Strategic Research for Positive Impact Businesses

The challenge

Global markets are shifting rapidly, and companies with a social and environmental purpose are finding new opportunities abroad. Yet their internationalization processes cannot be approached as if they were traditional firms: their differentiation lies in purpose, certifications, and positioning. The challenge — set by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and the Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small Enterprises (Sebrae) — was to map how these businesses expand internationally and to generate insights that could guide both institutions and companies on their path.

Our approach

At Îandé, we specialize in strategic research — rigorous enough to generate reliable insights, and practical enough to drive decisions. Together with CNI and Sebrae, we designed a process that combined:

• Desk research — analysis of secondary data to understand context, certifications, standards, and international benchmarks.
• In-depth interviews — qualitative conversations with impact-driven companies to uncover the strategic differentiators behind their global expansion.
• Synthesis and analysis — clustering findings into themes such as opportunities, challenges, government roles, and good practices.
• Action design — developing recommendations not only for companies, but also for institutions seeking to enable and scale internationalization.
  
  

The methodology

The research balanced macro and micro perspectives:

• Contextual mapping of global opportunities and barriers for impact businesses.
• Practical cases showing how companies use purpose as a competitive advantage.
• Analysis of certifications and standards that shape market access.
• Reflection on the role of government and institutions in supporting international growth.
• Guidance on indicators and metrics that can assess readiness and success.
  
  

The delivery

The outcome was a comprehensive study, visually designed and delivered in digital format, accompanied by presentations to diverse audiences. It combined conceptual depth with accessible communication, making it both a reference and a practical tool.

The entire study in Portuguese can be accessed here: https://www.gov.br/mdic/pt-br/assuntos/enimpacto/artigos-e-publicacoes/arquivos/copy_of_ImpactoPositivoCNISebrae.pdf

 

The impact

The study deepened the understanding of how positive impact businesses internationalize — showing that success comes not only from market access strategies, but from embedding purpose into the core of the business model. It also equipped institutions with actionable ways to foster and support this journey.