly aligned around the idea of human progress through technology and freedom.
Who is Ipê City for?
Techno-optimists, entrepreneurs, creators, engineers, and visionaries interested in AI, Web3, start-up societies, governance, health, longevity, and crypto economies.
How much does it cost to attend an Ipê pop-up village?
Around $150 per week, no accommodation included.
What was the program like at Ipê Village I?
The event featured a 3-day conference, workshops, hackathons, and experiments with crypto marketplaces, smart doors via passport wallets, and on-chain governance.
What was the outcome of Ipê Village I?
170+ residents from 10+ countries. 30+ apps created.
How did sponsoring work in Ipê Village I?
Tiered sponsorship - $5k, $12k, $30k, $90k -, with categories differing in brand presence, conference speaking slots, number of Ipê Village passports, and grants.
What Hacker Houses are there in Ipê Village?
Decentralization, AI, Network State, Privacy, and teams' branded houses. Hacker Houses are not for accommodations.
What grants are there for Ipê Architects?
Over $10k, $IPE tokens, 5 scholarship spots, and 1 month at the Network School campus in Forest City.