Instituto Romã

What Instituto Romã does

Instituto Romã is a Brazilian nonprofit organization founded in 2004 in São Paulo by Rita Mendonça and Arianne Brianezi. It provides nature-based experiential education, training, and consulting, with a stated focus on facilitating sensitive, direct, and profound experiences with nature. The organization operates two main programs: 'Ser criança é natural' (coordinated by Ana Carolina Thomé Pires), focused on the role of nature in child development, and 'Sharing Nature Brasil', the Brazilian coordination of the international Sharing Nature Worldwide methodology founded by Joseph Cornell in 1979.

The organization delivers its offerings through both in-person immersive workshops at partner locations (conservation areas, forests, schools) and a proprietary e-learning platform (ead.institutoroma.com.br). The online platform supports enrollment management, payment processing (credit cards, Pix, boleto), student tracking, certificate issuance, and integration with Zoom for live sessions, with social login via Facebook and Google. The flagship paid offering is the 40-hour 'Formação de facilitadores Sharing Nature' course (R$285), complemented by a free eBook ('Textos para despertar o olhar sensível') and supplementary courses such as 'Viva a sua Natureza' and 'Meu Jardim Planetário'. Customized training programs are also produced for institutions.

The revenue model combines one-time course and e-book sales (largely freemium for e-books), professional-services revenue from in-person workshops, and partnership-based customized training for institutions. The customer base consists primarily of individual environmental and nature educators, facilitators, and parents across Southeast Brazil, with strategic partnerships extending reach through SOS Mata Atlântica, Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (Régua), and Fazenda Santa Adelaide. The organization is founder-led, employs 1-10 people, and operates as a private nonprofit with no disclosed external investment.

Name

Instituto Romã

Legal name

Instituto Romã - Vivências com a Natureza

Website

https://institutoroma.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Instituto Romã is a São Paulo-based Brazilian nonprofit founded in 2004 that delivers nature-based experiential education, facilitator training, and consulting through online courses, in-person workshops, and partnerships with conservation organizations. It serves educators, facilitators, parents, and institutions across Southeast Brazil.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Field Schools & Experiential Academic Programs (Archaeology, Ecology, etc.) (EDAIAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Experiential & Field-Based Study Abroad (Research, Field Schools, Practicums) (EDAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Nature-based education
• Experiential learning
• Environmental education
• Facilitator training
• Outdoor pedagogy

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Online Course Sales: Revenue from selling online courses including the Formação de facilitadores Sharing Nature program and other educational offerings through their e-learning platform
2. E-book Sales: Digital book sales including 'Textos para despertar o olhar sensível' by Rita Mendonça offered free or at promotional pricing
3. In-person Workshops and Trainings: Immersive workshops and experiential training programs conducted in parks, forests, schools, and environmental projects using the Sharing Nature approach
4. Customized Training Production: Partnership-based training development and management for institutions including content creation, participant management, and certification services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Instituto Romã is a nonprofit organization that delivers nature-based experiential education through two main programs: "Ser criança é natural" (child-focused nature education) and "Sharing Nature Brasil" (facilitator training in Joseph Cornell's methodology). It sells online certification courses via its e-learning platform, conducts in-person immersive workshops at partner conservation sites, and offers custom training, lectures, and consulting for institutions seeking nature-connection methodologies.

Product overview

Instituto Romã offers an integrated educational platform focused on nature-based experiential learning and human development. The core offerings include two main programs: 'Ser criança é natural' (Ser criança é Natural) for children's nature education, and 'Sharing Nature Brasil' for facilitator training in the international Sharing Nature methodology. The e-learning platform (ead.institutoroma.com.br) delivers online courses including the 40-hour 'Formação de facilitadores Sharing Nature' certification course and the free eBook 'Textos para despertar o olhar sensível'. Additional offerings include custom institutional training programs and educator courses such as 'Viva a sua Natureza' and 'Meu Jardim Planetário'. The organization coordinates Sharing Nature Worldwide activities in Brazil, providing both in-person immersive workshops and distance learning options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ser criança é natural: Program focused on revealing the importance of nature for child development, including courses, lectures, experiences, material production, and publications. Coordinated by Ana Carolina Thomé Pires since 2013.
• Sharing Nature Brasil

Products and services

• Formação de facilitadores Sharing Nature (Online) 40-hour online certification course (14 modules) training educators and facilitators in the Sharing Nature methodology. Includes 5 asynchronous video lessons, a virtual library, breathing-exercise audio, 3 live Zoom sessions, 1 live practice session, and a 21-day audio practices journey. Costs R$ 285.00.
• Textos para despertar o olhar sensível (E-book) Free eBook containing three inspiring texts by Rita Mendonça designed to awaken sensitive perception of nature. Includes 3 months of access after enrollment.
• Customized Formations for Institutions Custom-designed training programs produced in partnership with institutions, delivered in in-person or online formats. Includes participant management (registrations, monitoring, results, certification), content development, and experiential activities aligned with project objectives.
• Natureza e aprendizagem: por uma pedagogia da educação ao ar livre Training course for educators on experiential education practices focused on outdoor learning pedagogy.
• Viva a sua Natureza Experiential course for educators focused on connecting with nature.
• Meu Jardim Planetário Course focused on planetary gardening and environmental education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 batches of environmental educator training completed through partnership with SOS Mata Atlântica (2020-2025)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SOS Mata AtlânticacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership with SOS Mata Atlântica for environmental education and conservation awareness. Conducted 10 batches of 'Somos Mata Atlântica' online training (2020-2025), reaching educators and organizations. Also collaborated on formations for Casa do Pequeno, Santuário de Aparecida, and municipality of Cotia including educator formation, coordinators training, and experiential programs.
• Régua (Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Régua, an ecological reserve in Rio de Janeiro dedicated to Atlantic Forest conservation, reforestation, and scientific research. Conducted immersive training combining theory, experience, and nature connection at the reserve, strengthening collective commitment to preservation.
• Fazenda Santa AdelaidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fazenda Santa Adelaide in Morungaba, São Paulo, a space dedicated to agroecology, organic production, and environmental regeneration. Conducted training connecting educators and organizations to sustainable farming practices and nature connection, providing a Living Space for Learning, Regenerative Education, and Nature Connection.
• Sharing Nature WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Romã coordinates Sharing Nature Worldwide activities in Brazil. Sharing Nature Worldwide was founded in 1979 by naturalist educator Joseph Cornell to disseminate activities and methodology for experiencing the unity and harmony among all life forms. The Brazilian coordination offers in-person and distance training courses, translations and publications of related texts, lectures, and experiential programs.
• A Casa TombadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with A Casa Tombada for the postgraduate course 'A Natureza que somos - filosofias e práticas para uma atuação genuína no mundo' (latu sensu), coordinated by Rita Mendonça.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Escola Schumacher Brasil: Brazilian school offering transdisciplinary education with critical reference figures including Rita Mendonça as a faculty member. Comparable in audience and pedagogy overlap (experiential, nature-connected learning).
• Natura Educação: Brazilian corporate education initiative linked to Natura, focused on sustainability and socio-environmental learning. Comparable in delivering online nature/sustainability education to broad audiences, with stronger corporate backing.

Broad incumbents

• Instituto Akatu: Established Brazilian nonprofit focused on sustainability education and conscious consumption. Comparable in operating as an educational nonprofit targeting Brazilian audiences, though broader in scope (consumption vs. nature-based pedagogy).
• WWF-Brasil: Global conservation organization with significant Brazilian environmental education programming. Comparable in delivering nature-based educator training and public awareness campaigns, though at far larger scale and budget.
• The Nature Conservancy Brasil: International conservation NGO with Brazilian operations focused on habitat protection and education. Comparable in mission to connect people with nature and train stakeholders, with broader scope and resources.
• Fundação Grupo Boticário: Brazilian foundation supporting nature conservation and environmental education projects. Operates as a comparable Brazilian nonprofit funding and running environmental education programs, though reliant on corporate sponsorship.

Direct peers

• Sharing Nature Worldwide: The international parent organization founded by Joseph Cornell in 1979, whose methodology Instituto Romã coordinates in Brazil. It is the direct source of the proprietary methodology and brand that anchors Instituto Romã's offerings.
• Instituto Ecofuturo: Brazilian nonprofit running environmental education programs and outdoor learning experiences, including Rita Mendonça's earlier publication 'Atividades em Áreas Naturais'. Comparable mission, audience (educators and community), and experiential nature-based learning model.

Others

• SOS Mata Atlântica: Major Brazilian conservation organization and Instituto Romã's strategic partner for the 'Somos Mata Atlântica' training program. A peer in environmental education delivery, with much greater scale and donor base.
• Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (Régua): Atlantic Forest ecological reserve in Rio de Janeiro and Instituto Romã's training partner. Peer in delivering experiential nature-based education and conservation programming at a physical site.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/institutoromavivencias
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rom-consultoria

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Instituto Romã