startupi

LAN Houses - Brazilian internet cafés - are facing many problems maintaining profitability. Some of the challenges include an inadequate national business law (the Código Nacional de Atividade Empresarial), difficulties in dealing with the paperwork to become a registered business, and lack of creativity and diversity in the services offered.

Additionally the wider availability of broad band, lower cost for personal computers, the growth of centers offering free computer access and the growing availability of internet access via cellphone have created a need for LAN Houses to redefine and reposition their businesses, or face failure.

In an effort to help the sector recuperate and learn to thrive, Sebrae Nacional and CDI, with the support of ABCID, launched a social game in which established businesses (especially internet related businesses) can “sponsor” a LAN House through it’s registration and business processes, and turn it into a point of service for Sebrae.

For more information on the “rules” of this win-win game, take a look here.