What Fundação Roberto Marinho does

Fundação Roberto Marinho (FRM) is a Brazilian nonprofit foundation founded in 1977 and headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, with 291 employees and a 40+ year operating history in education. It operates a vertically integrated education ecosystem spanning Canal Futura (an educational TV channel launched in 1997, distributed via Globoplay and major pay-TV operators), Telecurso (a distance-learning methodology for completion of fundamental and secondary education delivered via Google Classroom), co.liga (a free digital school of creative economy with 103,000+ enrollments and 32,000+ certificates issued), Aprendiz Legal (a regulated apprenticeship program placing youth in formal employment under Brazil's Learning Law), Escola FRM (formal basic education), and Museu do Amanhã (a science museum in Rio that has attracted 5 million visitors in its first six years). Complementary programs address child protection (Crescer Sem Violência), black cultural valorization (A Cor da Cultura), energy literacy (Energia que Transforma), and educational innovation (Movimento LED / Festival LED / Desafio LED).

FRM is funded entirely through long-term institutional alliances — founding partners include Globo, SESI/SENAI, Fundação Bradesco, and Fundação Itaú; international partners include UNICEF, OIT, OEI, and The Freedom Fund; government partners include the Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego and the Secretaria Nacional de Juventude. All programs, courses, and content are delivered free of charge to end users (students, educators, youth, families). The foundation's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven rather than sales-driven: reach is built through broadcast media, free self-serve digital platforms, partner-channel amplification, and recurring cultural/educational events such as the Flip literary festival and Festival LED. Distribution extends nationwide across all 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District and internationally to 36 countries via co.liga.

FRM's quantified impact includes 37 million+ Futura viewers (2020), 1.6 million students completing education via Telecurso, 70,000+ educators trained, 115,000+ youth placed in formal employment via Aprendiz Legal, and 4-in-10 co.liga completers obtaining paid work. The foundation functions less as a commercial enterprise than as a national-scale education platform whose competitive position rests on content library depth, broadcast distribution, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and regulatory integration into Brazil's apprenticeship framework.

Name

Fundação Roberto Marinho

Legal name

Fundação Roberto Marinho

Website

https://frm.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Fundação Roberto Marinho is a Brazilian nonprofit foundation operating a vertically integrated education ecosystem — Canal Futura TV channel, Telecurso distance learning, co.liga creative-economy digital school, Aprendiz Legal apprenticeship program, and Museu do Amanhã — serving students, educators, and youth nationwide via free programs funded by institutional partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• Educational content production
• Distance learning programs
• Youth professional training
• Creative economy education
• Educational media broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio de Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Partnerships and Institutional Funding: The foundation operates as a nonprofit institution sustained through long-term alliances with private companies (e.g., Grupo Globo, SESI/SENAI, Fundação Bradesco, Fundação Itaú), government bodies, and international organizations. Funding supports educational content production, platform maintenance, and program implementation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fundação Roberto Marinho operates a vertically integrated education ecosystem combining an educational TV channel (Canal Futura), digital learning platforms (Telecurso and co.liga), youth apprenticeship programs (Aprendiz Legal), a science museum (Museu do Amanhã), and a formal basic education school (Escola FRM). All programs are free to end users (students, educators, youth) and sustained through institutional alliances with private companies, government bodies, and international organizations such as SESI, SENAI, Fundação Bradesco, Fundação Itaú, Globo, and UNICEF.

Product overview

Fundação Roberto Marinho operates a multi-platform educational ecosystem centered around three core pillars: Canal Futura (educational TV channel), Telecurso (distance learning for Youth and Adult Education), and co.liga (free digital school for creative economy). The organization offers supplementary programs including Aprendiz Legal (apprenticeship program), SEJA (Encceja prep), and Escola FRM (formal education). Cross-cutting initiatives cover media education (Crescer Sem Violência), cultural valorization (A Cor da Cultura), energy efficiency (Energia que Transforma), and educational innovation recognition (Movimento LED with Festival LED and Desafio LED). The organization also conducts research on Brazilian youth scenarios and advocates for public policies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Canal Futura: Educational television channel focused on social transformation and communication for education
• Telecurso
• Aprendiz Legal
• co.liga
• Museu do Amanhã
• Escola Fundação Roberto Marinho
• Movimento LED
• A Cor da Cultura
• Crescer Sem Violência
• Rede EJA e Inclusão Produtiva

Products and services

• Canal Futura Educational TV channel operated since 1997, producing and broadcasting audiovisual content for social transformation. Available on pay-TV operators (Net/Claro, Sky, Vivo, Oi), Globoplay, and free-to-air university TV networks, reaching 37M+ viewers and 1.2M educators in 2020.
• Telecurso Distance learning platform for Youth and Adult Education (EJA), helping 1.6 million students complete Fundamental and High School education through online courses and materials available via Google Classroom and other digital platforms.
• co.liga Free digital school for creative economy, culture and technology offering 59+ courses in areas like Visual Arts, Gastronomy, Fashion, Design, Multimedia, Music, and Cultural Heritage. Targeted at youth aged 18-29 in vulnerable situations for productive inclusion, with 103,000+ course enrollments and 32,000+ certificates issued.
• Aprendiz Legal Program focused on youth professional preparation and insertion into the labor market, based on the Learning Law (Lei da Aprendizagem). More than 115,000 youth have benefited from the program, entering the formal labor market.
• SEJA Free online preparatory course for Encceja exam (national certification exam), using Google Classroom with certified teachers from Escola FRM, targeting students seeking to obtain fundamental or secondary education certification.
• Escola Fundação Roberto Marinho School offering formal Basic Education for students seeking to continue their educational journey, with formal certification and structured curriculum.
• Museu do Amanhã Science museum in Rio de Janeiro operated by FRM, focused on sustainability and future possibilities. Reached 5 million visitors in its first 6 years of operation.
• Crescer Sem Violência Audiovisual series project addressing violence prevention against children and adolescents, comprising three series ('Que Exploração É Essa?', 'Que Abuso É Isso?', 'Que Corpo É Essa?') produced in partnership with Childhood Brasil and UNICEF.
• A Cor da Cultura Project focusing on history, debate and valorization of black culture, promoting cultural appreciation, anti-racist education, and resources for schools.
• Energia que Transforma Educational project developed with Eletrobras/Procel integrating energy and energy efficiency themes into school curriculum, with audiovisual series, podcasts, games, and pedagogical materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37M+ viewers reached by Futura content in 2020, with 63% of parents rating it 9-10 for educational contribution
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• SESI-SPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSESI-SP (Serviço Social da Indústria de São Paulo) partners with FRM on professional education, social development, and industry competitiveness. Joint projects include audiovisual content and teacher training programs that extend beyond São Paulo state.
• SESI Nacional / SENAI NacionalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national departments of SESI and SENAI are founding strategic partners of Canal Futura. Together they work on improving basic education, professional education, youth inclusion, EJA, and teacher training. They have co-produced series such as Destino: Educação, Turma da Robótica, and Futura Profissão.
• GlobocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobo is a key media partner, co-producing content with FRM for Canal Futura, co-organizing the Festival LED and Desafio LED, and sharing programming across its TV and digital platforms. Joint initiatives include the Movimento LED (Luz na Educação) campaign for educational valorization.
• Fundação BradescocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundação Bradesco is a founding partner of Canal Futura, collaborating on basic education, EJA, and teacher training. Joint productions include the series 'Futura Responde,' where their school teachers ask education consultants for guidance.
• Fundação ItaúcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundação Itaú supports Futura programming through projects such as Itaú Social UNICEF, Olympic of Portuguese Language, and Melhoria da Educação. Joint audiovisual and mobilization projects include Trajetórias Escolares, E Aí Professor?, and podcast Chão de Escola. Also partner in co.liga.
• Organização dos Estados Ibero-Americanos (OEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOEI Brazil is the institutional partner behind co.liga, a free digital school of creative economy developed in partnership with FRM. OEI contributes to educational policy alignment across Ibero-American countries and supports the program's international expansion.
• CIEDSsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCIEDS (Centro Integrado de Estudos e Programas de Desenvolvimento Sustentável) is a capacitating institution partner for the Aprendiz Legal program, enabling theoretical training of apprentices in classroom or virtual environments.
• GerarsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGerar is a capacitating institution partner for the Aprendiz Legal program, providing theoretical training for apprentices in classroom or virtual settings.
• EletrobrassupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEletrobras (through Procel) partnered with FRM on the 'Energia que Transforma' project, integrating energy and energy efficiency topics into school curricula. Produced series such as Vida de República, Tá Ligado, and Consciente Coletivo, broadcast on Canal Futura.
• CIEE - MGsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCIEE Minas Gerais (Centro de Integração Empresa-Escola) is a capacitating institution partner for Aprendiz Legal, enabling theoretical training of apprentices in the state of Minas Gerais.
• Fundação Maria Cecília Souto VidigalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with FRM on the 'Primeiros Anos' (First Years) series broadcast on Canal Futura, addressing early childhood development and parental role in building children's values. Also collaborated on early childhood violence prevention content.
• CIEE - RSsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCIEE Rio Grande do Sul is a capacitating institution partner for Aprendiz Legal, providing theoretical training for apprentices in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
• ValesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVale was a founding partner of Canal Futura until 2013. Within the Crescer sem Violência project (with Childhood Brasil and UNICEF), Vale sponsored the series 'Que Abuso É Isso?' and enabled professional training for child protection networks in SP, MG, and MT. Also supported 'Tecendo o Saber' adult education program.
• FacebooksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFacebook provided support for the second season of the animation series 'Que Corpo É Esse?' within the Crescer sem Violência project, focusing on online prevention for children and adolescents.
• GooglesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle supported the second season of 'Que Corpo É Esse?' animation series (Crescer sem Violência project). Additionally, FRM and Google partnered to make 9,000+ educational content pieces available for download via Google for Education, and trained 200 teachers from state networks in RS, ES, AL, PB, and CE.
• InstagramsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerInstagram supported the second season of the animation series 'Que Corpo É Esse?' (Crescer sem Violência project) focusing on online safety and prevention for children and adolescents.
• The Freedom FundsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Freedom Fund supported the second season of 'Que Corpo É Esse?' animation series within the Crescer sem Violência project, addressing online child safety and prevention.
• Childhood BrasilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildhood Brasil is a founding partner of the Crescer sem Violência project alongside FRM and UNICEF, producing three audiovisual series ('Que Exploração É Essa?', 'Que Abuso É Isso?', 'Que Corpo É Essa?') for the prevention of violence against children and adolescents.
• Organização Internacional do Trabalho (OIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOIT is a key alliance partner in the initiative to generate 1 million opportunities for youth across four pillars: access to quality education, digital inclusion, youth entrepreneurship, and access to the labor market. FRM, UNICEF, companies, and OIT jointly work on this ambitious goal.
• Ministério do Trabalho e EmpregocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTE maintains the CNAP (Cadastro Nacional de Aprendizagem Profissional) and is an institutional partner for Aprendiz Legal, the main apprenticeship program operated by FRM. The ministry oversees the regulatory framework for professional learning in Brazil.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF is a central international partner for FRM, collaborating on Crescer sem Violência (child protection), co.liga (youth inclusion), Decola Cria (NEET reduction), and the million-opportunity alliance. UNICEF Brazil's office actively co-designs and co-implements youth-focused programs.
• Secretaria Nacional de JuventudesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Youth Secretariat (SNJ) is a government partner working with FRM on youth policies, particularly in the context of Aprendiz Legal. SNJ develops and executes National Youth Policies linked to the Presidency of Brazil.
• SENAI-SPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSENAI-SP (Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial de São Paulo) has a mission to boost industry competitiveness through professional education, innovation, and technology. FRM and SENAI-SP jointly produce educational content (including an AI course for education and industry) and have co-produced series on professional education topics.
• CIEE - PEsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCIEE Pernambuco is a capacitating institution partner for Aprendiz Legal, enabling theoretical training of apprentices in the state of Pernambuco.
• Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAPESP partners with FRM on 'Ciência para Todos,' a science communication series and interview program broadcast on Canal Futura, highlighting Brazilian scientific research and researchers.
• Instituto Brasileiro de Desenvolvimento e Sustentabilidade (IABS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIABS partnered with FRM for the production and distribution of audiovisual content via Canal Futura on rural development and agricultural technologies, under the Rural Sustentável Cerrado project.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BBC (BBC Media Action / BBC Learning): UK public broadcaster with a long-standing educational programming arm. Canal Futura is conceptually similar to BBC Learning as an educational TV channel with associated digital content and outreach, though BBC operates at significantly larger scale.
• Sesame Workshop: US non-profit producing educational media for children, including TV programming and digital resources. Comparable to Canal Futura's mission of leveraging broadcast media to deliver educational content, though focused on early childhood rather than youth/adult education.
• Discovery Education: Global provider of digital educational content and resources for K-12, with strong media heritage. Comparable to Canal Futura + Telecurso as an educational media company producing curriculum-aligned content at scale, though operates commercially rather than as a non-profit.
• SESI / SENAI: Brazil's nationwide industrial social service and professional training network. Co-founding strategic partners of Canal Futura; SENAI in particular delivers professional and technical education at a much larger scale, making it a broader incumbent in vocational education.
• UNICEF Brazil: Multilateral UN agency for children's welfare and education, a key partner of FRM. Comparable as a large-scale international education and child protection organization that co-designs programs and brings funding — but operates globally rather than regionally.

Regional players

• Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz): Brazilian public foundation for health sciences and education. Comparable as a major Brazilian institution combining educational programming, research, and cultural outreach (including a science museum), though focused on health rather than general education.

Direct peers

• Fundação Lemann: Brazilian non-profit focused on education quality and leadership development. Operates in adjacent spaces (basic education, teacher training, public policy) and pursues a comparable nonprofit impact model with corporate and multilateral funding.
• Fundação Bradesco: Brazilian private non-profit foundation offering free basic and vocational education across its own school network. It is a founding partner of Canal Futura and operates in the same nonprofit education ecosystem with comparable curriculum, teacher training, and digital learning programs.
• Fundação Itaú Social: Brazilian corporate foundation focused on education and social development, partnering with FRM on Canal Futura content and co.liga. It runs comparable programs in basic education, EJA, and youth inclusion with similar funding and partnership models.

Emerging players

• Khan Academy: Global non-profit providing free digital education across subjects. Comparable to co.liga and Telecurso as a free, self-serve digital learning platform with strong content library — though Khan Academy operates at global scale and English-first content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/canalfutura
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/canalfutura
• Facebookfacebook.com/canalfuturaoficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/canal_futura
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fundacao-roberto-marinho

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fundação Roberto Marinho