ISES | Instituto de Socioeconomia Solidária

What ISES | Instituto de Socioeconomia Solidária does

Mandū Inovação Social is a Brazilian social innovation consultancy founded in 2006 (rebranded from ISES in 2019) that designs and implements community development, ESG, and public policy programs for corporate, government, foundation, and community clients. The company is headquartered in São Paulo, maintains offices across multiple Brazilian states (Aracruz, Itapecuru Mirim, Urbano Santos, Santa Inês) and internationally in Maputo (Mozambique) and Paris (France), and reaches 19 Brazilian states with a reported footprint of 12M+ people supported, 200+ business incubation/acceleration initiatives, and 100+ projects implemented. Headcount stood at approximately 120 employees and consultants in 2023, reflecting 20% year-over-year growth.

The company's offerings combine consulting services with proprietary technology platforms and on-the-ground programs. Core technology assets include Amanda IA, an AI-based knowledge retrieval and process automation assistant for community-facing use; Rede Empreender, a relationship platform for community entrepreneurs with product stores, fundraising, and professionalization modules; Academia Mandū, a corporate university platform for field-team training built in partnership with IK4T; and the Sabor Fino mobile application for oyster-cultivation water-quality monitoring. Flagship programs include Reciclo (selective waste collection with Vale in Espírito Santo), Programa Quebradeiras (babassu coconut breakers in Maranhão with Vale), Néctar do Futuro (beekeeping with Gerdau in Minas Gerais), Coletivo Florestar (family agriculture with Hydro in Pará), and Rede Mulheres do Maranhão (women's entrepreneurship).

Mandū monetizes primarily through project-based professional services and long-term partnerships, serving three primary buyer segments: private companies seeking ESG and private social investment programs (Vale, Mosaic, Hydro, Gerdau, Natura), foundations and NGOs acting as implementation partners (Fundação Vale, Instituto Votorantim, Fundação Cargill, Fundação Renova), and government entities requiring public policy implementation support. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; fees are negotiated per project based on scope, duration, and complexity. The go-to-market is sales-led, driven by client retention and new partnerships established through demonstrated outcomes and industry recognition, with supporting thought-leadership channels including a blog, YouTube (Construindo Histórias program), newsletter (20k+ subscribers), and industry events such as DGPIS. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and no external funding rounds have been reported.

Name

ISES | Instituto de Socioeconomia Solidária

Legal name

ISES | Instituto de Socioeconomia Solidária

Website

https://mandusocial.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Mandū Inovação Social is a Brazilian social innovation consultancy founded in 2006 that designs and implements ESG, community development, and public policy programs for corporate, government, and foundation clients, serving vulnerable communities, cooperatives, and large enterprises such as Vale, Mosaic, Hydro, and Gerdau.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Innovation Consulting

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAGAA

Community Development & Social Impact Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Service Learning, Volunteering & Gap Year Programs

SECONDARYBPADAOAJ

Impact Investment & Social Finance Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Donor Coordination, Grantmaking & Development Finance Programs

SECONDARYEDAMAHAK

Social Entrepreneurship & Impact Business

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Entrepreneurship & Business Enrichment

Keywords

• Social innovation consulting
• Community development programs
• ESG consulting services
• Private social investment
• Public policy implementation

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Social Innovation Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for designing and implementing social development programs, ESG strategies, community development, and public policies. Services are provided to private companies, governments, and NGOs under project-based or long-term partnership arrangements.
2. Investment Social Privado/ESG Consulting: Consulting services helping companies manage their operations and promote positive social and environmental impact, aligned with ESG practices and private social investment methodologies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mandū Inovação Social is a social innovation consultancy that designs and implements community development programs, private social investment/ESG strategies, and public policy solutions for private companies, governments, and communities. The company combines social innovation methodology with proprietary technology tools (including the Amanda IA platform) to bridge communities, companies, and governments in generating income, social-environmental impact, and stronger local economies.

Product overview

Mandū Inovação Social (formerly ISES) operates as a social innovation consultancy offering a portfolio of programs and platforms centered on community development, ESG practices, and public policies. The core offerings include Amanda IA (their proprietary AI platform for community knowledge access), Academia Mandu (corporate university for team development), and Rede Empreender (networking platform for community entrepreneurs). These are complemented by specific programs including Reciclo (selective collection), Programa Quebradeiras (poverty alleviation), Néctar do Futuro (sustainable beekeeping), Rede Mulheres do Maranhão (women's entrepreneurship), and Coobec (cashew processing cooperative). The company provides integrated solutions connecting communities, companies, and governments to strengthen local economies through social innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Amanda IA: AI assistant developed by Mandū based on years of social technology experience. Created to bring technological solutions to communities and promote local development and biome/forest protection.
• Rede Empreender

Products and services

• Amanda IA

Quantifiable outcome

• 12+ million people supported across programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• ValecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Long-term partnership for social investment programs including Reciclo (selective collection), Rede Empreender (entrepreneur network), and various community development initiatives. Mandū serves as implementation partner for Vale's social programs focused on income generation and community strengthening.
• Instituto MosaiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for social development programs and community development initiatives, working together on projects targeting agricultural communities and sustainable practices.
• HydrocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for community development and environmental programs including Coletivo Florestar project in Pará, implementing sustainable agricultural techniques for family farmers affected by minerdoto operations.
• GerdaucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for the Néctar do Futuro project accelerating economic and social development in forest areas through beekeeping associations in Minas Gerais.
• Fundação RenovamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for remediation and compensation programs related to the Samarco dam collapse, implementing community development and environmental restoration initiatives.
• NaturamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023New partnership established in 2023 for social and environmental programs aligned with Natura's sustainability and community engagement objectives.
• Fundação CargillmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for the Maratona Farinha de Babaçu event promoting innovation in the babassu palm chain and strengthening communities of babassu coconut breakers.
• ImazonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023New partnership established in 2023 for environmental and forest preservation programs.
• TNC (The Nature Conservancy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023New partnership established in 2023 for conservation and sustainable development initiatives.
• IK4T (Instituto de Conhecimento para Todos)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Educational partnership for the Academia Mandu corporate university platform, focusing on training field teams and replicating production methodologies from projects.
• PMI-DF (Project Management Institute - Distrito Federal)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for organizing the 3rd DGPIS (Dia de Gestão de Projetos de Impacto Social), promoting knowledge exchange and networking in social project management.
• Cuca da OnçaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Video production partnership for developing content for Mandū's YouTube channel, including the Construindo Histórias program documenting transformation stories of beneficiaries.
• Coobec (Cooperativa de Beneficiadores de Castanha de Carrilho)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Cooperative of cashew processors in Sergipe, incubated by ISES/Mandū since 2013. The support transformed informal production into industrial operation with federal inspection seal, now supplying major retailers including Pão de Açúcar.
• CHARIS - Associação de Solidariedade Social (Moçambique)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Cooperation agreement signed in 2018 for implementing Local Productive Arrangements for Solid Waste Management in Maputo, transferring ISES Brazil experience in selective collection and agroecology.
• IPERMO (Instituto de Permacultura de Moçambique)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership with German organization Pão pro Mundo and Mandū for food security, sustainable production practices, and agricultural education in Mozambique.
• Fundação Telefônica / Qualcomm Wireless ReachmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partners in the Pescando com Redes 3G project for generating income alternatives for fishing communities in Bahia, including the Sabor Fino oyster production business and technology application development.
• Instituto VotorantimcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Long-term partnership through the ReDes program (with BNDES) for local development and income generation, present in 29 locations with 55 projects. ISES/Mandū applies specialized knowledge as implementation consultant.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka: Global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs (Ashoka Fellows) with funding and ecosystem connections. Comparable as a global social entrepreneurship support platform, but operates as a much larger incumbent.
• Acumen: Global impact investor and social enterprise builder focused on poverty solutions. Comparable as a global impact organization that combines capital with advisory services for social enterprises, broader in geographic scope.
• Palladium: Global consulting firm implementing international development and impact programs for governments, multilaterals, and corporates. Comparable in the design and execution of community development programs, but operates at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• BrazilFoundation: US-based foundation mobilizing resources for Brazilian civil society, supporting community-led social development. Comparable as a bridge organization connecting corporate donors to grassroots social projects in Brazil.
• Artemisia: Brazilian organization dedicated to supporting social businesses through incubation, acceleration, and impact investment. Closely comparable mission of nurturing community-based social enterprises and connecting them to private-sector capital.
• Instituto Unibanco: Brazilian institute that designs and implements public policy and social programs with corporate and government backing. Comparable as a Brazilian social innovation institute operating program implementation at scale.
• Sitawi Finanças da Mobilização Social: Brazilian social finance/impact organization providing financial solutions and advisory to social businesses, NGOs, and impact investors. Directly comparable as a Brazilian impact ecosystem builder operating between capital, communities, and purpose-driven enterprises.
• Pipe.Social: Brazilian impact business ecosystem that connects social entrepreneurs, investors, and large companies. Comparable as a marketplace/platform layer for community-based social businesses in Brazil.

Emerging players

• Vox Capital: Brazilian pioneer impact venture firm investing in and supporting social impact businesses at the base of the pyramid. Comparable as a Brazilian impact ecosystem actor, though operating primarily as an investor rather than implementation consultancy.
• Yunus Social Business: International organization promoting social business models and incubating ventures addressing poverty in emerging markets. Comparable as a social business intermediary, but focused more on venture incubation than program implementation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@manduinovacaosocial
• Facebookfacebook.com/mandusocial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manduinovacaosocial
• Instagraminstagram.com/mandusocial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 ISES | Instituto de Socioeconomia Solidária