Erasmus For Young Entrepreneurs

What Erasmus For Young Entrepreneurs does

Erasmus For Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) is a cross-border exchange programme founded in 2009 and coordinated from Brussels, Belgium. It enables new or aspiring entrepreneurs (those planning to start, or having started within the last three years) to spend time with experienced SME owner-managers in other participating countries, acquiring practical skills in running a small firm while hosts gain fresh perspectives and international cooperation opportunities.

The programme is delivered through a network of local intermediary organisations (local contact points) across 45 participating countries, supported by a centralised EU IT platform (webgate.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-entrepreneurs) that handles applications and an online matching catalogue used to pair new and host entrepreneurs. The platform supports 22-language localisation and is integrated with EU digital infrastructure. Distribution is community-led: applicants register through their country's local contact point, which guides them through the application and matching process.

EYE does not charge participants any application or participation fees. The programme is funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ initiative, making the European Commission the sole institutional sponsor and counterparty. To date the programme reports 15,374 completed business exchanges, 28,457 applications from new entrepreneurs, and 16,324 applications from host entrepreneurs. The Support Office in Brussels (11-50 employees) coordinates operations, including an annual awards programme (Entrepreneur/Host/New Entrepreneur of the Year) and the EYE Alumni community for past participants.

Name

Erasmus For Young Entrepreneurs

Legal name

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

Website

https://erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Erasmus For Young Entrepreneurs is an EU-funded cross-border exchange programme, coordinated from Brussels, that pairs new or aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced SME owner-managers across 45 participating countries via local contact points and a centralised IT platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneur Exchange / Mentorship Programme

NAICS

Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Erasmus+ and Government-Sponsored Exchange Partnerships (EDAIABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM), SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE), Entrepreneurship & Freelance Employability (Self-Employment Readiness) (EDAAAKAM)

Keywords

• Cross-border exchange
• Entrepreneur mentorship
• Business exchange programme
• SME support programme
• EU entrepreneurship programme

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussel

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border European exchange programme that pairs new or aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced host entrepreneurs running SMEs in other Participating Countries. During a stay with the host entrepreneur, the new entrepreneur acquires practical skills needed to run a small firm, while the host gains fresh perspectives, international cooperation opportunities, and exposure to new markets. The programme is funded by the European Commission under Erasmus+ and is entirely free for participants.

Product overview

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a single, unified European business exchange programme. It facilitates cross-border learning by pairing new entrepreneurs with experienced host entrepreneurs in participating countries. The programme provides a matching platform and manages the exchange process, enabling new entrepreneurs to acquire skills needed to run a small firm while host entrepreneurs gain fresh perspectives and international cooperation opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EYE Alumni: Alumni network for programme participants who have completed exchanges

Products and services

• Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Exchange Programme A cross-border European exchange programme that enables new or aspiring entrepreneurs to learn from experienced entrepreneurs running small businesses in other Participating Countries. The exchange of experience takes place during a stay with the experienced entrepreneur, helping new entrepreneurs acquire the skills needed to run a small firm. Targeted at new entrepreneurs who are firmly planning to set up their own business or have already started one within the last three years, and at experienced entrepreneurs who own or manage an SME in a Participating Country.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Startup Europe: European Commission initiative supporting web entrepreneurs and startups via networks, accelerators, and cross-border linkages. Directly comparable as a sibling EU programme targeting European founder mobility and ecosystem building.
• Enterprise Europe Network: EU-funded network of 600+ member organizations helping SMEs innovate and grow internationally across 60+ countries. Most directly comparable to EYE: same EU institutional DNA, similar SME internationalization mission, parallel local-intermediary operating model.
• AIESEC: Global youth exchange organization operating leadership and entrepreneurship internships across 100+ countries. Comparable as a cross-border youth/founder exchange network with community-led matching and a non-commercial mission.
• ENACTUS: Global non-profit running student entrepreneurship programmes in 30+ countries with mentorship and project-based learning. Comparable as an entrepreneurship-education exchange/development platform targeting early-stage founders.
• EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology: EU body fostering pan-European entrepreneurship and innovation through Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), including EIT InnoVenture-style founder mobility programmes. Comparable as an EU-funded ecosystem builder targeting European entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Emerging players

• Seedstars: Swiss-based emerging markets startup platform with competitions and founder support across 80+ countries. Comparable as a cross-border emerging-market founder development and visibility programme.
• Founder Institute: Global pre-seed accelerator and founder-development programme operating in 100+ cities, providing mentorship to aspiring entrepreneurs. Comparable as a structured cross-border founder-development platform, though commercial rather than publicly funded.
• MicroMentor: Global non-profit platform matching aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced mentors. Comparable as a digital matching infrastructure for small-business mentorship, though broader geography and lower-touch than EYE's in-person stays.

Broad incumbents

• Erasmus+ Programme (parent initiative): The overarching EU programme funding EYE; covers student mobility, adult education, vocational training, and youth exchanges across the EU. EYE operates as a niche sub-programme within this much larger portfolio of mobility schemes.
• European Solidarity Corps: EU programme enabling young people to volunteer or work on solidarity projects across Europe. Comparable as a parallel EU cross-border exchange programme targeting youth, though focused on volunteerism rather than entrepreneurship specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ErasmusEntrepreneurs
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Erasmus-for-Young-Entrepreneurs/109504235748017?ref=ts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/erasmus-for-young-entrepreneurs/posts/?feedView=all&viewAsMember=true

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 Erasmus For Young Entrepreneurs