What ThinkYoung does

ThinkYoung is a not-for-profit think tank founded in 2009 in Brussels, Belgium, operating as the first organisation dedicated exclusively to policy research and advocacy for young people across Gen Y, Gen Z, and (prospectively) Gen Alpha. The organisation delivers its mission through four interconnected product lines: (1) Research — studies, surveys, focus groups, and data analysis on issues affecting young people, feeding European Parliament, European Commission, and other institutional partners; (2) Schools — Coding Summer Schools and Social Entrepreneurship Schools reaching 500 young people annually across Europe, Africa, and Asia, producing 2,000+ entrepreneurship alumni; (3) Campaigns — themed advocacy initiatives including ThinkGoodMobility (Goodyear), Hidden Inventors (Ericsson), ThinkYoung Vaccine Coalition (MSD/Sanofi Pasteur), Fail2Succeed, Learn2Work, and ThinkYoung Digital Coalition; and (4) THY/LAB — an audiovisual research division producing 100+ documentaries in 30+ countries. The core technology stack is conventional content production and survey-based research methodology, not proprietary software or AI systems.

The business model is donation-led and non-commercial in orientation. The majority of project financing comes from foundations and private donations, with named institutional partners including the European Parliament, European Commission, and US Mission to the EU, plus corporate sponsors (Ericsson, LEGO, Boeing, Goodyear, MSD, Sanofi Pasteur, Goethe Institute, EU40, International Organization for Migration). Commercial revenue streams exist but are secondary: individual membership at €40/year and Young membership (under 24) at €25/year provide recurring but small-scale income, while THY/LAB generates one-time revenue through DVD sales (home use €45-55, institutional €450-550, non-profit discounted). The organisation holds no patents, has no disclosed funding rounds, is founder-led with no parent company, and is legally domiciled as THINKYOUNG AIS BL in Belgium (VAT BE0822.537.531). It maintains offices in Brussels, Geneva, Hong Kong, and Nairobi, and claims to have reached over 800,000 young people cumulatively.

Name

ThinkYoung

Legal name

THINKYOUNG AIS BL

Website

https://thinkyoung.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ThinkYoung is a Brussels-based not-for-profit think tank founded in 2009 that conducts policy research, runs entrepreneurship and coding schools, and produces documentaries for and about Gen Y, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha, serving European institutions and corporate sponsors across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Policy Research and Advocacy

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Youth policy research
• Educational programs
• Documentary production
• Policy advocacy
• Entrepreneurship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Brunelles

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Private Donations: ThinkYoung is a not-for-profit independent association. The majority of projects are financed by foundations and private donations.
2. Membership Fees: Individual membership at €40 annually and Young membership (under 24) at €25 annually, providing special access to ThinkYoung projects and events.
3. DVD Sales and Licensing: ThinkYoung Audiovisual Lab (THY/LAB) sells DVDs and licenses educational films for home use (€45-55), institutional use (€450-550), and non-profit organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ThinkYoung is a not-for-profit think tank that conducts youth-focused research (studies, surveys, focus groups, data analysis on Gen Y, Gen Z and Gen Alpha) and delivers it through research reports, schools (Coding Summer Schools and Social Entrepreneurship Schools), advocacy campaigns and coalitions, an audiovisual production lab (THY LAB), and documentary films. The organization also operates a tiered individual/young membership program and accepts donations and corporate sponsorship to fund the majority of its projects.

Product overview

ThinkYoung is a not-for-profit think tank founded in 2009, operating as a multi-program organization focused on improving the lives of young people. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including: Research (studies, surveys, and data analysis on Gen Y, Gen Z, and Gen ⍫), Schools (entrepreneurship and coding schools across Europe, Africa, and Asia), Campaigns (various initiatives on technology, employment, inventors, and vaccination), THY LAB (audiovisual research lab producing documentaries and films), Thinkathon/Digital Coalition (policy debate platforms on digital inclusion), and Membership programs. The organization has offices in Brussels, Geneva, Hong Kong, and Nairobi, and reaches over 800,000 young people through its schools, campaigns, and documentaries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• THY LAB: Audiovisual Research division producing documentaries, short films, workshops and screenings
• Thinkathon
• ThinkYoung Digital Coalition
• ThinkYoung Vaccine Coalition
• Hidden Inventors
• Coding Summer School
• Social Entrepreneurship School

Products and services

• Youth Research Studies and Reports Studies, surveys, focus groups, and data analysis providing decision makers with rigorous information and insights on issues affecting Gen Y, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha.
• Coding Summer Schools Hands-on coding education program for teenagers delivered annually across Europe, Africa, and Asia; part of the broader Schools program reaching more than 500 young people each year.
• Social Entrepreneurship Schools Entrepreneurship training program for young people, with more than 2,000 young people trained to date in launching ventures and social enterprises.
• THY LAB Audiovisual Productions Audiovisual research lab producing documentaries, short films, workshops, and screenings; DVDs and licenses sold to home users (€45-€55), institutions (€450-€550), and non-profits for educational and advocacy use.
• ThinkYoung Vaccine Coalition Coalition of 35 young healthcare professionals from more than 20 EU countries advocating for vaccination and prevention; produces research reports and a manifesto with 10 recommendations for immunisation.
• ThinkYoung Digital Coalition (Thinkathon) Coalition of organisations and individuals aged 18-35 working to address inequality, poverty, and digital access across Europe, combined with the Thinkathon debate platform where young participants create policy recommendations.
• ThinkYoung Membership Program Annual membership subscription offering monthly and weekly updates on Gen Y, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha trends, invitations to special events, and exclusive access to ThinkYoung projects; tiered at €40 (Individual) and €25 (Young, under 24), plus a free Follower tier.

Quantifiable outcome

• Erased roaming charges across the EU
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 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

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

• European ParliamentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Parliament is a key institutional partner for ThinkYoung's research and policy engagement initiatives. ThinkYoung conducts research and provides policy recommendations to MEPs and European Parliament committees.
• European CommissionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThinkYoung works with the European Commission on various youth-related policy initiatives, research projects, and advocacy campaigns targeting EU decision-makers.
• US Mission to the EUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS diplomatic mission to the EU collaborating with ThinkYoung on transatlantic youth engagement and policy discussions.
• EricssoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEricsson partnered with ThinkYoung on the Hidden Inventors campaign to celebrate European inventors and promote inventiveness in youth.
• LEGOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEGO Foundation is a partner supporting ThinkYoung's educational initiatives and schools programs focused on coding and entrepreneurship for youth.
• BoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoeing partners with ThinkYoung on youth engagement initiatives and research projects related to young people and future technologies.
• Goethe InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman cultural institution collaborating with ThinkYoung on cultural exchange programs and initiatives involving young people across Europe.
• GoodyearcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodyear partnered with ThinkYoung on the ThinkGoodMobility campaign and challenge to gather youth perspectives on smart and sustainable mobility in 2025.
• MSDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSD (Merck & Co.) partners with ThinkYoung's Vaccine Coalition to advocate for vaccination and prevention across Europe.
• European Vaccine InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEVI collaborates with ThinkYoung's Vaccine Coalition on vaccine research advocacy and public health initiatives.
• Sanofi PasteurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanofi Pasteur partners with ThinkYoung's Vaccine Coalition to support vaccination awareness campaigns and youth health initiatives.
• European Patients' ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPF collaborates with ThinkYoung's Vaccine Coalition on patient advocacy and vaccination awareness across Europe.
• International Papillomavirus SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPVS partners with ThinkYoung on HPV vaccination awareness and cancer prevention campaigns targeting young people.
• Meta (Facebook)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeta collaborates with ThinkYoung's Vaccine Coalition on digital outreach and social media campaigns for vaccination awareness.
• EU40coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU40 (network of young MEPs) partners with ThinkYoung on youth digital inclusion and policy initiatives.
• International Organization for MigrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOM partners with THY/LAB on audiovisual research projects related to migration and youth across different regions.
• Delegation of the European Union to SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Delegation to Switzerland collaborates with ThinkYoung on events, screenings, and cultural initiatives including the Chinese Dreams film series.
• Media DomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia Dome partners with THY/LAB on audiovisual content production and documentary filmmaking projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ashoka: Global organization focused on social entrepreneurship and supporting young changemakers. Comparable through overlapping programs (Social Entrepreneurship Schools) and shared mission of empowering young people to drive systemic change.
• Bruegel: Leading European economic policy think tank based in Brussels delivering research to EU institutions. Comparable as a similarly sized, Brussels-anchored, donor-funded think tank whose work feeds directly into EU legislative processes.
• European Policy Centre (EPC): Brussels-based policy think tank producing research and convening policymakers on EU affairs. Closely comparable as a Brussels-rooted think tank that converts research into policy influence for European institutions, much like ThinkYoung does on the youth niche.
• JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement): Global nonprofit delivering entrepreneurship and workforce readiness education to young people. Comparable on the entrepreneurship-education program offering and youth-skills development mission, with similar school-style training models.
• European Youth Forum: European-level youth advocacy platform representing youth organizations to EU institutions. Compares on the youth-policy niche, advocating the same demographic cohort to the same institutional audiences (European Parliament, Commission, Council).

Broad incumbents

• RAND Europe: Larger, established research institute with Brussels presence producing policy studies for European institutions. Comparable as a research-and-policy partner to EU bodies, though much broader in scope than ThinkYoung's youth focus.
• Chatham House: Established international affairs think tank based in London. Comparable as a high-profile, donor-supported think tank producing research that influences governments; broader remit than ThinkYoung's youth specialization.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European foreign policy think tank with broad policy remit and pan-EU influence. Comparable as a similarly structured, donor-funded think tank that provides research and convening power to European policymakers.
• UNICEF (Europe and Central Asia): Large international organization advancing child and youth rights through research, advocacy, and programs. Overlaps in youth research and policy advocacy serving European institutions, but at significantly greater scale.

Emerging players

• Restless Development: International nonprofit placing young people at the center of development and policy. Comparable through its youth-led advocacy approach and cross-region delivery model, with overlapping work in skills and civic engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThinkYoungTW
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ThinkYoungNGO
• Facebookfacebook.com/thinkyoung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thinkyoung
• Instagraminstagram.com/thinkyoung.ngo

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 ThinkYoung