What EKO Greece does

EKO Greece (Entrepreneurship and Social Economy Group) is a Greek non-governmental organisation founded in 2013 and headquartered in Athens. It focuses on youth empowerment, social entrepreneurship, and European cooperation, delivering non-formal education, capacity-building, and transnational exchange initiatives for young people primarily through EU-funded programmes. The organisation operates with a small core team of approximately 6 employees and 8 core team members.

The portfolio centres on multi-country European projects spanning youth participation, environmental sustainability, sport, circular economy, and active citizenship. Notable ongoing or recent initiatives include the EYES project (February 2025 – January 2028, targeting 2,168 participants across 8 countries including 4 Sub-Saharan African nations), STELLA (sport and sustainability, 2024–2026), YOU-CYCLE (circular economy), EcoReactEU (eco-anxiety), and the EEA/ACF-funded Active Preventers/Bystanders project (one disclosed budget line of €79,933.68). EKO also produces open educational toolkits as project deliverables.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. Revenue is derived from EU institutional funding streams — principally Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, and the EEA/ACF mechanism — with delivery structured through transnational partner consortiums in which EKO sometimes acts as lead partner. Distribution is achieved through Erasmus+ accreditation and active membership in international networks including YouthProAktiv (42+ organisations), the Anna Lindh Foundation, the IAPD (~40 members), and OPEV. There is no proprietary technology platform, app, or API; delivery relies on standard collaboration tools and in-person youth-work methodology.

Name

EKO Greece

Legal name

Entrepreneurship and Social Economy Group (EKO Greece)

Website

https://ekogreece.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EKO Greece is an Athens-based non-profit NGO founded in 2013 delivering EU-funded youth empowerment and social entrepreneurship projects across Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. It operates via Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, and EEA grants with a small core team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services and European Cooperation Projects

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Internship Housing & Accommodation Services (EDAIAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA), Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE), Study Abroad Provider Networks, Consortia & Membership Organizations (EDAIAAAK), Provider-Run International Internship Programs (Multi-Country/Multi-Industry) (EDAIAFAA)

Keywords

• Youth empowerment programs
• Non-formal education
• Erasmus+ project management
• European Solidarity Corps
• Youth mobility services

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

EKO Greece designs and implements European cooperation projects (Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs) focused on youth empowerment, social inclusion, sustainability, and democratic participation. The organization produces educational toolkits, delivers youth exchanges, training courses, and capacity-building programmes, and serves as project coordinator and consortium partner in multi-country initiatives across Europe and Africa.

Product overview

EKO Greece (Entrepreneurship and Social Economy Group) is a youth organization and NGO that does not operate as a traditional software product company. Instead, it offers a portfolio of educational toolkits, EU-funded projects, and mobility programmes focused on youth empowerment, inclusion, and sustainability. The core offerings include: four thematic TOOLKITS (Digitalization, Sustainability, Inclusion, Democratic Participation) providing non-formal education methodologies; major Erasmus+ projects like EYES (virtual exchange), STELLA (sport and sustainability), YOU-CYCLE (circular economy), and EcoReactEU (eco-anxiety); and mobility programmes including European Solidarity Corps, Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs, and EURES. The organization functions as a project coordinator and facilitator rather than a technology product provider.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TOOLKITS Digitalization Digital toolkit providing non-formal education methods and activities for digitalization, including the Companion of Non-Formal Education guide. Designed for youth workers, educators, and project facilitators.
• TOOLKITS Sustainability Toolkit providing resources and methodologies for sustainability education and environmental awareness in youth work. Designed for youth workers and educators.
• TOOLKITS Inclusion Toolkit focused on inclusion methodologies and practices for working with diverse youth populations. Designed for youth workers and inclusion practitioners.
• TOOLKITS Democratic Participation Toolkit including the European Youth Diary and guidelines for promoting democratic engagement among young people. Designed for youth workers and educators.
• Active Preventers and Active Bystanders (Ενεργοί Αποτροπείς και Ενεργοί Παρατηρητές) Two-year project preventing gender-based violence among youth through educational guides, workshops, and training materials for 'Active Preventers' and 'Active Bystanders' approaches. Targeted at youth, educators, social workers, and parents in Attica and Eastern Macedonia regions of Greece.
• EYES - Empowering Youth: Erasmus Plus Virtual Exchange Three-year Erasmus+ initiative promoting active citizenship, social inclusion, and sustainable development among young people across Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa through virtual exchanges and capacity-building programmes. Targeted at young people and youth organizations in 8 European and African countries.
• STELLA Project Erasmus+ funded project using sport as a tool for environmental learning and sustainability education for youth workers. Designed for youth workers across Europe.
• YOU-CYCLE (YOUng Changemakers for Circular Local Economy) Project exploring circular economy entrepreneurship as a pathway for youth empowerment, local innovation, and community resilience. Targeted at young changemakers and local communities.
• EcoReactEU European platform providing educational resources for addressing eco-anxiety in youth projects and youth policies. Targeted at youth workers, project managers, and policy makers across Europe.
• European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Program Volunteering opportunities for European youth under the European Solidarity Corps, including long-term and short-term individual volunteering placements. Targeted at young people aged 18-30 across Europe.
• Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Cross-border exchange programme allowing new or aspiring entrepreneurs to learn from experienced entrepreneurs running small businesses in other countries. Targeted at new and aspiring entrepreneurs across participating countries.
• EURES - Your First EURES Job (YFEJ) European network facilitating workers' mobility across Europe, including the 'Your First EURES Job' programme for young people aged 18-35. Targeted at young workers and job seekers across Europe.

Quantifiable outcome

• EYES project engages 2,168 young people across 8 countries over 36 months
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ASOCIACION DE COOPERACION AL DESARROLLO ABARKA (Spain)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Project coordinator for the EYES (Empowering Youth: Erasmus Plus Virtual Exchange) project. Three-year Erasmus+ initiative running Feb 2025 - Jan 2028.
• Associazione Stella Marina APS (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Italian partner in the EYES project contributing to virtual exchange activities between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Web and Development Foundation (Cameroon)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025African partner in the EYES project providing platform development and youth engagement expertise from Cameroon.
• ONG SIFOS (Gabon)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Gabonese partner in the EYES project contributing to virtual exchange activities between Europe and Africa.
• International Talent Outreach (Nigeria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Nigerian partner in the EYES project focused on youth empowerment and talent development.
• KARAMAN GENCLIK KULUBU DERNEGI (Turkey)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Turkish youth organization partner in the EYES project facilitating virtual exchanges and youth participation.
• AIESEC Alumni GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Ghanaian partner in the EYES project contributing youth engagement and alumni network from AIESEC ecosystem.
• Entrepreneurship and Social Economy Group (Greece) - EKOflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025EKO Greece serves as the Greek partner in the EYES consortium, leading Work Package 3 (EYES in Action) with technical coordination role for international online discussions.
• International Alliance for Peace and DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2018Coalition of NGOs working to support peace and development issues based on universal human values. Founded at UN Headquarters in Geneva. Has 40 member organizations across Africa, Europe, and Asia.
• Σύλλογος «ΠΝΟΗ» για το παιδί και την οικογένεια (Kavala, Greece)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in the Active Preventers and Active Bystanders project, focusing on children and family welfare. Located in Kavala, Greece.
• ΕΣΥΨΥΚΟΠ – Τμήμα Κοινωνικής Εργασίας του ΠΑΔΑ (Athens, Greece)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Work Department of PADA serving as academic partner in gender-based violence prevention initiatives.
• Terram Pacis (Oslo, Norway)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian partner contributing international expertise to the Active Preventers project on preventing gender-based violence among youth.
• University of Bologna – Alma Mater StudiorumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian university partnership for internship programs, providing students opportunities to gain experience in NGO operations and European project management.
• Municipalities and public bodies (Greece)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal and national government partnerships for implementing youth empowerment initiatives at community level.
• Universities and academic institutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnerships for research, student placements, and evidence-based youth work.
• Civil society organisations working with vulnerable youthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of NGOs collaborating on youth empowerment initiatives with focus on vulnerable groups.
• YouthProAktivcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization network of 42+ organizations from 23+ countries promoting proactive youth entrepreneurship and culture of entrepreneurship in education and policy.
• Observatory to Prevent Extremist Violence (OPEV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform of civil society organisations from the Euro-Mediterranean Region working to prevent violent extremism and promote positive peace, human security, and sustainable development.
• Erasmus+ Programme (European Commission)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary funding and programme partner. EKO participates as accredited organization and partner in Erasmus+ KA1, KA2, KA3 projects, and European Solidarity Corps.
• European Solidarity CorpsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerEU programme providing volunteering opportunities. EKO is an accredited sending and receiving organization for ESC projects.
• Anna Lindh FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork of civil society organizations promoting intercultural dialogue between Europe and the Arab world. EKO is a member.
• Youth Intergenerational Appeal (YPA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth organization partner visible in contacts page.
• EURES (European Employment Services)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEU network facilitating worker mobility across Europe. EKO participates in Your First EURES Job (YFEJ) programme for young people aged 18-35.
• Greek National Agency (IKY) - Erasmus+ YouthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational Erasmus+ Agency in Greece providing programme support and accreditation oversight.
• Institute for Youth and Society (INEDIVIM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreek institute focused on youth and society research and programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• European Youth Forum (YFJ): Platform of over 100 European youth organisations advocating for young people's rights and managing EU-funded projects. Closely aligned mission with EKO on inclusion, democratic participation and Erasmus+ Youth priorities.
• AIESEC: Global youth leadership network operating cross-border exchanges, internships and volunteering programmes for 18–35 year-olds. EKO is a Greek AIESEC Alumni partner via the EYES project; both run Erasmus+/ESC-aligned mobility and capacity-building programmes.
• Erasmus Student Network (ESN): Largest European student and youth network providing international exchange support and intercultural education. Operates in the same Erasmus+ ecosystem EKO accesses, with similar non-formal education methodology and youth-mobility mission.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: Global intercultural exchange organisation running youth mobility, volunteering and hosting programmes funded in part by EU mechanisms. Directly comparable in delivering structured non-formal learning experiences for European and African youth.
• SALTO-YOUTH (EU Resource Centre): EU Commission-supported resource centre offering training and tools for the Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps community. Operates in the same non-formal education methodology space and serves the same applicant pool as EKO.
• Anna Lindh Foundation: Euro-Mediterranean intergovernmental foundation supporting civil-society networks on intercultural dialogue. EKO is a member; both fund and coordinate civil-society projects across the EU and Mediterranean, with overlapping youth and inclusion themes.

Direct peers

• International Alliance for Peace and Development: Coalition of 40 NGOs across Africa, Europe and Asia founded at UN Geneva in 2018, focusing on peace, human security and development. EKO is a member; both pursue project-based cooperation on peace-building and youth inclusion through EU/UN funding.
• Observatory to Prevent Extremist Violence (OPEV): Euro-Mediterranean civil-society platform working to prevent violent extremism and promote positive peace. EKO is a network partner; both target youth and educators through EU-funded, project-based interventions.
• YouthProAktiv: International network of 42+ organisations across 23+ countries promoting youth entrepreneurship culture. EKO is an active member; both deliver Erasmus+ KA2 projects on entrepreneurship education and youth empowerment via partnership consortia.

Regional players

• Eurodesk Greece: Greek branch of the European youth information network providing information on EU mobility, Erasmus+ and ESC opportunities. Closely comparable in mission and target audience (Greek youth, 18–35) but primarily an information broker, not a project implementer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EKOgreece
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUJMyvdQdoa7pmxIoj_Ohag
• Facebookfacebook.com/EKOgreececom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eko-greece
• Instagraminstagram.com/eko.greece

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 EKO Greece