AMAZ

What AMAZ does

AMAZ (Aceleradora e investidora de negócios de impacto da Amazônia) is the largest impact business accelerator in northern Brazil, coordinated by Idesam (Instituto de Conservação e Desenvolvimento Sustentável da Amazônia) and headquartered in Manaus, Amazonas. Founded in 2021 as a formalization of Idesam's acceleration work that began in 2018, the organization runs an annual open Call for Business (Chamada de Negócios) that selects early-stage entrepreneurs operating in the Amazon biome, then provides customized acceleration, mentorship, impact measurement support, and direct investment through a R$25 million blended finance fund, the first fund exclusively focused on Amazon impact businesses. Its portfolio of 16 active businesses spans sectors including superfoods (Mahta, Mazô Maná, Tribo Superfoods), sustainable cosmetics (Ekilibre, MOMA), tourism (Vivalá, Navegam), indigenous artisan marketplaces (Tucum), financial technology (ForestiFi, Impact Finance/Fundo Tucum), sustainable ingredients (Manioca, INOCAS macaúba oil), and agroforestry (AmidoMato, Floresta S/A). Together, the portfolio influences approximately 6.4 million hectares of Amazon territory and benefits more than 1,959 families.

The organization's business model is non-profit and grant-supported, with capital deployed through blended finance instruments (grant, quasi-equity, equity, results-based payments) rather than fee-for-service. Investment tickets range from R$400,000 to R$600,000 per selected business, and the program is provided at no cost to the entrepreneur. Founding financial partners include Fundo Vale, Instituto Clima e Sociedade (ICS), Good Energies Foundation/Porticus, Fundo JBS pela Amazônia, and Plataforma Parceiros pela Amazônia (PPA), with Instituto Humanize providing strategic leadership. Co-investment partners include Grão Venture Capital, RG Futures, Abun\u00e3, and corporate off-takers such as Ajinomoto and Griffith Foods. Go-to-market is community- and event-driven: annual open Calls, FIINSA, Impacta Mais, Amazon Climate Week, COP 30, and a network of partners including Impact Hub Manaus, Endeavor, Singulari Consultoria, and Mercado Livre. The organization has announced it will not run a new Business Call in 2025 and will instead consolidate its existing portfolio over the next five years following the completion of its first fund cycle.

AMAZ completed the cycle of its first investment fund in 2026 and faces a critical leadership transition following the death of CEO and Idesam founder Mariano Cenamo on July 10, 2026, with Gabriela Souza assuming leadership. The organization has cumulative metrics of approximately 500 startups evaluated, 52 accelerated, and 29 invested since 2018. Recent flagship outcomes include Manioca's 35% sales growth after rebranding tucupi as "Amazonian Shoyu," the first-ever açaí tokenization (R$200,000, 8,000 tokens) by Tribo Superfoods and ForestiFi in Igarapé-Miri (Pará), and AmidoMato's R$2 million seed round with a first major supply contract from multinational Griffith Foods.

Name

AMAZ

Legal name

AMAZ - Aceleradora e investidora de negócios de impacto da Amazônia

Website

https://amaz.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AMAZ is a Manaus-based nonprofit accelerator and investor, coordinated by Idesam, that selects and funds early-stage impact businesses operating in the Amazon biome through annual Calls and a R$25 million blended finance fund, currently managing 16 active portfolio companies across food, cosmetics, tourism, fintech, and indigenous crafts with projects ranging from R$400,000 to R$600,000 per selected business.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Impact Business Accelerator and Investor Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Leadership, Management & Teamwork for Business (EDAMAHAI)

Keywords

• Impact business acceleration
• Blended finance fund
• Amazon socio-biodiversity investment
• Forest conservation entrepreneurship
• Nonprofit impact accelerator

Headquarters

HQ city

Manaus

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Blended Finance Fund Investment Returns: AMAZ operates a R$25 million blended finance fund (first exclusively focused on Amazon impact businesses) to invest in accelerated businesses. Returns accrue to the fund and its investors through equity-like instruments, results-based payments, and revenue-sharing arrangements embedded in blended finance structures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AMAZ is a nonprofit impact business accelerator that selects early-stage socio-biodiversity businesses operating in the Amazon region through annual open Calls (Chamadas de Negócios) and provides them with a customized acceleration program, mentorship, strategic connections, and investment tickets of up to R$400,000-R$600,000 per business. It deploys a R$25 million blended finance fund, the first exclusively focused on Amazon impact businesses, with capital structured as a mix of grants, quasi-equity, and equity. AMAZ also delivers ongoing portfolio management, impact measurement support, and market access for 16 active portfolio companies spanning food, cosmetics, tourism, indigenous crafts, fintech, and sustainable ingredients.

Product overview

AMAZ is the largest impact business accelerator and investor in northern Brazil, coordinated by Idesam. It is not a software product company but rather an accelerator program that provides acceleration services, hybrid financing (blended finance fund of R$25 million), mentorship, and strategic connections to early-stage impact businesses in the Amazon region. Its portfolio includes 16 active businesses spanning food/supplements, cosmetics, tourism, indigenous crafts marketplaces, financial technology, sustainable ingredients, and agroforestry sectors. The acceleration program is customized for each business in the portfolio, with annual business calls selecting entrepreneurs for pre-acceleration and full program participation with investments ranging from R$400,000 to R$600,000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AMAZ Acceleration Program Customized acceleration program providing mentorship, strategic connections, capacity building, and ongoing portfolio management tailored to each impact business's stage and needs in the Amazon region.
• Blended Finance Investment Fund R$25 million blended finance fund providing investment tickets of up to R$400,000-R$600,000 per selected business, structured as a mix of grants, quasi-equity, and equity. The first fund exclusively focused on impact businesses in the Amazon region.
• Business Calls (Chamada de Negócios) Annual open calls for business applications to the AMAZ acceleration program. From 2021-2024, calls received between 96-156 applications annually, with 10-12 selected for pre-acceleration and up to 6 entering the full program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 52 businesses accelerated and 29 invested since inception; 16 currently active in portfolio
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Idesam (Instituto de Conservação e Desenvolvimento Sustentável da Amazônia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIdesam is the coordinating organization behind AMAZ, providing institutional oversight, strategic direction, and operational infrastructure. Founded over 20 years ago, Idesam has been at the forefront of Amazon conservation, bioeconomy development, and sustainable business support. AMAZ was created under Idesam's leadership to centralize and scale impact business acceleration in the region.
• Instituto HumanizecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Humanize is a founding strategic partner contributing expertise in social organization development and OSC (civil society organization) strengthening. Michele Rocha, its Operations and CSO Development Manager, chairs the AMAZ Management Board.
• Plataforma Parceiros pela Amazônia (PPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPPA is a founding strategic partner of AMAZ, contributing to the coordination of the Amazon ecosystem and the blended finance fund. PPA participates in AMAZ events and is a partner in Amazon Climate Week and other regional initiatives.
• Climate VenturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClimate Ventures is listed as a partner of AMAZ, contributing to the ecosystem of climate and impact-focused organizations in Brazil.
• ConexsusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConexsus is a partner organization supporting Amazon impact businesses with market access and financial structuring, listed among AMAZ's partner organizations.
• Darwin StartupsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDarwin Startups is listed as a partner contributing to the startup ecosystem surrounding AMAZ's acceleration activities.
• FutureBrandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFutureBrand is a partner contributing brand strategy and communications expertise to AMAZ and its portfolio companies.
• Fundação Rede AmazônicaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundação Rede Amazônica is a partner aligned with AMAZ's mission to strengthen the Amazon region through media, culture, and sustainable development.
• Grupo Rede AmazônicaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrupo Rede Amazônica, a regional media group, is a partner supporting coverage and visibility for AMAZ and Amazon impact businesses.
• ICE (Instituto de Pesquisas em Sustentabilidade)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICE is listed as a partner contributing research and sustainability expertise to the AMAZ ecosystem.
• Impact Hub ManauscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpact Hub Manaus is a key co-organizer of FIINSA (Festival de Investimento de Impacto e Negócios Sustentáveis na Amazônia) together with Idesam. Contributes co-working, event infrastructure, and entrepreneurial community access.
• Mercado Livre (Produtos Sustentáveis)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMercado Livre's sustainable products initiative is a partner providing an e-commerce marketplace channel for Amazon-impact businesses to reach consumers.
• MoveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMove is listed as a partner contributing social impact and community engagement expertise to the AMAZ ecosystem.
• ProsasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProsas is a partner platform for cultural and creative economy projects, listed among AMAZ's partner organizations supporting the impact ecosystem.
• FIINSA (Festival de Investimento de Impacto e Negócios Sustentáveis na Amazônia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIINSA is a major annual festival/conference coordinated by Idesam and Impact Hub Manaus with active AMAZ participation. Its 4th edition takes place November 3-5 in Manaus. It brings together investors, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders to advance Amazon bioeconomy financing.
• Singulari ConsultoriaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSingulari Consultoria partnered with AMAZ to deliver a strategic AI adoption workshop for portfolio companies, addressing digital transformation, data security, and sovereignty in the Amazon context.
• EndeavorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndeavor partnered with Idesam for an exclusive immersion with executives and investors in Manaus and Novo Airão, four months after COP 30. The initiative connected Endeavor's global network of high-impact entrepreneurs to Amazon bioeconomy businesses.
• Griffith FoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGriffith Foods, a multinational food ingredients company, is AmidoMato's first major supply contract partner, providing off-take commitment and market access for babassu flour derivatives.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Village Capital: Global impact-focused accelerator that runs peer-selected investment-readiness programs for early-stage impact startups. Comparable to AMAZ as an impact accelerator using cohort-based models and connecting entrepreneurs to capital, though with a broader geographic footprint.
• Conexsus: Brazilian impact ecosystem organization supporting businesses with market access and financial structuring, particularly in sustainable supply chains. Listed as an AMAZ partner and operates a comparable model of convening entrepreneurs, capital providers, and impact buyers in Brazil.
• Vox Capital: Brazilian early-stage venture capital firm investing in businesses that address social and environmental challenges at the base of the pyramid. Directly comparable to AMAZ as a Brazil-focused impact investor with a blended-finance-like approach and similar portfolio thesis around socio-environmental outcomes.
• Acumen Latam Impact Ventures: Latin American impact investing fund backed by Acumen that deploys patient capital to early-stage businesses serving low-income communities. Highly comparable mission and structure to AMAZ, with similar ticket sizes, region focus (Latin America), and emphasis on blended outcomes.
• Sitawi Finanças para o Bem: Brazilian impact finance organization that structures blended finance, manages impact funds, and supports social enterprises with capital and advisory. Operates in the same Brazilian impact-investing ecosystem as AMAZ and is listed as one of AMAZ's partner organizations.

Broad incumbents

• Palladium Group: Global impact advisory firm that designs, manages, and executes impact-oriented programs and investment vehicles for governments, multilaterals, and corporates. Comparable to AMAZ as a convener of impact capital and ecosystem builder, though broader in scope and not Amazon-specific.
• Bridges Fund Management: UK-based specialist impact investment manager with multiple sustainable and transition strategies. Comparable to AMAZ as a mission-driven investment manager deploying patient capital to businesses with measurable impact outcomes, but operating at significantly larger scale and in different geographies.
• Triodos Investment Management: European sustainable investment manager with multiple impact funds across food, climate, and inclusive finance. Comparable to AMAZ as a mission-aligned investor targeting measurable environmental and social outcomes, but operating across multiple asset classes and geographies.
• Endeavor Brazil: Brazil's leading high-impact entrepreneurship support organization, working with a much broader set of entrepreneurs across industries and stages. Comparable to AMAZ in supporting founders and connecting them to investors, but operating as an established incumbent with a much wider scope than Amazon-dedicated impact acceleration.

Others

• The Nature Conservancy Brazil: Global conservation organization with major Brazil operations focused on forest protection, sustainable production landscapes, and Indigenous partnerships. Comparable to AMAZ through its shared mission of forest conservation and socio-biodiversity, though operates as an established international NGO rather than an accelerator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCd2i7RtvJd_C_qpAQF4Ejzg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amazaceleradora
• Instagraminstagram.com/amazaceleradora

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 AMAZ