What SESI does

SESI-SP (Serviço Social da Indústria de São Paulo) is a private non-profit social-welfare institution established to deliver education, sports, cultural, and leisure services to industrial workers and their dependents in São Paulo state, Brazil. Founded in 1964 as part of the federative FIESP/CIESP/SESI/SENAI industrial system, it operates 51 physical units spanning CAT (Centro de Atividades) fitness and leisure centers, an in-house school network of 48 Nova EJA sites, the MEC-recognized Faculdade SESI de Educação, and a cultural network anchored by Teatro do SESI-SP and the Bachiana Filarmônica Orchestra.

The portfolio spans four pillars. Education runs from early childhood through free undergraduate degrees and postgraduate specializations, with Nova EJA delivered in roughly 80% distance-learning format and the EJA Profissionalizante stream co-developed with SENAI-SP. Sports supports 25 Olympic and Paralympic modalities via Programa SESI Esporte and Liga SESI internal competition; the CAT membership product lines up four monthly subscription tiers (Básico, Modalidades, Musculação, Plus) with industry-worker discounts, complemented by Academia SESI-SP and ancillary recreation assets (Hotel SESI Epitácio, Acquapark, Parque Dinossauros). Culture is delivered free-of-charge through the Centros Culturais SESI network and Teatro do SESI-SP, including the Bachiana Sênior orchestra launched in 2026 for musicians over age 60. Digital access is centralized through the Meu SESI portal for reservations, enrollment, and account management, with Portal Educa serving the educational network.

The business model rests on mandatory employer contributions under Brazilian labor law, which provides a structurally protected revenue base, augmented by tiered CAT membership subscriptions, ancillary recreational revenue, and limited fee-based postgraduate offerings. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through physical unit presence plus a self-serve digital portal; customer segments span industrial workers, K–higher-ed students, Olympic/Paralympic athletes, CAT members, and the general community for cultural programming. The institution is governed by FIESP, sharing data and coordinated programming with SENAI-SP and CIESP.

Name

SESI

Legal name

Serviço Social da Indústria de São Paulo

Website

https://sesisp.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

SESI-SP is a São Paulo-based non-profit social-welfare institution under the FIESP industrial federation that delivers free and subsidized education, sports, fitness, and cultural services across 51 units to industrial workers, students, athletes, and the general community, funded primarily by mandatory employer contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industry Levy Contributions: SESI-SP is funded primarily through mandatory contributions from industrial companies classified as beneficiaries under Brazilian labor law (CLT). Companies engaged in industrial or similar activities contribute to fund social services for their workers.
2. CAT Membership Plans: Paid membership plans (Básico, Modalidades, Musculação, Plus) at Centro de Atividades (CAT) centers offering access to sports facilities, academies, and leisure areas. Industry workers receive exclusive discounts.
3. Education Services: Free education services including basic education, high school, and higher education at Faculty SESI. Nova EJA (Youth and Adult Education) programs are free. Some postgraduate and extension courses may have fees.
4. Cultural Events: Cultural programming including theater, music, dance, and exhibitions offered free of charge to the public, with tickets reserved through the Meu SESI portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SESI-SP (Serviço Social da Indústria de São Paulo) is a private non-profit social welfare institution that delivers education (basic schooling, adult education, and tuition-free higher education at Faculdade SESI), sports programs covering 25 Olympic and Paralympic modalities, cultural programming (free theater, music, dance, and exhibitions), and leisure/fitness services via CAT (Centro de Atividades) centers. It serves industrial workers and their dependents—mandated under Brazilian labor law—along with the broader community of São Paulo state, funded primarily by mandatory industry payroll contributions and delivered through 51 physical units and the Meu SESI digital portal.

Product overview

SESI-SP (Serviço Social da Indústria de São Paulo) operates a multi-service platform primarily focused on social services for industrial workers and the broader community in São Paulo state. The organization offers a unified but fragmented product portfolio structured around four core pillars: Education (including Nova EJA adult education, Rede Escolar schools, and Faculdade SESI de Educação higher education), Sports and Leisure (via CAT SESI centers with membership plans, Programa SESI Esporte, and Academia facilities), Culture (through Centros Culturais network, Teatro do SESI-SP, and free event programming), and Specialized Programs (Super Férias vacation program, Hotel SESI Epitácio, Acquapark, and Parque Dinossauros). Digital access is centralized through the Meu SESI portal, while the Portal Educa provides educational content. The organization does not operate as a technology product company with APIs or integrations, but rather as a traditional social services institution offering in-person and digital services to approximately 51 physical units across São Paulo state.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Faculdade SESI de Educação: Higher education institution focused on teacher training with undergraduate degrees in Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, Physical Education, Languages, and Mathematics, recognized by MEC.
• Programa SESI Esporte
• CAT SESI
• Nova EJA
• Teatro do SESI-SP
• Orquestra Bachiana Filarmônica SESI-SP
• Centro Cultural FIESP

Products and services

• CAT SESI (Centro de Atividades) Leisure and sports activity centers offering tiered monthly membership plans (Básico, Modalidades, Musculação, Plus) with access to pools, courts, soccer fields, gyms, playgrounds, and fitness activities. Industry workers receive exclusive discounts; documents (medical certificate, dermatological certificate) required for participation.
• Programa SESI Esporte Comprehensive sports development program for children and youth aged 6–15, covering 25 athletic modalities: 17 Olympic (Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cycling, Women's Football, Artistic Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Karate, Swimming, Water Polo, Rugby, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Wrestling) and 8 Paralympic sports.
• Nova EJA (Educação de Jovens e Adultos) Free Youth and Adult Education program enabling completion of Basic Education (Fundamental and Médio), offered in partnership with SENAI-SP with vocational certification options (Almoxarife, Assistente de RH, Inspetor de Qualidade). Delivered in 80% distance-learning format across 48 schools.
• Faculdade SESI de Educação Free higher education institution focused on teacher training, offering MEC-recognized undergraduate degrees in Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, Physical Education, Languages, and Mathematics, plus postgraduate specializations in Inclusive Educational Practices, School Management, and Creative Educational Robotics. Located at Rua Carlos Weber, 835, Vila Leopoldina, São Paulo.
• Rede Escolar SESI-SP School network providing Basic Education from Early Childhood through High School for children of industrial workers and the general community, following SESI-SP's proprietary teaching methodology.
• Super Férias School vacation program running during July offering children's activities and entertainment themed 'Jogos e Brincadeiras do Mundo' (Games and Play from Around the World), with diverse cultural and sports activities delivered across all 51 SESI-SP units.
• Centros Culturais SESI Network of cultural centers providing free arts programming including performing arts, music, visual arts, cinema, and literature, with locations at Centro Cultural Fiesp (São Paulo), Campinas, Ribeirão Preto, São José do Rio Preto, São José dos Campos, and Sorocaba, operating Wednesday through Sunday.
• Teatro do SESI-SP Theater venue with 60 years of history at Centro Cultural Fiesp on Avenida Paulista, offering free dramatic performances, concerts, and cultural events for the general public.
• Hotel SESI Epitácio Recreational resort facility offering accommodation and leisure services for SESI-SP members and their families.
• SESI Acquapark Water park facility operated by SESI-SP offering aquatic leisure activities for members and visitors.
• Parque Dinossauros do Brasil Dinosaur-themed recreational park operated by SESI-SP for educational and leisure purposes.
• Meu SESI Portal Digital member portal centralizing access to SESI-SP services including event reservations, ticket booking, course enrollment, and personalized account management.

Quantifiable outcome

• SESI Franca Basquete achieved unprecedented 5 consecutive NBB championships (pentacampeonato)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FIESP (Federação das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIESP is the parent federation entity. SESI-SP operates as part of the FIESP/CIESP/SESI/SENAI system. Data sharing occurs between entities for service provision and administrative purposes. FIESP headquarters at Avenida Paulista, 1313 houses SESI-SP offices.
• SENAI-SP (Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSESI-SP collaborates with SENAI-SP on education programs including the EJA Profissionalizante certification partnership. Joint data processing and service coordination occurs between entities under the same industrial welfare system.
• CIESP (Centro das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIESP is part of the FIESP/CIESP/SESI/SENAI federative structure. Data may be shared between entities for service provision to industrial workers.
• PROAC SP (Programa de Ação Cultural de São Paulo)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPROAC SP provided support for cultural projects including the Badi Assad '35 Anos Musicais' show and other cultural programming at SESI-SP venues.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• FIESP: FIESP is the parent federation that houses SESI-SP at its Avenida Paulista headquarters and provides strategic, financial, and governance oversight. It is an ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor but is critical to SESI-SP's operating context.
• CIESP: CIESP is the sister center-of-industries federation within the same FIESP/CIESP/SESI/SENAI structure, coordinating service provision for São Paulo's industrial workers alongside SESI-SP. An adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.

Direct peers

• SENAI-SP: SENAI-SP is SESI-SP's sister organization in the FIESP/CIESP/SESI/SENAI federation, providing industrial vocational training funded by the same mandatory payroll contributions. They co-deliver the EJA Profissionalizante program and share infrastructure and governance.
• SEST SENAT: SEST SENAT is the 'Sistema S' entity serving transport-sector workers, with a comparable mandated-contribution funding model and integrated health, education, sports, and culture programming. It is a structural peer even though the served industry (transport) differs.
• SESC (Serviço Social do Comércio): SESC is the direct structural counterpart to SESI under the Brazilian 'Sistema S', serving commerce-sector workers and dependents with the same integrated education, sports, culture, health, and leisure mandate across São Paulo. Operationally and financially it is the closest analog to SESI-SP.

Broad incumbents

• SESI Nacional (Confederação Nacional da Indústria): SESI Nacional is the umbrella organization coordinating all state-level SESIs (including SESI-SP) within the Brazilian National Industry Confederation. It is a broader incumbent that operates at the national federation level rather than at the São Paulo state level.
• YMCA Brasil / YMCA (international): YMCA is a global multi-service community organization delivering education, sports, fitness, and social programs — the international analog of SESI's integrated welfare model. While funded via donations/dues rather than mandatory levies, its service mix and youth/family targeting are directly comparable.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sesisaopaulo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/SesiSaoPauloOficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/sesisp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sesisp
• Instagraminstagram.com/sesisp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about SESI