Sumarse

What Sumarse does

Sumarse (Asociación Sumarse) is a Panamanian non-profit association founded in 2009 and headquartered in Panama City. It operates as the Panama chapter of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and as the UN Global Compact Network in Panama, serving as the country's principal convener for corporate social responsibility and sustainability practice. The organization functions as a membership-based professional association rather than a technology company; its core 'product' is access to a curated network of 240+ member organizations across banking, energy, retail, beverages, telecommunications, aviation, NGOs, guilds, and universities, combined with sustainability training, resources, and event programming.

Its portfolio comprises tiered corporate memberships (Benefactor, Oro/Plata/Bronce calibrated to company size), institutional memberships (ONG, Gremios, Universidades), the annual Semana de la RSE event (running 15 editions), the Sumarse Academy, the Diplomado en Liderazgo Sostenible para el Desarrollo delivered with Universidad Del Istmo, free sustainability guides and resource libraries, and proprietary research publications such as El Pulso de la Sostenibilidad en Panamá. Underlying delivery is built on in-person convening, digital resource portals, and an annual program structured around six pillars (Sensibilizarse, Capacitarse, Conectarse, Expandirse, Aliarse, Comunicarse). No proprietary technology platform is disclosed.

The business model is subscription-recurring membership fees supplemented by training and program revenue. Sales motion is direct: tiered membership categories are sold to enterprises and institutions, with tier assignment based on employee count and member type. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The 11-person staff and 240+ member base, combined with a network of alliances (WBCSD, INTEGRARSE, CGI, ARISE, UNDP, UN Women, UNICEF, OECD), position Sumarse as a high-trust, low-headcount membership association whose value scales with member participation rather than headcount or capital deployment.

Name

Sumarse

Legal name

Sumarse

Website

https://sumarse.org.pa

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sumarse is a Panama-based non-profit association that serves as the local chapter of WBCSD and the UN Global Compact Network, providing membership, training, and sustainability resources to 240+ Panamanian companies, NGOs, guilds, and universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Panama City

HQ country

Panama

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from corporate members (Benefactor, Oro, Plata, Bronce tiers) and institutional members (ONG, Gremios, Universidades). Organization has tiered membership based on company size and type.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sumarse is a non-profit membership association and the Panama chapter of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) that helps organizations in Panama implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability practices. It offers tiered membership programs for companies, NGOs, guilds, and universities, combined with training (Sumarse Academy, Diplomado en Liderazgo Sostenible), annual events (Semana de la RSE), resource libraries of practical guides, and member networking services.

Product overview

Sumarse is a non-profit organization (the Panamanian chapter of UN Global Compact) that functions as a membership-based professional association rather than a technology company. The organization does not offer a unified software product or platform, but rather provides a portfolio of membership tiers (Benefactor, Gold, Silver, Bronze, plus NGO, Guild, and University categories), educational programs (Sumarse Academy), event programming (Semana de la RSE), and resource libraries (guides, sustainability reports, and research publications). These offerings are designed to help Panamanian organizations develop and implement corporate social responsibility and sustainability strategies through knowledge sharing, networking, and capacity building. The organization is structured around the Oferta de Valor (Value Offer) framework comprising six pillars: awareness, training, connection, expansion, alliances, and communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sumarse Membership Program Tiered annual membership association for organizations in Panama, including corporate tiers (Benefactor for companies with extensive CSR trajectory; Oro for companies with 250+ employees; Plata for companies with under 250 collaborators; Bronce for PYMES with fewer than 50 team members) and institutional categories for ONGs, Gremios (guilds/associations), Universidades, and Medios de Comunicacion. Members gain access to Sumarse's resources, training, events, and a network of 240+ organizations.
• Sumarse Academy Educational platform offering training content and programs to help member organizations implement corporate social responsibility and sustainability strategies, including the Diplomado en Liderazgo Sostenible para el Desarrollo co-developed with Universidad Del Istmo.
• Semana de la RSE (Annual CSR Week) Annual flagship event program that convenes member companies and stakeholders to share knowledge and best practices in corporate social responsibility, with annual memory reports documenting the event.
• Memorias de Sostenibilidad (Sustainability Reports) Annual sustainability reports (Memoria de Sostenibilidad and Memoria Semana RSE) documenting Sumarse's management, activities, and impact from 2014 through 2022, available for download in PDF format.
• Guías y Recursos (Guides and Resources Library) Collection of practical guides covering topics including sustainability, inclusion, gender equality, human rights, climate change, and responsible communication, available for free download by members and the public.
• Otros Recursos (Additional Resources) Additional educational resources including studies, frameworks, and external publications on topics such as the Sustainable Development Goals, gender, climate change, food security, youth development, and business continuity.
• Member Networking Service Practice of facilitating direct contact among member companies, organizations, entrepreneurs, and professionals to generate business opportunities and knowledge sharing within the Sumarse membership community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 years of Semana de la RSE celebrating responsible business
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers27 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

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal organization led by 200+ CEOs working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. Sumarse is the Panama chapter of WBCSD, representing the organization in the country and connecting local businesses to the global sustainability network.
• INTEGRARSE (Integracion Centroamericana por la RSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of organizations promoting CSR and Sustainability in Central America and the Caribbean. Seeks to promote a permanent culture of corporate social responsibility in the regional business community.
• CGI (Climate Governance Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization empowering CEOs and board directors globally to take climate action. Active in more than 70 countries worldwide.
• ARISE (Alianza del Sector Privado para Sociedades Resilientes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational private sector network for disaster risk reduction, led by UNDRR. Focuses on prevention, reduction, and mitigation of disasters.
• Cooperacion EspañolaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish Cooperation Agency working on development projects in Latin America.
• KAS (Konrad Adenauer Stiftung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman political foundation promoting democracy and political reform.
• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN development agency working on sustainable development globally.
• UN WomenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN entity dedicated to gender equality and women's empowerment.
• UNICEFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Children's Fund working for children's rights and welfare.
• Netherlands and YouminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch government representation promoting Netherlands-Panama relations.
• OECDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development promoting policies for sustainable development.
• KPMG PanamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm providing sustainability and ESG advisory.
• Universidad Del IstmominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in education and training, co-developing the Diplomado en Liderazgo Sostenible para el Desarrollo.
• TVN MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Panamanian media network supporting sustainability communication.
• Camara de Comercio de PanamaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPanamanian Chamber of Commerce representing business interests.
• Canal de PanamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanama Canal Authority, key Panamanian institution.
• Cerveceria NacionalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational brewery, part of Heineken Panama, supporting sustainability initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): International standards organization for sustainability reporting used by Sumarse's member companies. Comparable as a provider of the frameworks and training content that Sumarse distributes locally to its Panamanian members.

Emerging players

• United Way Panama: Panamanian non-profit focused on community impact and corporate social investment, listed as a Sumarse member. Comparable as a local NGO in the same Panamanian ecosystem that competes for corporate CSR/ESG budgets and partners with multinationals on community programs.

Direct peers

• CECODES (Consejo Empresarial Colombiano para el Desarrollo Sostenible): Colombian WBCSD partner network promoting sustainable business. Comparable as a country-level CSR membership association serving leading national corporates with training, events, and policy engagement, similar in structure to Sumarse's Panama operations.
• Instituto Ethos: Brazilian non-profit membership organization promoting corporate social responsibility and sustainable business among large enterprises. Directly comparable as a national CSR membership association offering member services, indicators, and networking for Latin American corporates.
• INTEGRARSE (Integracion Centroamericana por la RSE): Regional Central American alliance of CSR/sustainability membership organizations of which Sumarse is a member. Directly comparable as a peer association promoting CSR standards, training, and member networking across Central America and the Caribbean.
• Perú 2021: Peruvian non-profit business alliance promoting CSR and sustainable development with member companies. Directly comparable as a regional Latin American CSR membership organization with similar member-tier structure and WBCSD affiliation.

Broad incumbents

• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Global nonprofit business network and consultancy working with member companies on sustainability strategy. Comparable as a larger-scale membership and advisory organization providing CSR consulting, training, and convening that overlaps with Sumarse's service mix.
• CSR Europe: European business network for corporate sustainability with member companies and national partner organizations. Comparable as a more mature, larger-scale membership association in the CSR/sustainability space that Sumarse's model mirrors.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD): Global parent organization of which Sumarse is the Panama chapter. Comparable as the umbrella network providing frameworks, CEO convening, and policy advocacy that Sumarse channels locally to its 240+ members.
• Forum Empresa: Latin American network of CSR business organizations. Comparable as a higher-level umbrella network that convenes national CSR associations (similar to Sumarse) for regional knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sumarse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Sumarse