What Centro Profissionalizante Rio Branco - Cepro does

Centro Profissionalizante Rio Branco (Cepro) is a 79-year-old non-profit vocational training institution headquartered in Cotia, S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil, operating under the governance of Funda\u00e7\u00e3o de Rotarianos de S\u00e3o Paulo. The institution provides free professional qualification programs to youth aged 15\u201320 from public schools and low-income families (family income up to one minimum wage per person) across four municipalities in the Greater S\u00e3o Paulo region. Cepro delivers a two-stage pathway: (1) Capacita\u00e7\u00e3o Pr\u00e9via Digital, a 140-hour fully-online pre-training program across five modules (Life Skills, Technology, Administration, Portuguese, Mathematics) built on Google Workspace via a partnership with Inicie; and (2) the Programa de Socioaprendizagem Profissional, a concomitant training model combining theoretical instruction at Cepro with practical workplace experience at partner companies across three vocational tracks (Administrative Assistant, Logistics Assistant, Commerce & Retail). Graduates flow into a Banco de Talentos (Talent Bank) pipeline matched to employer partners for apprentice placements.

Cepro operates as a certified training institution (Institui\u00e7\u00e3o Certificadora) validated by the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) and holds the Selo Parceiros da Aprendizagem seal, positioning it to serve companies' mandatory apprentice hiring obligations under Lei do Aprendiz (Law 10.097/2000). Its revenue model is professional services-based: companies contracting Cepro to manage apprenticeship programs pay for theoretical training delivery, learner monitoring, family engagement, and legal compliance oversight. The institution has trained more than 45,000 young people since inception, served approximately 1,000 youth in 2025 alone, and works with hundreds of corporate partners including Colgate, Sika, Konecranes, Tenneco, Tork, and Pochteca Comercial. Operating with 45 employees across two physical units (Granja Vianna in Cotia and Higien\u00f3polis in central S\u00e3o Paulo), Cepro also publishes a monthly electronic magazine and produces a student-led podcast (Start Jovem).

Name

Centro Profissionalizante Rio Branco - Cepro

Legal name

Centro Profissionalizante Rio Branco

Website

https://cepro.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centro Profissionalizante Rio Branco (Cepro) is a 79-year-old Brazilian non-profit vocational training institution that prepares youth aged 15\u201320 from low-income families for apprenticeship placements via Lei do Aprendiz-compliant programs, serving approximately 1,000 learners annually across hundreds of corporate partners in the Greater S\u00e3o Paulo region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cotia

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Partnership Fees ( Apprenticeship Contract Management): Companies that hire young apprentices through Cepro pay for the institution's role in managing the apprenticeship program — including theoretical training delivery, learner monitoring, family engagement, and legal compliance oversight. Revenue is tied to the number of active apprenticeship contracts under management. Cepro is a certified training institution validated by the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE).
2. Public-Institutional Support: Cepro operates with alignment to public policies (Lei do Aprendiz) and receives institutional support from government bodies including municipal secretariats (Cotia, Vargem Grande Paulista) and state education networks. The organization works with public schools and CRAS (Centro de Referência de Assistência Social) for student recruitment.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cepro is a non-profit vocational training institution that provides free professional qualification to vulnerable youth aged 15-20 through a two-stage pathway: a 140-hour digital pre-training program (Capacitação Prévia Digital) and a 15-18 month supervised apprenticeship (Programa de Socioaprendizagem Profissional) that combines classroom theory with on-the-job training at partner companies across three tracks (Administrative Assistant, Logistics Assistant, Commerce & Retail Repositioner). Companies that hire apprentices through Cepro pay for the institution's role in managing the apprenticeship program, including theoretical training delivery, learner monitoring, family engagement, and legal compliance oversight under the Lei do Aprendiz.

Product overview

Centro Profissionalizante Rio Branco (Cepro) is a vocational training institution with 79 years of operation offering a two-stage professional development program. The first stage is the Capacitação Prévia Digital (Digital Prior Training), a 140-hour distance learning program covering life skills, technology, administrative concepts, Portuguese, and mathematics. Upon completion, students enter the Banco de Talentos (Talent Bank) and may be selected for the Programa de Socioaprendizagem Profissional (Professional Sociolearning Program), which combines theoretical classroom instruction with practical workplace experience through three specialized tracks: Administrative Assistant, Logistics Assistant, and Commerce and Retail Merchandise Repositioner. The institution also publishes an electronic magazine and produces the student-led Start Jovem podcast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Capacitação Prévia Digital Distance learning program serving as the entry point to Cepro's ecosystem, consisting of 140 classroom hours over 10 weeks across five modules covering life skills, technology applied to work (Google Workspace via Inicie), administrative concepts, Portuguese language, and mathematics. Designed for young people aged 15-20 from public schools in vulnerable conditions.
• Programa de Socioaprendizagem Profissional Professional sociolearning program integrating theoretical activities at Cepro with practical workplace experience in partner companies, structured across three tracks: Administrative Assistant, Logistics Assistant, and Commerce & Retail Merchandise Repositioner, with program durations of approximately 15-18 months. Designed for youth aged 15-20 entering apprenticeship under Brazil's Lei do Aprendiz.
• Aprendiz Auxiliar Administrativo Administrative Assistant apprenticeship track with a 4-hour daily workload, comprising 420 theoretical hours and 1,450 practical hours for a total of 1,870 hours over approximately 15 months, delivered via the concomitância method with partner companies.
• Aprendiz Auxiliar de Logística Logistics Assistant apprenticeship track with a 6-hour daily workload, comprising 400 theoretical hours and 1,160 practical hours for a total of 1,560 hours over approximately 18 months, delivered via the concomitância method with partner companies.
• Aprendiz de Comércio e Varejo Commerce and Retail Merchandise Repositioner apprenticeship track with a 6-hour daily workload totaling 1,560 hours over approximately 18 months, preparing apprentices for retail and commerce workplace roles.
• Aprendizagem em Produção Course Production apprenticeship course developed jointly with KIM (Kim Pães) to expand the apprenticeship curriculum into industrial production roles, building on the Programa de Socioaprendizagem Profissional structure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45,000+ young people trained and placed since 1947
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

44 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, active, strategic and new.

• IniciecoreTechnology or IntegrationInicie is a technology education partner providing the 'DigiCamp Alu' course as part of Cepro's Capacitação Prévia Digital program. The course covers digital culture and Google Workspace tools (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Sites, Academic, Agenda, Gmail) within the Technology Applied to Work module.
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Workspace (including Drive, Docs, Sheets, Sites, Agenda, Gmail) is used as the digital learning and productivity platform for the Capacitação Prévia Digital training program. Cepro's curriculum explicitly teaches Google Workspace tools as a core professional competency.
• FATEC CotiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFATEC Cotia visited Cepro in June 2026 to explore collaboration opportunities aimed at strengthening professional development pathways for young people, potentially connecting apprenticeship completers to higher technical education.
• Fundação WadhwanicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wadhwani Foundation provides training content and formative pathways methodology to Cepro's educators. In March 2026, Cepro educators conducted training on the Wadhwani platform to benchmark and enhance Cepro's formative itinerary. The Foundation also organizes an employability symposium in which Cepro's director participates.
• CANAE (Centro Nacional de Autossuficiência Profissional e Aperfeiçoamento)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCANAE and Cepro promote mutual encounters and institutional visits to create additional personal and professional development opportunities for youth. CANAE focuses on professional strengthening and economic autonomy, aligning with Cepro's mission to expand youth access to the labor market.
• Fundação de Rotarianos de São PaulocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe parent foundation of Centro Profissionalizante Rio Branco. Provides institutional governance, strategic oversight, and participated in Teacher's Day celebrations by gifting Cepro educators. Responsible for overall direction and resources of the institution.
• Prefeitura de Cotia / Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Social de CotiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipal government of Cotia, through its Social Development Secretariat, meets regularly with Cepro to present its free professional training work and to disseminate program information within the community. The municipality supports Cepro's outreach and referral of eligible youth.
• Prefeitura de Vargem Grande Paulista / Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico e SustentávelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipal government of Vargem Grande Paulista and its Economic Development Secretariat visited Cepro in February 2025. Mayor Piter Santos committed to promoting Cepro among local businesses and youth, and the municipality disseminates Cepro's programs in the community.
• ColgateactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColgate is an active partner company that hires young apprentices through Cepro. The relationship includes regular site visits by Cepro's technical team. Ex-aprendizes have been permanently hired by Colgate upon contract completion.
• SikaactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSika is an active partner company hosting Cepro apprentices. Cepro's director and technical assistant conduct relationship visits to align on program expectations and apprentice performance.
• KIM (Kim Pães)strategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKIM (Kim Pães) is a strategic partner co-developing a new Production Apprenticeship course with Cepro. One of its ex-aprendizes, Patrícia, was hired into KIM's HR team. The partnership involves joint curriculum design for industry-specific training.
• AdelcoactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• Clean Max AmbientalactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• Colégio SidartaactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• FlavorsactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• IreksactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• KonecranesactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• MonteferroactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• MultifibraactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• Pochteca ComercialactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• Robertet BrasilactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• São Fernando Golf ClubactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• Solofix FundaçõesactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• TennecoactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• TorkactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company listed on Cepro's official website.
• CoferlyactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company visited by Cepro's technical team in August 2025. Active in the apprenticeship program with regular relationship management.
• Pacto EngenhariaactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company visited by Cepro's technical team in August 2025. Active in the apprenticeship program.
• StyroplastactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company visited by Cepro's technical team in August 2025. Active in the apprenticeship program.
• Espiga DouradaactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company visited by Cepro's technical assistant Fatima Pina in August 2025. Relationship meeting with HR team to discuss program outcomes.
• Associação ProtecactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company visited by Cepro's technical team in December 2024. The HR manager Lucas is a former Cepro apprentice, illustrating the program's career progression pathway.
• SaintsteelactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company visited by Cepro's technical team in January 2025. Site visit to meet with apprentice managers and observe work environments.
• CralactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company visited by Cepro's technical team in February 2025. Meeting with HR team to discuss apprentice management.
• OrgusactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company visited by Cepro's technical assistants Fatima Pina and Elaine Ichikawa in April 2025 to strengthen the partnership and align on apprenticeship program outcomes.
• FuPlasticnewChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew partner as of April 2026. Specializes in modular polypropylene solutions for infrastructure, retail, housing, and corporate sectors. Cepro's technical team toured facilities to align on apprentice roles and competency development.
• ArotecnewChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew partner company as of November 2025. Added to Cepro's network to expand apprenticeship opportunities for youth.
• GeraforçanewChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew partner company as of November 2025. Added to Cepro's network to expand apprenticeship opportunities for youth.
• TecnolognewChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew partner company as of November 2025. Added to Cepro's network to expand apprenticeship opportunities for youth.
• TTSactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company visited by Cepro's technical team (Fatima Pina and Elaine Ishikawa) in May 2026 for relationship strengthening and apprentice development monitoring.
• TeconlogactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company visited by Cepro's technical team in May 2026 for relationship strengthening and apprentice development monitoring.
• AlveniusactiveChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company visited by Cepro's technical team in May 2026 for relationship strengthening and apprentice development monitoring.
• Secretaria da Mulher, Neurodiversidade e Inclusão Social de CotiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCepro visited this municipal secretariat in May 2025 to deepen understanding of its mandates and explore ways to improve professional training and employability outcomes for young people. Joint activities include awareness workshops on violence against women.
• Secretaria de Trabalho e Renda de CotiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipal labor secretariat partnered with Cepro to deliver a qualification workshop for young people in December 2025 and hosts the 'Jornada de Crédito' entrepreneurship event at Cepro's facilities, connecting youth to microfinance resources.
• Associação Viva BemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth promotion association that delivered a consciousness-raising lecture to Cepro apprentices in June 2026 on the risks of alcohol, electronic cigarettes, and tobacco, as part of Cepro's holistic youth development approach.
• Guarda Civil de Cotia / Secretaria de Segurança Pública de CotiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivic security authorities conducted a dialogue session with Cepro apprentices in June 2026 on conscious decision-making, education, family bonds, and personal development, as part of the citizenship formation curriculum.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fundação Bradesco: Operates the Escola de Aprendizagem Bradesco and a network of vocational schools providing free professional training to low-income youth, similar non-profit structure funded by a corporate foundation, with comparable administrative and retail apprenticeship tracks.
• CIEE (Centro de Integração Empresa-Escola): Brazil's largest youth apprenticeship and school-to-work integration organization, operating the same Lei do Aprendiz model across multiple states. Directly comparable in target market (youth 14-24, public-school backgrounds), revenue model (corporate apprenticeship contract fees), and regulatory positioning.
• Junior Achievement Brasil: Delivers workforce-readiness and professional development programs for low-income public-school youth across Brazil. Comparable target population, non-profit funding model, and employer partnership approach, though JA emphasizes curriculum delivery rather than formal apprenticeship contract management.
• Instituto PROA: Brazilian non-profit focused on professional preparation and first-job placement for youth from public schools in São Paulo. Overlaps with Cepro on demographic (low-income youth, 15-20), geography, and corporate partner ecosystem.

Others

• Instituto Unibanco: Brazilian non-profit focused on youth education-to-employment pathways, particularly in public high schools. Adjacent ecosystem player supporting youth employability infrastructure rather than operating apprenticeship programs directly.
• Instituto Ayrton Senna: Major Brazilian non-profit focused on youth education and workforce preparation. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, as Ayrton Senna works primarily through public school system transformation rather than direct apprenticeship placement.
• CDI Brasil (Committee for Democratization of Information): Non-profit focused on digital skills and youth employability in low-income Brazilian communities. Overlaps with Cepro's digital pre-training (Capacitação Prévia Digital) but emphasizes ICT competency rather than full apprenticeship placement.

Broad incumbents

• SENAI (Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial): Brazil's dominant industrial vocational training system, also mandated by Lei do Aprendiz but with far broader scope, federal funding, and industry-specific (industrial) apprenticeships. A scaled incumbent with overlapping regulatory mandate but a much larger portfolio than Cepro's administrative/logistics/retail focus.
• SESC / SESI (Serviço Social do Comércio / Indústria): Federation-funded vocational education and social services network, providing workforce training and apprenticeships to commerce and industry sectors. Overlaps with Cepro's Commerce/Retail track but operates at a national scale with much larger capacity.
• Fundação Itaú Social: Large corporate foundation funding youth education and employability programs across Brazil. Operates at a higher altitude (grant-maker and program funder rather than direct training operator), but shares the corporate-foundation non-profit model and youth employability mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/centroprofissionalizanteriobranco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cepro-centro-profissionalizante-rio-branco
• Instagraminstagram.com/ceproriobranco

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Centro Profissionalizante Rio Branco - Cepro