Escola SESI Comendador Bernardo Martins Catharino (SESI Itapagipe)

What Escola SESI Comendador Bernardo Martins Catharino (SESI Itapagipe) does

Escola SESI Comendador Bernardo Martins Catharino, commonly known as SESI Itapagipe, is a private K-12 educational institution located in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. It operates as part of the SESI Bahia network, which is integrated into the Sistema FIEB (Federação das Indústrias do Estado da Bahia) and funded through the Brazilian Sistema S — a mandatory contribution mechanism from industrial companies channeled into social and educational services. The broader SESI Bahia network encompasses 12 schools across 9 municipalities, serving approximately 11,174 students for the 2026 academic cycle with 793 educators on staff. The school offers education from early years through high school, with a differentiated emphasis on STEM, educational robotics, scientific research, and maker culture.

The school's core educational product combines a standard Brazilian K-12 curriculum with proprietary STEM programming, including educational robotics labs, a structured scientific research and initiation program (with student participation in ISEF and affiliated fairs), the Liga SESI de Robótica competition platform, and recognized FLL (FIRST LEGO League) operator status in Bahia. Technology integration relies on partnerships with Microsoft (Showcase School designation) and Google for Education, providing structured digital learning environments. The pedagogical model emphasizes project-based learning, with students producing robotics solutions and applied science projects.

The business model is institutional rather than purely market-based: SESI schools are primarily financed through compulsory industry contributions collected under the Sistema S framework, with revenue supplemented by tuition-paying enrollments from the general public (a relatively recent expansion beyond the historical industrial-worker dependent base). The school operates as a non-profit entity, reinvesting contributions into educational infrastructure, teacher development, and program expansion. Pricing is structured per academic period with annual tuition contracts, and the school positions itself in the mid-to-upper segment of the Salvador private education market.

Name

Escola SESI Comendador Bernardo Martins Catharino (SESI Itapagipe)

Legal name

Escola SESI Comendador Bernardo Martins Catharino

Website

https://escolasesiba.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SESI Itapagipe is a private K-12 school in Salvador, Bahia, part of the Sistema FIEB-funded SESI Bahia network (12 schools, ~11,174 students), offering STEM-focused education with proprietary educational robotics and scientific research programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral/SEL-Integrated Academic Tutoring (Self-regulation, anxiety-informed study support) (EDANAFAK), K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA), Advanced Writing, Literature & Humanities Tutoring (Advanced composition, rhetoric, debate) (EDANAKAG)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• STEM education programs
• Educational robotics
• Scientific research programs
• College preparatory education

Headquarters

HQ city

Salvador (Itapagipe)

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Monthly tuition payments from enrolled students. The school is a private educational institution that offers discount tiers for workers in the industrial sector based on family income. Contact with school required for specific values.
2. Scientific Initiation Scholarships: Monthly scholarships of R$ 120.00 paid to high school students participating in the Scientific Initiation program, granted through public notices and funded by SESI.
3. Partnership Programs: Educational partnership programs such as the Ford Education for Youth Program, where SESI collaborates with corporate partners to provide education and professional qualification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Escola SESI Comendador Bernardo Martins Catharino (SESI Itapagipe) is a private K-12 school providing elementary (Ensino Fundamental Anos Finais, grades 6-9) and high school (Ensino Médio, grades 10-12) education to students in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The school integrates educational robotics (Robótica Educacional) and scientific research (Iniciação Científica) as core curriculum disciplines rather than extracurricular activities, with fully equipped robotics laboratories and participation in 70+ student research groups. The institution also offers supplementary programs including the Mostra SESI STEAM exhibition, Liga Robótica SESI Bahia competition teams, ENEM exam preparation (Imersão ENEM), and Bolsa de Iniciação Científica scholarships of R$120 monthly for high school researchers.

Product overview

Escola SESI operates as a network of private educational institutions in Bahia, Brazil, offering a unified platform of educational services spanning Ensino Fundamental (final years, grades 6-9) and Ensino Médio (high school, grades 10-12). The core educational products include Robótica Educacional (Educational Robotics) and Iniciação Científica (Scientific Initiation Program), which are integrated throughout the curriculum alongside traditional academic subjects. Supplementary programs include the Mostra SESI STEAM exhibition, Pipocando Arte em Todas as Partes (artistic development), Escola e Família (family-school partnership), Programa Altos Papos (dialogue platform), Jogos Escolares (school sports), and Imersão ENEM (exam preparation). The network also operates competitive programs including the Torneio SESI de Robótica - First Lego League, Liga Robótica SESI Bahia, and Programa DECOLA+ (pre-acceleration for research). All units utilize the Portal do Aluno SESI platform for student access. The institution serves approximately 12 schools across 9 municipalities in Bahia, reaching over 11,000 students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ensino Fundamental Anos Finais
• Ensino Médio
• Robótica Educacional (Educational Robotics)
• Iniciação Científica (Scientific Initiation Program)
• Mostra SESI STEAM
• Imersão ENEM SESI Bahia
• Torneio SESI de Robótica - First Lego League
• Liga Robótica SESI Bahia
• Bolsa de Iniciação Científica SESI-BA
• Pipocando Arte em Todas as Partes
• Escola e Família: Missão de Educar
• Programa Altos Papos
• Jogos Escolares SESI Bahia
• Programa DECOLA+
• Portal do Aluno SESI

Quantifiable outcome

• Students achieved 4th place at ISEF Regeneron 2026, world's largest STEAM fair, with fennel extract antifungal research for coffee crops
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Ford Fund - Programa Ford de Educação para JovensmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2018Ford Motor Company's philanthropy arm partnered with SESI to provide the Ford Education for Youth Program, benefiting 300 students over three editions (75 high school and 25 elementary students per cohort). Program includes professional qualification and LEGO robotics methodology.
• Microsoft for EducationcoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft provides educational technology platforms including Office 365 for Education, Google integration compatibility, and cloud-based learning tools. SESI Bahia network includes Microsoft Showcase Schools with certified educators. Access through office.escolasesiba.com.br portal.
• LEGO Education / LEGO MindstormscoreTechnology or IntegrationLEGO Mindstorms technology platform used for educational robotics in all 12 schools. LEGO-based robotics competitions including First LEGO League (FLL) are core to the network's educational methodology adopted since 2006. Network is Brazilian operator for FLL competitions.
• SENAI CimatecmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSENAI Cimatec provides engineering laboratories and technical guidance for SESI student projects including F1 In Schools competition vehicle design, virtual reality experiences, and robotics training. Strong integration within the Sistema FIEB (Federation of Industries of the State of Bahia).
• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO that created the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competition. SESI is the official Brazilian operator for FLL since 2013, organizing regional and national tournaments. Network schools compete in FLL with advancement to international events.
• Society for SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization behind the Regeneron ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair), the world's largest pre-university science fair. SESI students regularly qualify and compete at ISEF, with the 2026 event in Phoenix, USA.
• FEBRACE (Feira Brasileira de Ciências e Engenharia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian science and engineering fair held annually at USP (University of São Paulo). SESI Bahia students consistently achieve top placements and qualify for international competitions through FEBRACE participation.
• MOSTRATEC (Mostra Brasileira de Ciência e Tecnologia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Brazilian science and technology fair held in Novo Hamburgo, RS. SESI students regularly participate and win awards in multiple categories including Agricultural Sciences and Environmental Sciences.
• IEL (Instituto Euvaldo Lodi)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRecruitment and selection services for hiring educators. Job applications processed through IEL candidate portal at candidato.ielbahia.com.br for positions at SESI schools.
• FIEB (Federação das Indústrias do Estado da Bahia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization providing strategic direction and resources for SESI Bahia educational network. Coordinates SESI, SENAI, and related institutions under the Sistema Indústria umbrella in Bahia state.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Colégio Bandeirantes: Premium São Paulo private K-12 school known for deep STEM emphasis, robotics, and consistent college-prep track record. Highly comparable to SESI Itapagipe on STEM pedagogy, scientific initiation tradition, and competition participation.
• Colégio Pitágoras: Brazilian private K-12 network (MG-based) known for academic rigor and ENEM performance. Comparable as a private multi-campus K-12 competitor targeting college-prep families.
• Colégio Ari de Sá Cavalcante: Private K-12 network in Northeast Brazil (Ceará) recognized for strong ENEM outcomes and STEM focus. Comparable as a regional K-12 competitor pursuing similar college-prep and science-fair competition strategies.
• Colégio Farias Brito: Northeast Brazilian private K-12 network in Ceará with science-fair and robotics competition pedigree. Comparable geographic-positioning and curriculum focus, competing for the same ENEM-driven family segment.
• Colégio Bernoulli: Brazilian private K-12 school with STEM and integrated science programs, active in science fairs and competitions. Comparable on STEM curriculum integration, college-prep focus, and regional footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Sistema SESI (national SESI network): Parent institution that operates SESI schools across all Brazilian states. Directly comparable as the broader umbrella for the subject school, with shared curriculum DNA, Microsoft Showcase School initiatives, and industry-worker dependent pricing model.
• Colégio Positivo: Large Brazilian private K-12 network with strong STEM/STEAM and bilingual programs. Comparable as a national private school operator; overlaps with SESI Bahia on integration of technology, robotics, and college-prep curricula across multiple campuses.
• Objetivo Educacional: Large national Brazilian private K-12 network with strong ENEM prep and competition track record. Comparable as an incumbent private school operator pursuing similar college-prep outcomes at scale.

Regional players

• Colégio Salesiano: Catholic private K-12 network with multiple Northeast campuses and historical science/robotics initiatives. Comparable as a private school competitor in Bahia with comparable geographic concentration and tradition.

Emerging players

• Mind Makers Education: Brazilian edtech/STEM supplemental education provider for K-12 schools, focused on educational robotics, STEAM and Maker curricula. Comparable as an adjacent, enabling platform that competes for the same robotics/STEAM curricula that SESI Itapagipe uses as differentiation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/escolasesibahia
• Facebookfacebook.com/escolasesiba
• Instagraminstagram.com/escolasesiba
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/escola-sesi-comendador-bernardo-martins-catharino-sesi-itapagipe-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Escola SESI Comendador Bernardo Martins Catharino (SESI Itapagipe)