Startup roraimense that has already moved R$ 1 billion and created a delivery model without commission aims at national expansion

In a delivery scenario that often stifles small businesses with high commissions, Pigz, a startup founded in 2020, is revolutionizing the Brazilian market. With an innovative subscription model and integrated management that eliminates commissions on sales, the platform, since its foundation, has processed 30 million orders and moved approximately R$ 1 billion in 2024, ensuring that millions in resources remain in the local economy. Present in 1.5 thousand establishments throughout the country Although its active marketplace is restricted to Boa Vista 10 Roraima, Pigz is preparing for an ambitious round of investments.

When the lockdown closed restaurants in Boa Vista, partners Laercio Gentil and Leonardo Seefeld identified two chronic pains: the lack of digitization of small businesses and the “orbitantes” commissions (which reached almost 30%) charged by market platforms. “It was a worldwide pain, not just local“, says Gentil. With an initial team of two people (minimum viable product). Today, the company already employs 40 people and has received recognition from financial market players, including analysis from Paramis Capital, a financial boutique specializing in credit, structured operations and venture capital.

Growth of 1,500% and 30 million orders in four years

The numbers show an impressive growth between 2020 and 2024, showing the success of Pigz's value proposition. In this period, the platform accumulated more than 30 million processed orders. There were only 11 thousand orders in 2020, 194 thousand in 2021, 2.5 million in 2022, 8.5 million in 2023 and 19 million in 2024. The number of requests from single users also skyrocketed, multiplying by 40 times: it went from 5 billion in 2014 to 2010101.10101 in terms.

Pigz's growth reflects a broader movement in the Brazilian startup ecosystem, which has shown signs of resumption. According to Distrito, a market intelligence platform focused on the innovation sector, the country's emerging companies captured US$ 1.46 billion in 2024 9.5% high compared to the previous year. Within this positive scenario, Pigz differs by its regional origin and business model: instead of charging commissions that reach almost a third of the order value, as traditional platforms do, it offers a complete system of management by monthly subscription, helping to maintain competitive prices for restaurants, in addition to consumers.

The company's strategy goes beyond simply connecting restaurants and customers. The platform was designed as a 360-degree solution for the small entrepreneur, integrating from face-to-face service (with digital commands, payment via QR Code and table management) to own delivery, inventory, issuance of invoices and performance analysis. “The merchant typically needed to hire four or five different vendors to have all of this. We unified it into one affordable platform“, explains Seefeld.

Pigz's business model is also evolving.In addition to restaurants, the platform already serves markets, pharmacies and even event ticket sellers, representing about 20% of its current base. “We want to be the operating system of the small business, regardless of the segment“, project Gentil.

In a country that positions itself as the 3rd largest delivery market in the world, with the sector moving about R$ 38 billion in 2023 and more than 500 thousand events held in 2024, there is a clear demand for digitalization, especially among small and medium restaurants that represent 80% of the market, but face barriers such as multiple platforms, high rates and low visibility. Pigz, a technological force of Orange Labs and part of the Stone ecosystem, stands out for filling this gap, uniting delivery and tickets in a single marketplace, optimizing sales and operations and facilitating business transactions.

Robust technology ecosystem drives growth and diversification

To support its scalable model, Pigz has developed a complete ecosystem of proprietary technology solutions and multiple revenue streams that include fees on payments, ticket sales and monthly subscriptions, with no commissions on orders.

The Pigz App it functions as a centralized marketplace for delivery and events, connecting consumers to restaurants, markets and event promoters.

Aimed at the operation of the establishments, the Pigz Command organizes the service through tables, bracelets or cards, while the Pigz Management allows the control of orders and customer relationships in a single platform.

The customer experience has also been optimized with the Pigz Kiosk, which offers self-service totems and tablets to reduce queues and streamline orders. Already in payment solutions and events, the highlight goes to the Pigz Pay, system of consummation tokens with advance payment, and the Pigz Tickets, Integrated platform for ticket sales and validation.

The economic impact in Roraima is palpable. With about 400 establishments registered only in the state, Pigz processes approximately 60 thousand orders per month in its marketplace mode, moving R$ 4 million monthly. By company calculations, this means that about R$ 9.27 million are no longer sent annually to platforms in other states or countries, remaining in the local economy. “This money does not stay with us, it goes straight to the cash of consumers, increasing their purchasing power, and entrepreneurs, who can reinvest in their businesses and generate more jobs“, Gentil points out.

The reception of local merchants has been enthusiastic.Cases such as the restaurant Meu Cantinho, partner for three years, illustrate the transformation. “It completely changed our movement.We had no system before; today we can manage orders, deliveries and payments directly from the tables“, reports owner Seu Ricarte. At Graci Bolos, confectioner Mylana Carvalho saw delivery jump to 40% from sales after adopting the platform. “It was impossible to manage orders through WhatsApp. Now we have full control“, he says.

Next phase: nationalization of the marketplace 

Pigz's ambition, however, goes beyond the borders of Roraima. With customers in all Brazilian states ¡ Although the active marketplace is restricted to Boa Vista for as long as ̄, the startup is preparing a national expansion of its delivery service.

"We are ready to take Pigz to other Brazilian capitals.The investment round will enable this expansion, focusing on technology, operation and the subscription model that guarantees fair prices and stability for our partners in each new square”, says Laercio Gentil.

With consolidated leadership in Roraima 'the only Brazilian capital where iFood may not be the market leader '', Pigz sees this domain as a showcase of its competitive differential. The startup already reaches more than 200 municipalities in several Brazilian states, a sign of the gradual advancement of a model that seeks to scale without giving up the autonomy of small entrepreneurs. For this, it has 40 employees, 20 of which are exclusively dedicated to the technology area, reinforcing its commitment to its own solutions and continuous innovation.

Meanwhile, the founders remain focused on their original purpose: empowering the small entrepreneur. “From the beginning, our dream was to help these businesses grow autonomously.What started as an emergency solution in the pandemic proved to be a sustainable and, above all, fair model“, Seefeld concludes. With plans to “paint Brazil orange”, referencing the color of its brand name 5, Pigz proves that it is possible to reconcile scale with local impact, a challenge that few Brazilian startups have managed to overcome.