What Experiment Cultural Exchange does

Experimento Intercâmbio Cultural, doing business as Experiment Cultural Exchange (Experimento), is a Brazilian cultural exchange agency founded in 1964 and headquartered in Santo André, São Paulo. It is the pioneer in Brazil's international education segment and operates as the largest specialized exchange network in the country, with 50+ franchise stores across 15+ states and a portfolio of programs serving customers aged 9 and above, including language courses, high school placements, vacation programs, university programs, professional training, au pair, study+work combinations, and senior-focused programs (Senior Explorer for 50+). The company has served more than 300,000 students throughout its history and currently places students in 30+ countries worldwide.

The revenue model is built on professional services fees charged per program package, with ancillary monetization through travel insurance, prepaid travel cards, flight booking, and visa advisory. No proprietary technology platform is disclosed; the company relies on a standard website, WhatsApp-based consultation, and franchise-store point-of-sale with expert consultants. Distribution is primarily through a three-tier franchise model (Due Light, Standard, Premium formats) supplemented by digital lead capture (e-books, blog content, webinars) and conversion via WhatsApp and in-person consultations. The company is part of CVC Corp, the largest travel and tourism group in Latin America, since 2016.

The company's product portfolio spans nine core program categories plus five add-on services, with recent 2026 launches including the Leadership Accelerator (Harvard-affiliated executive education in Boston, in partnership with Vestra Education) and the Roger Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Experience (language training combined with martial arts). The firm offers multiple interest-free installment payment options (up to 18x via Experimento internal financing, 12x via credit card, 10x via Santander) and is recognized as the best exchange agency in Latin America for five consecutive years by Study Travel Magazine and as a 12-time (10 consecutive) ABF Franchise Excellence Seal recipient.

Name

Experiment Cultural Exchange

Legal name

Experimento Intercâmbio Cultural

Website

https://experimento.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Experimento is a Brazilian cultural exchange agency founded in 1964, operating 50+ franchise stores across Brazil and placing students in 30+ countries. It serves individuals aged 9 to 50+ with language courses, high school, university, au pair, and study+work programs, and is a subsidiary of CVC Corp.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Exchange and International Education Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs (THAKAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational/Student Retail Travel Agencies (THAKABAK), Short-Term Secondary Immersion & Cultural Exchange Trips (EDAIAHAD), Au Pair Training, Orientation & Cultural Exchange Programs (HSAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Cultural exchange programs
• Language courses abroad
• Study abroad programs
• Au pair programs
• International student travel

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Cultural Exchange Program Fees: The company earns revenue by arranging and facilitating cultural exchange programs for Brazilian students. Clients pay for program packages that include language courses, high school enrollment, work-exchange programs, professional training, university programs, and travel add-ons such as travel insurance, travel cards, and flight booking. Revenue is generated as one-time service fees per program, with some financing options offered to customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Experimento is a Brazilian cultural exchange agency that arranges and facilitates international education programs for individuals of all ages (9+). Its core offerings include language courses abroad, high school programs with host families, university and professional training programs, work-and-study programs (Au Pair, Demi Pair, Estudo + Trabalho), vacation programs for teens, and the Senior Explorer program for adults 50+. The company also sells ancillary travel services such as travel insurance, prepaid travel cards, airline tickets, and visa advisory as add-ons to its core exchange packages.

Product overview

Experimento is a cultural exchange agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of international education programs. The core offering includes language courses, high school programs, vacation programs, university programs, professional training, and senior programs (50+) — all organized across study-only and study+work tracks. The company also operates Experimento Travel Plus for guided group tours and offers ancillary services including travel insurance, travel cards, airline tickets, and visa advisory. Recent exclusive programs include the Leadership Accelerator (Harvard-affiliated leadership program in Boston) and Roger Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Experience (language + martial arts training). The company operates through a franchise network of 50+ stores across Brazil and is part of CVC Corp.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Experimento Travel Plus: Group travel programs for exchange students, including tours across Europe, Americas, and other destinations with accommodation, transportation, and guided activities.
• Senior Explorer
• Leadership Accelerator

Products and services

• Cursos de Idiomas (Language Courses) Language courses abroad for all ages, available from 2 weeks to multiple months, with options for general courses, combined courses (language plus art, sport, or culture), exam preparation, and specific vocabulary courses such as business English and legal English.
• High School High school programs abroad for students aged 14-18, typically living with host families and attending local public or private schools for one or two semesters in various countries.
• Programas de Férias (Vacation Programs) Short-duration programs of 2-4 weeks for adolescents aged 9-17 combining language courses with cultural activities and excursions, plus Experimento Groups for teens traveling with Brazilian leaders.
• Programas Universitários (University Programs) Programs of 8 to 52 weeks offering university experiences abroad including undergraduate, graduate, and master's programs through partnerships with over 80 institutions worldwide.
• Formação Profissional (Professional Training) Professional qualification programs lasting from one week to three years, providing practical knowledge and tools for career advancement across various fields.
• Senior Explorer Exchange program designed for adults aged 50+, offering language courses, cultural immersion, and exclusive activities in destinations including USA, Mexico, Spain, South Africa, Canada, France, and Italy.
• Au Pair Work and live with a host family abroad while taking language courses; programs available primarily in the United States with comprehensive support from Experimento.
• Demi Pair Program combining light household help with host families while studying a language abroad, offering a balance between work and study.
• Estudo + Trabalho (Study + Work) Combined language study with work experience to help finance the exchange while providing cultural immersion; typically available for adults 18+ with work in the services sector.
• Trabalho Voluntário (Volunteer Work) Volunteer programs abroad combining community service with language learning and cultural exchange experiences.
• Experimento Travel Plus Guided group travel programs complementing exchange experiences, including multi-country tours across Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia with hostel or hotel accommodation and group leaders.
• Experimento Travel Card Prepaid travel card for international purchases and ATM withdrawals, offering competitive exchange rates and convenience during exchange programs.
• Seguro Viagem (Travel Insurance) Travel insurance services for exchange participants, providing coverage and support during international experiences.
• Passagens Aéreas (Airline Tickets) Flight booking services for exchange participants, integrated with the broader travel services ecosystem.
• Assessoria em Vistos (Visa Advisory) Visa application assistance and advisory services to help participants navigate immigration requirements for their destination countries.
• Leadership Accelerator Five-day international leadership development program in Boston featuring Harvard-affiliated professors, covering global leadership, AI in business, innovation, high-performance team management, and strategic negotiation; developed in partnership with Vestra Education.
• Roger Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Experience Exclusive program combining jiu-jitsu training at Roger Gracie's academy with English language learning, designed for practitioners seeking intensive martial arts training abroad.
• Experimente o Brasil Domestic travel programs exploring Brazilian culture, ecology, and communities, including destinations such as Paraty, Peninsula do Maraú, Pantanal, and Ilha de Marajó with a focus on sustainability and cultural immersion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300,000+ students served since 1964
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vestra EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Experimento partnered with Vestra Education to develop and deliver the Leadership Accelerator program — a 5-day international leadership development program in Boston, USA, featuring professors from Harvard University. Milena Rubel, founder of Vestra Education, also serves as a faculty member at Harvard and is part of the program's teaching staff.
• Kaplan InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaplan International appears as a partner school catalog listed on Experimento's blog and partner catalog pages, indicating a relationship where Experimento sends students to Kaplan's language schools and programs worldwide.
• Kings EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKings Education appears as a partner school catalog listed on Experimento's blog and partner catalog pages, indicating a relationship where Experimento sends students to Kings' academic programs, including high school and university preparation.
• WYSE Travel ConfederationminorOthersExperimento is a member of WYSE Travel Confederation, an international organization in the youth and education travel sector, providing access to global industry standards and networking.
• Association of Language Travel Organisations (ALTO)minorOthersExperimento is a member of ALTO, an international association for language travel organizations, providing industry recognition and best practice sharing.
• Brazilian Educational & Language Travel Association (Belta)minorOthersExperimento is a member of Belta, the Brazilian association for educational and language travel agencies, which also publishes industry research including market data on the Brazilian exchange sector.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Kings Education: Kings Education is an international language and academic pathways provider; it is listed as an Experimento supplier partner but also competes for Brazilian students seeking UK/US-based programs.
• Kaplan International: Kaplan is a global language school operator and an existing Experimento destination partner; comparable as an upstream supplier-style player that Experimento competes with indirectly by packaging its own destinations.
• AuPairCare: AuPairCare is a US-based au pair agency that places live-in childcare workers, including from Brazil; it overlaps directly with Experimento's Au Pair USA product line.

Direct peers

• World Study Intercâmbio: World Study is a Brazilian retail exchange agency offering language courses, high school, au pair, and work-study programs to Brazilian students, mirroring Experimento's service mix and franchise-style retail distribution.
• STB (Student Travel Bureau): STB is one of the largest Brazilian cultural exchange agencies, offering language courses, high school, au pair, and university programs — directly competing with Experimento in the same Brazilian outbound exchange segment with similar retail/franchise distribution.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is a major nonprofit international exchange organization offering high school, work, and au pair programs globally; it competes with Experimento for Brazilian outbound students, particularly in au pair and high school placements.
• CI Intercâmbio e Turismo: CI is a major Brazilian exchange agency with a broad portfolio of study, work, and au pair programs across multiple destinations; it competes head-to-head with Experimento on price, installment offerings, and store network reach.

Broad incumbents

• CVC Corp: CVC Corp is the parent of Experimento and the largest travel group in Latin America; it offers complementary leisure and corporate travel products that bracket Experimento's exchange offering within a broader portfolio.
• EF Education First: EF is a global education company operating own-branded language schools and exchange programs; it overlaps with Experimento's core language-study and study-abroad categories but at global scale and with vertical integration into schools.

Others

• BELTA (Brazilian Educational & Language Travel Association): BELTA is the Brazilian industry association for educational and language travel agencies of which Experimento is a member; it is comparable as an ecosystem aggregator representing most direct competitors (STB, CI, World Study, etc.) and setting industry standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/experimento_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ExperimentoIC
• Facebookfacebook.com/experimentointercambiocultural
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/experimento-intercambio-cultural
• Instagraminstagram.com/experimento

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 Experiment Cultural Exchange