akanova

What akanova does

akanova gGmbH (Berlin, Germany) is a continuing-education academy for pedagogical staff working in German Kindertagesstätten (Kitas/daycare centers), operating under the brand akanova | Akademie für deine Kita-Praxis. The company originated in the Joki Akademie founded in 2012, was corporately formed as Lab for Future gGmbH in 2021, and rebranded to its current identity in 2023. akanova is a wholly-owned subsidiary within the AcadeMedia PreSchools GmbH group, alongside four major Kita operators (Espira, Joki, Kita Luna, Stepke-KiTas) that also serve as its anchor enterprise customers.

The portfolio spans over 100 open training courses across 13+ topic fields, on-site team trainings, peer consultation (Kollegiale Fallberatungen), supervision and coaching, state-regulated qualification programs (160-hour programs in NRW, Hessen, and Baden-Württemberg), certificate programs (Krippenpädagogik, Kita-Leitung, digital media pedagogy), an exclusive leadership development program (Führungsnachwuchsprogramm), a holiday campus program (Feriencampus) for children aged 3-12, and Stiftung Kinder forschen MINT certification. Delivery is hybrid — live online via Zoom and Microsoft Teams, and in-person at partner facilities — supported by a network of 80+ expert trainers and five offices (Berlin, Köln, Oberhausen, Wuppertal, München). Annual operational scale is approximately 200 training events reaching 2,000+ participants.

Revenue is generated through per-course fees (e.g., €409 for "Erfolgreiche Praxisanleitung," €349 for "Erfolgreicher Konzeptionstag"), bundled certificate packages (€869 for digital media pedagogy), subscription-style multi-year certificate access, weekly holiday program fees (€180–€210 per child), and enterprise-level contracts for the Führungsnachwuchsprogramm delivered to the four AcadeMedia operator partners. akanova is a non-profit-structured gGmbH with no external venture funding disclosed; its go-to-market is direct-to-consumer (www.akanova.de, newsletter, social) supplemented by partner-organization referrals.

Name

akanova

Legal name

akanova gGmbH

Website

https://akanova.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

akanova is a Berlin-based academy within the AcadeMedia group that provides continuing education, qualification programs, and certificate courses for pedagogical staff in German Kitas, anchored by four major Kita operator partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE) (EDAAALAM)

Keywords

• Professional development training
• Early childhood education
• Daycare staff training
• Qualification programs
• Leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Open Fortbildung (Training) Fees: Individual educators and Kita staff pay per-course fees to attend open enrollment trainings. Courses like 'Erfolgreiche Praxisanleitung' are priced at €409 and 'Erfolgreicher Konzeptionstag' at €349. Participants register individually via the website.
2. Qualifizierungsprogramme (Qualification Programs): Structured multi-session qualification programs for career changers and lateral entrants into Kita positions in NRW, Hessen, and Baden-Württemberg. These are longer programs with multiple sessions and practical components.
3. Feriencampus (Holiday Campus): Full-day holiday program for children aged 3-12 during summer breaks. Parents pay weekly fees of €180 (08:00-13:30) or €210 (08:00-16:30), including meals and snacks.
4. Certificate Programs (Zertifikatslehrgänge): Multi-module certificate programs such as digital media pedagogy, nursery pedagogy, and Kita leadership. Packages offered at €869 with 20% savings versus individual bookings.
5. Führungsnachwuchsprogramm (Leadership Development Program): Exclusive leadership program for employees of Espira, Joki, Kita Luna, and Stepke-KiTas, consisting of six workshops totaling 92 instruction units (UE). Enrollment managed through regional management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

akanova (Akademie für deine Kita-Praxis) is a German training academy that delivers continuing education and professional development programs for pedagogical staff and leaders working in Kindertagesstätten (daycare centers). Its portfolio spans over 100 open training courses, on-site team trainings, peer consultations, supervision and coaching, state-recognized qualification programs for career changers, multi-module certificate courses, a leadership development program, and a holiday campus for children aged 3-12. Training is delivered both online and in-person across Germany.

Product overview

akanova is an educational academy (Akademie für deine Kita-Praxis) offering continuing education and professional development for pedagogical staff in German daycare centers (Kitas). The portfolio consists of over 100 open training courses (Fortbildungen), team trainings delivered on-site at facilities, peer consultation (Kollegiale Fallberatungen), and supervision & coaching services. Qualification programs include the 160-hour qualification for career changers in NRW, Hessen, and Baden-Württemberg, plus certificate programs in nursery pedagogy, Kita management, and digital media pedagogy. The company also offers a leadership development program (Führungsnachwuchsprogramm), a holiday campus for children, and certification through Stiftung Kinder forschen for MINT education. Training is delivered both online via Microsoft Teams/Zoom and in-person at facilities across Germany. akanova is part of the AcadeMedia Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Erfolgreiche Praxisanleitung (Open Training)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 participants trained annually across ~200 training events
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Espira KinderbetreuungcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Espira is a major Kita operator and founding partner of akanova. akanova provides training and qualification programs exclusively for Espira employees, including the Nachqualifizierung Baden-Württemberg developed at Espira's request. Espira logo appears prominently on akanova's website as a cooperation partner.
• Joki KinderbetreuungcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Joki Kinderbetreuung is a Kita operator and founding partner. akanova originated from the Joki Akademie (founded 2012). akanova continues to provide training programs for Joki employees, including the Führungsnachwuchsprogramm.
• Kita LunacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Kita Luna is a Kita operator and cooperation partner of akanova. akanova provides training and the Führungsnachwuchsprogramm for Kita Luna employees.
• Stepke-KiTascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015Stepke-KiTas is a major Kita operator and core partner. akanova delivers team trainings at Stepke facilities, hosts the Feriencampus holiday program at three Stepke locations (Köln Distelfalter, Köln Wichtelstadt, Wuppertal), and the Führungsnachwuchsprogramm for Stepke staff. Stepke's Fachberatungsteam is listed as akanova experts.
• Stiftung Kinder forschenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partnerakanova partners with Stiftung Kinder forschen (foundation for early STEM education) to offer training courses recognized for the foundation's Kita certification. akanova offers multiple MINT (STEM) and BNE (education for sustainable development) courses approved by the foundation, enabling Kitas to obtain the Stiftung Kinder forschen certification through akanova.
• Smart Kid SecurityminorStrategic or Co-development Partnerakanova partnered with Smart Kid Security in summer 2020 to certify the first 'Fachkräfte für Internetsicherheit' (Internet Safety Specialists). Smart Kid Security is founded by Anamarija Thomae, who is also listed as an akanova expert providing training on digital safety and cybersecurity for children.
• AcadeMedia PreSchools GmbHcoreOthersakanova gGmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary within the AcadeMedia group (Bildungsgruppe AcadeMedia). akanova is managed under AcadeMedia's umbrella alongside Kita operators Espira, Joki, Kita Luna, and Stepke-KiTas. The parent company provides operational infrastructure, HR systems (Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, OneDrive), and shared governance.
• Erste Hilfe 4 UminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorErste Hilfe 4 U is a private first aid school authorized by DGUV (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung) under registration number 8.1518. They offer first aid courses for Kita staff (Erste-Hilfe-Kurse für Erzieher*innen) listed on akanova's expert page.
• DomainFactory GmbHminorOthersDomainFactory GmbH provides web hosting services for akanova's website (www.akanova.de). Servers are located in data centers in Cologne (Germany) and Strasbourg (France).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/akanova.de
• Instagraminstagram.com/akanova_de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aka-nova

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 akanova