GTISUL

What GTISUL does

GTISUL (Grupo de Gestores de TI da Região Sul) is a private non-profit association (associação sem fins lucrativos) of CIOs and senior IT managers headquartered in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Founded in March 2012 by 18 IT managers and formalized as a legal association in 2015, it connects more than 60 CIOs/IT managers from 62+ companies spread across 17+ municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. Member companies collectively employ more than 120,000 people — including 800+ IT professionals within the GTISUL network — and generate combined annual revenue exceeding R$90 billion, spanning agribusiness, retail/pharmacy, education, biofuels, logistics, and manufacturing.

GTISUL does not develop or sell technology products. Its core technology footprint is a WordPress-based institutional website (gtisul.com.br, launched April 2025 by Fill Tecnologia and served through Cloudflare) with social media integration, event registration via Sympla, and QR-coded member profiles. Its real "product" is the programmed calendar of community events: the biennial Seminário GTISUL flagship (the seventh edition in May 2025 was the first in-person edition in seven years and drew 160+ participants), monthly GTISUL Day meetings, the Almoço Farroupilha traditionalist lunch, business roundtables with vendors, Cases de Sucesso sessions, webinars, and strategic planning workshops. A secondary IP is the Troféu Leo Linhares in Memoriam, an annual award inaugurated in 2025.

GTISUL's revenue model rests on two streams: (i) recurring member contributions from the CIO/IT manager member companies, supporting association operations and professional development programs such as the 2014 Programa de Desenvolvimento Continuado de Executivos (PDCE), and (ii) event sponsorships and partnerships with technology vendors (Check Point, Selbetti, Convert, Skyone, Arklok, Deliver IT, HT Solutions, Fill Tecnologia, Kaspersky, Ks Corp, Esy World, IBM, InfoDive, among others), who pay to present products and services to the assembled CIO audience. New members are recruited through peer referral and gated by the requirement that the candidate be the responsible IT leader at a qualifying company. Strategic partnerships with SUCESU-RS, AMCHAM, PMI-RS, and the GTISerra sister organization provide cross-promotion and credibility reinforcement. Governance is via rotating two-year elected boards with a Presidente, four Vice-Presidentes (Marketing, Administration, Relationship, Strategy), and a Consultative Council.

Name

GTISUL

Legal name

GTISUL - Grupo de Gestores de TI da Região Sul

Website

https://gtisul.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GTISUL is a non-profit association of CIOs and senior IT managers in southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina), founded in 2012 and based in Passo Fundo. It connects 60+ members from 62+ companies through peer events, an annual seminar, monthly meetings, business roundtables, and the #GTISULConecta community campaign.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association — IT Leadership Community

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYTHAHACAK

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• IT leadership community
• CIO peer network
• Professional association
• IT manager events
• Technology vendor networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Passo Fundo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership contributions: As a formal association (associação) established in 2015, GTISUL operates with a membership structure. Revenue is generated through contributions from member companies and associates to fund events, operations, and professional development programs.
2. Event sponsorships and partnerships: Technology vendors and suppliers sponsor GTISUL events (seminars, monthly meetings, lunches) in exchange for presenting products and services to the CIO community. Sponsors include companies such as Check Point, Skyone, Arklok, Convert Company, Deliver IT, HT Solutions, Selbetti, Fill Tecnologia, Kaspersky, Ks Corp, and Esy World. The group also conducts business rounds (rodadas de negócio) with suppliers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

GTISUL is a non-profit professional association that operates a peer community for CIOs and senior IT managers across more than 62 member companies in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. It delivers value through recurring events (annual Seminário GTISUL, monthly GTISUL Day, Almoço Farroupilha, Cases de Sucesso sessions), business roundtables with technology vendors, and professional development programs including the Programa de Desenvolvimento Continuado de Executivos (PDCE). It does not sell software, hardware, or commercial services — membership contributions and event sponsorships fund the community's activities.

Product overview

GTISUL (Grupo de Gestores de TI da Região Sul) is a non-profit community organization that connects IT managers and CIOs from companies in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina states in southern Brazil. It is not a product or technology company — it does not offer software products, platforms, or services for sale. GTISUL's activities include organizing networking events, seminars, knowledge-sharing sessions, and professional development programs for its member companies. The organization facilitates connections between technology leaders, promotes best practices, and supports the professional growth of IT managers in the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seminário GTISUL (Annual Seminar) Flagship multi-day annual seminar for GTISUL members and invited CIOs, featuring keynote speakers, technology presentations, peer networking, and family activities. Open to member CIOs and invited technology vendor sponsors.
• GTISUL Day (Monthly Member Events) Monthly cycle of events for GTISUL member CIOs and IT managers featuring supplier presentations, peer case studies, and facility tours at member company venues across RS and SC. Past hosts include Farmácias São João (distribution center tour).
• Almoço Farroupilha GTISUL (Annual Traditionalist Lunch) Annual traditionalist Gaúcho culture lunch combining technology presentations and networking with regional traditions. Held in partnership with technology vendors such as IBM and InfoDive.
• Programa de Desenvolvimento Continuado de Executivos (PDCE) Executive continuous development program launched in 2014 in partnership with IMED (Faculdade Meridional), providing ongoing professional education for GTISUL member CIOs and IT managers.
• Business Roundtables with Technology Vendors (Rodadas de Negócio) Structured roundtables where technology vendors present products and services directly to GTISUL member CIOs, facilitating introductions, benchmarking, and collective procurement discussions for the community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20%+ increase in active members following #GTISULConecta campaign launch in June 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Check PointminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Check Point was a sponsor of the VII Seminário GTISUL 2025, presenting the technical session 'Arquitetura Híbrida, Riscos Reais: Como Proteger o Negócio em Ambientes Híbridos' to the assembled CIO community.
• SelbettiminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Selbetti was a sponsor of the VII Seminário GTISUL 2025, presenting 'Soluções de Ponta a Ponta: Conectando Tecnologia aos Negócios com Sustentabilidade, Inteligência e Observabilidade' and has supported multiple GTISUL events over the years including GTISUL Day.
• Skyone, Arklok, Deliver IT, HT Solutions, Kaspersky, Ks Corp, Esy WorldminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025These companies were sponsors of the VII Seminário GTISUL 2025, participating alongside Check Point, Selbetti, and Convert Company. Each sponsor had an opportunity to present technology topics to the assembled CIO community.
• Fill TecnologiacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2025Fill Tecnologia developed GTISUL's new institutional website launched in April 2025. The site features a modern responsive design, CMS for content management, social media integration, event registration, and accessibility compliance. Fill Tecnologia is described as a company specialized in on-demand digital solutions with a mission to strengthen regional technology.
• IBM and InfoDiveminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2024IBM and InfoDive were partners of the IX Almoço Farroupilha GTISUL in September 2024, presenting technology content on storage innovations alongside the traditionalist event at Recanto São Francisco in Passo Fundo.
• LassBierminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2024LassBier partnered with GTISUL for the #GTISULConecta campaign launched in June 2024. The partnership included the provision of exclusive tasting kits sent to members' homes as a symbolic gesture for reconnecting members both in-person and digitally. The campaign was part of GTISUL's membership re-engagement and reregistration drive.
• DBIT/Oracle, SondaAtivas, Selbetti, MetadadosminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017These companies were supporters of GTISUL Day Agosto 2017 in Passo Fundo, presenting technology sessions ('Cloud, transformando mito em resultado', 'Outsourcing de TI: Novo Modelo', 'Soluções integradas', 'eSocial') to the assembled 80+ participants from 41 companies.
• SUCESU-RS, AMCHAM, PMI-RScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016GTISUL has established partnerships with SUCESU-RS (Sociedade dos Usuários de Tecnologia da Comunicação do RS), AMCHAM (American Chamber of Commerce in Brazil), and PMI-RS (Project Management Institute - RS Chapter). These organizations support GTISUL events, share speakers, and provide credibility endorsement. GTISUL participates in SUCESU-RS Executive Seminars and its president has served on joint panels with GUCIO and GTISerra.
• GTISerracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015GTISerra is a sister organization of IT managers from the Serra Gaúcha region of Rio Grande do Sul, formed in 2015 after GTISUL's II Seminário. It shares the same philosophy as GTISUL and has 35 members who adopt GTISUL's community model. The two groups share events, and GTISerra's president participates in joint panels with GTISUL's leadership (e.g., Daniel Westerlund, President of GTISerra, on the SUCESU-RS panel in 2016).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GTISerra (Grupo de Gestores de TI da Serra Gaúcha): GTISerra is the sister CIO community in Serra Gaúcha (Caxias do Sul region), formed after the II Seminário GTISUL in 2015 with 35+ members. It uses the same community-led association model, monthly events, and vendor roundtable format, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• GUCIO-RS (Grupo de Usuários de CIOs do RS): GUCIO-RS is an aligned CIO users group in Caxias do Sul that is explicitly cited as a peer community sharing philosophy and joint panels with GTISUL. It targets the same IT leadership persona in RS and competes for some of the same member mindshare.

Regional players

• AMCHAM Porto Alegre (Câmara Americana de Comércio): AMCHAM is GTISUL's cited strategic partner, providing cross-promotion and joint executive programming. AMCHAM serves a broader executive audience across industries rather than IT leaders specifically, but its Porto Alegre/RS chamber offers similar networking events and thought-leadership programming.
• PMI-RS (Project Management Institute - RS Chapter): PMI-RS is GTISUL's cited strategic partner that supports events and shares speakers. It serves project management professionals rather than IT leaders specifically, but its chapter-based association structure with monthly events and an annual conference closely mirrors GTISUL's operating model.

Others

• IIBA Brazil Chapter: IIBA Brazil is the local affiliate for business analysis professionals, providing events and networking relevant to BA leaders who often sit under CIOs. It does not directly compete for CIO membership but addresses an adjacent IT function with comparable chapter-style programming.
• ISACA Porto Alegre Chapter: ISACA's Porto Alegre chapter is the local affiliate for IT governance, risk, and cybersecurity professionals in RS. It serves a narrower technical-adjacent persona (GRC auditors and CISOs) and competes indirectly for CIO/CISO engagement budget in the same region.

Broad incumbents

• ABCIO (Associação Brasileira dos CIOs): ABCIO is the national-scale Brazilian CIO association, providing benchmarking, surveys, and national events for IT leaders across Brazil. It sits at the same persona level (CIOs) but operates at a much broader geographic and structural scale than GTISUL's regional community.
• SUCESU-RS (Sociedade dos Usuários de Tecnologia da Comunicação): SUCESU-RS is the broader legacy society of IT users across the state, an established 30+ year institution with which GTISUL maintains a strategic partnership. It serves a wider industry-flavoured member base and is the more established incumbent that GTISUL complements rather than directly replaces.
• Assespro (Associação das Empresas Brasileiras de Tecnologia): Assespro is the larger Brazilian association of software and IT services companies, operating at national scale with advocacy and events. It serves the supply side of IT rather than CIO buyers, but its event programming and member structure offer a comparable association operating model.
• CIO Brasil (IT Mídia community): CIO Brasil is the leading media-led CIO community in Brazil, run by IT Mídia through editorial content, awards (CIO of the Year), and large national events. It overlaps with GTISUL's mission of connecting senior IT leaders but reaches them via media rather than community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gtisul
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gtisul
• Instagraminstagram.com/grupo_gtisul

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GTISUL