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What Our does

NOSSAS is a Brazilian non-governmental, non-profit civic engagement organization headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, founded in 2011 originally as Meu Rio. It operates across three integrated fronts — Mobilization, Political Education, and Technology — to convert civic indignation into collective action and measurable public policy outcomes. The organization has launched 314 mobilization campaigns, mobilized over 2.9 million people, and contributed to 183 changes in public policies, with a current operational scale of 26 professionals and a deliberative council of five members elected to four-year terms.

Its technology stack consists of internally developed, open-source civic platforms: BONDE (an activism platform used by 50+ Latin American organizations since 2015), Beta (a Facebook chatbot tracking women's rights legislation), Defezap (a WhatsApp-based reporting system against state violence operating within Rio's state legislative assembly), Mapa do Acolhimento (a matching platform connecting women facing gender-based violence to volunteer psychologists and lawyers), and Community Climate Defense (a disaster-risk civic resilience tool piloted in Jacarezinho). The organization is undergoing a 2024 rebrand to BONDE, signaling a strategic pivot toward positioning its open-source platform as a standalone product while continuing to coordinate a national network of local action networks (Meu Rio, Minha Sampa, Minha Manaus, Minha BH) and the broader Rede Nossas Cidades (RNC) of 10 autonomous organizations reaching approximately 400,000 activists.

Commercially, NOSSAS is a non-revenue entity in the traditional sense — its services are provided free to activists, movements, and communities. Its operating budget is funded through Brazilian and international institutional grants and monthly individual crowdfunding contributions, with cumulative crowdfunding of R$4.5M+ from 31,100 donors. It does not employ a commercial pricing model; "monetization" is measured in policy outcomes and mobilization reach rather than revenue, with independent annual audits certifying operational integrity and CAF America validation (2023) enabling tax-efficient international donations.

Name

Our

Legal name

NOSSAS

Website

https://nossas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NOSSAS is a Rio de Janeiro-based non-profit founded in 2011 that develops open-source civic technologies (notably BONDE), runs national mobilization campaigns, and coordinates a network of 10 local action organizations across Brazil to drive public policy change.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Engagement Platforms

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights, Democracy & Rule of Law IGOs (BPADAAAG)

Keywords

• Civic engagement platforms
• Grassroots mobilization tools
• Open-source activism software
• Political education programs
• Advocacy campaign services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio De Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Organizational Grants: NOSSAS is funded by Brazilian and international organizations that support their work. The organization conducts independent annual audits to review accounting and verify integrity of operations.
2. Individual Supporters / Crowdfunding: Monthly contributions from individual supporters who share NOSSAS values and contribute to projects and campaigns. The organization has raised over R$4.5 million through crowdfunding campaigns.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NOSSAS is a Brazilian non-profit civic engagement organization that combines mobilization, political education, and open civic technology to strengthen democracy. It develops open-source activism platforms (BONDE, Beta, Defezap, Mapa do Acolhimento), runs advocacy campaigns targeting policy change, operates territorial action networks (Meu Rio, Minha BH, Minha Manaus, Nossas Cidades Network), and delivers political education programs for activists and communities across Brazil and Latin America.

Product overview

NOSSAS operates as a civic technology and mobilization organization that has developed multiple interconnected platforms and programs. The core product portfolio includes BONDE, an open-source activism platform used across Latin America; Defezap, a WhatsApp-based reporting system for state violence; Beta, a feminist chatbot for tracking women's rights legislation; Mapa do Acolhimento, a support network connecting victims of violence with professionals; and Eleição do Ano, an election participation platform. These digital tools are complemented by territorial action networks (Meu Rio, Minha BH, Minha Manaus, Rede Nossas Cidades) and educational programs (Periferia que Fala, Muvuca, Creators pelo Clima, Geração que Move) that strengthen civic participation and collective action across Brazil.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BONDE: An open-source activism platform that connects political education, civic mobilization, and collective action.
• Beta
• Defezap
• Mapa do Acolhimento
• Meu Rio
• Minha BH
• Minha Manaus
• Minha Sampa
• Rede Nossas Cidades (RNC)

Products and services

• BONDE A 100% Brazilian open-source activism platform used by movements and organizations across Brazil and Latin America to launch advocacy and solidarity campaigns. It enables civic organizations to create, manage, and scale grassroots mobilization efforts.
• Defezap A pioneering WhatsApp-based reporting system against state violence in Rio de Janeiro, ensuring confidentiality for victims. It allows citizens to report human rights violations directly through WhatsApp messaging.
• Beta Facebook's first feminist chatbot, programmed to track legislative bills related to women's rights and alert users when there is potential regression in rights. Designed for activists and citizens concerned with gender equality legislation.
• Mapa do Acolhimento (Support Network Map) Platform connecting women experiencing gender-based violence to voluntary psychologists and lawyers in a matter of minutes. It has become an independent organization fighting to end gender-based violence.
• Eleição do Ano (Election of the Year) Platform that boosted Child Services (Conselho Tutelar) candidatures committed to ECA (Child and Adolescent Statute) and stimulated popular participation in the choice process.
• Panela de Pressão (Pressure Cooker Platform) First technology in service of popular participation; with Panela de Pressão, any person could put together their own campaign in a few clicks.
• Community Climate Defense Community governance tool to reduce disaster risks and foster civic resilience in peripheral territories. Pilot implemented in Jacarezinho (RJ).
• Meu Rio Action network working toward a more just, inclusive, and participatory Rio de Janeiro. It monitors government actions, mobilizes residents for decision-making processes, and organizes solidarity networks.
• Minha BH Action network for a more just and participatory Belo Horizonte, monitoring and holding public authorities accountable.
• Minha Manaus Action network for organizing manauaras around causes affecting the city of Manaus, incubated by NOSSAS.
• Rede Nossas Cidades (Nossas Cidades Network) Autonomous network of 10 organizations across Northern, Northeastern, and Southeastern Brazil that use mobilization and civic technologies to advocate for local public policies, engaging nearly 400,000 activists.
• Geração que Move Urban mobility and mobilization education program for teens and young adults, conducted in partnership with UNICEF.
• Muvuca Climate activism program offering mobilization training for young leaderships with significant track records in the socioenvironmental area.
• Creators pelo Clima Formative program to boost young content creators' careers directed to communication of climate agenda and socioenvironmental justice.
• Periferia que Fala Political formation project combined with digital communication workshops for peripheral content creators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 183 changes in public policies achieved
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

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

• Alerj Human Rights CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Defezap reporting platform now operates within Alerj's (Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly) Human Rights Commission under the name 'Zap da Cidadania'.
• UNICEFmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with UNICEF for the Geração que Move program in 2022, an urban mobility and mobilization education program for teens and young adults. 91 people went through the formation in this partnership.
• Girl Up!minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with Girl Up! for the Programa de jovens mobilizadoras (Young Female Mobilizers Program), offering formation for 100 young girls about menstrual poverty.
• QuidmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with Quid and Mídia Ninja for the 'Assemble the vote' campaign, which won the Shorty Impact Award in 2023.
• Mídia NinjamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with Quid and Mídia Ninja for the 'Assemble the vote' campaign, which won the Shorty Impact Award in 2023.
• OPEN - Online Progressive Engagement NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Member since 2022 of OPEN - Online Progressive Engagement Network, a global network of activist organizations that incubates and accelerates progressive actions in different countries.
• All OutmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Co-creation of Acolhe LGBT, a solidarity network connecting LGBTQIA+ people with volunteer mental health professionals. Supported by All Out and TODXS.
• Instinto de Vida AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Latin American alliance 'INSTINTO DE VIDA' created from the union of dozens of NGOs in the region. Proposal is to reduce lethal violence by half in 10 years.
• Latin American Organizations (50+)coreTechnology or IntegrationOver 50 Latin American organizations use the BONDE open-source activism platform for their campaigns and advocacy work.
• Nossas Cidades Network (10 local organizations)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutonomous network of 10 organizations across Northern, Northeastern, and Southeastern Brazil. These organizations are articulated by NOSSAS and use mobilization and civic technologies to advocate for local public policies, engaging nearly 400,000 activists.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Change.org: Global petition and advocacy platform used by activists and civil society organizations. Comparable as a digital infrastructure layer for civic campaigns, though more consumer-facing than NOSSAS's movement-led model.
• Avaaz: Global online civic mobilization platform that runs large-scale advocacy campaigns and petitions. Directly comparable to NOSSAS in combining technology infrastructure with mass-membership mobilization for policy outcomes.
• 350.org: Global climate-focused civic mobilization organization running mass campaigns across dozens of countries. Comparable as a movement-driven NGO combining campaigns, grassroots organizing, and digital infrastructure—overlap is strongest with NOSSAS's climate programs (Muvuca, Amazônia de Pé).
• CIVICUS: Global alliance of civil society organizations and activists. Comparable in mission to strengthen civic space, and NOSSAS participates in similar international funder/peer ecosystems (Skoll, OPEN Network) and convening on democratic participation.
• Purpose: Global campaign and movement-building agency that designs and runs advocacy and civic engagement campaigns. Comparable in providing integrated mobilization, communications, and technology services to progressive causes.

Regional players

• ARTICLE 19: Global freedom-of-expression organization with active Brazil and Latin America programs. Comparable in combining policy advocacy, civic-tech tools, and campaigns targeting democratic rights, overlapping with NOSSAS's Defezap and Beta products.
• Dejusticia: Latin American human rights and policy advocacy organization based in Colombia. Comparable as a regional NGO combining research, litigation, and mobilization on rights issues, with similar public-policy outcomes orientation.
• Instituto Unibanco: Brazilian nonprofit focused on education and youth policy. Comparable as a domestically rooted NGO combining program delivery, policy advocacy, and institutional partnerships in Brazil.

Broad incumbents

• Greenpeace Brazil: Established Brazilian arm of global environmental advocacy network. Comparable as a high-profile advocacy NGO running mass campaigns and policy lobbying, with broader geographic and thematic scope than NOSSAS.

Others

• OPEN (Online Progressive Engagement Network): Global network of progressive activist organizations of which NOSSAS is a member since 2022. Functions as an ecosystem peer and capacity-sharing partner rather than a direct competitor, providing shared methodologies and funding access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/nossas.org
• Facebookfacebook.com/nossasorg
• Xx.com/_nossas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nossas
• YouTubeyoutube.com/nossas

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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