Cheers takes another step towards consolidating itself as a national reference in innovation aimed at young people. The startup, born in Curitiba, has been impacting the lives of students and young people in general through the connection between technology and connectivity. It recently announced the expansion of its Benefits Club to Goiânia, Florianópolis, and Campinas. The goal is ambitious: to reach 40 Brazilian cities in the coming years.
The Cheers Benefits Club is an exclusive perks program focused on students, offering discounts and promotions at various establishments in Curitiba, such as bars, clubs, restaurants, cafés, and pubs. Additionally, subscribers get discounted ticket fees for events through the Cheers app and priority access to selected events, avoiding lines and participating in exclusive raffles for cash prizes, partner combo deals, and party tickets.
But Cheers’ purpose goes beyond fun. The partner curation ensures quality in the discounts offered. ‘Our goal is to transform the university experience in Brazil. We want to deliver a solid network of benefits that combines entertainment, savings, and convenience,’ says Pedro Viggiano, co-founder of the company.
Founded in 2018, Cheers began with the mission of simplifying the daily lives of students and academic entities, initially by digitizing tickets for university events. The innovative model replaced old paper tickets with digital QR code tickets, optimizing access control and reducing environmental impact. Over time, the platform evolved to offer young people something more, becoming a connection hub for bars, clubs, event producers, and organizations.
Beyond management technology, the startup has strengthened its position as a bridge between students and an exclusive benefits network. The Benefits Club, now expanding, connects young people to experiences ranging from parties and bars to discounts from major brands like Nike, Natura, and AliExpress.
‘The process is simple: the student logs into the Cheers app, checks if their city is already on the list, and if it is, they can subscribe to the club for R$9.90 per month. This gives access to VIP entry at parties, two-for-one drinks, meal combos, and cashback on products from major brands,’ explains Gabriel Russo, CEO of Cheers.
With over 40 active partnerships in Curitiba, the company is now scaling its model to new locations with the goal of bringing students closer to a more affordable, fun, and well-connected university life.
The expansion aligns with a promising sector outlook: according to the 2023 Higher Education Census released by MEC and Inep, Brazil has reached its highest number of higher education enrollments in nine years, with over 9.9 million students. This growth highlights the potential of a market that moves billions of reais annually, serving a demanding, digitally savvy audience eager for practical solutions.
In just five years, Cheers already boasts impressive numbers: over five thousand partners, 2 million active users, 6.3 million tickets sold, half a million products commercialized, and more than 1.8 million app downloads. All this with a lean team of 40 professionals spread across six states.
