Pimp My Carroça
Pimp My Carroça is a Brazilian nonprofit civil society organization founded in 2012 that improves income, visibility, and working conditions for catadores (waste pickers) of recyclable materials through a portfolio of programs including the Cataki mobile app (40,000+ users across 1,000+ cities), cart-refurbishment events, crowdfunding, policy advocacy, and partnerships with companies like Tetra Pak and the Belo Horizonte Prefecture.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSão Paulo, Brazil
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pimp My Carroça does
Pimp My Carroça is a Brazilian civil society organization (Organização da Sociedade Civil) headquartered in São Paulo that operates a portfolio of programs aimed at improving visibility, income, and working conditions for catadores — informal waste pickers of recyclable materials — across Brazil. Founded by graffiti artist Mundano in 2012 (with roots in a 2007 art action painting waste picker carts), the organization runs a flagship cart-refurbishment program that delivers hand-painted carts, health services, and cultural programming, and reports income increases of at least 50% for cart recipients. Its core technology is the Cataki mobile application (launched 2017, available on iOS and Android, 40,000+ users across 1,000+ cities), which connects waste pickers with waste generators, cooperatives, and recycling points; supplementary tools include Pimpex, a 2014-launched crowdfunding platform for collective cart financing, and Pimp LAB, an innovation laboratory.
The organization's product portfolio also includes Pimp Nossa Cooperativa (cooperative warehouse mural revitalization), Pimp Educa (environmental education with waste pickers as educators), Desafio Pimp (immersive experiences), Pimp My Carroça em Circuito (mobile events), and Incidência Política (policy advocacy). Recent programmatic extensions include Cataki+ Longa Vida (a 2021 multi-year partnership with Tetra Pak that has recycled 104+ tons of Long Life Packaging while providing R$0.25/kg extra remuneration to 200+ waste pickers) and ReciclaBelô (a 2024 partnership with the Belo Horizonte Prefecture integrating cooperatives into Carnival waste management, delivering 150-180% income increases). The organization is led by Executive Director Nanci Darcolléte, a catadora with 30+ years of experience appointed in October 2024.
Pimp My Carroça is a nonprofit funded through a mix of individual and corporate donations, crowdfunding, corporate ESG partnerships (Tetra Pak, Copasa, Instituto Atemis), and government contracts (Prefecture of Belo Horizonte, MPT, TRT, Ministério Público de Minas Gerais). It serves multiple customer segments including autonomous waste pickers, waste picker cooperatives and associations (3,000+ estimated nationally), waste generators, companies with sustainability/ESG goals, and municipal/state/federal government bodies. Customer-facing channels are community-led: direct social programs, the Cataki app (direct-to-consumer), volunteer and ambassador networks, and institutional partnerships. The organization reports no external investors, no parent company, and no venture or private equity backing.
Pimp My Carroça firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pimp My Carroça
- Legal name
- Pimp My Carroça
- Website
- https://pimpmycarroca.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pimp My Carroça is a Brazilian nonprofit civil society organization founded in 2012 that improves income, visibility, and working conditions for catadores (waste pickers) of recyclable materials through a portfolio of programs including the Cataki mobile app (40,000+ users across 1,000+ cities), cart-refurbishment events, crowdfunding, policy advocacy, and partnerships with companies like Tetra Pak and the Belo Horizonte Prefecture.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pimp My Carroça industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Waste Management and Social Inclusion Services
- NAICS
- Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) & Single-Stream Recycling Processing (IMAIAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Container Rental, Delivery & Servicing (Carts/Bins) (BPALAAAG)
Keywords
Where Pimp My Carroça is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- São Paulo
- HQ country
- Brazil
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pimp My Carroça business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Philanthropy: The organization relies primarily on donations from individuals, companies, and institutional donors. The website features a prominent 'Doe' (Donate) button and the organization solicits donations to support its programs for waste pickers.
- Cataki App Services: While the Cataki app is free for users, waste pickers can charge fees for collection services arranged through the platform. The organization facilitates payment for waste picker services.
- Institutional Partnerships and Projects: The organization receives funding through partnerships with companies (e.g., Tetra Pak for Cataki+ Longa Vida), government contracts (e.g., with Prefecture of Belo Horizonte via SLU), and public ministry funding (e.g., MPT, Ministério Público de Minas Gerais).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free app for all users - waste pickers, generators, and collection points |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Pimp My Carroça product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pimp My Carroça is a Brazilian civil society organization that delivers programs and technologies aimed at the visibility and fair remuneration of waste pickers (catadores) of recyclable materials. Its flagship offering is the refurbishment and donation of handcarts (carroças) to autonomous waste pickers, combined with health services and artistic painting that produces at least a 50% income increase. Complementary offerings include the Cataki mobile application connecting waste generators with collectors, the Pimpex crowdfunding platform for collective cart financing, advocacy programs, and immersive education experiences.
Product overview
Pimp My Carroça is a civil society organization that operates as a movement of interconnected programs and technologies focused on visibility and fair remuneration for waste pickers of recyclable materials across Brazil. The portfolio centers on three main pillars: (1) Pimp My Carroça, the flagship cart refurbishment program; (2) Cataki, a mobile application launched in 2017 connecting waste generators with collectors and cooperatives; and (3) Pimp LAB, an innovation laboratory. Supporting programs include Desafio Pimp (immersive experiences), Pimp Educa (environmental education), Pimpex (crowdfunding platform for carts), Pimp Nossa Cooperativa (cooperative art revitalization), Pimp My Carroça em Circuito (mobile event format), and Incidência Política (advocacy). The Cataki+ Longa Vida add-on module provides targeted material collection incentives. The ReciclaBelô program extends this model to carnival waste management in Belo Horizonte.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cataki: Mobile application launched in 2017 to connect waste pickers with waste generators, cooperatives, and recycling points. Available in over 1,000 cities in Brazil with more than 40,000 users.
- Pimp LAB
- Pimpex
- Desafio Pimp
- Pimp Educa
- Pimp Nossa Cooperativa
- Pimp My Carroça em Circuito
Products and services
- Pimp My Carroça (Cart Refurbishment Program) Flagship program that provides new or refurbished carroças (handcarts) to waste pickers, along with health services and artistic interventions. Documented to increase the income of cart recipients by at least 50% and to promote dignity and visibility.
- Cataki Mobile Application Free mobile app for iOS and Android that connects waste generators with autonomous collectors, cooperatives, scrap yards, and recycling points. Enables scheduling of collections and contact with waste pickers. Available in over 1,000 Brazilian cities with more than 40,000 users.
- Pimpex Crowdfunding Platform Social technology that enables individuals, companies, or organizations to collectively finance and donate new or refurbished handcarts to waste pickers anywhere in Brazil, functioning as a step-by-step guide for collective assistance.
- Pimp LAB Laboratory for creation and experimentation of socio-environmental and artivist projects, based on technology and innovation, aimed at improving the health and income of waste pickers.
- Incidência Política (Political Advocacy) Advocacy program working with public authorities at federal, state, and municipal levels, using artivism, mobilization, and other tools to promote public policies that guarantee dignity and income for waste pickers in all forms of organization.
- Desafio Pimp Immersive experience in which participants pull a cart and collect recyclable waste guided by master waste pickers, transforming how people perceive and relate to waste pickers.
- Pimp Educa Environmental education project for schools, offering conversation circles and lectures to students and teachers with waste pickers serving as educators.
- Pimp Nossa Cooperativa Program that transforms cooperative sorting facilities into open-air art galleries through murals by local artists, combined with health, wellness, and cultural activities for waste pickers, families, and surrounding communities.
- Pimp My Carroça em Circuito Large-scale event format that refurbishes carts while waste pickers enjoy health and wellness activities and cultural programming, receiving graffiti-art transformed carts from local artists.
- ReciclaBelô Initiative integrating waste pickers into Belo Horizonte's street Carnival, providing infrastructure, fair pay, and recognition for autonomous collectors, cooperatives, and associations. Operated as a contracted selective-collection service with municipal government support.
- Cataki+ Longa Vida Corporate partnership program developed with Tetra Pak to support waste pickers in collecting and selling Long Life Packaging (ELVs). Provides extra remuneration (R$0.25 per kg) and consolidates collection at cooperatives. Since 2021, recycled over 104 tonnes of ELVs through more than 200 participating waste pickers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Waste pickers receiving carts increase income by at least 50%
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Pimp My Carroça
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Pimp My Carroça technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Pimp My Carroça partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Prefecture of Belo Horizonte (SLU and Belotur)coreMunicipal government partnership for ReciclaBelô project that integrates waste pickers into Carnival waste management. The city contracts cooperatives directly for collection services, provides infrastructure (fixed collection points), and supports operations. Represents one of the largest formal inclusion programs for autonomous waste pickers in Brazil.
- Tetra PakcorePartnership for Cataki+ Longa Vida program that supports waste pickers in collecting and selling Long Life Packaging (ELVs). Tetra Pak provides funding for extra remuneration to waste pickers (R$0.25 per kg) and program support including equipment and protective gear. Since 2021, the program has recycled over 104 tons of ELVs.
- Copasa (Companhia de Saneamento de Minas Gerais)minorSponsorship of ReciclaBelô 2026, contributing to the project's ability to provide infrastructure and support to waste pickers during Carnival.
- Ministério Público de Minas GeraisminorEnvironmental compensation funding for ReciclaBelô project supporting waste picker inclusion in Carnival waste management.
- Tribunal Regional do Trabalho da 3ª Região (TRT)minorInstitutional support for ReciclaBelô in the context of promoting decent work for waste pickers.
- Ministério Público do Trabalho (MPT)minorInstitutional partner for promotion of decent work for waste pickers, supporting policy initiatives and technical notes on waste picker labor rights.
- Instituto AtemiscoreTechnical and methodological coordination for ReciclaBelô, providing support for waste picker organizational strengthening and work conditions during Carnival operations.
- Cooperativas Asmare, Associrecicle, Coopesol Leste, Coopersoli BarreirocoreBelo Horizonte waste picker cooperatives directly contracted for ReciclaBelô operations. These cooperatives have operated recycling in the city for decades and are key implementation partners for inclusive waste management during Carnival.
- Aliança Internacional de Catadores (IAWP/GlobalRec)coreInternational alliance of waste picker organizations representing over 460,000 workers in 34 countries. Pimp My Carroça participates as observers and contributors to global waste picker advocacy. Co-founded by Brazilian waste picker movements including MNCR.
- UFRGS (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul)minorCollaboration for collaborative flood mapping during Rio Grande do Sul floods, crossing UFRGS flood data with Cataki database to locate waste pickers in affected areas.
- Rede Colaborativa Solidariedade aos Catadores do RScoreCollaborative network including ANCAT, MNCR, Unicatadores, IAWP, FRECATA, ORIS, ARZB, Unicopas, Fundação Avina, and Oceana Brasil coordinating emergency response for waste pickers affected by Rio Grande do Sul floods.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pimp My Carroça competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Ecozinha / Instituto EcoFaxina: Brazilian collectives working on urban waste, circular economy, and informal-recycling inclusion; comparable as adjacent Brazilian actors in the same informal-recycling value chain.
- TETO Brasil: Large Latin American nonprofit focused on informal settlements; comparable as a high-profile Brazilian/LATAM social-movement organization using volunteer mobilization, art, and direct action — though operating in housing rather than recycling.
- Hasiru Dala (India): Indian waste-picker organization combining organizing, livelihoods, and technology; a strong international peer in waste-picker integration with comparable mission and direct-service model.
- Catapreta / Tá Limpo: Brazilian projects/collectives working with waste pickers and recycling inclusion; comparable emerging players in the same informal-recycling social-enterprise space.
Direct peers
- MNCR (Movimento Nacional dos Catadores de Recicláveis): Brazil's national waste picker movement representing hundreds of thousands of catadores; Pimp My Carroça collaborates with MNCR on policy advocacy and emergency response and operates in the same informal-recycling ecosystem.
- International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP/GlobalRec): International alliance representing 460,000+ waste pickers across 34 countries; Pimp My Carroça participates as observer/contributor, making it a directly comparable global peer in waste picker advocacy and visibility.
- ANCAT (Associação Nacional dos Catadores e Catadoras de Materiais Reaproveitáveis e Reutilizáveis): National association of waste pickers; an explicit network partner of Pimp My Carroça in the Rio Grande do Sul floods response and broader advocacy efforts. Directly comparable mission and constituency.
Regional players
- Instituto Pró-Saber: Brazilian social-impact organization; loosely comparable as another Brazilian nonprofit using education and direct programs for vulnerable populations, though with a different thematic focus.
Broad incumbents
- Cempre (Compromisso Empresarial para Reciclagem): Brazilian business coalition for recycling that aggregates corporate recycling commitments; comparable as a coordinating institution in Brazil's recycling ecosystem, though focused on corporate-side rather than waste-picker support.
- WIEGO (Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing): Global network focused on informal workers including waste pickers; comparable as a policy and capacity-building peer supporting informal-recycling livelihoods internationally.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pimp My Carroça social profiles
Digital presencePimp My Carroça financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pimp My Carroça leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Pimp My Carroça funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pimp My Carroça M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pimp My Carroça
What does Pimp My Carroça do?
Pimp My Carroça is a Brazilian civil society organization that delivers programs and technologies aimed at the visibility and fair remuneration of waste pickers (catadores) of recyclable materials. Its flagship offering is the refurbishment and donation of handcarts (carroças) to autonomous waste pickers, combined with health services and artistic painting that produces at least a 50% income increase. Complementary offerings include the Cataki mobile application connecting waste generators with collectors, the Pimpex crowdfunding platform for collective cart financing, advocacy programs, and immersive education experiences.
Is Pimp My Carroça a public or private company?
Pimp My Carroça is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Pimp My Carroça founded?
Pimp My Carroça was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pimp My Carroça based?
Pimp My Carroça is headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, in the Latin America region.
How does Pimp My Carroça make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Philanthropy is the primary driver. The others are cataki App Services and institutional Partnerships and Projects.
Who are Pimp My Carroça's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Ecozinha / Instituto EcoFaxina, TETO Brasil, Hasiru Dala (India) and Catapreta / Tá Limpo. Direct peers are MNCR (Movimento Nacional dos Catadores de Recicláveis), International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP/GlobalRec) and ANCAT (Associação Nacional dos Catadores e Catadoras de Materiais Reaproveitáveis e Reutilizáveis). Instituto Pró-Saber is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Cempre (Compromisso Empresarial para Reciclagem) and WIEGO (Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing).
Does Pimp My Carroça have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pimp My Carroça.
What industry is Pimp My Carroça in?
Pimp My Carroça's product category is Waste Management and Social Inclusion Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAFAD, Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) & Single-Stream Recycling Processing, with a secondary code of BPALAAAG, Container Rental, Delivery & Servicing (Carts/Bins). Its NAICS code is 56292 and its SIC code is 4953.