SEBRAE Santa Catarina

What SEBRAE Santa Catarina does

SEBRAE Santa Catarina is the Santa Catarina state unit of Sistema SEBRAE, the federally-mandated Brazilian service network for micro and small enterprises established by Federal Law No. 8.154/1990. Operating as a private nonprofit under MDIC supervision and headquartered in Florianópolis, the organization provides consulting, training, market intelligence, and innovation support to micro-entrepreneurs (MEIs), micro and small businesses (ME/EPP), rural producers, and sustainable-business initiatives across the state. Its core product portfolio spans the ALI (Agentes Locais de Inovação) on-site innovation program, the Cidade Empreendedora municipal development initiative covering 167 municipalities, ESG advisory through the Empresas Sustentáveis and Radar ESG programs with SEMA, the Observatório de Negócios market intelligence platform integrating CAGED and IBGE data, fiscal tools (Emissor de Notas, Nota Fiscal Fácil app), the PNBOX business-planning tool, Sebraetec technology services, online and WhatsApp-delivered courses, and the recently launched LIS AI knowledge hub.

The underlying technology stack combines a self-serve customer portal (atendimento.sebrae-sc.com.br) with AI-powered features — LIS for generative business assistance, an AI chat agent inside the Observatório for study retrieval, and proprietary interactive dashboards (Painéis do Observatório) — layered on top of public datasets (CAGED employment, IBGE demographics, sectoral data). Services are delivered through physical agencies, the Sala do Empreendedor municipal partner network, a 24/7 toll-free call center (0800 570 0800), field agents conducting on-site diagnostics, and digital channels including YouTube (TV Inova SC), Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Telegram, and email.

SEBRAE/SC's business model is a publicly-funded nonprofit: revenue inflows are compulsory contributions on Simples Nacional taxpayers rather than customer fees, and services to entrepreneurs are free or heavily subsidized (freemium pricing model). The organization is governed by a Conselho Deliberativo with private, government, and worker representation, and operates as the de facto exclusive delivery vehicle for federal and state small-business development policy in Santa Catarina.

Name

SEBRAE Santa Catarina

Legal name

Sebrae Santa Catarina

Website

https://atendimento.sebrae-sc.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

SEBRAE Santa Catarina is the state unit of Brazil's federally-mandated Sistema SEBRAE nonprofit, delivering free consulting, training, AI tools, and ESG and innovation programs to micro-entrepreneurs (MEIs) and small businesses across Santa Catarina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Florianópolis

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: As a Brazilian government entity, SEBRAE is funded through compulsory social contributions from businesses enrolled in the Simples Nacional tax regime. Services to entrepreneurs are largely subsidized or free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SEBRAE Santa Catarina delivers free or subsidized business consulting, training, and capacity-building services to micro and small enterprises (including MEIs) across the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Its portfolio spans MEI formalization support, on-site innovation diagnostics (ALI), individual consulting, online courses, technology adoption services (Sebraetec), and digital tools such as the LIS AI knowledge hub and the Observatório de Negócios market intelligence platform. Programs like Cidade Empreendedora extend reach through municipal partnerships across 167 cities.

Product overview

SEBRAE Santa Catarina offers a comprehensive ecosystem of business development solutions for micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs in Santa Catarina. The core offering combines free advisory services (ALI agents, in-company diagnostics, consultancies) with technology-enabled tools including LIS AI for intelligent business insights, fiscal document issuers (Emissor de Notas and Nota Fiscal Fácil app), and the Observatório de Negócios data platform with AI-powered search. The PNBOX business planning tool and technology services (Sebraetec) complement planning and digital transformation support. Sectoral programs include the Cidade Empreendedora municipal development initiative, ESG sustainability consulting with the Selo Rumo ao ESG certification, credit line guidance, and innovation competitions like Maratona do AD. Online education through courses like MEI na Prática and WhatsApp-based training provides accessible learning. The offering functions as an integrated platform addressing the full entrepreneur journey from formalization (MEI support) through growth and sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cidade Empreendedora: A strategy to improve the business environment of municipalities through 10 strategic axes, integrating public management with small businesses.
• ALI - Agentes Locais de Inovação
• Radar ESG
• LIS - Hub de Conhecimento
• Sebrae Delas
• TV INOVA SC

Products and services

• LIS (Laboratory Intelligence System) - IA do Sebrae AI-powered hub of knowledge with specialized intelligent agents that provide strategic insights, intelligent automation, and customized solutions for marketing, finance, strategy, and other business areas. Users can ask questions, create strategic content, and generate results for their businesses. Targeted at micro and small entrepreneurs seeking AI-driven guidance.
• Emissor de Notas do Sebrae (NF-e e CF-e) Free electronic invoice (NF-e) and electronic coupon (CF-e) issuer tool for MEI and small businesses to comply with Brazilian fiscal requirements.
• Nota Fiscal Fácil App Mobile application developed with SEF/SC enabling MEIs to issue NF-e and CF-e directly from their cell phones on Android and iOS.
• Observatório de Negócios Data observatory platform providing market intelligence panels, sector studies, consumer portrait data, and business dashboards for Santa Catarina, including an AI-powered chat assistant for finding relevant studies.
• PNBOX - Plano de Negócios Online business planning tool that helps entrepreneurs create and manage their business plans with templates and guidance.
• Programa ALI - Agentes Locais de Inovação Local Innovation Agents program providing free specialized guidance to small businesses and rural producers for implementing innovative solutions, improving processes, and increasing productivity. Includes ALI Produtividade (up to 6 months) and ALI Rural (up to 12 months) tracks. 21,000+ businesses served over 15+ years.
• Programa Cidade Empreendedora Municipal development program improving the business environment of municipalities through 10 strategic axes including governance, simplification, public procurement, entrepreneurship education, social inclusion, innovation, and climate resilience. Operating in 167 cities (56% of SC municipalities) with R$70 million+ invested.
• Sebrae na sua empresa On-site diagnostic service where SEBRAE agents visit businesses to identify needs and provide guidance for improving management, competitiveness, and implementation of solutions.
• Radar ESG Self-diagnostic tool with 24 indicators across 4 dimensions (Environmental, Economic, Social, Governance) to help small entrepreneurs reflect on current ESG practices and identify improvement opportunities.
• Programa Empresas Sustentáveis / Selo Rumo ao ESG Partnership with Santa Catarina State Government providing 80 hours of specialized consulting to help small businesses develop sustainability strategies including ESG Performance Assessment, Ecosystem Services Evaluation, and Innovation & Sustainability planning, leading to the Selo Rumo ao ESG certification.
• Linha de Crédito e Finanças Guidance and information on credit lines including working capital, investment financing, export/import, microcredit, innovation credit, and receivables anticipation for small businesses.
• Maratona do AD - Agente de Desenvolvimento Innovation journey promoted by the Cidade Empreendedora program that strengthens the role of Development Agents as local transformation leaders through learning trails with workshops, mentoring, and practical challenges.
• Sebraetec Technology-related services and solutions offered to small businesses including technological assessments and implementation support.
• Sebrae/SC Cursos Online Online courses for entrepreneurs including MEI na Prática (2-hour free course with 13 blocks covering formalization, taxes, fiscal notes, hiring, and management) and courses on technology, agribusiness, construction, and business skills.
• Sebrae/SC Consultorias Free individual consulting services provided by specialized consultants at SEBRAE/SC agencies covering business management, fiscal matters, and strategic planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 11 million MEIs nationally formalizing their businesses with SEBRAE support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Governo do Estado de Santa CatarinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Santa Catarina State Government for programs including Empresas Sustentáveis (sustainability), Radar ESG, and the Selo Rumo ao ESG certification program for sustainable businesses.
• CIEE/SCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CIEE (Centro de Integração Empresa-Escola) for managing internship selection processes. CIEE handles the disclosure of SEBRAE/SC internship selection processes.
• Detran SCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the CNH Emprego na Pista program, helping entrepreneurs use their driver's license for transportation business opportunities.
• Municipal Governments (Cidades Empreendedoras)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 167 municipalities across Santa Catarina through the Cidade Empreendedora program, which integrates public management with small business support across 10 strategic axes.
• Governo do Estado de Santa Catarina (SEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the State Environmental Agency (SEMA) for the Empresas Sustentáveis program promoting ESG practices among small businesses.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SENAC (Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial): Sister Sistema S organization providing professional and commercial education/training with a parallel state-unit structure and similar tax-funded nonprofit model — directly comparable in funding logic and regional delivery.
• SENAI (Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial): Another Sistema S entity providing industrial training, technology services and innovation support with state branches funded through employer contributions; comparable institutional architecture and SMB-services overlap (Sebraetec).
• ApexBrasil: Brazilian trade and investment promotion agency that supports SME internationalization, overlapping with SEBRAE SC's export-credit and Linha de Crédito advisory offerings for small businesses.
• Sistema SEBRAE (Nacional): The national federation coordinating all state SEBRAE units including SEBRAE SC; broad incumbent that sets strategic direction and aggregates the state units' activities across Brazil.

Direct peers

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): U.S. federal agency supporting small businesses through counseling, training, lending partnerships, and contracting — the closest international analog to SEBRAE SC's SMB-support mandate and a strong comparative benchmark.
• Associação Comercial de São Paulo (ACSP): Long-standing Brazilian business association offering registration, certification, training and advocacy services to member SMBs; similar service mix though funded privately via member dues rather than tax contributions.
• Endeavor Brasil: Private non-profit that supports high-impact Brazilian entrepreneurs through mentoring, networks and acceleration programs; offers overlapping entrepreneurship-support services to SEBRAE SC's broader but smaller-business-focused audience.
• SEBRAE São Paulo: The São Paulo state unit of Sistema SEBRAE, providing the same consulting, training, market-intelligence and innovation-support services to micro and small businesses — a state-level sibling of SEBRAE Santa Catarina with an identical mandate and funding model.

Emerging players

• Founder Institute Brazil: Global pre-seed accelerator with a Brazilian chapter that runs structured founder training programs; complementary to SEBRAE SC's MEI and ALI tracks but focused on earlier-stage, higher-growth aspirational entrepreneurs.

Others

• CIEE (Centro de Integração Empresa-Escola): Brazilian nonprofit administering internship programs and youth-employability services — already a formal partner of SEBRAE SC for internship recruitment, and comparable as a publicly-mandated, mission-driven workforce intermediary.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sebrae_sc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SebraeSC
• Facebookfacebook.com/sebraesc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sebrae-sc
• Instagraminstagram.com/sebraesc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SEBRAE Santa Catarina