Life Academy

What Life Academy does

Life Academy is a Swedish private training and capacity-building organization headquartered in Karlstad, Sweden, founded in 1995. The firm delivers advanced International Training Programmes exclusively on Sustainable Development, combining Swedish expertise with contextual adaptation for participants in developing markets. Its portfolio includes named programmes in Sustainable Project Management, Sustainable Energy Systems, Sustainable Business, ICT and Pedagogical Development, and Renewable Energy, alongside the LIFE Schools certification programme for K-12 institutions and a Business-to-Business support service for international market access.

The core technology consists of a proprietary pedagogical methodology — anchored in the three pillars of People, Planet, and Profit — and a customized learning management system branded LIFE Network that hosts webinars, video lectures, and documentation. Programmes typically blend 3-12 months of online distance phases, an in-person training week in Sweden, and a Change Project or field project executed in the participant's home country. The firm maintains an active alumni network spanning Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, and runs a related LIFE Foundation entity that executes larger grant-funded projects.

Commercially, revenue is generated almost entirely through professional services: (1) fully funded international training programmes primarily supported by Swedish Institute and Swedish development cooperation funding (e.g., SIMP Asia, WISE Ukraine, PowHer Leaders), (2) custom tailormade training for organisations paying their own fees (e.g., ICT and Pedagogical Development Programme at USD 3,900 per participant for cohorts of 25 or more), (3) the B2B market-access facilitation service leveraging the alumni network, and (4) LIFE Schools certification fees. Customers include the Swedish Institute, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, KTH, Stockholm University, multiple Ukrainian universities and NGOs, school districts in Sweden and Uganda, and cleantech SMEs from Värmland. Pricing for bespoke engagements is contact-based rather than publicly disclosed.

Name

Life Academy

Legal name

LIFE Academy

Website

https://life.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Life Academy is a Swedish training and capacity-building firm in Karlstad that delivers funded international training programmes and custom courses in Sustainable Development — covering project management, energy, business, and ICT — for government, education, and SME clients across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Teacher Training, Professional Development & Education Leadership (BPADAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Sustainable development training
• Professional capacity building
• School certification services
• International training programs
• Renewable energy education

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlstad

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. International Training Programmes: Fully funded training programmes primarily supported by Swedish development cooperation funding, targeting participants from developing countries.
2. Custom Training Programmes: Organisation-funded tailormade programmes designed to suit specific organisational needs. ICT and Pedagogical Development Programme priced at 3,900 USD per person (minimum 25 participants).
3. Business Support Services: Facilitation services for international market access, matchmaking between companies and emerging markets, and sustainable business development support.
4. LIFE School Certification: School certification programme empowering schools to integrate sustainable development into curriculum. Certification services for schools in Sweden and Africa.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Life Academy provides advanced international training programmes and capacity development services centered on Sustainable Development. Its portfolio includes training programmes in Sustainable Project Management, Sustainable Energy Systems, Sustainable Business, and ICT and Pedagogical Development, alongside the LIFE Schools certification programme for educational institutions and Business-to-Business market access support. Programmes combine Swedish expertise with international experience and are delivered through online webinars, in-person weeks in Sweden, and regional phases in partner countries.

Product overview

LIFE Academy is a training and capacity development organization focused exclusively on Sustainable Development. Its core offering is a portfolio of advanced International Training Programmes (ITPs) and professional development courses, along with a school certification programme and B2B market access services. The organization does not offer a software product; its offerings are exclusively educational/training services. The portfolio includes five named training programmes (Sustainable Project Management, Sustainable Energy Systems, Sustainable Business, ICT and Pedagogical Development, and PowHer Leaders), the LIFE Schools certification programme for educational institutions, Business-to-Business support for international market access, and various project initiatives. All offerings share a common pedagogical approach centered on Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LIFE Schools: A certification programme for schools to integrate sustainable development into curriculum and daily activities.
• LIFE Foundation
• LIFE Network

Products and services

• Sustainable Project Management A 4-day (tailored 3–5 day) training programme that merges established Project Management methodology with sustainability practices, balancing Scope, Time, Cost, and Sustainability across the three pillars of People, Planet, and Profit. Participants execute a complete project from idea evaluation to final report; designed for project managers, team members, and steering group members across industries.
• Sustainable Energy Systems Programme An advanced International Training Programme on Sustainable Energy Systems designed for decision makers working in energy companies or in ministries, focused on Sustainable Development in the energy sector.
• Sustainable Business Programme An advanced International Training Programme on Sustainable Business designed for business leaders and sustainability managers in the private sector, focused on driving sustainable business practices.
• ICT and Pedagogical Development Programme A 3-month advanced capacity development programme for educational leaders and managers spanning 5 online webinars and 1 week in Sweden. Participants develop ICT as a tool for pedagogical development and complete a Change Initiative aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, priced at 3,900 USD per person (minimum 25 participants).
• PowHer Leaders Programme A programme empowering women in Ukraine to transform disrupted careers into opportunities for growth, overcome digital barriers, and become certified trainers providing inclusive learning throughout Ukraine. Funded by the Swedish Institute.
• LIFE Schools Certification A school certification programme that empowers and facilitates schools in integrating Sustainable Development into school curriculum and daily activities. Certified schools demonstrate quality commitment to environmental, social, and economic sustainability through a learner-centered pedagogical approach.
• Business to Business Support International market access facilitation service leveraging Life Academy's global network of professionals to support organisations expanding into emerging markets. Includes matchmaking, information sharing, and training to facilitate sustainable business development.
• WISE Ukraine – Women in Sustainable Energy An 18-month leadership and capacity-building programme supporting 25 women professionals from Ukraine's energy, public, academic, and civil society sectors, focusing on sustainable energy systems, gender equality, and leadership. Funded by the Swedish Institute under the SI Ukraine Cooperation Programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• Certified LIFE Schools in Sweden and Africa demonstrating structured sustainable development integration
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• IVL Swedish Environmental Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead coordinator for WISE Ukraine programme. Partnership combines expertise in sustainable energy, gender equality, pedagogy and institutional capacity development. LIFE Academy leads pedagogical design and Change Project methodology.
• Women's Energy Club of UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkrainian partner in WISE Ukraine programme focusing on women in sustainable energy leadership.
• Kyiv Polytechnic InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkrainian academic partner in WISE Ukraine programme contributing to sustainable energy education and capacity building.
• Stockholm UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in PowHer Leaders Programme contributing to digital and AI capacity development for women trainers in Ukraine.
• KTH Royal Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical university partner in PowHer Leaders Programme supporting digital transformation and AI training.
• Ukrainian Distance Learning (UDL) SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkrainian educational technology partner enabling remote learning capabilities for PowHer Leaders Programme.
• Dnipro University of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkrainian university partner contributing to PowHer Leaders Programme implementation.
• Sustainable Development and Innovation Agency (SDIA NGO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner supporting sustainable development aspects of PowHer Leaders Programme.
• Swedish InstituteflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding and strategic partner for Swedish Institute Management Programme Asia (SIMP Asia) from 2021-2023. Targets business leaders with ambition to drive change for sustainable development.
• LIFE FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated foundation implementing projects such as Sustainable Business Cleantech. Shared mission in sustainable development capacity building.
• Älvkullen School (Sweden)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish school participating in knowledge exchange collaboration with Mengo Senior School in Uganda.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Swedish Institute: Swedish government agency that funds and runs international capacity-building programmes for professionals from developing countries, including the SI Ukraine Cooperation Programme that underwrites LIFE Academy's WISE Ukraine and PowHer Leaders. Directly comparable mission and beneficiary base.
• IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute: Swedish environmental research institute that co-leads the WISE Ukraine programme with LIFE Academy. Operates at the intersection of applied sustainability research, pedagogy, and institutional capacity development for Swedish and international partners.
• Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL): Globally recognised sustainability leadership education provider offering executive programmes, advisory, and alumni networks for business and policy leaders. The closest large-scale analog to LIFE Academy's sustainability leadership training model.
• EIT Climate-KIC: EU-backed climate innovation community running education, accelerator, and capacity-building programmes across Europe and emerging markets. Comparable model of funded international climate/sustainability training with alumni and partner networks.
• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): Sweden-based policy research institute combining environmental science with sustainability capacity building, policy advice, and training for governments and international partners. Closely mirrors LIFE Academy's combination of Swedish expertise and international development audience.
• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Global sustainability advisory and training network working with multinational companies and supply chains on sustainable business practices. Mirrors LIFE Academy's B2B market access and sustainable business training offering.

Broad incumbents

• WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development): Global CEO-led organisation convening and educating business leaders on sustainability. Overlaps with LIFE Academy's Sustainable Business and leadership training targeting sustainability managers and corporate decision-makers.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German federal development agency running large-scale international capacity-building, training, and project implementation programmes for partner-country professionals. Operates the same donor-funded international training category as LIFE Academy, at vastly greater scale.

Regional players

• Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development (GMV): Joint centre of the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers providing sustainability education, research, and capacity-building for Swedish and international stakeholders. Regional Swedish academic counterpart to LIFE Academy's practitioner-led training.
• Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS): Lund University-based interdisciplinary centre delivering sustainability research and postgraduate education with strong international development orientation. Comparable Swedish academic node with overlapping international development mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LIFEAcademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/organization-guest/company/life-academy-sweden

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Life Academy