Berättarministeriet

What Berättarministeriet does

Berättarministeriet (Ministry of Storytelling) is a Swedish non-profit foundation (Stiftelsen Berättarministeriet) founded in 2011 and headquartered in Stockholm, operating four education centers across Sweden (Husby and Hagsätra in Stockholm, Gamlestaden in Göteborg, and Malmö). The organization delivers a proprietary, OECD-recognized storytelling methodology through six curriculum-aligned school programs (including Editor Schwartz's Book Publishing, The History Detectives, Assignment: The Nobel Archives, and The Mysterious Box) targeting Swedish primary schools with high socio-economic index and below-average academic outcomes, serving primary school students in grades 1-9. All programs and teacher support are provided free of charge, with delivery combining classroom teacher-led sessions, in-person visits to education centers staffed by trained volunteers, and digital reinforcement via the Teacher Portal (Lärarportalen) and the BM Play video platform.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: teachers register through a portal, attend free annual teacher conferences in Stockholm, Göteborg, and Luleå, and gain access to teacher guides, artifacts, lesson plans, and ongoing educator support. Underlying technology consists of a pedagogical content library, the interactive Skolkartan (School Map) socio-economic data tool, the BM Play digital video platform, and the Lärarportalen teacher portal hosted on the third-party sana.ai platform. Since founding, 106,477 students and 9,504 educators have participated in programs, with 9 out of 10 surveyed teachers recommending the organization.

The business model is non-commercial and grant-funded. Revenue derives from Swedish government appropriations under a national public assignment for primary schools, Idea-Based Public Partnership (IOP) agreements with the municipalities of Stockholm, Göteborg, and Malmö, corporate and foundation partnerships (with pro bono contributions of time and expertise), and volunteer labor that underpins the cost-effective delivery model. Pricing to schools is zero-rated (freemium for target schools). Strategic positioning has been reinforced by OECD Best Practice recognition (2022), inclusion in Sweden's first national reading strategy (April 2026), and high-profile academic and institutional partnerships with the Swedish Academy, Försvarshögskolan, Karolinska Institutet, Gothenburg University, the Nobel Prize Museum, and the international 826 youth writing network.

Name

Berättarministeriet

Legal name

Stiftelsen Berättarministeriet

Website

https://berattarministeriet.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Berättarministeriet is a Swedish non-profit foundation founded in 2011 that delivers a free, OECD-recognized storytelling-based school program and teacher professional development to primary schools with high socio-economic index across Sweden, funded by government grants, municipal partnerships, and foundations, and operating education centers in Stockholm, Göteborg, and Malmö.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Services (611), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Instructional Design & Curriculum Development Services (EDAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Essay, Research & Academic Writing (Middle/High School) (EDAMAJAL), Education & Instructional Practice Reference (Pedagogy, Curriculum Methods for Educators) (EDAGAGAL), Children’s Educational & Curriculum Publishing (MPAJAFAF)

Keywords

• Storytelling education programs
• Teacher professional development
• Literacy and language support
• Compulsory school pedagogy
• Non-profit educational services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Berättarministeriet receives allocated funds from the Swedish government as part of its national public assignment for Swedish primary schools.
2. Municipal IOP Agreements: Idea-based public partnership agreements (IOP) with Stockholm, Göteborg, and Malmö municipalities where education centers are located.
3. Corporate and Foundation Partnerships: Financial support from companies and foundations, including pro bono contributions of time and expertise from partner organizations.
4. Volunteer Contributions: Volunteers contribute their engagement and time during student activities in education centers, serving as an essential part of the proven method without direct monetary compensation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Berättarministeriet delivers free storytelling-based school programs in classroom and education center settings for Swedish primary schools with high socio-economic index, paired with teacher guides, student materials, professional development, and ongoing educator support. The portfolio includes six named Skolprogram (e.g., Editor Schwartz's Book Publishing, The History Detectives, Assignment: The Nobel Archives), an annual Teacher Conference series, BM Play video content, and an internal Institute for evaluation and knowledge dissemination.

Product overview

Berättarministeriet (Ministry of Storytelling) is a non-profit foundation founded in 2011 that offers a portfolio of educational products and services focused on strengthening children's language skills and literacy through storytelling. The core offering consists of six creative school programs (Skolprogram) including Editor Schwartz's Book Publishing, The History Detectives, and Assignment: The Nobel Archives, which are delivered through physical Education Centers in four Swedish cities and supported by a digital Teacher Portal (Lärarportalen). The organization complements its school programs with a digital video platform (BM Play) hosting seminars and conferences, annual Teacher Conferences (Lärarkonferenser), an award program (Pennsvärdet), and an Institute for research and knowledge dissemination. All offerings are free for schools with high socioeconomic index and aim to support the Swedish national reading strategy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BM play: Digital platform hosting recorded seminars, interviews, and educational content from Berättarministeriet's events and programs.
• Pennsvärdet
• Utbildningscenter
• Skolprogram

Products and services

• Skolprogram (School Programs) A set of creative, language-developing school programs for primary school students in Sweden, using a storytelling methodology to strengthen language abilities, creativity, and critical thinking. Programs include teacher guides, student materials, artifacts, films, and letters, and are delivered free of charge to schools with high socio-economic index.
• Utbildningscenter (Education Centers) Physical education centers in Husby and Hagsätra (Stockholm), Gamlestaden (Göteborg), and Malmö where school classes begin their programs. Designed according to a pedagogical concept where every detail strengthens learning in a joyful, creative, and safe way. Classes visit Tuesday–Friday mornings during school terms.
• BM Play Digital video platform hosting recorded seminars, conferences, interviews, and educational content from Berättarministeriet. Includes content categories such as seminars, interviews, Pennsvärdet, Rethinking Creativity, school programs, volunteering, and miscellaneous.
• Lärarkonferenser (Teacher Conferences) Annual full-day teacher conferences held free of charge in Luleå, Stockholm, and Göteborg during reading week, featuring researchers and experts on language and knowledge development. Targets teachers at schools with high socio-economic index and lower academic results than the national average.
• Kompetensstärkande lärarstöd (Teacher Professional Development) Free professional development support for teachers, structured around theory, collegial exchanges of experience, and practical classroom tools. Includes webinars, learning conversations, and competency-building materials for teachers at schools with high socio-economic index.
• Lärarportalen (Teacher Portal) Online portal at berattarministeriet.sana.ai/sv where teachers access program materials, teacher guides, lesson plans, and student materials, and coordinate ongoing activities with Berättarministeriet.
• Skolkartan (School Map) Interactive web-based tool providing information and statistics based on socio-economic index for all of Sweden's compulsory schools, updated annually with data from Statistics Sweden (SCB) and the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket).
• Seminarieserier (Seminars) Public seminars organized in collaboration with external partners including the Swedish Academy (Svenska Akademien), Försvarshögskolan, and Folkuniversitetet. Topics include language as societal preparedness, creativity in education, bildning in the age of AI, and reading habits.
• Pennsvärdet Annual award recognizing individuals who contribute to children's literacy and reading development. Includes past winners such as Pavlina Spanos (2019) and jury members including Niklas Brismar Pålsson.
• Institutet (The Institute) Internal research and knowledge dissemination unit responsible for collecting, analyzing, and sharing knowledge from Berättarministeriet's school programs and competence-building activities. Conducts continuous evaluation and annual national teacher surveys.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 out of 10 teachers recommend Berättarministeriet to a colleague
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Svenska Akademien (Swedish Academy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint seminar series on imagination, play, and creativity in today's society. The first seminar held June 10, 2026 at Börshuset in Stockholm focused on 'Att föreställa sig en värld och skapa den' (Imagining a World and Creating It). The second seminar scheduled for October 15, 2026 focuses on 'Att iscensätta inre världar' (Staging Inner Worlds) about the importance of play.
• Försvarshögskolan (Swedish Defence University)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-organized breakfast seminar 'Språk som samhällsberedskap' (Language as Societal Preparedness) on May 6, 2026, focusing on language's importance for democracy and society's long-term resilience. Held in presence of H.R.H. Prince Carl Philip with participation of Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand.
• Göteborgs universitet (Gothenburg University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Since 2025, Berättarministeriet has been part of the teacher program at Gothenburg University. The collaboration has been extended to include students in their 7th semester in addition to first-semester students. The partnership involves teacher training in storytelling and language-developing teaching methods. The goal is to educate teacher educators in Berättarministeriet's method to create a stable foundation for knowledge dissemination to Sweden's future teachers.
• Karolinska InstitutetmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-organized the international conference 'Rethinking Creativity in Education' in November 2024 at Aula Medica, Karolinska Institutet. Conference addressed creativity in education as a solution for 21st century challenges, bringing together academia, school leadership, and education professionals.
• Folkuniversitetet (Folk University)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on seminars and panel discussions on education topics. Multiple joint seminars including 'Vad betyder motivation för lärande?' (What does motivation mean for learning?) and 'Från skärm till pärm' (From screen to folder) on the future of education.
• 826 National / International Youth Writing CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerättarministeriet is part of the International Youth Writing Community with over 50 other organizations worldwide inspired by the 826 model, providing cross-border learning and best practice sharing.
• Stockholms stad (Stockholm Municipality)coreOthersIOP (Idea-based Public Partnership) agreement with Stockholm city where Berättarministeriet operates education centers in Husby and Hagsätra.
• Göteborgs stad (Gothenburg Municipality)coreOthersIOP agreement with Gothenburg city supporting operations of the education center in Gamlestaden.
• Malmö stad (Malmö Municipality)coreOthersIOP agreement with Malmö city supporting the education center operations.
• Nobel Prize MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the 'Assignment: The Nobel Archives' school program where students learn about science, research, atoms, and the Nobel Prize through artifacts and letters.
• Hallwyl MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the 'History Detectives' school program where correspondence and historical objects depict Sweden's transformation from agricultural society to welfare state.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Writing Project: US-based professional development network for K-12 teachers focused on writing instruction. Comparable to Berättarministeriet's teacher professional development model, but operates as a broad federally-supported network rather than a single-country storytelling specialist.
• Room to Read: A larger global literacy non-profit working in low-income communities on literacy and girls' education. Comparable in mission around children's literacy and storytelling, but operating at significantly greater scale across multiple countries.
• Skapande Skola: Swedish government-funded program administered by the Swedish Arts Council that provides grants to schools for cultural and creative activities. Operates as a funding mechanism that overlaps with Berättarministeriet's compensatory mission in disadvantaged schools.

Others

• Folkuniversitetet: Swedish adult education association that is a current partner of Berättarministeriet on seminars and panel discussions. Operates in the broader Swedish education ecosystem and shares an adult education adjacency.
• Litteraturfrämjandet: Swedish literature-promotion organization that supports reading initiatives and partnerships with libraries. Operates in the same Swedish literacy ecosystem as Berättarministeriet but with a broader adult and library focus.

Emerging players

• Storyhouse: UK-based non-profit focused on literacy development and creative writing for children, including author visits and in-school programs. Shares the storytelling-for-literacy mission but operates at smaller scale and without a national policy mandate.

Direct peers

• 826 National: Umbrella organization for the 826 network of youth writing centers, of which Berättarministeriet is a member. 826 National provides the international framework, replication model, and cross-center learning that Berättarministeriet explicitly benchmarks against, making it the closest direct peer in mission and structure.
• 826 Valencia: The original 826 youth writing center in San Francisco that pioneered the storytelling-based after-school and in-school model. Berättarministeriet's founder explicitly cited the 826 model as inspiration, making it a direct conceptual and operational peer.
• Ministry of Stories: UK-based youth writing charity operating the same storytelling-pedagogy model inspired by 826, with similar school programs, volunteer writers, and creative writing centers. The naming and methodological overlap make it the closest international sibling to Berättarministeriet.

Regional players

• Writers' Trust of Canada: Canadian non-profit supporting writers and literary programming, including youth-focused initiatives. Comparable in mission around literacy and writing development but operates in a different geography with a more writer-focused rather than school-focused model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@berattarministeriet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10260848
• Instagraminstagram.com/berattarministeriet
• Facebookfacebook.com/berattarministeriet
• Xx.com/berattarmin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Berättarministeriet