What VAI Academy does

VAI Academy is a private Brazilian educational initiative founded in 2021 as an arm of Grupo Visagio, a pioneer in AI and Advanced Analytics in Latin America since 2003. The organization delivers two core programs: an 8-week Bootcamp de Data Science for students and early-career professionals, and an executive program titled 'IA Generativa para Líderes de Negócios' (Generative AI for Business Leaders) aimed at middle managers and business unit leaders. Both programs are delivered 100% virtually via a web portal featuring weekly content and exercises, live expert sessions, and group capstone projects, with a course completion certificate awarded to graduates. The executive program is run in partnership with Strides and features live sessions with mentors drawn from senior AI/data leadership at major Brazilian enterprises (Oracle Latam, AmbevTech, Magazine Luiza, AB InBev BEES, Quinto Andar), alongside case studies from Quinto Andar, Globo, iFood, and Wildlife Studios.

The business model is structurally non-commercial: both programs are 100% free of charge for participants, and VAI Academy is explicitly framed as a talent pipeline and brand-building vehicle for Grupo Visagio rather than a revenue-generating business. Top bootcamp performers may be selected for internship interviews at VLabs, the group's AI solutions delivery subsidiary, creating a training-to-employment loop inside the Grupo Visagio ecosystem. The technology stack is a content-delivery web portal with no proprietary AI models, applications, or integrations disclosed — the organization's 'technology' is its curriculum and instructor network, not a software platform. Headcount is 1-10 employees and the company operates from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, serving the LATAM region.

Go-to-market relies on organic digital channels — Instagram and LinkedIn for top-of-funnel awareness, plus online application forms (Gupy job platform for the bootcamp, Google Forms for the executive program) at the bottom of the funnel. The executive program additionally opens a direct enterprise sales channel via the Strides partnership. VAI Academy reports cumulative reach of 750+ people impacted, a 61% graduate employability rate, and a 91 NPS across cohorts. Awards and recognition flow indirectly through UniVisagio (Grupo Visagio's corporate education arm), which has been certified by Great Place to Work as Brazil's leader in talent development for six consecutive years.

Name

VAI Academy

Legal name

VAI Academy

Website

https://vai.academy

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VAI Academy is a private Brazilian educational initiative of Grupo Visagio offering free AI and Data Science training — an 8-week Data Science Bootcamp for students and early-career professionals and an executive Generative AI program for business leaders, delivered in partnership with Strides.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education / Executive Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Computer Training (611420), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Labs, Simulations & Virtual Practicals (Non-XR) (EDAFACAF), Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions) (MPAGAOAJ)

Keywords

• Executive education programs
• Data science training
• Generative AI training
• AI leadership development
• Professional education services

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Free Educational Programs: VAI Academy operates entirely free programs — the Data Science Bootcamp and the Generative AI for Business Leaders Executive Program. As an initiative of Grupo Visagio, the programs serve as a talent pipeline and brand-building vehicle for the group rather than a revenue-generating business.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VAI Academy is the educational initiative of Grupo Visagio offering two 100% virtual and free programs: the Bootcamp de Data Science (8-week intensive program in Data Science for students and early-career professionals, with top performers eligible for VLabs internship interviews) and the executive program "IA Generativa para Líderes de Negócios" (training middle managers and business unit leaders in Generative AI strategy and AI First mindset, delivered in partnership with Strides). Both programs deliver content through a web portal with weekly exercises, live expert sessions, on-demand modules, and a final group project, leading to a course completion certificate.

Product overview

VAI Academy is an educational initiative by Grupo Visagio that offers training programs in AI and Advanced Analytics. The portfolio includes two main offerings: the Bootcamp de Data Science (an 8-week intensive program in Data Science with internship opportunities at VLabs) and the IA Generativa para Líderes de Negócios executive program (focused on Generative AI strategy for business leaders). Both programs are delivered virtually with practical content, expert instructors, and collaborative learning experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bootcamp de Data Science An 8-week 100% virtual and free intensive immersion program in Data Science for students and early-career professionals, featuring practical content, exchanges with experienced professionals from Grupo Visagio, weekly exercises on the web portal, live expert sessions, a collaborative final group project, and a course completion certificate. Upon completion, top performers may be selected for internship interviews at VLabs (AI solutions company within Grupo Visagio).
• IA Generativa para Líderes de Negócios An executive education program on Generative AI for middle managers and business unit leaders, teaching them to transform businesses with an AI First mindset. Covers AI strategy, technology enablers, operational efficiency, and AI culture dissemination, delivered through a content platform with leveling content and corporate case studies, live sessions with mentors from leading Brazilian enterprises, and a final group project applying AI First strategy. Offered in partnership with Strides.

Quantifiable outcome

• 61% employability rate among program graduates
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Grupo VisagioflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAI Academy is an initiative of Grupo Visagio, a pioneer company in AI and Advanced Analytics in Latin America, founded in 2003 at the COPPE/UFRJ Technology Park in Rio de Janeiro. Visagio provides the curriculum, expert practitioners as instructors, and the VLabs internship pipeline for top bootcamp graduates. The relationship is foundational — VAI Academy exists as a talent development arm of the group.
• VLabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVLabs is a company of Grupo Visagio focused on delivering AI solutions to organizations. The best performers from the VAI Academy Data Science Bootcamp may be selected for internship interviews at VLabs, creating a direct talent pipeline from training to employment.
• StridesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAI Academy's executive program 'IA Generativa para Líderes de Negócios' is conducted in partnership with Strides. The program targets middle management and business unit managers, teaching them to adopt an AI First mindset. Strides contributes mentors and expertise to the program, and the program is branded and offered jointly by VAI Academy and Strides.
• Oracle (Latam)supportingOthersHumberto Fukuda, Mentor at Strides and Director of AI Latam at Oracle, serves as a mentor in the executive program. Oracle contributes its AI leadership perspective to the program curriculum.
• AmbevTechsupportingOthersFernando Celarino, Mentor at Strides and CTO at AmbevTech, serves as a mentor in the executive program, contributing technology leadership expertise.
• Magazine LuizasupportingOthersCaio Gomes, Mentor at Strides and Chief AI Officer & Chief Data Officer at Magazine Luiza, serves as a mentor in the executive program, contributing AI and data leadership expertise.
• AB InBev (BEES)supportingOthersFelipe Jacob, Mentor at Strides and Global Data Director at AB InBev BEES, serves as a mentor in the executive program, contributing data strategy expertise.
• Quinto AndarsupportingOthersRenan Rossi, Mentor at Strides and Head of Technology at Quinto Andar, serves as a mentor. Quinto Andar is also featured as a case study in the executive program: 'Atendimento Inteligente em escala com IA'.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Coursera is a global MOOC platform offering Data Science, AI, and GenAI courses from top universities and companies. It is a broader incumbent in online AI/Data Science education that competes for Brazilian learners and enterprise upskilling budgets, though it is not regionally specialized.
• Udacity: Udacity is a global online education provider known for its 'Nanodegree' programs in AI, Data Science, and programming, with an enterprise upskilling arm. It is comparable to VAI Academy's curriculum depth in AI/Data Science and its enterprise training motion, though at global rather than Brazilian scale.

Direct peers

• 365 Data Science: 365 Data Science is a globally focused online platform offering Data Science and AI courses with career-pathway content, comparable in subject matter to VAI Academy's bootcamp curriculum though delivered as paid, self-paced online courses.
• Let's Code: Let's Code is a Brazilian technology bootcamp and corporate training provider, offering full-stack and data courses with employment-focused outcomes. It is comparable to VAI Academy's bootcamp format and Brazilian enterprise training motion.
• Alura: Alura is one of Brazil's largest online technology education platforms, offering courses, bootcamps, and certifications in Data Science, AI, and software development. It is the most direct comparable to VAI Academy in terms of Brazilian tech-talent training, though it operates as a paid, scaled business rather than a free parent-company initiative.
• DIO (Digital Innovation One): DIO is a Brazilian digital education platform focused on technology upskilling, with free and paid tracks in Data Science, AI, and software engineering. It targets the same Brazilian learner base and offers similar bootcamp-style cohort programs, making it a direct competitor for applicant attention and employer partnerships.
• DigitalHouse: DigitalHouse operates coding and data bootcamps across Latin America with a strong presence in Brazil, targeting career changers and enterprise upskilling. It overlaps with VAI Academy's bootcamp-to-employment thesis and Latin American geographic scope.
• FIAP: FIAP is a major Brazilian technology and innovation school offering degrees, bootcamps, and corporate training in AI, Data Science, and digital transformation. It is comparable to VAI Academy's executive and technical training programs, with overlapping Brazilian enterprise customers.
• Ironhack: Ironhack is a global coding and AI bootcamp with campuses across Latin America (including Brazil), targeting career-changers and enterprise reskilling. It competes with VAI Academy for both individual learners and corporate training contracts in Brazil.
• SoulCode Academy: SoulCode Academy is a Brazilian tech education social-impact organization offering free/bootcamp-style training in Data Science, AI, and web development with an employment-placement focus. It competes for the same free-bootcamp-for-talent-pipeline positioning that VAI Academy occupies within Grupo Visagio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vai-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/vai.academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 VAI Academy