Empowering Brazil’s Solopreneurs: How a Champion is Transforming Entrepreneurship Education for One-Person Businesses

Consultant Jevandro Barros learned something important while helping a self-employed client who was worn out from the corporate world. He realized that what worked for big companies just didn’t fit with small businesses. This sparked his passion to create useful alternatives for entrepreneurs like his client.

Barros has been running iOpEx Brasil since 2011 in São Paulo, a city bustling with solo entrepreneurs. Drawing from his experience with major companies like Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Consulting, he developed a method to support small businesses through education. Over the years, he created ten courses and e-books focused on practical skills needed for entrepreneurship.

Now, Barros is launching Projeto Apollo, a community tailored for solo entrepreneurs who want to build sustainable businesses. This initiative offers mentorship and lessons on vital topics, such as strategic planning and cash flow. He’s also sharing knowledge through a popular podcast, where he discusses the latest trends in Brazil’s one-person business movement.

Brazil is home to a vibrant community of microbusinesses. In 2021, there were around 13.2 million microentrepreneurs—individuals who either have no employees or just one. São Paulo leads the nation with about 3.6 million of these small enterprises. A significant chunk of Brazil’s microentrepreneurs work in the service industry, especially in beauty and publicity.

According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Brazil also boasts the highest rates of early-stage startups globally, with many being run by solo founders. Despite this energy, sustainability remains a major hurdle. Many small businesses in Brazil face high exit rates, with entrepreneurs often leaving due to negative experiences rather than pursuing new opportunities.

Barros recognizes that many new entrepreneurs lack critical entrepreneurship education. He’s found that breaking the process of starting and growing a business into manageable parts can make a big difference. For example, he might spend six months with new founders preparing for their launch before moving on to other important aspects of running a business.

“Finding specific knowledge is tough,” says Barros. “Our mission is to equip them with everything they need to succeed.” He believes that the time has finally come for one-person businesses to significantly impact Brazil’s economy. “It’s happening faster than we expected,” he adds.