Discover Meta’s Journey Through the Words of CEO Telmo Costa
In an interview with the podcast Do Zero Ao Topo by Infomoney, Telmo Costa shared how he started the company and the entire journey leading to today, where Meta is a key partner in the digital transformation and evolution of major companies in Brazil and abroad.
Check out some highlights from the interview below:
Early Days in Computing
At a young age, Telmo became passionate about computing after reading a magazine on the subject. Fascinated, he dropped out of his electrical engineering course in the third year, left his internship, and fully immersed himself in programming. He began his journey at Senac and later pursued a degree in systems analysis.
Founding of Meta
At 24, Telmo founded Meta with two partners. “The name was a challenge for us to continuously reinvent ourselves,” he says. The first clients came from a consultancy where Telmo worked, which was affected by the Plano Collor in the early 1990s.
Early Growth
During the market reserve period, only large companies had computers. Meta seized this opportunity, offering IT consulting and system development for medium and large enterprises. Operating from a home garage with a borrowed computer, they secured Pirelli as their first major client, opening doors to other important contracts.
Global Expansion
Today, Meta operates in 350 cities worldwide and has over 3,000 employees. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the company ramped up hiring to help businesses operate remotely. This period fueled significant growth, with a 73% increase in 2021.
Internal Digital Transformation
Over the past six years, Meta has undergone its own digital transformation, investing in nine startups through its venture capital arm. These platforms were integrated into the business, replicating internally the transformation delivered to its clients. The company’s annual revenue is reportedly close to R$ 1 billion. Among its clients are Lojas Renner, Globo, and Itaú.
Watch the full conversation:
Podcast Do Zero ao Topo
The Do Zero ao Topo podcast enters its fifth year, bringing stories of outstanding women and men in the Brazilian market. Every Friday, the podcast shares challenges and strategies used in building successful businesses.
The show has featured prominent names such as Fernando Simões (Grupo Simpar), Stelleo Tolda (co-founder of Mercado Livre), businessman Abílio Diniz, Rodrigo Galindo (Chairman of Cogna), Paulo Nassar (Founder and CEO of Cobasi), Mariane Morelli (co-founder of Grupo Supley), Luiz Dumoncel (Founder and CEO of 3tentos), José Galló (the executive behind Renner’s growth), and Guilherme Benchimol (Founder of XP Investimentos), among many other success stories.
