SAOM

What SAOM does

SAOM (Serviços de Assistência Organizações de Maria) is a private Portuguese social solidarity institution (IPSS) founded in 1976 by Dr. João Rebello de Carvalho and headquartered in Porto's historical centre. It delivers a portfolio of integrated social services and harm reduction programmes to elderly, vulnerable, and at-risk populations, operating across four pillars: core social responses (Centro de Dia day care, Apoio Domiciliário home support, Lavandaria Social, Refeitório Social), community intervention projects (Dar Sentido à Vida, Aqui e Agora, Conta'to, Programa de Consumo Vigiado), and social economy enterprises (Torreão and Português de Gema restaurants, collective catering, event catering). The organisation's technology is operational rather than digital — multidisciplinary teams, street outreach rounds, a mobile supervised consumption unit, and a fixed facility at Rua Virtudes 11 — with no disclosed AI/ML or software platform components.

SAOM's business model blends public funding, earned income, and donations. Public revenue flows through protocol agreements with Segurança Social (Centro de Dia, Apoio Domiciliário, co-funded on a means-tested basis) and with ICAD/SICAD and the Ministry of Health for harm reduction services, plus municipal contracts with Porto Municipality for the solidary restaurant network. Enterprise revenue comes from corporate catering (notably Companhia de Seguros Ageas since 2017) and private event catering. Supplementary income includes IBAN donations, the Portuguese IRS 1% tax consignment mechanism, and annual associate membership fees. End beneficiaries are typically not paying customers in a commercial sense — the elderly, drug users, sex workers, homeless individuals, and economically disadvantaged families are referred or co-funded by public bodies, while paying customers exist mainly on the catering/restaurant side.

The organisation's strategic positioning is that of a long-tenured, multi-service IPSS with strong institutional moats — IPSS regulatory status, 48 years of brand and relationships in Porto, a deeply embedded partner ecosystem (Segurança Social, ICAD, SICAD, Porto Municipality, IEFP, Ageas, Cruz Vermelha), and integrated social economy restaurants that function as both vocational training vehicles and revenue generators. Financial statements for 2023 and 2024 exist but specific revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

SAOM

Legal name

SAOM - Serviços de Assistência Organizações de Maria

Website

https://saom.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAOM is a Porto-based Portuguese IPSS (founded 1976) delivering elderly day care, home support, social refectory and laundry, harm reduction programmes, and two social-economy restaurants that fund vocational reintegration for vulnerable populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Community Housing Services (62422), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)

Keywords

• Elderly day care
• Home support services
• Harm reduction programs
• Social reintegration training
• Community catering

Headquarters

HQ city

Porto

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Security and Government Funding: SAOM operates as an IPSS (Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social) receiving public funding and protocol agreements with Segurança Social and municipal government for social services including Centro de Dia, Apoio Domiciliário, and social restaurants.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: SAOM receives monetary donations from the public via IBAN transfers, with receipts provided. Additionally, the institution benefits from IRS tax designation (1% consignação), directing a portion of taxpayers' income tax to the organisation.
3. Social Economy Enterprises (Restauração): The Torreão Restaurant and Português de Gema restaurant generate revenue through catering and food service. These social enterprises employ vulnerable individuals and reinvest proceeds into SAOM's social mission. Collective catering contracts with corporate partners (e.g., Ageas Insurance) also contribute.
4. Membership Fees: SAOM offers associate membership with an annual quota (quota anual), providing benefits including 10% discounts at partner establishments, invitations to events, and voting rights in General Assemblies.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SAOM is a private social solidarity institution (IPSS) that provides a portfolio of social services including elderly day care (Centro de Dia), home support (Apoio Domiciliário), social refectory, and social laundry for vulnerable populations. It operates harm reduction programs (Aqui e Agora, Conta'to, Programa de Consumo Vigiado) for substance users, sex workers, and homeless individuals, and runs social reintegration projects combined with social economy enterprises (restaurants Torreão and Português de Gema, collective catering, and event catering) that provide vocational training and employment pathways.

Product overview

SAOM is a private social welfare institution offering a portfolio of integrated social services and social enterprises. The core services include Centro de Dia (elderly day care), Apoio Domiciliário (home support), Lavandaria Social (social laundry), and Refeitório Social (social refectory). These are complemented by social enterprise projects including Restaurante Torreão, Restaurante Português de Gema, Restauração Coletiva, and Catering de Eventos, which provide vocational training and employment for vulnerable populations. Social reintegration programs include Projeto Dar Sentido à Vida, Projeto Aqui e Agora, Projeto Conta'to, and the Programa de Consumo Vigiado.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Centro de Dia
• Apoio Domiciliário
• Lavandaria Social
• Refeitório Social
• Restaurante Torreão
• Restaurante Português de Gema
• Restauração Coletiva
• Catering de Eventos
• Projeto Dar Sentido à Vida
• Projeto Aqui e Agora
• Projeto Conta'to
• Programa de Consumo Vigiado

Quantifiable outcome

• Torreão Restaurant has been operating since 2012, providing vocational training and employment to vulnerable individuals
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• APDES, APF, CVP, ARRIMO e SAOM (Consortium)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 August 2022The Supervised Consumption Programme (Programa de Consumo Vigiado do Município do Porto – PCVMP) is managed by a five-entity consortium: APDES (Associação para o Planeamento da Família), APF (Associação para o Planeamento Familiar), CVP (Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa), ARRIMO (Associação desolidariedade Social), and SAOM. The programme operates a movable supervised consumption facility (opened 24 August 2022) and a mobile unit active 365 days/year, covering Campanhã and the Historical Centre of Porto. It is financed by the Ministry of Health through ICAD.
• SICAD (Serviço de Intervenção nos Comportamentos Aditivos e nas Dependências)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAOM maintains formal partnerships with SICAD to support disadvantaged populations through specialised teams. Projects 'Aqui e Agora' and 'Conta'to' operate under the RRMD (Reduction of Risks and Minimisation of Damages) framework coordinated by SICAD.
• IEFP (Instituto de Emprego e Formação Profissional)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 'Dar Sentido à Vida' project benefits from collaboration with IEFP, Portugal's public employment and training service. IEFP supports vocational training and facilitates labour market integration for SAOM's vulnerable beneficiaries.
• Porto Municipality (Câmara Municipal do Porto)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPorto Municipality contracts SAOM to operate three solidary restaurants, with a fourth planned for 2022. The municipality also manages the Supervised Consumption Programme through the consortium 'Um Porto Seguro'. SAOM receives municipal funding and contracts for social restaurant operations.
• Companhia de Seguros AgeascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSince 2017, Torreão (SAOM's social restaurant enterprise) has served the corporate canteen of Ageas Seguros in its own facilities, providing daily meals to employees.
• Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa (Portuguese Red Cross)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSAOM's home care service (Apoio Domiciliário) supplies meals to Cruz Vermelha's home care beneficiaries, demonstrating an ongoing meal supply partnership.
• Segurança Social (Social Security)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAOM operates as an IPSS (Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social) under protocol with Segurança Social. The Social Security authority refers beneficiaries to SAOM's Centro de Dia, Apoio Domiciliário, and other social services and co-funds these programmes through public agreements.
• CRI Central (Centro de Respostas Integradas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAOM's 'Aqui e Agora' project works in coordination with CRI Central for psychiatric referrals and combined therapies, providing clinical support for people with prolonged substance use disorders.
• União de Freguesias de Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e VitóriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 'Há Fado na Freguesia' project, led by Maestro José Flávio Martins, received support from this local parish union. The project held a fado concert at SAOM's Salão Nobre for Centro de Dia beneficiaries.
• Consórcio Um Porto SeguroflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Supervised Consumption Programme of Porto Municipality (PCVMP) is managed by the consortium 'Um Porto Seguro', which coordinates the five entities (APDES, APF, CVP, ARRIMO, SAOM) delivering harm reduction services in Porto.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Restaurante Solidário (Câmara Municipal do Porto network): Porto Municipality's network of solidary restaurants, of which SAOM operates three. As the contracting authority and ecosystem of comparable providers, this municipal programme is the primary competitive and contractual context for SAOM's social-enterprise catering operations.

Regional players

• Centro Social Paroquial de Cedofeita: Local Porto parish-based IPSS delivering Centro de Dia, Apoio Domiciliário, and social refectory services. Directly comparable to SAOM's core elderly and food-assistance services in the same geographic market.
• Fundação Foietta: Portuguese foundation operating social services including community meals, elderly support, and reintegration programs. Comparable to SAOM's mixed social-services + social-enterprise model in a Portuguese regional context.

Broad incumbents

• EMERGENCY: International non-profit providing social and health services to vulnerable populations including migrants, homeless, and at-risk youth. Comparable to SAOM in mission and outreach model, though operating at much larger geographic and financial scale.
• Cáritas Portuguesa: Large national NGO network addressing food insecurity, social reintegration, and community support. Comparable to SAOM's Refeitório Social, harm reduction, and reintegration work, but operating at significantly broader national scale.
• Médecins du Monde: International humanitarian organisation delivering health and social services to vulnerable populations including people who use drugs and sex workers. Comparable to SAOM's harm reduction, outreach, and clinical referral work at a broader international scale.

Direct peers

• Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto: The largest IPSS in Porto, operating across elderly care, home support, social reintegration, and health services under similar Segurança Social protocols. Directly comparable to SAOM in service mix, funding model, and target beneficiaries in the same city.
• GAT — Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos: Portuguese civil society organisation focused on HIV/hepatitis, harm reduction, and drug-user support. Comparable to SAOM's harm reduction portfolio, especially the supervised consumption and sterile-injection-equipment distribution activities.
• Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa (Portuguese Red Cross): National humanitarian/social services organisation operating home support, elderly care, and emergency social assistance. Comparable to SAOM in institutional structure, protocol-based funding, and overlapping service lines (and is in fact a meal-supply partner).
• APDES: Portuguese NGO specialising in harm reduction, sexual health, and outreach to vulnerable populations; consortium partner in the Supervised Consumption Programme. Highly comparable to SAOM's 'Aqui e Agora' and 'Conta'to' projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@saomporto1329
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/saom_servicos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 SAOM