Fealq

What Fealq does

Fealq (Fundação de Estudos Agrários Luiz de Queiroz) is a Brazilian private non-profit foundation established in 1976 and affiliated with the University of São Paulo through a formal Cooperation Agreement. The foundation provides administrative, financial, legal, and labor support for research, innovation, extension, events, specialization, and course projects developed between USP members and public or private institutions. Its primary day-to-day customers are USP researchers, principal investigators, extension coordinators, graduate and undergraduate students, and academic authors; essentially all project-management revenue ties back to the USP/ESALQ ecosystem and select partners such as Fundação Agrisus.

The foundation operates three physical sites (headquarters in Piracicaba-SP, a branch in Pirassununga-SP, and Figueira Farm, a 3,686-hectare experimental station in Londrina-PR received as a donation in 2000). Its core technology stack centers on the Conveniar portal — a coordinator-facing platform providing real-time financial visibility, expense submission, purchase orders, and project deliverable tracking, integrated with SAP Business One for automated accounting, fee deduction, and revenue distribution to USP and departments. Alongside the administrative platform, Fealq runs Editora Fealq, a publishing house operating since 1978 with 300+ titles and the Revista de Agricultura (Brazilian Journal of Agriculture), sold through loja.fealq.org.br, distributors, and specialized bookstores with tiered bulk discounts and a R$299 free-shipping threshold.

Fealq earns revenue from four primary streams: administrative fees on research and extension project management (professional services), course/event registration and payment processing, book publishing and journal distribution (one-time perpetual licenses), and a self-funded Support Program providing scholarships and grants. EsalqTec, managed by Fealq, was recently accredited by FAPESP to support startups under the PIPE program, opening a new innovation-services revenue stream. The foundation also operates the Brazilian Team initiative, an R&D effort that placed third in the 2024 XPRIZE Rainforest competition and produced a stack of biodiversity assessment assets (drones with custom sensors, MinION portable sequencers, bioacoustic tools, Floreviewer cloud platform, CESSABR species database, and a portable centrifuge in patent application).

Name

Fealq

Legal name

Fundação de Estudos Agrários Luiz de Queiroz

Website

https://fealq.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fealq is a Brazilian non-profit foundation affiliated with the University of São Paulo that provides administrative, financial, legal, and publishing services for research projects, extension programs, events, courses, and academic works across USP departments and partner institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research Administration Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Platforms (BPAEAPAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ), Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), IT Governance, Risk & Compliance (IT GRC) Platforms (HDAEALAK)

Keywords

• Research project administration
• Academic publishing services
• University research management
• Agricultural research foundation
• Grant management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Piracicaba

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research and Extension Project Management Fees: Fealq provides administrative, financial, legal, and labor support for research, innovation, events, specializations, and courses developed with USP and public/private institutions. The foundation charges administrative fees for these services, with automatic fee deductions and revenue distribution to the University and departments upon project revenue entry.
2. Book Publishing and Sales: Editora Fealq publishes physical and digital books and the Revista de Agricultura (Brazilian Journal of Agriculture). Revenue is generated through direct sales via the online store (loja.fealq.org.br), distributors, and specialized bookstores. Bulk discounts are offered for larger orders.
3. Courses, Specializations, and Events: Fealq manages the registration, enrollment, and monthly payment processing for specializations, courses, MBAs, and events, generating revenue through participant fees and administrative charges.
4. Support Program: Fealq maintains a Support Program funded with its own resources aimed at research, infrastructure, and improvements, granting scholarships for extension and community support through periodic public notices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fealq provides complete administrative, financial, legal, and labor management of research, innovation, extension, and event projects developed by University of São Paulo (USP) members and partner public/private institutions. Beyond project management, it operates Editora Fealq, an academic publishing house (300+ titles since 1978) that produces books and the Revista de Agricultura (Brazilian Journal of Agriculture), runs the EsalqTec startup incubator, and manages academic specializations, MBAs, courses, and events for the USP community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Editora Fealq: Publishing division that publishes physical and digital books in Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences, and Agribusiness. Also edits the Revista de Agricultura (Brazilian Journal of Agriculture).
• Conveniar
• EsalqTec

Products and services

• Research and Innovation Project Management (Gestão de Projetos de Pesquisa e Inovação) End-to-end administrative, financial, legal, and HR management of research and innovation projects developed by University of São Paulo researchers and partner institutions. Covers project preparation, officialization, procurement, payments, invoicing, hiring, and reporting. Includes a 'Caminhos para Inovação' (Innovation Pathways) sub-program.
• Extension Project Management (Gestão de Projetos de Extensão) Administrative and financial management of academic extension projects, including enrollment management, payment processing, certificate issuance, and administrative support for extension programs offered with USP departments.
• Event Management (Gestão de Eventos) Full-service management of academic and scientific events, conferences, symposia, courses, specializations, and MBAs organized in partnership with USP departments, including registration, enrollment, monthly payment processing, and administrative support.
• Editora Fealq — Academic Book Publishing Publishing of physical and digital academic books in Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences, and Agribusiness. Books are sold direct-to-consumer via the online store (loja.fealq.org.br), through bookstore distributors, and via specialized academic bookstores in Brazil, with international orders handled by email. Volume discounts and free shipping thresholds apply.
• Revista de Agricultura (Brazilian Journal of Agriculture) A peer-reviewed scientific journal covering agricultural sciences, edited by Editora Fealq, with international reach and online access via the journal portal.
• EsalqTec Startup Incubator Technology incubator managed by Fealq, recently accredited by Fapesp to support startups in the PIPE-FAPESP program, providing operational and administrative support for early-stage ventures linked to USP research.
• Academic Specializations, MBAs, and Courses Management of registration, enrollment, monthly payment processing, and administrative support for USP-affiliated specializations (Especializações USP), MBAs, and courses (Cursos) offered to graduate and undergraduate students and professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 academic titles published since 1978
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Esalq/USP (Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEsalq/USP is Fealq's primary partner, providing the foundation's connection to the University of São Paulo. Fealq provides administrative and financial management for all research, extension, and innovation projects developed by Esalq faculty and researchers.
• Cena/USP (Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCena/USP partners with Fealq for the management of research projects in nuclear applications for agriculture, with Fealq providing administrative and financial support.
• Ccarbon/USP (Centro de Estudos de Carbono em Agricultura Tropical)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCcarbon/USP collaborates with Fealq on research projects focused on carbon studies in tropical agriculture.
• STAC/USP (Centro de Agricultura Tropical Sustentável)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTAC/USP partners with Fealq for sustainable tropical agriculture research projects, with Fealq managing administrative and financial aspects.
• FZEA/USP (Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFZEA/USP collaborates with Fealq for research and extension project management in animal science and food engineering.
• Fundação AgrisuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundação Agrisus is a key partner in supporting agricultural research projects managed by Fealq, contributing funding and co-development of agricultural sustainability initiatives.
• Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (JBRJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJBRJ, through researcher Rafaela Campostrini Forzza (Vice-Coordinator of the Brazilian Team), collaborates on biodiversity research initiatives including the XPRIZE Rainforest competition.
• Universidade de São Paulo (USP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFealq maintains a formal Cooperation Agreement (Acordo de Cooperação) with USP, serving as the designated entity for managing projects between USP members and external institutions. USP's vice-rector and multiple departments are actively involved in Fealq-supported initiatives.
• XPRIZE FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerXPRIZE Foundation organizes the Rainforest competition, a five-year global initiative for rapid biodiversity assessment. The Brazilian Team, with Fealq's support, was a finalist and third-place winner.
• International Research CollaboratorssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Brazilian Team includes collaborators from universities and research institutions in Colombia, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, UK, and USA, including researchers from CNRS, University of Madrid, DFKI, University of Grenoble, and University of Florida.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• RTI International: Large global non-profit scientific research institute offering research administration, technical assistance, and applied science services across health, environment, and agriculture. Comparable as a mission-driven research services organization, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Non-profit applied science and technology organization managing large-scale research programs, national laboratories, and client-funded R&D. Comparable in non-profit structure and project management of complex research initiatives, though with vastly greater scale and US/global footprint.
• Embrapa (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária): Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, a state-owned enterprise conducting agricultural R&D across Brazil. Comparable as a major institutional player in Brazilian agricultural research, though operating at much larger scale and with proprietary labs rather than project administration.

Emerging players

• Rainforest Connection: US-based non-profit using bioacoustic monitoring and AI to detect illegal logging and biodiversity loss in tropical forests. Comparable to the Brazilian Team's bioacoustic and AI work (16,000+ recordings, Pl@ntNet-style species ID), with overlapping biodiversity technology stack but a different deployment model.
• SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online): Latin American open-access academic publishing network, particularly strong in agricultural and environmental sciences. Comparable as a Portuguese/Spanish-language academic publisher serving the same Brazilian/Latin American research community, though focused on journals rather than books.

Direct peers

• Fundação Araucária: State of Paraná's research support foundation, focused on funding and administering scientific and technological research at Paraná universities. Comparable as a regional Brazilian research foundation administering grant-funded projects in agricultural and applied sciences.
• FUNDUNESP (Fundação para o Desenvolvimento da UNESP): Support foundation for São Paulo State University (UNESP), providing administrative, financial, and legal management of research and extension projects. Closely comparable in mission, structure, and Brazilian university-foundation peer group.
• Editora UFV (Universidade Federal de Viçosa): Academic publishing arm of Brazil's leading agricultural university, publishing scientific books and journals in agronomy and animal sciences. Directly comparable to Editora Fealq in scope, language, target audience, and distribution channels.
• FUSP (Fundação de Apoio à Universidade de São Paulo): Also a non-profit support foundation affiliated with USP, FUSP administers research projects across USP campuses outside ESALQ. Directly comparable as a Brazilian university research-administration foundation with similar fee-based revenue model and SAP-integrated back-office.

Others

• EsalqTec (own incubator, included for context): Fealq's own technology incubator, recently accredited by FAPESP. Included here for reference as the internal startup-support unit; comparable to entities like Techstars or regional accelerators but operating as part of Fealq.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fealq