What Desenvolve SP does

Desenvolve SP — formally Agência de Fomento do Estado de São Paulo S.A. — is the state-owned development agency of the Government of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, linked to the Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (SDE). Founded in 2009 and headquartered at Rua da Consolação, 371 in central São Paulo, the agency operates 12+ long-term credit lines targeting businesses (MEI through large enterprises) and municipalities throughout São Paulo state. Its core products include Projetos de Investimento, Projetos Sustentáveis, Projetos de Inovação, Máquinas e Equipamentos Isolados, Capital de Giro, and segmented programs such as Desenvolve Mulher (women-led), Desenvolve Agro (agribusiness), and Vias Recuperadas / Linha Municípios Sustentáveis / Linha de Apoio a Investimentos Municipais (municipal infrastructure).

The technology stack centers on a 100% digital credit platform that handles end-to-end simulation, application, and monitoring — with separate portals for loans up to R$300,000 (Crédito Digital) and larger requests (Crédito Online), plus a dedicated municipality-financing flow. Underwriting supports up to 10-year repayment terms with up to 3 years of grace period, competitive interest rates relative to Brazilian banks, and guarantee fund mechanisms for borrowers lacking real collateral. The agency also procures third-party enterprise technology (notably MONITORAPP's AIONCLOUD cloud security platform).

The business model is fundamentally that of a state development bank: revenue is generated through interest income and returns on a diversified credit and investment portfolio. Beyond direct lending, Desenvolve SP deploys state capital as an anchor investor in Brazilian venture funds (Volpe Capital, DNA Capital, Lightrock), extending its mandate into equity-stage ecosystem participation. Distribution occurs through a hybrid model: SEBRAE partnership for advisory to micro/small businesses, the traveling 'Jornada de Crédito' roadshow program, the digital self-serve platform, WhatsApp customer service, and dedicated press/communication channels. Customer segments are hybrid-sized (SMB tail plus enterprise and municipal anchors) — concentrated by São Paulo state geography but diversified across 645+ municipalities and multiple sectors.

Name

Desenvolve SP

Legal name

Desenvolve SP – Agência de Fomento do Estado de São Paulo S.A.

Website

https://desenvolvesp.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Desenvolve SP is a São Paulo state government development agency providing long-term credit (up to 10 years, 3 years grace) to businesses and municipalities across São Paulo state, with 12+ productized credit lines and a 100% digital application platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Development Banking

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) Utilities (Advanced Treatment & Blending) (EUANAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) & Recovery Utilities (ASR/ASTR) (EUANAGAF)

Keywords

• Development banking
• Long-term credit
• Municipal financing
• Business loans
• Government lending

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Credit Operations: Desenvolve SP provides long-term financing to businesses and municipalities in São Paulo state. Revenue is generated through interest charged on loans for investment projects, sustainable projects, innovation, machinery and equipment, working capital, and municipal infrastructure projects. The agency offers competitive interest rates and extended payment terms up to 10 years with up to 3 years grace period.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Desenvolve SP is the state development agency of São Paulo providing long-term credit to businesses and municipalities in the state. It offers multiple credit lines for investment projects, sustainable projects, innovation, machinery and equipment acquisition, working capital, and municipal infrastructure, delivered through a 100% digital process with terms of up to 10 years and 3-year grace periods.

Product overview

Desenvolve SP is a development agency of the São Paulo state government that provides credit and financing products for businesses and municipalities. The offering consists of multiple credit lines delivered through both digital platforms (Crédito Digital for loans up to R$ 300,000 and Crédito Online for larger amounts) and traditional channels. Core products include investment projects, sustainable projects, innovation financing, machinery and equipment, working capital, and specialized programs like Desenvolve Mulher (women-led businesses) and Desenvolve Agro (agribusiness). For municipalities, the agency offers sustainable municipal development credit lines and municipal investment support programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Desenvolve Mulher: Credit line with special conditions for women-led companies
• Desenvolve Agro
• Linha Municípios Sustentáveis
• Linha de Apoio a Investimentos Municipais

Products and services

• Projetos de Investimento Long-term credit line for investment projects and business modernization for companies in São Paulo state.
• Projetos Sustentáveis Credit line for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility projects supporting sustainable business practices.
• Projetos de Inovação Credit line for investments in technology and innovation enabling companies to adopt new technologies.
• Máquinas e Equipamentos Isolados Financing for acquisition of new machines and equipment to expand production capacity.
• Desenvolve Mulher Credit program with special conditions for companies led by women entrepreneurs.
• Desenvolve Agro Special credit conditions for agro-industrial companies and rural producers in São Paulo.
• Capital de Giro Working capital financing for purchasing inventory, materials, and inputs.
• Linha Municípios Sustentáveis Credit line for São Paulo municipalities supporting smart cities, sanitation, resilient infrastructure, public lighting, solar energy, health, education, social infrastructure, reforestation, bike paths, and inclusive projects.
• Linha de Apoio a Investimentos Municipais Credit line for municipalities covering public buildings, machines and equipment, paving works, and industrial districts.
• Vias Recuperadas Exclusive credit line for São Paulo municipalities financing paving and road resurfacing works.
• Crédito Digital (até R$ 300.000) Fully online credit platform for working capital loans up to R$ 300,000 enabling end-to-end digital simulation, application, and monitoring.
• Crédito Online (acima de R$ 300.000) Digital credit platform for larger loans including agro machines, investment projects, innovation, sustainability, pre-operational companies, and public sector financing.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MONITORAPPminorOthers · 22 December 2025MONITORAPP secured a subscription agreement for its cloud-based security platform AIONCLOUD with Desenvolve SP in São Paulo, Brazil. This marked MONITORAPP's first customer in Brazil's financial sector and signified expansion into the Latin American market.
• SEBRAE (Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesenvolve SP partners with SEBRAE to provide free consulting and courses for micro and small businesses to support credit decisions and business growth. SEBRAE-SP provides specialized advisory services for entrepreneurs seeking financing through Desenvolve SP.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BNDES: Brazil's federal development bank and the largest in Latin America. Most analogous in mandate (long-term credit for development), but operates at national scale with far greater capital base; serves as a co-anchor in DNA VC II alongside Desenvolve SP.
• Caixa Econômica Federal: Brazilian federal savings bank with significant SME, infrastructure, and municipal financing activity. Overlaps with Desenvolve SP on municipal infrastructure and working-capital lending, but operates at national scale with retail deposit funding.
• Banco do Brasil: Brazil's largest state-linked commercial bank. Competes with Desenvolve SP for SME and agribusiness credit, but with a far broader product portfolio and nationwide footprint; relevant as the dominant incumbent in São Paulo SME lending.

Direct peers

• BDMG: Minas Gerais state development bank. Directly comparable as a Brazilian state development institution offering long-term financing to local businesses and municipalities, with a similar credit-line and guarantee-fund structure.
• Desenbahia: Bahia state development agency. Direct peer as another Agência de Fomento providing long-term credit lines to local businesses and municipal governments, with similar product structure and institutional positioning to Desenvolve SP.
• BADESC: Santa Catarina state development agency. A sister Agência de Fomento operating in the same regulatory and product category as Desenvolve SP, providing long-term credit and investment support to regional SMEs and municipalities.
• AgeRio: Rio de Janeiro state development agency. Another Agência de Fomento with comparable product offerings (long-term credit, municipal financing, investment lines) and similar institutional mandate, albeit in a different state economy.
• GoiásFomento: Goiás state development agency. Operates the same Agência de Fomento model with credit lines for investment, working capital, and municipal financing — directly comparable to Desenvolve SP's product portfolio and customer segments.
• BRDE: Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul. Multi-state development bank serving Brazil's South region. Closely comparable to Desenvolve SP in mandate (long-term financing, municipal infrastructure, SME credit) but operating across Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul.

Regional players

• BNB: Banco do Nordeste do Brasil. Federally chartered regional development bank focused on Brazil's Northeast; comparable as a public development lender but with a different regional mandate versus Desenvolve SP's São Paulo concentration.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/agenciadesenvolvesp
• Facebookfacebook.com/agenciadesenvolvesp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/desenvolvesp
• Instagraminstagram.com/desenvolvesp
• Xx.com/desenvolve_sp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Desenvolve SP