Assespro-RJ

What Assespro-RJ does

Assespro-RJ (Associação das Empresas Brasileiras de Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro) is a private, member-funded non-profit business association founded in 1976 that represents technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship companies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It operates as one of 13 regional chapters of the national Federação Assespro confederation, collectively representing more than 2,000 technology provider companies across 19 Brazilian states. The organization is governed by an elected board and currently led by President Robert Janssen, with a lean staff of approximately 27 employees based at its Rio de Janeiro headquarters and a secondary office in Brasília (Confederação Assespro).

Assespro-RJ delivers an ecosystem of services rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include the Assespro Acelera startup acceleration program (in partnership with SEBRAE Rio, focused on health-tech and smart-cities), the Assespro Talks discussion series, the Assespro Podcast video platform, and a digital member marketplace/match-making platform for B2B connections. The association runs a portfolio of annual flagship events (AI Summit in Rio, Cybersecurity Summit Rio, HealthTech Summit Rio, Energy Tech Summit, Cities of Tomorrow) and provides policy intelligence through the "Direto de Brasília" channel and international content via "Direto da WITSA." Distribution is supported by the WITSA global alliance (80 countries) and the OBr.global internationalization vehicle.

The business model is membership-subscription based, with annual fees (not publicly disclosed) providing recurring revenue, supplemented by event sponsorships and acceleration program partnerships. Pricing is quote-based and tiered; the go-to-market combines direct sales, event-driven engagement, and community-led acquisition. Member companies range from startups to large enterprises, with secondary stakeholder segments including government entities, academic/research institutions, and venture investors active in the Brazilian technology ecosystem.

Name

Assespro-RJ

Legal name

Assespro-RJ (Associação das Empresas Brasileiras de Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro)

Website

https://assespro.rio

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Assespro-RJ is a 50-year-old non-profit business association representing technology companies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as part of the 13-chapter Federação Assespro network spanning 19 states and 2,000+ tech firms. It delivers member services including startup acceleration, summits, podcasts, policy advocacy, and a B2B match-making marketplace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio de Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Assespro-RJ generates revenue through annual membership fees from technology companies. Members receive access to business networking, match-making services, events, exclusive benefits, and representation before government bodies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Assespro-RJ is a non-profit business association that provides membership-based services to technology companies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Its core offerings include a startup acceleration program (Assespro Acelera), an annual events portfolio (AI Summit in Rio, Cybersecurity Summit Rio), B2B match-making services, policy intelligence (Direto de Brasília), and content programs (Assespro Talks and Assespro Podcast). The organization represents over 2,000 technology companies and connects them to a national and international network through its affiliation with WITSA.

Product overview

Assespro-RJ is a business association representing technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship companies in Rio de Janeiro, operating as part of the Assespro Federation covering 13 regional chapters and 19 Brazilian states. Rather than offering a unified software product, the organization provides an ecosystem of services including the Assespro Acelera acceleration program, Assespro Talks discussion series, Assespro Podcast content platform, and Assespro Match-Making business development services. The organization hosts major annual conferences including the AI Summit in Rio and Cybersecurity Summit Rio, delivers policy intelligence through its Direto de Brasília channel, and provides access to international content via the Direto da WITSA channel. These services collectively support member companies through acceleration, networking, knowledge sharing, and market visibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Assespro Acelera: Startup acceleration program in partnership with SEBRAE Rio focusing on health and smart cities solutions
• Assespro Talks
• Assespro Podcast
• AI Summit in Rio
• Cybersecurity Summit Rio
• Cities of Tomorrow
• Prêmio Assespro 50 Anos

Products and services

• Assespro Acelera
• Assespro Talks
• Assespro Podcast
• Assespro Match-Making
• AI Summit in Rio
• Cybersecurity Summit Rio
• Direto de Brasília
• Direto da WITSA
• Associação Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 years of continuous operation since 1976, demonstrating long-term sustainability and market trust
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WITSA (World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWITSA is a global consortium of technology associations spanning 80 countries. Assespro-RJ President Robert Janssen serves as Deputy Chairman and AI Task Force Chairman of WITSA. Brazil is a hub-partner in the WITSA Global AI Ecosystem Network with 6 research nuclei. Assespro represents Brazil in WITSA activities including the WCIT and international delegations.
• SEBRAE RiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Assespro-RJ and SEBRAE Rio to run the Assespro Acelera startup acceleration program. The program focuses on health tech and smart cities startups, providing business model validation, mentorship, and market access. SEBRAE provides regional entrepreneurship expertise and funding support.
• Foco Relações GovernamentaiscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerParliamentary advisory firm contracted by Assespro-RJ to provide government relations services including weekly legislative agendas, executive summaries, policy highlights, and regulatory tracking for the technology sector.
• VIAS Program PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIAS (Virtual Innovation and Business Acceleration System) is an open innovation platform from ABDI and Softex with 12 institutional partners including Angel Investor Club, OPENSENSE, Platt by Timenow, Elas Projetam, Datasyn, Brasil Startups, VENTIUR, MentorApp, Rede+, IEBT, Grand Designs Consultoria em Inovação, and 100 Open Startups. The program connects startups with established companies.
• OBr.globalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOBr.global is an international business acceleration company led by Robert Janssen (Assespro-RJ President) that provides market intelligence and business execution for startups seeking to globalize. It serves as the official accelerator for Startup Rio and Startup Brasil programs, and Robert Janssen is CEO.
• ABDI (Agência Brasileira de Desenvolvimento Industrial)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian Agency for Industrial Development partnering with Softex on the VIAS open innovation platform, designed to strengthen relationships between startups and established companies through technology adoption.
• SoftexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoftex is a Brazilian technology development organization that partners with ABDI on the VIAS open innovation platform. Diônes Lima serves as Executive Vice President of Softex.
• FUSION VenturesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFUSION Ventures coordinates the Assespro Acelera acceleration program for startups, led by CEO Marcelo Ambrósio, providing program management and mentorship coordination.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ASOCIO (Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization): ASOCIO is a regional ICT industry association representing 24 economies across Asia-Pacific. It is a direct functional peer to Assespro-RJ at the regional-level trade association level, with similar advocacy, member networking, and policy engagement activities.
• WITSA (World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance): WITSA is the global consortium of tech industry associations in which Assespro-RJ participates through its president's leadership roles. It is a direct peer in the global tech-association architecture, with overlapping international policy advocacy and member services.
• Softex: Softex is a Brazilian technology development organization that partners with ABDI on the VIAS open innovation platform. It shares Assespro-RJ's focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry development, and is a partner in acceleration programs serving the same member companies.
• CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association): CompTIA is a US-based global trade association for the IT industry, offering certifications, advocacy, and member services. It is the closest international model to Assespro-RJ's model — a membership-driven tech trade association providing industry representation, education, and networking services.
• Assespro Nacional (Federação Assespro): Federação Assespro is the national confederation to which Assespro-RJ belongs as a regional chapter. It directly operates at the federal level with headquarters in Brasília and shares the association's mission of representing Brazilian technology companies, representing the parent peer structure.

Regional players

• SEBRAE (Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas): SEBRAE is Brazil's federal small-business support service, partnering with Assespro-RJ to run the Assespro Acelera program. It operates in the same startup acceleration and SME support space but is a government-backed service rather than a member association.
• ANPROTEC: ANPROTEC is the Brazilian association of incubators, accelerators, and innovation environments. It participates in Assespro-RJ's ecosystem discussions and shares the innovation-policy and entrepreneurship mandate, serving as a peer in the broader Brazilian innovation ecosystem.
• ABDI (Agência Brasileira de Desenvolvimento Industrial): ABDI is Brazil's federal industrial development agency, a partner of Assespro-RJ on the VIAS open innovation platform. It shares the innovation-ecosystem development mission but is a government agency rather than a member association, making it a complementary ecosystem actor.

Broad incumbents

• ABES (Associação Brasileira das Empresas de Software): ABES is the largest national Brazilian software industry association, representing software companies and the broader IT sector. It is comparable to Assespro-RJ as a peer trade body serving tech companies in Brazil, but operates at national scale with a broader software-industry mandate.
• Brasscom (Associação das Empresas de Tecnologia da Informação e Comunicação): Brasscom is a major Brazilian ICT industry association representing telecom, IT, and digital services companies. It competes with Assespro-RJ for the same enterprise technology memberships and government advocacy at the federal level, with a stronger telecom orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLEQx9ta74Eccj8KZbxpSzOIUnP2mq2QrW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/assesprorj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Assespro-RJ