Education
is free and mandatory in Brazil from the age of 4 to 17. However, only 4 out of
10 children are enrolled in primary school, according to the Alfabetiza Brazil
report conducted by the Brazilian Ministry of Education. The OECD highlights
several deficiencies in the education system and notes that 73% of Brazilians
do not reach the desired level in mathematics.
The
situation is worse in poorer regions, which show lower literacy rates and where
students cannot seek alternative educational options. Technology can help
bridge that gap. Gabriel Granjeiro (Brazil, 32 years old) has developed a
platform aimed at democratizing education.
“Gran seeks
to solve the problem of unequal access to quality education in Brazil, a
challenge that has historically affected students from rural and low-income
areas. The context in Brazil shows a lack of equitable access to education,
especially in less developed regions. Gran addresses these needs by offering
courses and educational resources at affordable prices, or even for free, to
beneficiaries of social programs, women, and people with disabilities,”
explains this entrepreneur.
It is a
platform that uses advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to
provide personalized and effective study solutions. Additionally, it helps
reduce the geographic and economic barriers that have traditionally limited
access to education in the country. “Our
commitment to inclusive and accessible education for all has been the driving
force behind Gran’s success,” says this graduate in Business Administration and
Marketing from the Stern School of Business at New York University (USA).
In 12
years, the platform has reached more than 785,000 active students across
Brazil. Moreover, Gran has played a key role in the training of thousands of
public servants and lawyers. In terms of social impact, over 400,000 students
(61% of users) benefit from free or discounted social subscriptions. In the
field of higher education, Gran Faculdade, launched in 2022, has already
enrolled more than 70,000 students in digital undergraduate and graduate
programs.
Granjeiro
hopes that Gran, which initially focused on preparation for public service
exams and has since evolved to include higher education programs with digital
degrees and postgraduate studies, can continue to expand its educational
offerings and consolidate itself as the largest educational platform in Brazil
and Latin America, in terms of user numbers.
This
entrepreneur is also the author of four books on education, personal
development, and professional growth, which have been highlighted by Amazon in
various categories. The proceeds from these publications were donated to
philanthropic organizations, according to Granjeiro.
Gran was
named one of the most innovative companies in 2022 and 2023 by Fast Company.
The platform has also appeared for three consecutive years on the HolonIQ Latin
America EdTech list as a standout company. Gabriel Granjeiro was recognized by
Forbes Under 30 Brazil in 2021, and he is also one of the 35 Innovators Under
35 selected by MIT Technology Review in Spanish.
