Smartbox
Smartbox Brasil is a privately held self-storage operator in Rio de Janeiro with two physical facilities offering individually partitioned monthly rental boxes (1–47 m²), serving both individual consumers and small-to-mid-sized businesses with ancillary insurance and transport referral services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersRio, Brazil
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Smartbox does
Smartbox Brasil (legal name: Self Storage Smartbox) is a privately held self-storage operator headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, founded in 2009 (per firmographic data; some sources cite 2017 as a founding reference for the self-storage business). The company operates two physical facilities — Unidade Ramos (near Av. Brasil and the airport) and Unidade São Cristóvão (near Centro, described as the city's most modern unit) — offering individually partitioned storage boxes ranging from 1 m² to 47 m². Each unit features controlled access, 24-hour CCTV with infrared cameras, presence sensors, remote alarm monitoring, individual lighting and power outlets, pest control, and wide corridors. The company started with 30 boxes at founding and grew to two operational units, positioning itself as a pioneer of formal self-storage in Rio de Janeiro.
Smartbox's revenue model is a recurring monthly subscription based on box size, billed via boleto with no minimum term or cancellation penalties, and no guarantor or income verification required. The company serves a hybrid customer base: B2B customers (small to mid-sized businesses, logistics operators, e-commerce sellers, law firms, designers, and accountants using storage to convert fixed costs into variable costs and optimize inventory/logistics) and B2C customers (urban residents needing storage during moves, renovations, travel, downsizing, or for hobbies and inherited goods). Ancillary revenue streams include insurance brokerage (premium at cost billed on the rental invoice), partner transport company referrals (negotiated discounts), and packing materials supply.
Distribution is direct-to-customer via the website quote form, phone, and WhatsApp, with no intermediaries, franchisees, or resellers. The company is a member of ASBRASS (Associação Brasileira de Self-Storage) and the US-based Self-Storage Association (SSA), and is registered in CAD-ICMS under a special self-storage segment that enables ICMS suspension for qualifying customers. Smartbox's director, Rafael Cohen, serves as president of ASBRASS. The company has no disclosed external investors, parent company, or M&A activity, and operates with 11–50 employees. Marketing is digital-first, anchored by a content blog, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), an email newsletter, and earned media coverage in O Globo, Veja, G1/SP2, and Bom dia Brasil.
Smartbox firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smartbox
- Legal name
- Self Storage Smartbox
- Website
- https://smartboxbrasil.com.br
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Smartbox Brasil is a privately held self-storage operator in Rio de Janeiro with two physical facilities offering individually partitioned monthly rental boxes (1–47 m²), serving both individual consumers and small-to-mid-sized businesses with ancillary insurance and transport referral services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smartbox industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Self-Storage Services
- NAICS
- Lessors of Miniwarehouses and Self-Storage Units (531130), Lessors of Miniwarehouses and Self-Storage Units (53113)
- SIC
- Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Standard/Non-Climate Self-Storage (HSAKAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Business & Commercial Self-Storage (Inventory/Records) (HSAKAGAD), Residential Full-Service Storage (HSAKAHAA), Self-Storage Ancillary Services (Locks, Boxes, Truck Rental, Mailbox/Package Acceptance) (HSAKAGAH)
Keywords
Where Smartbox is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rio
- HQ country
- Brazil
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Smartbox business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Monthly Box Rental: Core revenue from renting individually partitioned storage units (boxes) on month-to-month contracts. Customers select box sizes from 1 m² to 47 m² and pay a fixed monthly fee. Contracts can be cancelled at any time without penalties. Additional services include insurance brokerage (premium collected at cost on the rental invoice) and partner transporter referrals with negotiated discounts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Variable-size boxes from 1 m² to 47 m² on monthly rental |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Smartbox product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smartbox Brasil rents individually partitioned self-storage boxes (1 m² to 47 m²) on month-to-month contracts at two physical units in Rio de Janeiro (Ramos and São Cristóvão). Customers receive private, locked access to their box with 24-hour CCTV, presence sensors, controlled entry, individual lighting, and electrical outlets. The company also brokers insurance for stored goods at cost and refers customers to partner transport companies offering discounted moving services.
Product overview
Smartbox is a self-storage company operating in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with two physical locations (Unidade Ramos and Unidade São Cristóvão). The core product is the rental of individual storage boxes ranging from 1 m² to 47 m², featuring 24-hour security monitoring, controlled access, internal lighting, and individual electrical outlets. Additional services include insurance advisory, partner transport services, and packing materials supply. The company targets both individual consumers (for furniture storage, home organization, travel, inheritance) and businesses (for inventory, documents, equipment, logistics support).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Self-Storage Box Rental Individual storage unit rental service offering boxes from 1 m² to 47 m² on monthly contracts with no guarantor or income verification required, 24-hour infrared CCTV and presence sensor monitoring, controlled access, individual lighting and electrical outlets, and customer-exclusive private access. Serves both businesses (inventory, documents, logistics overflow) and individuals (furniture, household items, memorabilia).
- Insurance Advisory Service Insurance brokerage service helping customers obtain coverage for the contents of their storage box through partner insurance companies, with premiums charged at cost on the monthly boleto alongside the rental fee.
- Partner Transport Service Referral Referral service connecting Smartbox customers with partner moving/transport companies that offer discounted moving services; customers contract directly with the partner without Smartbox intermediation.
- Packing Materials Supply Supply of packing materials including boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and locks to assist customers with packing and securing their stored belongings.
Quantifiable outcome
- Brazilian self-storage market grew from 193 to 360+ units nationally between 2017 and 2020, with 79,300 total boxes nationwide (per BRAIN/ASBRASS research)
Companies that use Smartbox
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Smartbox technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Smartbox partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ASBRASS (Associação Brasileira de Self-Storage)coreSmartbox Brasil is an associate member of ASBRASS, the Brazilian Self-Storage Association. The company's director, Rafael Cohen, serves as president of ASBRASS. Membership ensures compliance with international quality standards and participation in industry advocacy and growth initiatives.
- SSA (Self-Storage Association, USA)coreSmartbox Brasil is an associate member of the US-based Self-Storage Association (SSA), which provides international quality standards and regulatory frameworks that Smartbox adheres to for its Brazilian operations.
- Partner Transport CompaniesminorSmartbox maintains a list of partner transport/moving companies that offer discounted moving services exclusively to Smartbox customers. After contracting a box, customers can request the partner list to arrange transportation of their belongings without any intermediation from Smartbox.
- Insurance Companies (Partner)minorSmartbox facilitates insurance policy procurement for customers through a partner insurance company. Customers can request a proposal at the time of box rental; the insurance premium is billed at cost on the monthly boleto along with the rental fee. Smartbox is registered in CAD-ICMS under a special self-storage segment, enabling ICMS suspension benefits for qualifying customers.
- JR Marto (Insurance)minorJR Marto insurance, represented by Nelson Berman, supported the 'Por Dentro dos Boxes' networking event hosted at Smartbox, which brought together three alcoholic beverage companies (Alafia Importadores, Só Vinhos, and Cali startup) for a networking and sales fair.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Smartbox competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GoodStorage: Brazilian self-storage company with operations across multiple states. Directly comparable to Smartbox in offering individually partitioned storage units with monthly contracts to B2B and B2C customers.
- Lock It Self Storage: Brazilian self-storage operator with multiple units, offering climate-controlled and standard storage options. Comparable to Smartbox in target customers, monthly rental model, and security-focused infrastructure.
- Guarda Móvel: One of the largest self-storage operators in Brazil, founded in 2008. Directly comparable to Smartbox as a Brazilian self-storage company offering individual storage units to both residential and business customers across multiple cities.
- Big Box Self Storage: Brazilian self-storage chain offering individual storage boxes with monthly contracts. Directly comparable to Smartbox in product offering, customer segments, and operating model within the Brazilian market.
- Space Self Storage Brasil: Self-storage operator in Brazil serving residential and business customers with monthly rental contracts. Comparable to Smartbox in unit sizes, security features, and target segments.
Broad incumbents
- CubeSmart: US self-storage REIT operating over 1,000 facilities. Comparable to Smartbox as a broad incumbent in self-storage real estate, providing context on institutional scale potential for the category.
- Public Storage: The largest self-storage operator in the United States with thousands of facilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the self-storage industry, demonstrating the scale ceiling available in this category but operating in a different geography.
- StorageMart: International self-storage operator with facilities in the US, UK, and Canada. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering self-storage services with similar monthly rental and security infrastructure models.
- Extra Space Storage: Major US-based self-storage REIT with thousands of locations globally. Comparable to Smartbox as a broad incumbent operating in the same self-storage category with technology-enabled customer experience features.
Emerging players
- MakeSpace: Tech-enabled self-storage startup offering full-service storage with pickup and delivery. Comparable to Smartbox as an emerging player disrupting traditional self-storage with digital booking and technology integration.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Smartbox social profiles
Digital presenceSmartbox financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smartbox leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Smartbox funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smartbox M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Smartbox
What does Smartbox do?
Smartbox Brasil rents individually partitioned self-storage boxes (1 m² to 47 m²) on month-to-month contracts at two physical units in Rio de Janeiro (Ramos and São Cristóvão). Customers receive private, locked access to their box with 24-hour CCTV, presence sensors, controlled entry, individual lighting, and electrical outlets. The company also brokers insurance for stored goods at cost and refers customers to partner transport companies offering discounted moving services.
Is Smartbox a public or private company?
Smartbox is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Smartbox founded?
Smartbox was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Smartbox based?
Smartbox is headquartered in Rio, Brazil, in the Latin America region.
How does Smartbox make money?
One revenue line is on record: monthly Box Rental.
Who are Smartbox's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GoodStorage, Lock It Self Storage, Guarda Móvel, Big Box Self Storage and Space Self Storage Brasil. Broad incumbents are CubeSmart, Public Storage, StorageMart and Extra Space Storage. MakeSpace is listed as an emerging player.
Does Smartbox have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smartbox.
What industry is Smartbox in?
Smartbox's product category is Self-Storage Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAKAGAB, Standard/Non-Climate Self-Storage, with a secondary code of HSAKAGAD, Business & Commercial Self-Storage (Inventory/Records). Its NAICS code is 531130 and its SIC code is 4220.