Global Shapers Brussels

What Global Shapers Brussels does

Global Shapers Brussels Hub is a volunteer-run youth leadership community organization based in Brussels, Belgium, operating as a local chapter of the Global Shapers Community — a global network of city-based hubs founded by the World Economic Forum in 2011. The hub recruits young professionals aged 18-27 living in or near Brussels through a bi-annual open application process administered via Google Forms, followed by interviews and a three-month probation period. Active members include a Hub Curator, Vice-Curator, Impact Officer, Community Champion, and broader volunteer base, all serving on a voluntary basis.

The hub delivers community projects rather than commercial products. Its current portfolio includes BodyTalks (a mental-health and body-image awareness initiative that published an illustrated book of anonymous stories), Generation Women (a professional empowerment community for young female professionals), ShapingYou (career orientation sessions delivered in local high schools), and the Volunteering Skills Fair (a one-day volunteer training event). Past initiatives span civic engagement (Vote!), sustainable mobility (Two Wheel Tuesday), circular economy (Scale360°), future-of-work research (Shaping the Future of Work), and the Brussels Inside Out podcast on Spotify. Project distribution relies on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, and community events; member coordination uses Google Forms and Google Docs.

The organization's business model is non-commercial. The sole disclosed revenue stream is an annual hub membership fee, with a waiver for students; specific amounts are not publicly disclosed. There is no formal legal entity registration documented, no fundraising activity, no grants or sponsorships referenced, and no headcount growth or financial disclosures available. The hub is functionally a volunteer association whose primary outputs are community impact, leadership development for its members, and reputational benefits flowing from its WEF affiliation.

Name

Global Shapers Brussels

Legal name

Global Shapers Brussels Hub

Website

https://globalshapersbrussels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Global Shapers Brussels is a volunteer-run youth leadership community hub in Brussels, recruiting professionals aged 18-27 to deliver local community projects as part of the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Community Development

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Youth leadership development
• Community organizing
• Civic engagement programs
• Volunteer training events
• Local community projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Hub membership fees collected from members, with fee waiver policy for students. No specific fee amounts disclosed publicly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Global Shapers Brussels is a volunteer-run community hub for young professionals aged 18-27 that runs local projects addressing social, environmental, and civic issues in Brussels. Members participate in monthly meetings, project work, and structured community initiatives including BodyTalks, Generation Women, ShapingYou, and the Volunteering Skills Fair, while gaining access to a global network of 500+ hubs affiliated with the World Economic Forum.

Product overview

Global Shapers Brussels Hub is a youth leadership community organization, not a technology product company. It operates as a city-based hub within the Global Shapers Community network, connecting young professionals aged 18-27 to drive positive change in Brussels. The hub offers community projects including BodyTalks (mental health awareness through published stories), Generation Women (professional development for young women), ShapingYou (career orientation for high schoolers), and the Volunteering Skills Fair (volunteer training event). The organization also supports past projects such as Two Wheel Tuesday, Vert Ma Vie, Scale360°, Shaping the Future of Work, Brussels Inside Out podcast, and Vote! civic engagement initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BodyTalks A community project raising awareness around the importance of promoting a positive body image to improve mental health and wellbeing, by collecting and illustrating anonymous stories published in a book. Targeted at Brussels residents broadly.
• Generation Women A community project empowering the next generation of young female professionals in Brussels and supporting their growth through a trusted community for meeting, inspiring talks, and skill development. Targeted at young female professionals in Brussels.
• ShapingYou A community project inspiring and guiding high-schoolers in Brussels in making more informed academic and career-related choices through career orientation sessions. Targeted at Brussels high-school students.
• Volunteering Skills Fair A one-day event in Brussels equipping Brussels-based volunteers with the practical skills they need to further their positive impact, by training and onboarding volunteers from local grassroots organisations. Targeted at volunteers from Brussels grassroots organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 city-based hubs worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• World Economic ForumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Global Shapers Community was founded by the World Economic Forum in 2011 as a global network of young leaders. The WEF provides institutional support, brand affiliation, and access to global platforms and decision-making spaces. The Brussels Hub operates as part of this affiliated network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Common Purpose: Common Purpose runs leadership development programs for emerging leaders across sectors. Comparable in developing leadership capacity among diverse cohorts, though more focused on professional than civic leadership.
• TakingITGlobal: TakingITGlobal is an online platform connecting young people to social impact opportunities globally. Comparable as an enabling infrastructure for youth-led civic projects and cross-border collaboration.

Direct peers

• AIESEC: AIESEC is a global youth-led network developing leadership through cross-cultural exchanges and youth mobilization projects. Closely comparable to Global Shapers Brussels in mission, age-driven membership, and global/local dual structure.
• Generation Citizen: Generation Citizen works to increase youth civic participation and leadership in democratic processes. Comparable to Global Shapers Brussels' Vote! project and broader civic engagement focus.
• DoSomething.org: DoSomething.org mobilizes young people around social causes through campaigns and digital tools. Comparable in using community projects and campaigns to drive youth civic engagement.
• European Youth Forum: European Youth Forum is an EU-level umbrella platform run by and for young people to influence EU policy. Highly comparable as a Brussels-based youth advocacy and civic engagement organization.
• Junior Achievement: Junior Achievement prepares young people for career and leadership through education programs. Comparable in running skill-building and orientation programs (e.g., ShapingYou, Volunteering Skills Fair) for youth.
• Peace First: Peace First is a global platform funding and mentoring young people leading community change projects. Directly comparable in providing young changemakers with project funding, tools, and peer networks.
• Global Changemakers: Global Changemakers is a British Council initiative supporting young social entrepreneurs and civic leaders. Comparable in mission to empower young changemakers, build leadership, and fund community projects.
• Ashoka Young Changemakers: Ashoka's youth programs cultivate young people as social entrepreneurs and changemakers. Overlaps with Global Shapers Brussels in identifying, training, and supporting young leaders tackling local challenges.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/5eiSh1qh42BYmVt3u8PNZo?si=ZA2J8FsYQnGyTk90E0KK5Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/BrusselShapers
• Instagraminstagram.com/bodytalks.gsb
• Xx.com/brusselshapers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-shapers-brussels-hub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Global Shapers Brussels