Nave Empreendedora, a new training and support service for Rio de Janeiro residents.

The population will have access to free services, qualified guidance, and support for the formalization and development of small businesses - Press Release

The Rio de Janeiro City Hall, through the Municipal Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SMCT), in partnership with Sebrae Rio, has launched another important service for the population: the Entrepreneurial Ship. Designed to be a territorial hub for local entrepreneurship, its purpose is to expand the reach of public digital inclusion facilities and transform them into support points for entrepreneurship, formalization, and the development of small businesses.

The initiative by SMCT and Sebrae Rio also aims to reduce bureaucracy, streamline business processes, and offer continuous support to individual micro-entrepreneurs, micro and small businesses at different stages of development. It is a way to contribute to simplifying the business environment and bringing specialized services closer to local entrepreneurs.

– The launch of the Entrepreneurial Ship represents a new moment for strengthening entrepreneurship. The space was designed to become a point of reference for entrepreneurs, providing mentorship, training, and improving the quality of their businesses, generating more income and contributing to the economic development of the territories – highlighted the Municipal Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation of Rio, Gabriel Medina.

– The Entrepreneurial Ship brings our services even closer to the communities, offering practical guidance, training, and support so that each entrepreneur can grow sustainably. We want entrepreneurs from Penha, Engenhão, and other areas to have access to tools that simplify their journey and strengthen their businesses, contributing to local economic development and income generation – adds the Director of Development at Sebrae Rio, Sergio Malta.

Those interested will also have access to a range of services, such as: entrepreneurial education; management training; guidance on formalizing and regularizing MEI (Individual Microentrepreneur); opening, modifying, and closing businesses; issuing the Simples Nacional Collection Document (DAS); annual revenue declaration; debt installment and regularization; credit guidance; business legalization; and connection with market opportunities.

The proposed local entrepreneurship hub aims to bring together the public infrastructure of the Knowledge Centers, the technical and strategic expertise of Sebrae Rio, and the concrete needs of the communities. In doing so, it seeks to create a welcoming and solution-oriented environment for those who wish to start, formalize, organize, or expand a small business.

The project is part of the Inova Periferia strategy, foreseen in the Strategic Plan of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro (2025–2028), which seeks to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the North and West zones through the Knowledge Hubs, bringing local actors closer to the city's innovation ecosystem. The pilot project foresees action in the Knowledge Hubs of Engenhão, Penha, Realengo and Campo Grande, in addition to the Pedra de Guaratiba Knowledge Hub.

With the Entrepreneurial Ship, the Rio de Janeiro City Hall is advancing in the consolidation of the Knowledge Ships as public facilities for productive inclusion, economic development, and strengthening of the local economy. The initiative also seeks to expand access for peripheral entrepreneurs to information, services, and tools that contribute to business sustainability, income generation, and the economic revitalization of the territories.

For more information and registration, please visit one of the Entrepreneurial Centers (Penha, Engenhão, Realengo, Campo Grande and Navezinha de Pedra de Guaratiba). The opening hours and addresses of the Naves can be found here.