CERCI LISBOA

What CERCI LISBOA does

CERCI Lisboa, formally CERCI – Cooperativa de Educação, Reabilitação e Capacitação para a Inclusão, C.R.L., is a Portuguese social solidarity cooperative (Cooperativa de Solidariedade Social sem fins lucrativos) recognised as a Pessoa Coletiva de Utilidade Pública. Founded on 16 July 1975, it is headquartered in Lisbon and operated by 79 employees, delivering an integrated portfolio of services for people with intellectual disabilities and multiple disabilities across the entire life cycle — from early childhood intervention (0–6 years) through school-age inclusion support, vocational training, employment placement, residential care, and ongoing social rehabilitation.

The organisation's service architecture comprises seven accredited lines: Intervenção Precoce na Infância (delivered via the SNIPI consortium); Centro de Recursos para a Inclusão (CRI, working with 13 school groupings under Ministry of Education accreditation); three Centro de Atividades e Capacitação para a Inclusão (CACI) centres in Marvila, Olivais and Carnide; Centro de Formação Profissional (vocational training courses such as Cozinheiro, Pasteleiro/Padeiro, Operador Agrícola); Centro de Recursos para a Qualificação e Emprego (CRQE, accredited under IEFP's PEAQPDI programme); Lar Residencial (residential home for 20 adults); and Centro de Atendimento, Acompanhamento e Reabilitação Social (CAARPD, regulated by Portaria n.º 60/2015). Technology is conventional social services delivery (website, Google Forms intake, Facebook channel) and no proprietary software, apps, or API products are offered; no AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Revenue mechanics combine two streams: government and social security funding tied to accredited service delivery, and donations solicited through online campaigns on the organisation's website. Approximately 900 people are served annually. No revenue figures, funding rounds, or financial statements are publicly disclosed, and the entity operates as an independent cooperative with no parent company or external investors. Marking its 50th anniversary in 2025, CERCI Lisboa's go-to-market is direct service delivery into the Lisbon municipality via referrals from schools, health centres, and families.

Name

CERCI LISBOA

Legal name

CERCI – Cooperativa de Educação, Reabilitação e Capacitação para a Inclusão, C.R.L.

Website

https://cercilisboa.org.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cerci Lisboa is a Portuguese non-profit social solidarity cooperative founded in 1975 that delivers accredited disability services — early intervention, school inclusion, vocational training, employment support, residential care and social rehabilitation — to approximately 900 people with intellectual and multiple disabilities annually across Lisbon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Security and Government Funding: As a recognized Persona Coletiva de Utilidade Pública (Public Utility Entity), CERCI receives government funding and social security payments for residents in their residential care facility.
2. Donations and Campaign Funding: Online donations through website campaigns for specific projects such as climate control systems, assistive technologies, and facility improvements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CERCI Lisboa is a Portuguese social solidarity cooperative (non-profit) that delivers specialized services for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities across the entire lifecycle — from early childhood intervention through adult residential and vocational support. It operates seven distinct service units covering early intervention, educational inclusion, vocational training, employment support, residential care, and social rehabilitation, serving approximately 900 people annually across multiple centers in Lisbon.

Product overview

CERCI Lisboa operates as a Social Solidarity Cooperative providing a coordinated set of social services for people with intellectual disabilities and multiple disabilities. The organization offers a portfolio of specialized services organized around the life cycle: Early Childhood Intervention (Intervenção Precoce na Infância) for children aged 0-6, Centro de Recursos para a Inclusão (CRI) supporting school inclusion, Centro de Atividades e Capacitação para a Inclusão (CACI) with three locations providing capacity-building activities, Centro de Formação Profissional delivering vocational training courses (Cozinheiro, Pasteleiro/Padeiro, Operador Agrícola), Centro de Recursos para a Qualificação e Emprego (CRQE) for employment support, Lar Residencial providing residential care for 20 adults, and CAARPD for social assistance and rehabilitation. The organization serves approximately 900 people annually through these integrated service lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CACI: Centro de Atividades e Capacitação para a Inclusão - develops capacity-building and occupation activities for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities.
• CRI
• Lar Residencial
• CRQE
• CAARPD
• CACI CTVAA

Products and services

• Intervenção Precoce na Infância (Early Childhood Intervention) Early childhood intervention service for children aged 0-6 with developmental disabilities or risk of developmental delay, delivered as part of the National System of Early Childhood Intervention (SNIPI) under the Ministry of Social Security.
• Centro de Recursos para a Inclusão (CRI) Educational inclusion resource center that supports students with disabilities transitioning from segregated schooling to inclusive schooling within regular school groupings in Lisbon.
• Centro de Atividades e Capacitação para a Inclusão (CACI) Day-center activity and capacity-building service for adults with intellectual disabilities, providing them with structured daily activities and skill development.
• Centro de Formação Profissional (Professional Training Center) Vocational/professional training center offering certified training programs for people with intellectual disabilities, accredited by DGERT (Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations) and recognized by the Ministry of Education.
• Centro de Recursos para a Qualificação e Emprego (CRQE) Resource center for qualification and employment that supports people with intellectual disabilities transitioning into mainstream employment through qualification and job-matching services.
• Lar Residencial (Residential Home) Residential home service providing housing, supervision, and care for adults with intellectual disabilities who require residential support.
• Centro de Atendimento, Acompanhamento e Reabilitação Social (CAARPD) Social rehabilitation center providing outpatient support, attendance, and social rehabilitation services for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves approximately 900 people annually with disabilities

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Sistema Nacional de Intervenção Precoce na Infância (SNIPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Since 2011, CERCI has been an integrated part of the National Early Childhood Intervention System (SNIPI), coordinating the Local Intervention Team (ELI) of Eastern Lisbon in partnership with school groupings and health centers.
• 13 School Groupings with Defined Action PlanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERCI's Centro de Recursos para a Inclusão (CRI) partners with 13 school groupings, providing specialized support to schools in promoting educational success for all students through multidisciplinary teams.
• Agrupamento de Escolas de Santa Maria dos OlivaiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership within SNIPI for early childhood intervention coordination in Eastern Lisbon area.
• Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde Lisboa IIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth sector partner within SNIPI for early childhood intervention in Eastern Lisbon.
• InteragircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization within SNIPI consortium for early childhood intervention coordination.
• Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional (IEFP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERCI is an accredited entity under the Employment and Support Qualification Program for People with Disabilities and Incapacities (PEAQPDI), developing specific actions for professional inclusion or rehabilitation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• APPACDM: Associação Portuguesa de Pais e Amigos do Cidadão Deficiente Mental — Portugal's largest non-profit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the full lifecycle. Operates similar early intervention, vocational, residential, and family support services, and competes for the same public funding streams (SNIPI, PEAQPDI).
• CERCICA: Centro de Educação e Reabilitação de Cidadãos com Incapacidades de Almada — a Portuguese cooperative serving people with intellectual and multiple disabilities in the Lisbon metropolitan area. Offers residential, occupational, and educational services analogous to CERCI Lisboa's portfolio, competing directly for SNIPI referrals and government contracts.

Regional players

• YAI: US non-profit providing lifespan services (early intervention through employment, housing, and clinical supports) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Strong operational comparator due to its integrated lifecycle model and accredited service portfolio.
• The Arc: US-based national organization providing services, advocacy, and employment support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable breadth across the lifecycle (early intervention through adult and residential), and a relevant comparator for inclusion-focused service delivery and policy advocacy.
• Mencap: UK-based leading charity supporting people with learning disabilities through residential services, employment programs, advocacy, and family support. Highly comparable service mix and lifecycle orientation, though operating under a different national funding and policy framework.
• CERCI Braga: Regional CERCI cooperative in northern Portugal providing early intervention, vocational training, residential care, and social inclusion services for people with intellectual disabilities. Same cooperative network identity and service model, but operating in a different geography from CERCI Lisboa.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): US non-profit network delivering residential, vocational, educational, and therapy services to people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Highly comparable multi-service nonprofit operator with affiliated-chapter structure akin to the Portuguese CERCI network.

Broad incumbents

• Sevita Health: For-profit US provider of home and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including residential, employment, and day programs. Comparable service mix to CERCI Lisboa but operating at much larger scale under a commercial model — illustrates the for-profit competitive threat on the residential and employment side.
• Inclusion International: Global non-profit federation advocating for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities and supporting member organizations across more than 100 countries. Relevant as the international umbrella to which CERCI-aligned entities relate, and a benchmark for cross-border advocacy and standards.
• Easterseals: Large US non-profit network providing disability and autism services including early intervention, vocational training, employment support, and residential programs. A broader incumbent comparator offering a similar service stack, with a national affiliate footprint that CERCI Lisboa could aspire to emulate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cercidelisboa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cerci-lisboa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CERCI LISBOA