From Brazil to Prospera: How Westy Is Building Bridges for the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
“Is liberal democracy the end of history? Is this the best we can do? Or should we be experimenting with governance the same way we experiment in science?”
Five years ago, Sebastião never imagined he would move to a small Caribbean island to experiment with the future of governance.
At the time, he was living in Brazil, watching the country’s political landscape with growing frustration. But what began as ordinary political frustration quickly turned into something deeper: a question about whether our current systems of governance are really the best we can build.
Today, Sebastião is the co-founder and CTO of Westy, a startup helping Brazilian companies access more agile global jurisdictions through Prospera, a charter city project in Honduras. His story isn’t just about startups or financial tools—it’s about exploring new ways of organizing societies and enabling entrepreneurs to operate globally.
Discovering the Charter City Movement
Sebastião’s curiosity about governance eventually led him to the world of charter cities and special economic zones.
One of the ideas that shaped his thinking came from the book Free Private Cities by Titus Gebel, which explores the possibility that governance systems could operate more like service providers—offering clear rules and competitive environments for citizens.
The idea resonated immediately.
“If competition works for products and services, why wouldn’t it work for governance?” he says.
Through research and conversations with others interested in institutional innovation, Sebastião eventually discovered Prospera—a special economic zone on the island of Roatán designed to experiment with new governance models.
At the time, in 2023, the project was still in its earliest stages.
That didn’t stop him.
“I joined that community very early—about three years ago,” he recalls. “Niklas and Kara were the first two foreigners to move to Prospera. I was the third. So it was really, really early.”
What Sebastião found in Prospera was more than a policy experiment. It was a community of people trying to rethink how cities, governance, and entrepreneurship could work.
The atmosphere was dynamic, experimental, and sometimes chaotic.
“Back then the events were intense,” he says, referring to the early Vitalia pop-up city gatherings. “There were people from all sorts of backgrounds, all interested in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”
Among those people was Ariel Amar, who would later become his co-founder.
Together they noticed something important: while many innovative thinkers were gathering in Prospera, the opportunity was almost completely unknown in Brazil.
So Sebastião decided to change that.
“I thought, Brazilians don’t know this exists. I’ll be the guy putting Prospera on the map in Brazil.”
Brazil is full of talented entrepreneurs. But it is also known for heavy bureaucracy, complex regulations, and high taxes. Many founders want access to more flexible global environments—but relocating an entire company is rarely practical.
That insight eventually became the foundation for Westy.
Building Westy
Westy helps Brazilian companies connect with Prospera’s regulatory and financial infrastructure—without needing to move their operations out of Brazil.
Their first product is surprisingly simple: a corporate card designed for companies’ international expenses—especially SaaS tools and digital advertising.
For startups that pay for services in dollars, these costs can add up quickly.
Westy helps reduce those expenses and returns part of the savings to companies as cashback.
“Right now companies save around three to five percent on their dollar spending,” Sebastião explains. “That may sound small, but for startups with large SaaS budgets, it adds up quickly.”
It’s a practical entry point—but also part of a much bigger vision.
Why Prospera Matters
For Sebastião, Westy is not just a fintech startup. It’s also a way to support the growth of new governance models.
By helping companies connect with Prospera, Westy brings economic activity—and tax revenue—into the jurisdiction.
“That was important for us from the beginning,” he says. “We love Prospera, and we wanted to help it succeed.”
The broader mission is more ambitious: introducing competition into governance itself.
“Governments today are basically monopolies,” he explains. “But when markets compete, we get better services and lower costs.”
Charter cities, special economic zones, and experimental jurisdictions could create a world where governance systems compete to attract citizens, entrepreneurs, and investment.
A Future of Networked Cities
Looking ahead, Sebastião doesn’t believe there will only be one Prospera.
Instead, he imagines a network of similar jurisdictions around the world—each experimenting with governance while sharing common infrastructure.
He compares the idea to the Hanseatic League, the medieval network of autonomous trading cities that collaborated across Europe.
“Imagine if you could register a company in Prospera Roatán and that identity worked in Prospera Zanzibar or other future cities,” he says.
The concept echoes the broader vision of network states—communities that span borders through shared digital infrastructure, governance systems, and cultural alignment.
The path to that future won’t be simple.
Sebastião believes the biggest challenge is political.
“Governments are often reluctant to give up even small amounts of power,” he says. “Even when doing so could bring huge economic benefits.”
But he remains optimistic.
If projects like Prospera demonstrate success, others will follow.
“Countries copy success,” he says. “Once people see it working, they’ll want their own version.”
A Long-Term Mission
For Sebastião, the mission behind Westy ultimately comes down to empowering individuals and entrepreneurs with more options.
“The best way to safeguard freedom is to give people more choices,” he says.
When individuals and businesses can choose jurisdictions, move capital easily, and operate globally, governance systems themselves must evolve.
That evolution won’t happen overnight.
“It’s a long road,” Sebastião says.
But every new bridge—between countries, companies, and communities—brings that future one step closer.
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