What Sebrae/RJ does

SEBRAE/RJ (Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas - Rio de Janeiro) is the Rio de Janeiro state unit of Brazil's national SEBRAE system, a network founded in 1972 and operating as a private non-profit "serviço social autônomo" funded by mandatory contributions from the National Treasury and the Social Integration Program (PIS). The organization provides consulting, training, and digital services to micro and small businesses across Rio de Janeiro state, with the target audience spanning microentrepreneurs (MEI), micro enterprises (ME), and small businesses (EPP) plus social entrepreneurs from vulnerable populations, startups, and supply-chain participants. Core infrastructure comprises a virtual store (Loja Virtual), digital products portal, business school (Escola Sebastião de Negócios), market intelligence platform (Inteligência de Mercado), financial management tool (Click Finanças), and a CRM system (CRAB), all coordinated with statewide physical service units.

The product portfolio extends across more than 50 specialized projects organized into five pillars: Sector Projects (agribusiness, creative economy, energy, industry, tourism), Business Acceleration (Proglobal internationalization tracks, Startup Win phases, productive-chain encadeamento produtivo), Social Impact (social entrepreneurship, ESG and sustainability programs, diversity and inclusion), and Technology and Innovation (digital modernization, IT transformation). Pricing ranges from free services (such as energy efficiency diagnosis) to subsidized programs (Sebrae covering 90% of costs in select initiatives) to small-ticket project fees of R$35-R$67 per month. Distribution combines physical service units, on-site consulting, WhatsApp/Telegram customer service at (21) 96576-7825, the Loja Virtual, and a multi-platform social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, Telegram).

The organization's revenue model is hybrid: predominantly government-funded through mandatory social contributions allocated by SEBRAE Nacional, supplemented by subsidized program fees, consulting revenue, and digital product sales. Customer concentration is structurally low given the SMB long-tail focus, and the entity serves addressable markets of approximately 39,000 rural producers, 72,000+ tourism companies, 291,000+ industrial SMBs, and 800+ startups across the state. Notable documented outcomes include a 14.8% revenue uplift among music-sector participants, up to 35% innovation gains in productive chain programs, and a 98% satisfaction rate on multi-year execution cohorts.

Name

Sebrae/RJ

Legal name

Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas - SEBRAE

Website

https://sebraerj.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SEBRAE/RJ is the Rio de Janeiro state unit of Brazil's national SEBRAE system, providing consulting, training, and digital services to micro and small businesses across agribusiness, creative economy, energy, industry, tourism, and technology sectors through statewide service units and digital platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Development Services

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Management Consulting Services (54161), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Project, Program & Product Management (EDAGANAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Finance, Accounting & Procurement Training (EDAGANAG)

Keywords

• Small business consulting
• Entrepreneurship training
• Market intelligence services
• Business acceleration programs
• Digital business tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio De Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Public Services: As a Brazilian public organization, Sebrae receives mandatory contributions from businesses and government allocations. Services are heavily subsidized with portions covered by public funds, making them accessible to micro and small businesses at reduced costs.
2. Project Registration Fees: Fees charged for participation in specialized projects and acceleration programs. Examples include R$35/month (R$420 upfront) for architecture project, R$55.84/month for renewable energy project, and similar structured programs.
3. Consultancy and Training Services: Direct revenue from consulting services and professional training programs delivered to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
4. Digital Products and Online Courses: Revenue from digital educational products, infoproducts, and online courses available through the virtual store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sebrae/RJ delivers business consulting, training, and digital services to micro and small businesses across Rio de Janeiro state. Core offerings include individual consulting (Consultorias), business advisory (Assessoria de Negócios), a business school (Escola Sebastião de Negócios), market intelligence reports (Inteligência de Mercado), financial management software (Click Finanças), a CRM system (CRAB), an online store for courses and services (Loja Virtual), and 50+ sector-specific development projects spanning agribusiness, creative economy, energy, industry, tourism, social impact, and technology innovation.

Product overview

Sebrae Rio operates as a comprehensive business development organization offering a multi-product platform centered around business consulting, market intelligence, digital products, and sector-specific projects. The core offering includes an online virtual store (Loja Virtual), business school (Escola Sebastião de Negócios), market intelligence service (Inteligência de Mercado), financial management tools (Click Finanças), and a customer relationship system (CRAB). The portfolio extends through 50+ specialized projects organized into five main categories: Sector Projects (agronegocio, creative economy, energy, industry, tourism), Business Acceleration (internationalization programs like Proglobal, Startup Win programs, productive chain development), Social Impact (social entrepreneurship, sustainability/ESG, diversity and inclusion programs), and Technology and Innovation (digital modernization, IT management transformation). Projects are delivered through individual consulting, group training, workshops, mentoring, and market access activities, with both free and paid programs available. The organization serves microentrepreneurs, micro enterprises, and small businesses throughout Rio de Janeiro state.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Escola Sebastião Faso: School of Business - vocational training and entrepreneurship education programs
• Startup Win
• Proglobal
• Programa Energia para Todos, Oportunidade para Muitos
• TOP Empreendedor
• Impacta Pré-Aceleração
• Sebrae Delas
• Programa de Desenvolvimento da Agricultura Familiar Fluminense (PDAFF)

Products and services

• Consultorias (Consulting Services) Individual consulting services for small businesses across various sectors including strategy, marketing, finance, and operations, available through the Virtual Store.
• Assessoria de Negócios (Business Advisory) Business advisory services providing guidance on business development, planning, and growth strategies for small businesses in Rio de Janeiro.
• Escola Sebastião de Negócios (Business School) Business school offering training and educational programs for entrepreneurs and business owners in Rio de Janeiro, including vocational training and entrepreneurship education.
• Inteligência de Mercado (Market Intelligence) Market intelligence service providing research, data, and insights to help small businesses make informed decisions about markets, competition, and sector trends.
• Click Finanças (Financial Management Tool) Financial management tool helping entrepreneurs control finances, cash flow, and business financial planning for small businesses.
• CRAB (Customer Relationship Management System) Customer relationship management system for business client registration and service tracking, designed for small businesses.
• Loja Virtual (Virtual Store) Online e-commerce platform enabling entrepreneurs to purchase consultancy services, courses, and digital products for small businesses in Rio de Janeiro.
• Produtos Digitais (Digital Products) Digital products including online courses, ebooks, and digital resources for business development, available through the digital products portal.
• Projetos por Setores (Sector-Specific Development Projects) Sector-specific business development projects covering agriculture (beverage agroindustry, fruit cultivation, family farming, specialty coffees, specialty cheeses), creative economy (music, artisan crafts, editorial, games, audiovisual, intangible heritage), energy (renewable energy, energy efficiency, oil and gas), industry (construction, fashion, bakeries, smart factories, furniture, metalworking), and tourism (agencies, innovation, Costa Verde, rural tourism, experience marketing).
• Aceleração de Negócios (Business Acceleration Programs) Business acceleration programs including internationalization support (Proglobal for fashion, food/beverages, and technology), startup programs (Startup Win for ideation, validation, traction, and youth), and productive chain development connecting small businesses to large company supply chains.
• Impacto Social (Social Impact Programs) Social impact programs promoting social entrepreneurship (Sebrae Delas, Afroempreendedorismo, TOP Empreendedor, Tempero de Favela, Impacta Pré-Aceleração), sustainability and ESG practices (Fábricas Verdes, Varejo Moda Circular, Fortalecimento Sustentável), and diversity and inclusion initiatives (Economia Prateada, Transcender LGBTQIA+, Famílias Atípicas, Catador Legal, Empreendedorismo Indígena, Rodas do Empreendedorismo).
• Tecnologia e Inovação (Technology and Innovation Programs) Technology and innovation programs helping businesses adopt digital solutions including Meu Negócio + Tech (digital modernization), Upgrade TI - Aceleração de Vendas (commercial strategy), Upgrade TI - Gestão em Transformação (management transformation), DEV Empreendedor (developer entrepreneurship), and Ecossistema Local Empreendedor (local entrepreneurial ecosystem).
• Projeto Profissionais de Arquitetura e Urbanismo 2026 Targeted development project for architects and urban planners who are micro and small business owners, offering consulting, workshops, training courses, technical follow-up, and management tools in a 5-month hybrid format.
• Projeto Energias Renováveis (Renewable Energy Development Project) Development project for renewable energy companies offering management strategies, market expansion, and innovation training in a 9-month program covering finances, planning, management, marketing, and sales.
• Projeto Eficiência Energética (Energy Efficiency Program) Free energy efficiency program offering personalized energy consumption diagnosis, strategic plan for energy cost reduction, and carbon emission report for qualifying micro and small businesses.
• Projeto Indústria de Cosméticos e Bem-Estar 2026 Development project for small cosmetics and well-being factories in Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region focusing on management strengthening, production process improvement, product innovation, and branding/digital presence development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14.8% revenue increase for music sector project participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IPHAN (Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Strategic partnership between Sebrae and IPHAN to train, promote, and support holders of registered cultural heritage assets across Brazil. Initiative focuses on formalizing small businesses and preparing them for the market of products and services associated with Brazil's rich cultural heritage.
• Ministry of Agrarian Development (Ministério do Desenvolvimento Agrário)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting the Family Agriculture Development Program in Rio de Janeiro (PDAFF), aligned with R$70 billion federal agricultural plan for 2023-2024. Focuses on CAF (Cadastro Nacional da Agricultura Familiar) issuance and access to public procurement programs.
• Vivo Rio / Music AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic industry project partnerships with Vivo Rio and Music Academy providing professional spaces and qualification opportunities for music sector entrepreneurs in Rio de Janeiro metropolitan region.
• International Partner Network for Investment and Market AccesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSebrae Rio's internationalization projects leverage an international network of partners for investment facilitation and market access. The organization provides accompaniment through specialist teams helping companies access international markets beyond Brazil.
• EMATER-RIO (Empresa de Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural do Estado do Rio de Janeiro)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing technical agricultural data for fruit cultivation sector analysis, including regional revenue data and production statistics for family farming development in Rio de Janeiro.
• CNI (Confederação Nacional da Indústria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReference source for sustainability and ESG data, providing industry research and statistics on Brazilian corporate sustainability practices and alignment with international agreements.
• Large Companies in Supply ChainscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProductive chain (encadeamento produtivo) partnerships connecting small businesses with large enterprise supply chains. Large companies partner with Sebrae to access supplier development programs and improve their supplier ecosystem.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Enterprise Singapore: Singaporean government agency supporting SMB growth, capability development, and internationalization. Functionally analogous to SEBRAE/RJ as a government-backed entity delivering consulting, capability programs, and market access services.
• U.S. Small Business Administration: U.S. federal agency providing SMB support, training, consulting, and access to capital. The closest international functional analog to SEBRAE/RJ, operating as a government-backed institution serving SMBs across multiple sectors.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Canadian Crown corporation providing financing, consulting, and capital to Canadian SMBs. Closely comparable international model combining advisory services with financing access for SMB clients.

Broad incumbents

• SEBRAE Nacional: Parent organization of SEBRAE/RJ and all other SEBRAE state units; the national coordinating entity setting strategy, methodology, and centralized programs. Operates the same model at national scale and is the source of mandated funding allocations.
• ApexBrasil: Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, a government entity supporting Brazilian company internationalization. Directly overlaps with SEBRAE/RJ's Proglobal internationalization programs in mission and target SMB exporter segment.
• BNDES: Brazilian National Development Bank, a federal entity providing financing, credit, and development support to Brazilian businesses including SMBs. Comparable as government-backed development institution serving overlapping SMB and sector-development missions.
• SENAI (Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial): Brazilian national industrial apprenticeship service, also funded by mandatory employer contributions under the same "Sistema S" framework as SEBRAE. Comparable public-service structure with industry-focused training, consulting, and technology services.
• SESI (Serviço Social da Indústria): Sister entity to SENAI under the same "Sistema S" framework, providing social services for industry workers. Shares the same funding structure (mandatory employer contributions) and public-service mandate as SEBRAE/RJ.

Direct peers

• SEBRAE-SP: Sebrae's São Paulo state unit, serving the largest SMB economy in Brazil with the same consulting, training, and sector-specific project model. Directly comparable operating structure, funding base, and product portfolio with regional differentiation.
• SEBRAE-MG: Sebrae's Minas Gerais state unit, another major SEBRAE state operator with the same consulting, training, and sector-specific project framework serving a large SMB base. Directly comparable in scope and operational model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sebraerj
• YouTubeyoutube.com/Sebraerio
• Facebookfacebook.com/SebraeRJ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sebraerj
• Instagraminstagram.com/sebraerj
• TikToktiktok.com/@sebraerj

Compliance1 record

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 Sebrae/RJ