What LBS Kreativa Gymnasiet does

LBS Kreativa Gymnasiet is a Swedish upper secondary school network (gymnasium) specializing in creative and technology-focused education for students aged 15–18. Founded in 1993 in Varberg as Ljud- och Bildskolan, the school operates 18 campuses across Sweden spanning from Malmö in the south to Örebro in Närke, and is wholly owned by AcadeMedia, which describes itself as northern Europe's largest education company with over 140 upper secondary schools in Sweden. Core products are two national Swedish programs—Estetiska programmet (with specializations in Digital Design, Spelgrafik, Foto och film, Grafisk design, Musikproduktion, and E-sport) and Teknikprogrammet (with AI & webbutveckling and Spelutveckling)—plus a nationally accredited E-sport NIU and an Extended Reality (VR/AR) elective. All programs confer higher education eligibility and are structured around industry-standard tools including Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro), Unity, Maya, Visual Studio, and Logic Pro X.

The technology stack is largely third-party creative and engineering tooling used in real production environments, with no proprietary platform disclosed; differentiators come from curated curriculum design and embedded industry partnerships with The Game Assembly, Future Games, Ubisoft, Thunderful, Filmgate, Svenska E-sportförbundet, and NABA. LBS uses event-driven go-to-market tactics—open houses ("Öppet hus"), student-for-a-day experiences, educational fairs, and a student ambassador program—and operates a national showcase apparatus through LBS Awards (Game & Innovation Awards, Music & Media Awards).

Revenue is generated almost entirely through Swedish per-pupil government funding under the friskola (independent school) model: all AcadeMedia friskolor are completely tuition-free, with students receiving loaner computers during studies. The customer base is highly decentralized—individual students and their families applying through Sweden's national gymnasium admission system—with alumni placed across the Swedish creative economy (Polestar, Volvo, Nio, Malmö FF). The 2023 30-year milestone referenced approximately 5,000 students across all schools, and 2025 brought portfolio restructuring with LBS Kristianstad merging into Drottning Blankas and LBS Varberg becoming Varbergs Enskilda Gymnasieskola.

Name

LBS Kreativa Gymnasiet

Legal name

LBS Kreativa Gymnasiet

Website

https://lbs.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

LBS Kreativa Gymnasiet is Sweden's largest network of creative-focused upper secondary schools, operating 18 friskola campuses under AcadeMedia and serving ~5,000 students tuition-free via Swedish government per-pupil funding across Estetiska and Teknikprogrammet specializations in digital design, gaming, AI, and e-sport.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Göteborg

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government funding per student: As a free independent school (friskola) in Sweden, LBS Kreativa Gymnasiet receives government funding based on the number of enrolled students. All AcadeMedia friskolor are completely tuition-free.
2. Individual elective courses: Students can select additional elective courses (individuella val) that may have associated costs or provide additional funding streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LBS Kreativa Gymnasiet operates a network of tuition-free, government-funded independent upper secondary schools (friskolor) across Sweden, offering national Swedish gymnasieprograms with creative and technology specializations. The two main programs are Estetiska programmet (with specializations in Digital Design, Spelgrafik, Foto och film, Grafisk design, Musikproduktion, and E-sport) and Teknikprogrammet (with specializations in AI & webbutveckling and Spelutveckling). All programs grant university preparatory eligibility while delivering hands-on training with industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Unity, Maya, and Logic Pro X.

Product overview

LBS Kreativa Gymnasiet is a Swedish upper-secondary school network operated by AcadeMedia, offering two national Swedish gymnasieprograms — Estetiska programmet and Teknikprogrammet — each with multiple creative specializations. Estetiska programmet covers Digital Design, Spelgrafik, Foto och film, Grafisk design, Musikproduktion, and E-sport. Teknikprogrammet covers AI & webbutveckling and Spelutveckling. Supplemental offerings include E-sport NIU (national sports accreditation), LBS Extended Reality (VR/AR elective), LBS Masterclass (industry guest lectures/workshops), and two national awards events: LBS Game & Innovation Awards and LBS Music & Media Awards. All programs provide university preparatory qualification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LBS Awards: Annual competition and gala events including Game & Innovation Awards and Music & Media Awards
• LBS Masterclass
• LBS E-sport League
• LBS Extended Reality

Products and services

• Estetiska programmet
• Teknikprogrammet
• AI & webbutveckling (Teknikprogrammet profil)
• Spelutveckling (Teknikprogrammet profil)
• Digital Design (Estetiska programmet profil)
• Spelgrafik (Estetiska programmet profil)
• Foto och film (Estetiska programmet profil)
• Grafisk design (Estetiska programmet profil)
• Musikproduktion (Estetiska programmet profil)
• E-sport (Estetiska programmet profil)
• E-sport NIU (Nationellt godkänd Idrottsutbildning)
• LBS Extended Reality
• LBS Game & Innovation Awards
• LBS Music & Media Awards (MAMA)
• LBS Masterclass
• LBS E-sport League

Quantifiable outcome

• Swedish gaming industry generates over 27 billion SEK annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Game AssemblycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Game Assembly is a prestigious vocational university for game development and game design. LBS collaborates with TGA to prepare students for careers in the gaming industry and maintain industry relevance.
• Future GamescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture Games is a game development education provider. LBS works with them to ensure curriculum alignment and student pathways to game industry careers.
• UbisoftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUbisoft has conducted masterclasses at LBS Göteborg, providing students with industry insights and real-world perspectives from one of the world's largest game publishers.
• Thunderful GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThunderful Group has participated in masterclasses at LBS, sharing industry expertise with students interested in game development and publishing.
• FilmgateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmgate has contributed to LBS masterclass programs, bringing expertise in film and media production to enhance student learning.
• Svenska E-sportförbundet (SESF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSvenska E-sportförbundet is the national e-sport federation that approves and regulates NIU (National Sports Education) e-sport programs at LBS. The federation validates the quality and standards of e-sport training.
• Svenska Riksidrottsförbundet (RF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish Sports Confederation that in 2023 integrated Svenska E-sportförbundet, legitimizing e-sport as an official sport in Sweden and providing access to resources and support for e-sport athletes.
• NABA (NABA - Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABA offers design education programs in Milan and Rome. LBS mentions NABA as a pathway option for students interested in continuing design education internationally.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Hyper Island: Hyper Island is a Swedish-founded creative and digital education provider focused on adult learners and industry professionals. While not a direct gymnasium competitor, it competes for the same creative-tech talent narrative and brand affinity in Sweden.
• Futuregames: Futuregames is a Swedish game-development education provider offering vocational programs. It overlaps with LBS's game-focused programs and is positioned as a downstream pathway partner.
• The Game Assembly: The Game Assembly is a Swedish vocational higher-education provider focused exclusively on game development and game design. It is both an LBS partner and an adjacent educational competitor for students progressing from LBS's Spelutveckling and Spelgrafik tracks.

Broad incumbents

• AcadeMedia: AcadeMedia is LBS's parent company and Northern Europe's largest education operator, running approximately 140 schools in Sweden. It is the ultimate owner and decision-maker for LBS's strategic direction and capital allocation.
• Drottning Blankas Gymnasieskola (DBGY): DBGY is a sister brand under AcadeMedia operating Swedish upper-secondary schools with broader, less specialized programs. LBS Kristianstad merged into DBGY in 2025, making it both a peer within the same parent and a direct consolidation counterparty.

Direct peers

• Thoren Innovation School: Thoren Innovation School is a Swedish gymnasium chain with technology and innovation-oriented profiles. It targets the same digitally inclined upper-secondary student segment as LBS, with overlapping AI, programming, and creative programs.
• NTI Gymnasiet: NTI Gymnasiet operates a chain of Swedish upper-secondary schools with a strong focus on technology, IT, and science programs. It competes with LBS's Teknikprogrammet for the same student cohort interested in tech-oriented gymnasium education.
• IT-Gymnasiet: IT-Gymnasiet is a Swedish gymnasium chain specializing in IT, programming, and digital media at the upper-secondary level. It overlaps directly with LBS's Teknikprogrammet offerings in programming, web development, and game development.
• Kulturama: Kulturama is a Swedish upper-secondary school focused on creative arts and media production, offering many of the same artistic specializations (film, music, design) as LBS. It is the closest direct competitor for creative-track gymnasium students in Sweden.

Regional players

• Praktiska Gymnasiet: Praktiska Gymnasiet operates vocational gymnasium programs across Sweden, including digital and creative tracks. It is a regional, vocationally-oriented alternative to LBS for students seeking hands-on training paths.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LBSKreativaGymnasiet
• Facebookfacebook.com/LBSKreativaGymnasiet
• Instagraminstagram.com/lbs_kreativa_gymnasiet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lbs-kreativa-gymnasiet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LBS Kreativa Gymnasiet