What StartSe does

StartSe is a Brazilian business knowledge platform founded in 2014 and headquartered in São Paulo, with additional offices in Palo Alto and Shanghai. The company operates an international business school model targeting C-level executives, senior managers, and corporate teams, delivering programs across AI literacy, digital transformation, leadership, and innovation. Core offerings include the AI Journey and AI First executive programs, AI For Leaders (an online recorded course priced at R$ 499-799), in-person international immersions in seven global hubs, Global MBA programs commercialized through a partnership with FIAP, and corporate training delivered via a 'Para Empresas' line. Supporting technology includes an LMS at lms.startse.com, the proprietary AI Canvas strategic framework, an AI Tutor (LIA) integrated into the learning platform, and an AI Tools Directory curating third-party AI tools.

StartSe's business model combines four revenue streams: individual course sales (one-time or installment), corporate/enterprise training (subscription and multi-year contracts), premium international immersions (one-time high-ticket), and Global MBAs via FIAP partnership. Go-to-market is hybrid, combining direct enterprise sales to C-level buyers and HR departments with event-driven and community-led demand generation through content marketing (4,000+ free articles, the NOWledge newsletter, and web series). The company has cultivated an 80,000+ executive community and claims 20,000-35,000+ alumni in AI programs, with 100% NPS reported on flagship executive courses.

The company is privately held with two Brazilian legal entities (STARTSE TURISMO DE NEGOCIOS LTDA and STARTSE INFORMACOES S/A). In November 2021, StartSe received a R$ 75 million investment from Pátria Investimentos, which it deployed into a digital ecosystem strategy, including a R$ 6 million acquisition of software factory Gempe and a 40% stake in startup-investment platform Captable. StartSe is also a member of the NVIDIA Inception program and is LGPD-compliant for Brazilian data protection.

Name

StartSe

Legal name

STARTSE TURISMO DE NEGOCIOS LTDA | STARTSE INFORMACOES E SISTEMAS S/A

Website

https://startse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

StartSe is a Brazilian business knowledge platform that delivers AI literacy, digital transformation, and leadership programs to C-level executives and corporate teams via online courses, international immersions, and FIAP-partnered Global MBAs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Education

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

AI & Emerging Technology Literacy (EDAAAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Information Technology & Software (EDAAAPAB), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Executive education
• AI business training
• Corporate training programs
• International business immersions
• Digital transformation learning

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Course Sales - Individual: Individual course purchases including AI For Leaders (R$ 499-799), Executive Programs, and other training courses. One-time payments or installment plans with 6-12 month access periods.
2. Corporate Training Programs: B2B corporate training, team enrollments, and custom programs for enterprises. Volume-based pricing for organizational clients.
3. International Immersions: Premium international executive immersion programs in innovation hubs worldwide (Silicon Valley, China, Portugal, Miami, Israel, Estonia). Higher price point programs with in-person delivery.
4. Global MBAs and Certifications: Partnership with FIAP for international MBA programs and certifications. Premium educational offerings with longer duration and higher investment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

StartSe is an international business school that delivers AI-focused executive education, corporate training programs, and in-person international immersions for C-level leaders and organizations. Its offerings include online and in-person courses on AI, digital transformation, and innovation, a proprietary AI Canvas strategic framework, an AI tools directory, an LMS platform, and Global MBAs co-delivered with FIAP across 7 global innovation hubs in São Paulo, Silicon Valley, China, Portugal, Miami, Israel, and Estonia.

Product overview

StartSe is an international business school focused on digital transformation and new economy education, operating a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include AI-focused educational programs (AI Journey, AI First, IA para Negócios, AI For Leaders), an AI Tools directory featuring curated third-party AI tools, and an AI Canvas strategic framework. Supporting the educational platform is the StartSe LMS for course delivery, AI Tutor (LIA) for student support, and a NOWledge daily newsletter. The company serves C-level executives and business leaders seeking innovation and digital transformation knowledge, offering courses in online, in-person, hybrid, and international immersion formats across 7 global innovation hubs. StartSe also operates a content platform with 4,000+ free articles on innovation and business topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• startups.com.br: The best news portal about startups and technology in Brazil, with analysis, news and studies.
• AI/Labs

Products and services

• AI Journey Largest strategic AI transformation journey in Brazil for business leaders and organizations, focused on integrating AI into decision-making and business strategy.
• AI First AI literacy program designed to move leaders from passive observers to active commanders of AI technology in their organizations.
• IA para Negócios - Imersão Executiva Presencial In-person executive immersion on AI for business, teaching participants how to become AI leaders.
• AI For Leaders Online recorded program (100% online, 6-month access) focused on practical AI applications for business leaders including automation, productivity, and decision-making with AI.
• Executive Program Executive immersion program teaching leaders to handle major market transformations, build repertoire, networking, and action plans for business growth.
• International Immersions Premium in-person executive immersion programs in innovation hubs worldwide, including Silicon Valley, China, Portugal, Miami, Israel, and Estonia.
• Global MBA (FIAP partnership) Joint Global MBA programs combining leadership, AI, and global innovation, delivered in partnership with FIAP with internationally recognized certifications.
• AI Canvas Strategic framework tool equipped with Artificial Intelligence for business planning and strategy development.
• AI Tools Directory Curated directory of third-party AI tools categorized by function, including data analysis, presentations, image generation, video, text, and assistant creation.
• Corporate Training Programs (Para Empresas) B2B corporate training, team enrollments, and custom programs for enterprises, including custom consulting services for organizational transformation.
• Corporate Consulting (Consultoria) Custom consulting services offered to enterprises for organizational transformation, team development, and AI adoption strategy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% NPS on Executive Program and Academia do Infinito courses
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GempecoreOthers · 1 November 2021Software factory acquired by StartSe for R$ 6 million, with its team incorporated into StartSe's workforce. This was StartSe's second acquisition following the Pátria Investimentos investment. Gempe's team, led by Fernanda de Araújo, was integrated into StartSe's technology operations.
• CaptableminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021StartSe acquired 40% of Captable, a platform for startup investments. The acquisition aims to expand StartSe's activities beyond education into developing a 'stock exchange' for trading startup investment shares, contingent on regulatory approvals.
• FIAPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with FIAP for Global MBA programs combining leadership, AI, and global innovation. StartSe serves as commercialization channel for FIAP's internationally recognized MBA programs in Brazil, with joint marketing and program delivery.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Singularity University: Global executive education and innovation programs focused on exponential technologies including AI; similar model of premium international immersions and leadership upskilling.
• edX: University-backed online education marketplace with executive programs and AI offerings; competes for the same adult professional learner audience as StartSe.
• INSEAD Executive Education: Top global business school's executive education division; comparable to StartSe's international immersion and executive program offerings for senior leaders.
• GetSmarter (2U): Premium online short courses from top universities for working professionals; comparable to StartSe's short-form executive and AI courses with credentialed certification.
• Coursera: Global online learning platform offering professional certificates and executive education; directly comparable to StartSe's online AI and executive courses targeting working professionals.
• Udacity: Tech-focused online education company offering AI and digital transformation nano-degrees; closely aligned with StartSe's AI For Leaders and AI Journey tracks.
• LinkedIn Learning: B2B and consumer subscription learning platform owned by Microsoft, with extensive business, leadership, and technology course libraries; overlaps with StartSe's corporate training and individual course business.
• Alura: Leading Brazilian online technology education platform; comparable to StartSe on tech/digital upskilling content and Brazilian market footprint.

Broad incumbents

• FIAP: Major Brazilian technology and innovation school and StartSe's Global MBA partner; competes in adjacent tech education and MBA segments while also co-distributing with StartSe.

Regional players

• Digital House: Latin American bootcamp and digital training provider with strong presence in Brazil and Argentina; competes for the same corporate and professional digital skills audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/startseoficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startse

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about StartSe