PATOS

What PATOS does

PATOS is the first student-led open-source and free software community group at UFSCar (Universidade Federal de São Carlos) in São Carlos, Brazil, founded in July 2024. It serves students of UFSCar's Computer Engineering and Computer Science programs by delivering free, hands-on technical education on Linux, networking (HTTP, TCP/IP, DNS), cloud computing, cybersecurity, and hardware description (Verilog). The organization has no commercial products; all content — workshops, flash talks, CTFs, and blog posts — is free to enrolled students.

The core offerings are interconnected educational programs under a single community brand. "Aulões" are large-format workshops (Linux, Verilog, HTTP, Intro Cybersecurity, Cloud Init) taught by named student members including Vinícius Rodrigues, MarlonHenq, Luiz Otávio, Matheus Bessa, and Jonathan Silva. "Flash Talks" are short 5–15 minute presentations on adjacent technical topics. "POMBO" is a cybersecurity subgroup that runs CTFs and reverse-engineering, hardware-hacking, forensics, and cryptography sessions. A blog (patos.dev), an event calendar, podcast guest appearances (Cabeça de Lab, NerdCast), and a member-selection process ("Psel") hosted on GitHub round out the surface. Hands-on cloud labs run on Magalu Cloud (MGC) infrastructure donated via the partnership.

The revenue model is non-commercial: PATOS charges no fees, sells no products, and operates on in-kind support from Magalu Cloud plus voluntary member labor. The organization is affiliated with UFSCar but is not part of the university's formal academic structure, has no disclosed payroll, no external investors, and no parent entity. Within eight months of founding it had scaled to roughly seven core contributors, six themed workshops, one dedicated cybersecurity subgroup, and national podcast exposure — indicating rapid program buildout within a non-monetized community frame.

Name

PATOS

Legal name

PATOS

Website

https://patos.dev

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PATOS is the first student-run open-source and free software community group at UFSCar (Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil), offering free workshops, CTFs, flash talks, and mentorship preparation on Linux, networking, cloud, cybersecurity, and hardware to Computer Science and Engineering students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Open Source Technical Education

akta.pro primary industry

College & Program Discovery, Matching & Fit Tools (EDAFAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

DevOps, SRE & Platform Engineering (CI/CD, IaC, Containers) (EDABAFAC), Secure Software & DevOps Awareness (Secure Coding Basics) (EDABAGAN), Cloud & DevOps Training (Cloud, Containers, CI/CD, SRE) (BPAEANAG)

Keywords

• Open source education
• University tech community
• Cybersecurity workshops
• Cloud computing training
• Linux education

Headquarters

HQ city

São Carlos

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PATOS is a non-profit, student-run university community group at UFSCar that provides free technical education through hands-on workshops (Aulões), flash talks, and CTF challenges on topics including Linux, networking, Verilog hardware description, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. It also produces a blog and content calendar, participates in external podcasts, and mentors students applying to paid open source mentorship programs such as Google Summer of Code, Linux Foundation, and Outreachy.

Product overview

PATOS is the first open source and free software community group at UFSCar (Universidade Federal de São Carlos). It operates as a single unified educational platform offering multiple interconnected programs: Aulões (hands-on technical workshops), a Blog (educational content on open source and technology), Podcasts (member participation in external shows), a Calendar (scheduled tech talks), and Flash Talks (short presentations). The community also includes a cybersecurity subgroup called POMBO. The group focuses on peer learning, mentorship programs, and hosting practical workshops on topics including Linux, networking, cloud computing, hardware (Verilog), and cybersecurity. Membership is open through a selection process (Psel).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aulões (Workshops) Large-format, hands-on technical workshops for UFSCar students covering Linux, HTTP/networking, Verilog hardware description, cybersecurity, and cloud computing, conducted free of charge.
• Flash Talks Short 5-15 minute presentations delivered during PATOS events on focused technical topics such as Prompt Engineering, Xorg vs Wayland, and command injection vulnerabilities.
• POMBO (Cybersecurity Subgroup) Cybersecurity-focused sub-community within PATOS that conducts workshops and Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges covering reverse engineering, hardware hacking, forensics, cryptography, and classic web vulnerabilities.
• Psel (Processo Seletivo) Public selection process through which prospective new members apply and are admitted into the PATOS community, hosted on the patos-ufscar GitHub repository.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Magalu Cloud (MGC)coreTechnology or IntegrationMagalu Cloud provides cloud infrastructure resources (Object Storage, Virtual Machines) for PATOS educational workshops, allowing students hands-on cloud experience during Aulões and events.
• Google Summer of CodeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational mentorship program financing open source project contributions; provides guidance and application support for PATOS members interested in paid open source contributions (up to $3000 for Brazilian participants).
• Linux FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinux Foundation offers paid mentorship programs ($3600 for Brazilian participants) for learning to contribute to open source projects, with three cycles per year (March-May, June-August, September-November).
• OutreachyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational mentorship program for open source contributions offering $7000 for participants; has two cycles per year (January and August starts); PATOS provides guidance and preparation for members.
• Jovem NerdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPATOS members (Daniel Lombardi, Vinícius Rodrigues, Marlon Sanches) participated in Jovem Nerd's NerdCast podcast series (Nerd na Cloud), discussing open source and technology topics to reach a broader audience.
• Cabeça de LabminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPATOS members appeared on the Cabeça de Lab podcast discussing topics like 'Creating an Open Source Community' and 'Hackathon Magalu Cloud' to promote the group's activities.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Major League Hacking (MLH): Official student hackathon league that supports university hackathon communities worldwide. Comparable to PATOS in being a student developer community organizer with a tech education and hackathon/CTF focus.
• Google Developer Student Clubs: Google-sponsored university student clubs that run workshops, talks, and hackathons on developer technologies. Very similar structure to PATOS: university-based, student-led, free technical workshops.
• Hack Club: Student-run network of high school and university hackathon and coding clubs that host workshops and community events. Similar volunteer-run, free, workshop-based community model to PATOS.
• Grupy: Brazilian network of free, volunteer-run Python user groups that host workshops, talks, and meetups in cities across Brazil. Closely comparable to PATOS in being a free, community-driven tech education format run by volunteers.
• Python Brasil: Brazilian Python community association that organizes the annual Python Brasil conference and regional events. Comparable to PATOS as a volunteer-run open source education community in Brazil.
• PyLadies Brasil: Brazilian chapter of global PyLadies, organizing free Python workshops and mentorship for students. Similar model of free, community-led technical education and mentorship that PATOS follows.
• Kotlin Brasil: Brazilian community of Kotlin developers organizing talks, workshops, and meetups. Comparable to PATOS as a Brazilian tech community running free educational events for developers.

Broad incumbents

• Associação Brasileira de Software Livre (ABSL): Established Brazilian open source advocacy organization that promotes free software. PATOS addresses a similar open source education mission but at the university-club level rather than at a national policy level.

Others

• Magalu Cloud: Brazilian cloud provider and current PATOS infrastructure partner, providing Object Storage and VM resources for workshops. Relevant as a strategic partner and as a guide for the kind of sponsors PATOS targets.
• Jovem Nerd (NerdCast): Major Brazilian tech/entertainment media company whose NerdCast podcast has featured PATOS members. Acts as a media amplifier for the group and is a comparable Brazilian tech-media content producer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/patos-ufscar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/patos-pombo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 PATOS