Fobagra

What Fobagra does

Fobagra asbl is a Brussels-based non-profit social economy association (ILDE — Initiative Locale de Développement de l'Emploi, accredited by the Brussels Region since 2006) founded in the late 1990s to combat digital exclusion among vulnerable populations. The organization operates a network of 10+ Espaces Publics Numériques (EPN — public digital spaces) distributed across Brussels municipalities (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Schaerbeek, Ixelles, Uccle, Ganshoren, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Evere, Watermael-Boitsfort, Brussels-Centre), each providing free or low-cost computer and internet access in partnership with local communes and social organizations. Its primary activities are ICT training (over 4,000 hours annually for ~40 partner organizations), full-service EPN management and animation for partner municipalities, equipment rental (computer rooms and Android tablet kits), and computer/smartphone/tablet repair counters. As a social-economy insertion initiative, Fobagra also employs and supports low-qualified job seekers, offering them work-based training and individualized pedagogical accompaniment.

The underlying technology stack is conventional: standard Windows PCs (Windows 10 in some locations, Office 2010-2016 suites), refurbished computer equipment, and standard internet connectivity. Fobagra has built two proprietary pedagogical assets — 'Cazou,' an internal training-session planning application, and 'Du matériel au virtuel,' an educational card game for digital-skills instruction (available at du-materiel-au-virtuel.be) — and delivers DigComp TOSA certification training through a formal partnership with Bruxelles-Formation for Actiris-registered job seekers over 25. There is no proprietary platform, no API, no AI/ML capability, and no software-as-a-service offering; the value proposition is fundamentally human-mediated in-person training and physical public access.

Fobagra's revenue model is structurally subsidy-dependent. Operational funding flows from the Brussels-Capital Region (Région de Bruxelles-Capitale), FEDER (European Regional Development Fund, renewed in 2024), Actiris (Brussels employment agency), and the Commission communautaire française. Earned income streams include training services at 'demantic prices' for partner associations and schools, EPN management subcontracting at cost price for municipalities lacking operational capacity, facility/tablet rental at unit or subscription pricing, and nominal EPN membership fees of EUR 1-2 per year. End-user training is free for Actiris-registered job seekers. Pricing for partner organizations and room rental is publicly disclosed at the unit level; overall revenue is not publicly reported.

Name

Fobagra

Legal name

Fobagra asbl

Website

https://fobagra.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fobagra is a Brussels-based non-profit social economy association operating 10+ public digital spaces (EPNs) across Brussels municipalities, delivering ICT training, EPN management, equipment rental, and digital inclusion services to vulnerable populations and partner organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital inclusion and social economy training services

NAICS

Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Inclusion & Public Tech Access Training (Device/Internet/Basic IT) (EDAAAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

IT Support & End-User Computing (Helpdesk, Desktop, M365/Google Workspace) (EDABAFAN)

Keywords

• Digital inclusion services
• ICT training programs
• Public digital spaces
• Social economy association
• Digital literacy training

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-josse-ten-noode

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training Services for Partner Organizations: Provides over 4,000 hours of computer training annually to approximately 40 partner organizations at democratic prices
2. EPN Management Subcontracting: Offers full-service EPN management and animation for organizations lacking resources, at cost price
3. Facility Rental: Rents computer rooms and tablet sets to organizations for their own training activities
4. EPN Membership Fees: Small annual or monthly fees at some EPN locations (1-2 euros/year)
5. Public Subsidies and Grants: Operational funding from Brussels Region, ILDE status, FEDER European funding, Actiris, and Commission communautaire française

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fobagra delivers ICT training services and digital inclusion programs through a network of Espaces Publics Numériques (EPN) in Brussels. Core offerings include: training of organization staff and beneficiaries (Formation de votre public/personnel), full-service EPN management and animation for municipalities, DigComp TOSA certified training programs for job seekers in partnership with Bruxelles-Formation, rental of computer training rooms and Android tablet kits, and computer/smartphone/tablet repair services. The organization serves both vulnerable individuals and partner associations, schools, and communes.

Product overview

Fobagra ASBL is a social economy organization (ILDE) fighting against digital divide in Brussels since the late 1990s. Its core offering consists of ICT training services and digital inclusion programs delivered through a network of Espaces Publics Numériques (EPN) - digital public spaces providing free computer and internet access. The company offers three main service categories: (1) Training services including 'Formation de votre public' (training for partner organizations' beneficiaries), 'Formation de votre personnel' (staff digital training), and specialized IT certification programs like DigComp TOSA; (2) EPN management services covering full operational take-over of digital public spaces for partner municipalities; and (3) Equipment rental including computer room rental and Android tablet kit rental. Supporting services include repair counters for computers/smartphones/tablets, and internal pedagogical tools such as the 'Du matériel au virtuel' card game and 'Cazou' planning software. The company conducts over 4,000 hours of computer training annually for approximately 40 partner organizations, and employs insertion workers through its social economy model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formation de votre public Customized ICT training services for associations, schools, and organizations' target audiences, covering computer usage, internet, creative multimedia projects, and job-search web skills, with quality follow-up from instructors.
• Formation de votre personnel Professional digital training for association and organization staff, covering internet usage, multimedia expression, computer-assisted training, and association management improvement, with individual or group coaching.
• Gestion et animation d'EPN Full-service EPN management and animation including hardware selection, installation, maintenance, software optimization, public reception, training organization, daily management, and partnership development for organizations lacking internal capacity.
• Location de salles informatiques Rental of equipped computer training rooms at Fobagra's Saint-Josse-ten-Noode location (20 rue du Méridien, 1210), available for half-day or full-day bookings with semi-annual or annual subscription options.
• Location de tablettes numériques Rental of 10 Android tablets with power supplies and power strips, ready to connect to WiFi networks, providing partners with easy web access at their locations.
• Comptoirs de réparations Computer, smartphone, and tablet repair service at EPN locations, covering software (Windows configuration, software setup, virus removal, performance issues) and hardware (hard drive replacement, RAM upgrades, component changes); EPN registration required.
• EPN (Espaces Publics Numériques) Public Digital Spaces Network of neighborhood digital public spaces offering free computer and internet access, with training programs and multimedia project support; locations include EPN 1030 (Schaerbeek), EPN Bravvo (Brussels), EPN Ixelles, EPN Le Phare (Uccle), EPN Sapiens (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode), EPN Uccle, EPN Wiener (Watermael-Boitsfort), EPN Ganshoren, EPN Evere, EPN Boondael (Ixelles, currently closed), and EPN Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.
• Formation informatique avec certification DigComp TOSA 60-hour certified computer training program for job seekers aged 25+, partnered with Bruxelles-Formation, covering mouse/keyboard mastery, file management, Word, internet, email, social networks, cloud computing, and Tosa DigComp certification preparation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ training hours delivered annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bruxelles-FormationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels training authority providing DigComp TOSA certification for Fobagra's 60-hour job seeker training programs
• Mission Locale de SchaerbeekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal employment mission hosting EPN 1030 in Schaerbeek; co-develops the digital training space and organizes ongoing training programs
• Bravvo asblcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial organization hosting EPN Bravvo in Brussels, providing premises and collaborative framework for digital inclusion activities
• Commune d'IxellescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIxelles municipality hosting EPN Ixelles with support from the mayor, employment echevin, and CPAS president
• Commune de Saint-Josse-Ten-NoodecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaint-Josse municipality financing EPN Sapiens and providing ongoing support for digital inclusion initiatives
• CIRB (Centre Informatique de la Région bruxelloise)coreTechnology or IntegrationBrussels IT center providing computer equipment for EPN Sapiens and supporting technical infrastructure
• ActiriscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels employment agency hosting EPN Uccle in their premises for digital training services
• Commune de Watermael-BoitsfortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatermael-Boitsfort municipality hosting and supporting EPN Wiener for community digital access
• Commune de GanshorencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGanshoren municipality hosting EPN Ganshoren and providing ongoing operational support
• ParadigmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels administration supporting Ganshoren EPN project as part of regional accessibility initiatives
• Commune de Woluwe-Saint-PierrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoluwe-Saint-Pierre municipality hosting EPN in the basement of the town hall, providing training programs in partnership
• Maison sociale d'EverecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvere social center hosting EPN with 6 Windows 10 workstations for community digital access
• Bin HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization hosting EPN Boondael (currently closed) in Ixelles
• Maks vzwcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian association partnering with Fobagra under FEDER funding for digital inclusion across Brussels EPNs
• ARC ASBLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation partner in FEDER-funded project strengthening EPNs and their animators through collective training and coaching
• Caban ASBLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollectif des Acteurs Bruxellois de l'Accessibilité Numérique - federation of Brussels associations fighting digital divide; partner in FEDER project
• APEPAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutism Belgium association collaborating on learning disability detection study for social economy workers
• APEDAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation collaborating with Fobagra on neuropsychological study examining learning disabilities in insertion economy workers
• CF2DminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in collective training project for social economy workers across multiple ESMI organizations
• Various ESMI organizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisations sociales d'insertion (ESMI) including ARPAIJE, ART2WORK, ARTS & PUBLICS, CANNELLE, CEJ-ROUF, CHOM'HIER, CPAS Saint-Josse, CYCLO, K-FETE, LE DEBUT DES HARICOTS participating in collective training programs

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Lire et Écrire: Wallonia-Brussels Federation literacy and basic-skills association with growing digital-literacy programs; comparable target population and pedagogy, but literacy-anchored rather than IT-first.
• Centre d'Éducation Populaire (CEP): Belgian adult and popular-education provider offering IT training to vulnerable groups — partial overlap in target audience and Brussels/French-community presence.

Direct peers

• ARC ASBL: Brussels association partner in the FEDER-funded EPN project, providing collective training and coaching for animators — overlapping directly with Fobagra's EPN management service line.
• Caban ASBL: Collectif des Acteurs Bruxellois de l'Accessibilité Numérique — a federation of Brussels associations fighting the digital divide, with overlapping mission, geography, and federal funding access.
• Maks vzw: Belgian non-profit focused on digital inclusion for vulnerable populations; current FEDER consortium partner with Fobagra on EPN strengthening in Brussels.
• Bruxelles-Formation: Brussels public training authority that delivers and certifies IT/digital training for job seekers — directly comparable to Fobagra's DigComp TOSA program and a partner-competitor in the same regional market.

Broad incumbents

• Emmaüs Connect: French digital-inclusion non-profit with national scale, refurbished-equipment programs, and training for vulnerable populations — broader geographic footprint and similar social-economy model.
• WeTechCare (Emmaüs Connect): France-based digital-inclusion platform offering training content and program support to social organizations — comparable services but at much larger national scale.

Others

• Paradigm: Brussels regional administration supporting digital accessibility and inclusion initiatives; comparable mission and a current partner on the Ganshoren EPN, though operating as a public body rather than a training provider.

Regional players

• Les Petits Riens / Digital: Brussels social-economy organization with refurbishment and digital-inclusion activities adjacent to Fobagra's repair-counter and equipment-recycling services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Fobagra-asbl-180959755254723
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fobagra

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

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Fobagra