AdoptIDee

What AdoptIDee does

AdoptIDee (Stichting AdoptIDee) is a Dutch non-profit foundation established in 2018 and headquartered in Groningen, the Netherlands. It operates Expeditie SuperIDee, an educational program that connects primary school students with local small and medium-sized enterprises to solve real innovation challenges using a six-step design-thinking methodology. The organization serves three participant groups in parallel: primary schools (50 in 2024, targeting 90 by 2026), local companies (90 partners in 2024, targeting 120 by 2026), and municipal governments acting as regional anchors.

The core product is a facilitated, human-led learning experience — not a software platform. Deliverables include a documented six-step design-thinking curriculum, a video content library, and supporting educational materials such as "Bingo cards" used in classroom sessions. Programmatic reach has scaled to roughly 2,200 students in 2024 (cumulative 9,000+ since 2018), spanning 11 Dutch regions and one international pilot in Italy. There is no proprietary technology stack, machine-learning model, or AI tooling evidenced in the operating model; the team of approximately 7 employees and broader volunteer network delivers the program locally.

The business model is hybrid non-profit: revenue comes from tiered corporate partner packages (roughly €100 to €3,000+ per partner), municipal co-funding, donations processed through the WhyDonate platform, and project grants such as the €40,000 award from Digifonds Noord in December 2025. Strategic partnerships with STEM intermediaries including STO/Techkwadraat extend distribution. The first staff hire was made in October 2024 and a secondary-education (VO) pilot was launched in the same year, marking the transition from a volunteer-led foundation to a scaling operating entity.

Name

AdoptIDee

Legal name

Stichting AdoptIDee

Website

https://adoptidee.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AdoptIDee is a Dutch non-profit foundation that runs Expeditie SuperIDee, connecting primary school students with local SMEs to solve real innovation challenges through a six-step design-thinking curriculum across 11+ Dutch regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Experiential Learning Programs

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Innovation & Design Thinking Programs (EDAMAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs (EDAJAGAE)

Keywords

• Experiential learning programs
• School-business partnerships
• Design thinking education
• Youth entrepreneurship programs
• Regional innovation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Innovatie Partner packages: AdoptIDee generates revenue through tiered partnership packages for businesses. Partner packages range from €100 (basic Innovatie Partner) to €1,500 (Super Innovatie Partner) to €3,000 (Premium Innovatie Partner), with custom 'Premium Innovatie Partner' packages above €3,000. These packages provide brand visibility, ESG/CSRD/SROI reporting, social media exposure, and event invitations in exchange for participation in Expeditie SuperIDee.
2. Municipal and government funding: AdoptIDee receives support from municipalities (e.g., Gemeente Losser, Hof van Twente, Berkelland) and EU/national funds. Digifonds Noord provided a €40,000 grant for expansion in northern Netherlands. The EU flag is displayed on the website, indicating EU co-funding.
3. Donations: AdoptIDee accepts donations from individuals and organizations, with province-specific fundraising campaigns via the WhyDonate platform. Donations are exclusively used for organizing new Expeditions in regions where AdoptIDee is not yet active.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AdoptIDee runs Expeditie SuperIDee, a structured 8-week experiential learning program that pairs primary school classes (groups 7 and 8, with secondary school pilots underway) with regional businesses to address real innovation challenges using a 6-step design-thinking methodology. Each edition culminates in a public showcase event (einddag) where students pitch their 'SuperIDeeën' solutions. The program is delivered at no cost to participating schools, with the foundation funded by tiered business partner packages (€100 to €3,000+), municipal sponsorships, grants, and individual donations.

Product overview

AdoptIDee is a single-program organization built around Expeditie SuperIDee — a structured 8-week experiential learning program for primary (and pilot secondary) school students in which classes are paired with local businesses to tackle real innovation challenges. The program is architected as a free educational offering for schools, funded entirely through business partner packages (four paid tiers ranging from €100 to over €3,000) and public donations. No standalone software product, app, or platform is offered; the offering consists solely of the facilitation of the program, including digital learning materials and guided methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Expeditie SuperIDee A structured 8-week experiential learning program in which primary school classes (groups 7 and 8, with secondary school pilots underway) collaborate with regional businesses to solve real-world innovation challenges using a 6-step design-thinking methodology. Students brainstorm, filter, develop, and pitch 'super ideas' at a final showcase event. Delivered free to participating schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,000+ children inspired across 13+ regions since 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sterk Techniek Onderwijs Achterhoek Noord-Twente (STO) / TechkwadraatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTO/Techkwadraat is a regional STEM education initiative in the Achterhoek-Noord Twente area. It partners with AdoptIDee to integrate Expeditie SuperIDee into schools, providing pedagogical support and helping coordinate editions in multiple regions including Deventer, Eibergen, and Lichtenvoorde/Groenlo.
• Innovatiehub Oost-Groningen (IHOG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHOG supports AdoptIDee in the Veenkoloniën region because it aligns with its mission to bind young talent to the region and develop innovation. IHOG facilitates AdoptIDee editions in Oude Pekela, Nieuw Pekela, Oostwold, and Winschoten, and has overseen the program's growth from 1 to 8 schools and businesses in three editions.
• MKB DeventerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMKB Deventer (SME business association) supports AdoptIDee Deventer editions. Director Marco Kok officially opens editions and promotes the program through MKB Deventer magazine, helping recruit local businesses as Innovation Partners.
• Gemeente LossercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGemeente Losser is a municipal sponsor of AdoptIDee Losser, funding editions and providing official municipal endorsement. The municipality has participated in all three editions (2022–2024), growing from 8 to 11 schools.
• Gemeente Hof van TwentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGemeente Hof van Twente sponsored the pilot edition of AdoptIDee in Hof van Twente (Goor), with Wethouder Hannie Rohaan providing official endorsement and the municipality hosting the final event in the council chamber.
• Gemeente HaaksbergencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGemeente Haaksbergen has participated in five AdoptIDee editions (2021–2025), with all 11 basisscholen involved in the 2024 edition. The municipality provides funding and official support.
• Goor CollectiefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoor Collectief is a local collective in Hof van Twente that partnered with AdoptIDee for the pilot edition, contributing to regional coordination and community engagement.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kunstbende: Dutch national program developing creative talent among young people through regional competitions culminating in a national final showcase. Comparable youth-enrichment regional-program model with public events and regional ambassador network.
• JINC: Dutch nonprofit that connects young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to the working world through workplace visits, training, and job coaching. Most direct comparable in NL education-to-business bridging, same Dutch nonprofit model, similar multi-stakeholder approach involving schools, employers, and municipalities.
• VentureLab: Dutch non-profit running structured entrepreneurship programs for primary and secondary schools across the Netherlands. Highly comparable mission, target audience, school-based delivery, and methodology approach (experiential, project-based entrepreneurship).
• Enactus Netherlands: Dutch chapter of the Enactus global network, running student entrepreneurship and social innovation programs at universities and secondary schools. Adjacent peer with similar mission on youth entrepreneurship and business-engagement-meets-education, though at older age cohort.
• Junior Achievement Netherlands: Dutch arm of Junior Achievement, focused on entrepreneurship education for K-12 students with classroom programs linking students to business volunteers. Closely comparable on target audience (primary/secondary students), pedagogy (experiential entrepreneurship), and stakeholder mix (schools + businesses).

Emerging players

• Design for Change: Global school-based program using a design-thinking 'I Can' framework to drive social innovation by K-12 students. Closest international peer on methodology (design thinking in schools) and target audience, though not yet present at scale in the Netherlands.

Others

• Techkwadraat / Sterk Techniek Onderwijs: Regional Dutch STEM-education platform partnering with schools in Achterhoek/Noord-Twente; already an existing AdoptIDee partner (STO/Techkwadraat). Comparable education-innovation delivery vehicle but focused on STEM subject content rather than design thinking / entrepreneurship.
• Stichting MAEX / IK BEN: Dutch social-impact measurement and funding platform for regional/local initiatives. Ecosystem-level comparable: provides the regional social-impact infrastructure and measurement tools that AdoptIDee sells against in its partner packages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adoptidee
• Instagraminstagram.com/adopt.idee

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 AdoptIDee