E.C São Bernardo

What E.C São Bernardo does

E.C São Bernardo is a Brazilian football club founded in 1928, headquartered in São Bernardo do Campo in the ABC Paulista region of São Paulo state. The club operates under the Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF) corporate structure since 2023, which provides a formal governance and capital-raising framework aligned with broader Brazilian football modernization. Its professional men's team competes in Paulistão A3 (the São Paulo state third division) and the Copa Paulista, placing it among smaller-division Brazilian football operations. The club runs a multi-tier youth academy spanning Sub-11 through Sub-20 and an international athlete exchange program that has placed players in Portugal, Serbia, and Spain.

Beyond matchday operations, the club operates a retail arm (Bernô Store, both online and physical) and a portfolio of commercial partnerships. Master sponsorship agreements with OnilX and P4B, a betting-sector partnership with Rivalo, and a youth-category partnership with ADC Marvel anchor the 2026 commercial book. Revenue is generated through sponsorship income, merchandise sales, player transfer fees, the international exchange program, and matchday operations, the last of which is structurally limited by the club's explicit social-pricing policy (free entry for select fan groups). Recent moves — including the Bernô Store launch, multiple sponsor signings, and leadership professionalization — indicate active commercial reinvestment despite the club's lower-division sporting position.

Name

E.C São Bernardo

Legal name

Esporte Clube São Bernardo

Website

https://ecsaobernardo.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

E.C São Bernardo is a 1928-founded Brazilian football club operating under the SAF structure since 2023, based in São Bernardo do Campo. It fields a professional team in Paulistão A3 and Copa Paulista, runs a Sub-11-to-Sub-20 youth academy with an international exchange program, and generates revenue through sponsorships, merchandise (Bernô Store), and player transfers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Football Club Services

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Association Football (Soccer) Leagues (MPAKAAAA)

Keywords

• Professional football club
• Youth academy development
• Licensed sports merchandise
• Athlete exchange program
• Matchday ticket sales

Headquarters

HQ city

São Bernardo do Campo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Matchday Revenue: Revenue from ticket sales at home games held at Baetão stadium, Nogueirão (Mogi das Cruzes), and Arena Inamar (Diadema). The club subsidizes tickets for its supporters to drive attendance.
2. Merchandise and Licensing: Sales of official products through Bernô Store (physical location and online store), including jerseys, accessories, and personalized articles.
3. Player Transfers: Transfer of player economic rights to other clubs, such as Vinícius Peixoto to Cuiabá (80% of economic rights) and international transfers of youth players to European clubs.
4. Sponsorship: Master sponsorship deals (OnilX, P4B) and official partnerships (Rivalo) that include jersey branding and naming rights for competitions.
5. Exchange Program: Revenue from international exchange athletes (ages 13+) who pay for accommodation, meals, training, and football experience programs at the club.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Esporte Clube São Bernardo is a professional football club that fields a senior team in Paulistão A3 and Copa Paulista Rivalo, runs a youth academy (Categorias de Base) spanning Sub-11 through Sub-20, and sells licensed merchandise through Bernô Store. The club also operates an international athlete exchange program and channels matchday content via TV Cachorrão. Revenue is generated from tickets, merchandise, sponsorship, and player transfers.

Product overview

E.C São Bernardo is a professional football club offering a portfolio centered on football/soccer services. The core offering includes the professional football team competing in official state championships (Paulistão A3, Copa Paulista Rivalo), and a comprehensive youth academy (Categorias de Base) spanning age groups from Sub-11 through Sub-20. Supporting services include an international exchange program for young athletes, the Bernô Store for licensed merchandise, TV Cachorrão media content, and social programs like Projeto Down for athletes with disabilities. The club operates under SAF (Sociedade Anônima do Futebol) governance structure and uses venues including Estádio Baetão and Arena Inamar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Futebol Profissional (Professional Football Team) Professional football team competing in official São Paulo state championships including Paulistão A3 and Copa Paulista Rivalo, for fans in the ABC Paulista region.
• Categorias de Base (Youth Academy) Youth football development program spanning seven age categories (Sub-11 to Sub-20), focused on training and developing young talent through FPF-sanctioned Paulistão championships and providing pathways to professional clubs.
• Programa de Intercâmbio (Exchange Program) International athlete exchange program for foreign athletes aged 13+ from countries including Japan, USA, and Thailand, offering football training experience, accommodation, meals, and competition participation in Brazil for stays from 15 days to 1 year.
• Bernô Store Official retail store of EC São Bernardo selling licensed merchandise including match shirts, accessories, and personalized articles, available both in-store at Av. Armando Ítalo Setti, 964, Baeta Neves and online via berno.lojavirtualnuvem.com.br.
• Projeto Down

Quantifiable outcome

• Historic 5th place finish in Paulistão Sub-20 2025, qualifying for international competition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Esporte Clube Água SantaminorOthers · 24 April 2026Partnership to use Arena Inamar in Diadema as home venue for Copa Paulista 2026. Choice based on infrastructure quality and proximity to São Bernardo do Campo.
• Humaitá Pet TreatsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 March 2026Partner for 'President of the Fan Base' campaign where fans' pets can become official mascot. Provides annual product kit including natural treats.
• WilCap ChancesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 March 2026Partner platform for the pet mascot campaign, enabling fan participation and engagement through their digital platform.
• Mercado LivreminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 March 2026Partner supporting the Projeto Down (inclusion initiative for athletes with Down Syndrome) through Brazil's Lei de Incentivo ao Esporte. Amplifies project reach and resources for young people with disabilities.
• ADC MarvelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026Partnership with Santos-based futsal reference club to manage initiation categories (Sub-7 to Sub-10). Marvel brings technical expertise in futsal fundamentals and history of producing players for major clubs (Palmeiras, Santos FC).
• OnilXcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 January 2026Master sponsor for Paulistão A3. One of Brazil's largest digital asset payment companies. Brand appears on the front of the team jersey as the main sponsor.
• P4B (Port For Business)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 January 2026Master sponsor alongside OnilX. Credenced office of OnilX based in Santos (SP), connecting ABC Paulista with the coast through football and business partnerships.
• RivalocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 January 2026Official partner for Paulistão Série A3 Rivalo 2026. Part of the largest collective sponsorship in Brazilian football history, covering 46 clubs across São Paulo state competitions. Rivalo provides naming rights for the competition and jersey branding.
• ColsanminorOthers · 18 September 2025Blood donation awareness campaign partnership. Colsan (Associação Beneficente de Coleta de Sangue) is a 65-year reference institution in blood collection in São Paulo state.
• Bernô StorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial club store opened in June 2026, selling licensed merchandise including jerseys, accessories, and personalized items. Located in front of Baetão stadium.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Esporte Clube Água Santa: Diadema-based ABC Paulista club that competes in São Paulo state divisions. The two clubs already have a venue partnership (Arena Inamar), reflecting direct overlap in geography, tier, and target fan base.
• Linense Futebol Clube: Lins-based São Paulo state club competing in lower divisions. Similar small-market dynamics, limited matchday capacity, and reliance on partnership revenue.
• Noroeste Futebol Clube: Bauru-based club that frequently plays in Paulistão A3 alongside EC São Bernardo. Direct competitor at the same competitive level and a comparable small-city business model.
• Associação Desportiva São Caetano: Traditional ABC Paulista rival based in São Caetano do Sul. Also operates outside Brazil's top divisions, sharing the same regional market and lower-tier competitive context as EC São Bernardo.
• Clube Atlético Juventus: Historic Mooca (São Paulo) club competing in lower state divisions. Similar in scale, heritage-driven identity, and reliance on community/youth-driven fan engagement.
• Comercial Futebol Clube (Ribeirão Preto): Traditional interior São Paulo club that plays in lower divisions. Comparable in brand legacy, regional fan base, and operating constraints outside the capital.
• Monte Azul Futebol Clube: Paulistão A3 participant with similar scale and dependence on matchday and transfer revenues. Comparable division-level positioning and operational footprint.
• Esporte Clube Taubaté: Vale do Paraíba club with comparable operating scale and a focus on youth development pathways. Shares reliance on player trading and regional sponsorship.
• Associação Ferroviária de Esportes: Araraquara-based club with history in upper state divisions, now navigating lower tiers. Similar trajectory of brand-driven recovery from a higher competitive peak.
• Associação Atlética Internacional (de Limeira): Traditional Paulistão participant from Limeira that has cycled through lower state divisions. Similar competitive tier, regional identity, and small-club economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tvcachorrao
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecsaobernardo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/e.c-s%C3%A3o-bernardo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 E.C São Bernardo