Plattform

What Plattform does

Plattform e.V. is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Erfurt, Thuringia, Germany, founded in 2008. It operates as a think tank and project implementation organization developing transferable model projects in seven defined fields of action: empowerment, vacancy activation, media culture, collaboration, participation, inclusion, and entrepreneurship, with cross-cutting urban and regional development. The organization targets three primary segments: youth and young adults, socially excluded groups such as people with disabilities and migrants, and rural communities in Eastern Germany (Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt), alongside local governments as institutional partners and cultural workers as a secondary segment.

The organization's offerings span direct service programs (Stadtteilzentrum am Herrenberg community center since 2014, Spawnpoint digital media competence center since 2020, Werkhaus Inklusion inclusive entrepreneurship hub), scaling networks (Kulturhanse founding labs in six Eastern German cities, Kulturhanse-Transfer 2024-2027), advocacy structures (LeerGut-Agenten, Ständige Kulturvertretung), cultural events (Kurzfilmwanderung, KoCOLORes), and European research collaborations (TASK4ISI, EYERP, Welcoming Spaces, Peripher, Taskforcome). Underlying infrastructure is non-technological: physical community spaces at Salinenstraße 34 in Erfurt, a self-run co-working and maker venue, and a WordPress-based website with social media channels. No software platform, AI/ML components, or proprietary technology stack is referenced; the organization's intellectual capital sits in its methodology, network, and 17-year track record.

Plattform e.V. generates no commercial revenue. Its funding mix is dominated by public grants from European programs (ESF/ESF+, Erasmus+, Horizon 2020, Interreg Central Europe), German federal ministries (BMWK, BMFSFJ, BMI, ExWoSt), the state of Thuringia, the city of Erfurt, and private foundations (Drosos, Beisheim, Bartels, Kinnings, Fonds Neue Länder), supplemented by tax-deductible donations and membership fees. Project participation is free for beneficiaries; some programs offer subsidized qualification consulting (e.g., UP.Kompass funding up to €4,500 per self-employed). The organization reaches beneficiaries through community-led engagement, events, conferences, publications, and teaching, rather than commercial go-to-market.

Name

Plattform

Legal name

Plattform e.V.

Website

https://deine-plattform.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Plattform e.V. is a non-profit think tank and project organization based in Erfurt, Germany, founded in 2008, that develops and implements transferable model projects in empowerment, vacancy activation, inclusion, entrepreneurship, and urban-regional development for youth, migrants, people with disabilities, and rural communities in Eastern Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Community Development Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance, Democracy & Rule of Law (BPAGABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Community development
• Social entrepreneurship
• Youth empowerment
• Civic engagement
• Urban revitalization

Headquarters

HQ city

Erfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Grants: Majority of project financing comes from public funding programs including EU funds (ESF, Erasmus+, Interreg, Horizon 2020), German federal ministries (BMWK, BMFSFJ, BMI), state governments, and municipalities. Projects like Kulturhanse, UP Kompass, and various youth empowerment programs are funded through these channels.
2. Donations and Private Contributions: Organization accepts donations to support ongoing projects and activities. Donations are tax-deductible and the organization issues donation receipts.
3. Membership Fees: The association has members who pay annual fees as per the association's statutes (§6 Mitgliedsbeiträge).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Plattform e.V. is a non-profit think tank and project organization that develops and implements sustainable solutions for societal challenges such as urban vacancy, rural depopulation, youth unemployment, and social exclusion. It operates a portfolio of community empowerment programs, inclusive entrepreneurship laboratories, civic participation initiatives, and European research projects, primarily across East Germany.

Product overview

Plattform e.V. is a non-profit think tank and project organization founded in 2008 in Erfurt, Germany, focused on developing and implementing sustainable solutions for societal challenges. Rather than a single unified product, the organization operates a diverse portfolio of programs, projects, and initiatives organized around seven core fields of action: Empowerment, Vacancy Revitalization, Media Culture, Collaboration, Participation, Inclusion, and Entrepreneurship/City-Regional Development. The offerings range from direct service programs (like the Stadtteilzentrum am Herrenberg community center, Kulturhanse startup laboratories, and Werkhaus Inklusion inclusive entrepreneurship hub) to advocacy networks (LeerGut-Agenten, Ständige Kulturvertretung), cultural events (Kurzfilmwanderung, KoCOLORes festival), and European research collaborations (TASK4ISI, EYERP, Peripher). Key flagship initiatives include Kulturhanse (scaling founding laboratories across East Germany), UP.Kompass (qualification funding for solo self-employed), and Spawnpoint (digital media competence center). The portfolio spans from youth empowerment and urban development to rural innovation and inclusive entrepreneurship, all unified by principles of participation, inclusion, and sustainable community building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kulturhanse A network of startup laboratories scaling cultural entrepreneurship in East Germany (Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia) to create economic prospects for people in rural areas.
• Kulturhanse-Transfer A program supporting common good enterprises in rural East Germany through formats like Open Innovation Challenges, Social Hackathons, Business Model Workshops, Mentoring, and Peer Communities.
• UP.Kompass Qualification counseling and funding service for solo self-employed persons in Germany, offering up to 4,500 EUR (90%) for professional development through the ESF-funded KOMPASS program.
• Werkhaus Inklusion Inclusive entrepreneurship program creating spaces for people to develop agency over their own ideas, actions, and economic lives, focused on youth with disabilities, migrants, and those lacking family support.
• Spawnpoint – Institut für Spiel- und Medienkultur Digital media competence center for Thuringia offering educational programs in Gaming, Coding, and Making for professionals from education, social work, and career guidance, including an accessible maker space.
• Stadtteilzentrum am Herrenberg (STZ) Self-organized neighborhood center offering community gardening, neighborhood café, children's dance, theater performances, and other free activities organized by residents.
• Saline 34 Collaborative vacancy activation project housing a public storefront, screen printing workshop, photo lab, and various cultural initiatives and young enterprises.
• LeerGut-Agenten Thuringian lobby for community-oriented building culture supporting initiators in developing vacant buildings from idea to project, acting as a network of experts and local contacts.
• Peripher Research project examining dignity as a social innovation framework for peripheral regions, identifying undignified funding instruments and developing better alternatives with decision-makers.
• TASK4ISI International research project on inclusive entrepreneurship and inclusive founding laboratories, focusing on underrepresented groups including women, migrants, and people with disabilities in Central Europe.
• Ankerpunkte Ost Program strengthening democratic civil society in rural East Germany by supporting six organizations in Saxony and Thuringia to become sustainable anchor points for civic engagement.
• Welcoming Spaces EU research project connecting rural development approaches with inclusion, building networks of actors in integration, inclusion, quarter management, and startup consulting to foster perspective-rich development of rural areas.
• KoCOLORes Non-commercial, publicly accessible family and cultural festival held in Erfurt's Brühler Garten, combining various cultural offerings with musical accompaniment for all ages.
• Kurzfilmwanderung Alternative city walk where free walls serve as projection surfaces for short films, with audiences walking between locations to experience cinema in public urban spaces.
• Digital@YouthWork International project providing young people with necessary digital competencies for the future labor market through training modules in non-formal youth work settings, supported by Erasmus+.
• Werft34 Holistic program combining vacancy revitalization with startup laboratory development, helping cultural initiatives develop business models, networks, and entrepreneurial competencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75 micro-projects funded with over €50,000 in 5 years through Ladebalken
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IBA Thüringen (Internationale Bauausstellung Thüringen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020IBA Thüringen is a strategic partner for Plattform e.V.'s building culture and vacancy activation initiatives. They support the LeerGut-Agenten project and the WIR Labor project as part of Thuringia's international building exhibition program aimed at innovative urban and rural development.
• Forschungskollektiv Peripherie und Zentrum (FPZ) der Fachhochschule ErfurtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner in the Peripher project which examines how dignity can be enabled in peripheral locations in Eastern Germany, working with decision-makers from politics and administration.
• RKW KompetenzzentrumcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCompetence center advising and supporting the UP Thüringen project which creates a shared ecosystem for founding, co-working, and networking across Coworking Spaces in Thuringia.
• Culture Goes Europe e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Erfurt partner for Taskforcome project, building the Social Impulse Hub at Saline 34 to support social entrepreneurship for migrants and the broader community.
• Landesverband Nachhaltiges Sachsen e.V. (LVNS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in Ankerpunkte Ost project, working together to strengthen democratic civil society in rural areas of Saxony and Thuringia.
• Zukunftsfähiges Thüringen e.V. (ZTH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in Ankerpunkte Ost project supporting the development of local anchor points for civil engagement in rural Thuringia.
• Netzwerk ImmovielienminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner for sharing experiences and best practices in vacancy activation and community-based property development across Germany.
• FairShares AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network partner promoting cooperative and fair business models, aligning with Plattform's social entrepreneurship approach.
• Social Entrepreneur Netzwerk Deutschland (SEND)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman national network for social entrepreneurs, providing platform for exchange and advocacy for social enterprise interests.
• Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment employment agency partner for Youth Company project, supporting integration of unemployed youth with completed vocational training into the labor market.
• Landeshauptstadt Erfurt - KulturdirektioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErfurt's cultural directorate partnering on the cultural year theme 'Barrieren brechen – Kultur entfachen' (Breaking Barriers – Igniting Culture) to promote inclusive cultural work.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Haus des Stiftens: Infrastructure provider offering shared services (IT, insurance, knowledge) to German non-profits. Comparable as a non-profit ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor; potential partner for Plattform's operational backbone.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung (DKJS): Major German foundation for youth empowerment and participation. Comparable to Plattform's Ladebalken, Youth Company, and Empowerment programs, though DKJS operates at much larger scale and across all German federal states.
• betterplace.org: Germany's largest online donation platform for social-purpose projects. Adjacent to Plattform's donation-funded programs (Plattform accepts tax-deductible donations), though betterplace operates as enabling infrastructure rather than direct community-development implementer.
• Stiftung Neue Verantwortung: Berlin-based think tank developing policy models on civic and digital issues. Comparable to Plattform's positioning as a transferable-model think tank, though SNV focuses on national-level technology and policy rather than regional community development.
• Ashoka Deutschland: Global leader in supporting social entrepreneurs, with established German operations. Overlaps with Plattform's inclusive-entrepreneurship programs (Werkhaus Inklusion, TASK4ISI) but operates at significantly larger scale with global brand recognition.

Direct peers

• Stiftung Bürgermut: German civil-society foundation focused on participation, democracy, and social innovation with strong East Germany focus. Directly comparable to Plattform's Ankerpunkte Ost and civic-society strengthening work, both supporting grassroots civil-society organizations in shrinking regions.
• Bundesvereinigung Soziokultureller Zentren e.V. National umbrella for Germany's sociocultural centers, including socioculture and community-space operators. Directly comparable to Plattform's Saline34, Stadtteilzentrum am Herrenberg, and Ständige Kulturvertretung, all focused on community cultural infrastructure.
• Social Entrepreneur Netzwerk Deutschland (SEND) e.V. Germany's national network for social entrepreneurs, providing exchange, advocacy, and visibility for social enterprises. Directly comparable to Plattform's Werkhaus Inklusion, TASK4ISI, and Kulturhanse-Transfer programs targeting the same social-entrepreneurship audience, and already named as a Plattform network partner.
• PHINEO gAG: Impact-oriented non-profit that analyzes and certifies German social-purpose organizations. Comparable to Plattform in size and East German operating geography, with overlapping funder ecosystem (Drosos, Beisheim) and similar methodology of building transferable models in the civic-society space.

Emerging players

• Mehr Demokratie e.V. German association advocating for direct democratic participation and citizens' initiatives. Overlaps with Plattform's Partizipation and Ankerpunkte Ost civic-engagement focus, though Mehr Demokratie focuses on procedural/ballot reform rather than community-level development.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCm9jIu8bfTGt5y-9hOS1jIw
• Facebookfacebook.com/plattform.ev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plattform-e-v

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Plattform