Nanoentrepreneurship Drives Economic Inclusion and Growth in Brazil's Peripheries
Nanoentrepreneurship is expanding across Brazil, serving as a key entry point for business formalization and economic inclusion, especially in peripheral areas and among women.
- • Nanoentrepreneurship is recognized in the 2025 tax reform, allowing earnings up to R$ 40.5 thousand with tax benefits.
- • Brazil hosts over 15 million microentrepreneurs, many emerging as nanoentrepreneurs leveraging digital platforms.
- • Emperifa supports peripheral entrepreneurs in São Paulo with practical training and networking, impacting around 2,000 people, predominantly women.
- • Formalization via nanoentrepreneurship improves access to credit, social benefits, and integrates entrepreneurs into structured markets.
Key details
Nanoentrepreneurship is rapidly gaining traction in Brazil as a vital gateway for formalizing businesses and fostering economic inclusion, particularly among peripheral entrepreneurs and women. This small-scale business model, often operated by individuals generating modest revenue, allows aspiring entrepreneurs to test ideas, generate income with minimal risk, and gradually transition to formal business structures.
According to the Brazilian Service of Support to Micro and Small Enterprises (Sebrae), Brazil now surpasses 15 million microentrepreneurs. A significant share are nanoentrepreneurs who operate with annual earnings up to R$ 40.5 thousand, a category recently recognized in the 2025 tax reform, which provides tax exemptions to encourage formalization. These entrepreneurs leverage digital platforms, social media, and instant payment systems to overcome traditional barriers to entry, often balancing their ventures alongside other jobs.
In São Paulo, João Luiz Guedes founded Emperifa, a business dedicated to empowering peripheral entrepreneurs through a unique model combining education, social impact, and practical experience. Emperifa’s Reinpe methodology connects entrepreneurs to build networks that enhance business opportunities, with around 2,000 entrepreneurs impacted—90% of whom are women. This approach emphasizes skills like leadership and negotiation, moving beyond theoretical courses to drive real growth and collaboration.
The growth of nanoentrepreneurship is particularly notable in regions outside Brazil’s major urban centers, such as Mato Grosso, where this model supports diverse activities ranging from artisanal production to digital commerce. Formalization further opens access to credit, social security, and structured production chains, contributing to social and economic inclusion.
Despite the promising developments, challenges remain, including initial informality, limited financial management skills, and difficulty in scaling. Experts highlight the importance of public policies and education initiatives to transform nanoenterprises into sustainable businesses capable of driving local economies.
As Guedes reflects on the future, he envisions Emperifa becoming a national authority on networked entrepreneurship in peripheries, promoting inclusion and offering practical tools to more Brazilians seeking economic empowerment. The combination of grassroots efforts like Emperifa and supportive legal frameworks appears poised to reshape Brazil's entrepreneurial landscape, fostering greater participation from historically underserved communities.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
