What Fonden For Entreprenørskab does

Fonden for Entreprenørskab (the Danish Foundation for Entrepreneurship, also known as FFE) is a Danish non-profit foundation established in 2010–2011 that functions as the national knowledge center and operational hub for entrepreneurship education across Denmark. It serves the full Danish education stack — primary schools, secondary schools, vocational institutions, upper secondary programs, and universities — plus educational institutions (e.g., student incubators) and a broader ecosystem of teachers, mentors, evaluators and volunteers.

The foundation's commercial core is the Mikrolegat micro-grant program, supplemented by Momentum Mikrolegat for vocational students, Projektstøtte for institutional projects, the annual Årets Unge Iværksættere competition (with DKK 100,000 prizes per winner in 2025), the Denmark Entrepreneurship Festival (~2,000 attendees), and structured entrepreneurship programs (Company Programme, Global Goals Programme, Next Level, Edison, Kickstart). Supporting products include teaching materials, the Entrepreneurial Skills Pass international certification, and the ESG Startup Guide (esgstartupguide.dk). Technology stack is modest and operationally focused: JotForm-based online grant applications hosted at ffefonden.jotform.com, mandatory YouTube/Vimeo video pitches up to 4 minutes long, and a publicly searchable Wall of Fame cataloguing recipients. There is no proprietary IP, AI/ML capability, or mobile product.

Revenue is non-commercial and grant-funded. Primary funding flows through the Danish Finance Act and the UN Sustainable Development Goals Action Plan, augmented by corporate partners (Tuborgfondet, Lundbeckfonden, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker, Den Danske Maritime Fond, UPS, DANA, Nordea Iværksætterfond, Tønder Energi- og Miljøfond) and four Danish ministries (Higher Education & Science, Business, Children & Education, Culture). Grants to student entrepreneurs — ranging from DKK 15,000 to DKK 60,000 depending on track and CVR status — are disbursed as soft funding (non-repayable) and treated as taxable-exempt under Section 7K of Danish tax law when conditions are met. The organization is governed by a board (foreperson Louise Lachmann) under CEO Christian Vintergaard, operates from Odense and Copenhagen, and tracks approximately 35 staff.

Name

Fonden For Entreprenørskab

Legal name

Fonden for Entreprenørskab

Website

https://ffefonden.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fonden for Entreprenørskab is a Danish non-profit foundation that runs Mikrolegat micro-grants (up to DKK 60,000), entrepreneurship programs, and the national Entrepreneurship Festival for students across all Danish education levels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Entrepreneurship Education & Student Micro-Grants

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Student entrepreneurship grants
• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Micro-grant funding
• Youth innovation support
• Education sector foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Odense

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary financing comes from the Danish government's Finance Act through the 'Partnership for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Education', supplemented by the UN Sustainable Development Goals Action Plan. This provides funding for operational activities and grant distribution.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Private partners including Tuborgfondet, Lundbeckfondet, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker, and Den Danske Maritime Fond provide dedicated funding for specialized microgrants (e.g., green microgrants, life science microgrants, maritime microgrants).
3. Program Revenue: Foundation operates as a non-profit and does not generate commercial revenue from its programs. All grants provided to students are 'soft funding' that does not require repayment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fonden For Entreprenørskab is a Danish non-profit foundation that delivers entrepreneurship education and student-facing micro-grant programs across all educational levels. Its core offerings are the Mikrolegat (up to DKK 60,000 for higher education students and recent graduates) and Momentum Mikrolegat (up to DKK 35,000 for vocational/youth education students with mandatory mentorship), complemented by project funding for schools, entrepreneurship teaching materials, school programs, and a national annual entrepreneurship festival.

Product overview

Fonden For Entreprenørskab operates as a foundation focused on entrepreneurship education across all levels of the Danish education system. The organization manages a portfolio of interconnected programs and services centered around two core micro-grant products: Mikrolegat (for higher education students, up to DKK 60,000) and Momentum Mikrolegat (for vocational and youth education students, up to DKK 35,000). These are complemented by Projektstøtte for institutional project funding, teaching materials, the annual festival, and competitive programs including Årets Unge Iværksættere. The organization also provides supplementary tools like the ESG Startup Guide and maintains a Wall of Fame showcasing grant recipients. The application process for all programs involves a written application, video pitch (uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo), and budget submission through JotForm-based forms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mikrolegat Financial micro-grant program offering up to DKK 30,000 (without CVR) or up to DKK 60,000 (with CVR) for full-time students at Danish higher education institutions, Ph.D. students, and recent graduates within 3 months of application deadline. Supports development of innovative business ideas with a 4-month implementation period. Funds are used for development activities (prototypes, professional help, market research, patent applications) but not operating expenses.
• Momentum Mikrolegat Financial micro-grant program for students at vocational and youth education institutions (EUD/EUX, HHX, HTX, STX/HF) offering up to DKK 15,000 (without CVR) or up to DKK 35,000 (with CVR). Includes mandatory mentor support with minimum three meetings. CVR grants require 25% co-financing.
• Projektstøtte (Project Support) Grant program supporting development projects within entrepreneurship education at schools and educational institutions across Denmark, covering primary schools, secondary schools, vocational education, and higher education.
• Entrepreneurial Skills Pass (ESP) International certification program that validates students' entrepreneurial skills and competencies acquired through education, enabling recognition across borders.
• Årets Unge Iværksættere (Young Entrepreneur of the Year) National award program in collaboration with the Ministry of Business, recognizing young entrepreneurs aged 15-20 who create solutions benefiting society. Three winners receive DKK 100,000 each in categories including Life Science, Diversity, and Craftsmanship Revitalized.
• Programmer og konkurrencer (Programs and Competitions) Entrepreneurship programs and competitions for students at primary schools, secondary schools, vocational education, and higher education institutions, including the Global Goals Programme, Company Programme, Next Level, Edison, and Kickstart Programme.
• Wall of Fame Public showcase of all Mikrolegat and Momentum Mikrolegat recipients, providing visibility to investors, press, and partners. Includes filtering by year, green startup status, subject area, and education type.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,342 micro grants awarded since 2011, with 3,849 total applications received
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Uddannelses- og Forskningsministeriet (Ministry of Higher Education and Science)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinisterial partnership as part of the 'Partnership for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Education'. Government partner providing foundational funding and policy support.
• Erhvervsministeriet (Danish Ministry of Business)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Årets Unge Iværksættere award program. Co-organizer of national entrepreneurship initiatives and competitions.
• Børne- og Undervisningsministeriet (Ministry of Children and Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinisterial partner supporting entrepreneurship education across primary and secondary education levels in Denmark.
• Kulturministeriet (Ministry of Culture)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinisterial partner supporting cultural and creative entrepreneurship education initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Echoing Green: US-based organization providing seed-stage fellowships to emerging social entrepreneurs — comparable in operating a competitive, mentor-supported fellowship/funding model for early-stage mission-driven founders.
• Ashoka: Global network supporting social entrepreneurs via fellowship funding and ecosystem building — comparable in providing fellowship/grant-style support to mission-driven founders and operating a multi-country peer community.
• The Prince's Trust: UK charity that provides funding, mentoring, and training to young people (including entrepreneurs aged 18–30) — directly comparable in combining grants, mentorship, and a youth-focused entrepreneurship mission.
• JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement): Global nonprofit delivering entrepreneurship, work-readiness, and financial literacy education programs to students from primary school through higher education — directly comparable mission, target audience, and program portfolio (classroom programs, company programs, competitions).
• Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: US private foundation focused on entrepreneurship education and research, funding programs that support founders and educators — comparable as a national grantmaking foundation driving entrepreneurship education with research and program delivery.
• Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: EU cross-border exchange program providing grants and mentorship to new and aspiring entrepreneurs — comparable in funding and supporting student/early-stage entrepreneurs through a structured program with EU government backing.

Emerging players

• Mass Challenge: Global startup accelerator providing mentorship-driven, non-dilutive support to early-stage founders — comparable in offering non-dilutive support, mentorship, and visibility to early-stage entrepreneurs, though organized as an accelerator rather than an education-focused foundation.

Others

• Tuborgfondet: Danish corporate foundation funding cultural, green, and entrepreneurship initiatives — relevant as a core financial partner that funds the foundation's green Mikrolegater and Kickstart programs, illustrating a typical funder/operator relationship in this space.

Regional players

• Vækstfonden (Danish Growth Fund): Danish state-owned investment fund that provides capital and loan instruments to Danish startups and SMEs — comparable as a Danish government-backed capital provider for entrepreneurs, but operating with debt/equity instruments rather than grants.

Broad incumbents

• Nesta: UK innovation foundation with a broader mandate across innovation, education, and public services — comparable as a national innovation/education foundation that runs programs, funds, and policy work, though with a much wider portfolio than the Danish Foundation for Entrepreneurship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ffedk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fonden-for-entrepren-rskab---young-enterprise
• Xx.com/ffeyedk

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments4 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Fonden For Entreprenørskab