Erätauko Säätiö

What Erätauko Säätiö does

Erätauko-säätiö sr is a Finnish non-profit foundation established in 2019 and headquartered in Helsinki that develops and distributes the Erätauko (Timeout Dialogue) method, a semi-structured dialogue framework designed to enable constructive societal discussion. The method prescribes a 12-stage facilitation flow (welcome, ground rules, warm-up, pair sharing, group dialogue, deepening, reflection, insights, closing) that combines pre-defined structure with participant-driven content, and is delivered via freely downloadable scripts, facilitation card packs, themed material packages, and adaptation guides for children (Skididialogi), online formats, and specialized topics (democracy, forests, future, skills). Specialized product variants include the DEMOS democracy dialogue materials, TIMEOUT! Nordic sustainable-development teaching resources, Storytime-klubit reading clubs, and the Hyvin sanottu discussion festival.

Name

Erätauko Säätiö

Legal name

Erätauko-säätiö sr

Website

https://eratauko.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Erätauko-säätiö is a Helsinki-based non-profit foundation that develops and distributes the Erätauko semi-structured dialogue method, serving Finnish government ministries, municipalities, schools, NGOs, and citizens across Finland and selected European projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dialogue Facilitation Methodology

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Conversation Clubs & Speaking Practice Groups (EDAMAFAB)

Keywords

• Dialogue facilitation method
• Constructive discussion tools
• Civic participation methodology
• Democratic dialogue training
• Structured conversation framework

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Project Funding: Erätauko-säätiö operates as a non-profit foundation primarily funded through grants, project funding, and institutional partnerships. Major funding sources include Finnish government ministries (Ministry of Education and Culture, Prime Minister's Office), Finnish foundations (Sitra, Metsämiesten Säätiö, Alfred Kordelinin Säätiö), EU Horizon Europe programs (DIACOMET), and Nordic cooperation funds (Nordplus). Revenue is directed toward developing and distributing dialogue tools, training facilitators, and coordinating national dialogue programs.
2. Collaborative Programs with Partners: The foundation co-develops and co-delivers dialogue programs with media (Yle), government agencies, municipalities, and NGOs. These collaborations typically involve shared resources rather than fee-for-service arrangements, with partners contributing funding, platforms, or distribution channels.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Erätauko-säätiö develops and disseminates the Erätauko (Timeout) dialogue method, a semi-structured framework for facilitating constructive societal discussions. The foundation provides ready-made discussion scripts, facilitation cards, themed material packages, and online dialogue tools, and trains partner organizations (municipalities, schools, NGOs, government bodies) to organize and lead Erätauko discussions independently across Finland and Europe.

Product overview

Erätauko Säätiö offers a methodology-based product portfolio centered on the Erätauko dialogue method—a semi-structured approach for constructive societal discussion. The core Erätauko-keskustelu product is complemented by specialized variants including Skididialogi for children, DEMOS for democracy education, TIMEOUT! for sustainable development education, and Storytime-klubit for youth reading engagement. Supporting modules include ready-made discussion scripts (käsikirjoitukset), online discussion tools (verkkokeskustelu), and discussion facilitation materials. The Hyvin sanottu discussion festival represents the public-facing events arm of the methodology. The organization operates as a foundation, not a software company—its products are methodological frameworks with supporting materials rather than software platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Skididialogi: A dialogue model developed in Lahti, based on Erätauko discussion, designed for children and young people to engage in constructive dialogue alongside adults.
• Erätauko-menetelmä (Erätauko Method)
• Hyvin sanottu (Well Said)

Products and services

• Erätauko-keskustelu (Erätauko Dialogue) The core Erätauko dialogue method is a semi-structured dialogue approach that brings diverse people together to discuss important societal topics equally. It includes predefined stages (welcome, ground rules, warm-up, pair sharing, group dialogue, deepening, reflection, closing) while allowing discussion content to emerge from participants. Used by municipalities, schools, NGOs, and government bodies.
• Skididialogi A dialogue model developed in Lahti, based on Erätauko discussions, designed for children and young people. It brings together children, young people, and adults in positions of authority as equals to build shared understanding. Includes simplified ground rules, emoji-based warm-up activities, and age-appropriate topics for elementary school settings.
• DEMOS – Demokratiadialogit An international democracy dialogue initiative supporting civic education through dialogue. Encourages people to organize dialogues about democracy, participate in discussions on important societal topics, and act for the benefit of their communities. Includes DEMOS dialogue cards and guides developed jointly with Finnish Scouts.
• TIMEOUT! – Sustainable development materials Educational materials for discussing sustainable development themes, created as part of a Nordic cooperation project with teaching materials for grades 6-9 covering water (SDG 6), marine life (SDG 14), and hunger (SDG 2). Materials are available in four languages.
• Storytime-klubit Community reading sessions for young people where participants read self-selected texts and discuss thoughts they inspire using the Erätauko method. Developed in cooperation with the Lukuboost project to foster reading engagement and dialogue among youth.
• Hyvin sanottu –keskustelufestivaali A discussion festival organized by Yle and Erätauko-säätiö as part of a five-year project aimed at strengthening Finnish discussion culture through constructive and respectful dialogue. Festivals hosted in Hämeenlinna, Lahti, and nationwide with thousands of participants annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of participants rated the Erätauko discussion experience as pleasant; 93% want similar discussions in their own municipality
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature8 records

Partnerships

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

• Yle (Finnish Broadcasting Company)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerYle and Erätauko-säätiö co-coordinated the five-year Hyvin sanottu (Well Said) project (2021–2026), a major national initiative to strengthen Finnish discussion culture. Yle provided broadcast platforms, digital content production, festival co-organization, and extensive media reach. The project engaged over 200 partners, organized 1,272 discussions with 15,488 participants, and reached over 6 million people through social media campaigns.
• Sitra (Finnish Innovation Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSitra was instrumental in the original development of the Erätauko method and continues as a key strategic partner. Joint initiatives include the Osaaminen näkyviin (Making Skills Visible) project, Megatrend cards integration for future-oriented dialogues, and the original Sitra Erätauko project that produced foundational methodology materials including the Megatrendi-kortit used in dialogue facilitation.
• Prime Minister's Office (Valtioneuvoston kanslia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Prime Minister's Office commissioned and co-developed the Tulevaisuuskeskustelut (Future Dialogues) series, first in 2020–2021 (50 dialogues, 2,100+ participants) and again in 2025 (40 dialogues, 300+ participants from 51 locations). The dialogues feed into the government's official future report (tulevaisuusselonteko) process, making Erätauko a recognized tool in national policy preparation.
• Ministry of Education and Culture (Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö, OKM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOKM has commissioned Erätauko-säätiö for multiple projects including: research on children's and young people's experiences of equality in education; a study on youth future confidence (tulevaisuususko) that fed into a ministerial expert group report; and inclusion in the government's participation pilot for children and young people (osallisuuspilotti).
• City of EspoocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEspoo conducted a major multi-event series (Meidän Espoo 20X0) in spring 2022 to gather resident values and priorities for the city's master plan update. Findings were incorporated into official general plan objectives and used in detailed city planning.
• City of Tampere / Tampere RegioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTampere region developed a new civic participation tool as part of a digital citizens' panel project, utilizing the Erätauko method. 400 participants discussed transportation planning, with results used in research, regional transportation system development, and municipal planning. 96% of participants rated the experience as pleasant.
• City of LahticoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLahti has been a pioneering municipal partner, developing the Skididialogi (children's dialogue) model adapted from Erätauko for elementary school children and adults. The city's library conducts Erätauko discussions as part of its democracy work per the Library Act. Lahti hosted the 2024 Hyvin sanottu festival at the Sibelius Hall.
• City of HämeenlinnaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHämeenlinna has integrated Erätauko into its city operations and co-hosted the Hyvin sanottu discussion festivals in 2022 and 2023 with Yle and Erätauko-säätiö.
• Finnish Education Union (OAJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAJ coordinated the nationwide Osaamisdialogit (Skills Dialogues) initiative using the Erätauko method, engaging over 300 participants across Finland in discussions about the future of education and skills. The outcomes fed into the Suuri kasvukeskustelu (Great Growth Discussion) held on 31 March.
• DIACOMET (EU Horizon Europe project consortium)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DIACOMET project (Horizon Europe, 3-year) examined communication ethics in changing media environments across 8 countries. Erätauko-säätiö led the Finnish work package, coordinating 87 Erätauko dialogues with 500+ participants across Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The foundation trained facilitators from all participating countries. Outcomes include dialogue-supportive communication principles, the Dialogue Lab game, and policy recommendations.
• TIMEOUT! Nordic Project (Nordplus Horizontal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe TIMEOUT! project (Nordplus Horizontal programme, coordinated by Hanasaari – Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre) developed Erätauko-based teaching materials on sustainable development themes for Nordic classrooms. Materials are available in four languages and freely accessible. Produced lesson plans for grades 6–9 covering water (SDG 6), marine life (SDG 14), and hunger (SDG 2).
• Tuffi FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTuffi Films collaborated with Erätauko-säätiö on the Yksittäistapaus (Single Case) campaign, producing short films about gender-based power dynamics for use in schools. Erätauko-säätiö developed discussion scripts to accompany the films, enabling structured follow-up dialogues in educational settings.
• Finnish Scouts (Suomen Partiolaiset)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish Scouts integrated Erätauko into the Scouts, Peace and Security project, organizing 70 Erätauko discussions across Finland with young people. The collaboration also produced the DEMOS democracy dialogue materials for use in scout activities. The foundation jointly developed the DEMOS dialogue cards and guide specifically for this partnership.
• Humak University of Applied SciencesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHumak's community educator students participated in a European youth work seminar in Hungary, where Humak lecturers facilitated two Erätauko discussions on youth future confidence. The collaboration demonstrates how the method is being integrated into professional youth work education.
• Hanaholmen (Hanasaari – Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHanaholmen co-hosted the TET (career exploration) internship program with Erätauko-säätiö and Puistokatu 4, providing internship placements for 8th–9th grade students in Helsinki. Hanaholmen is a Swedish-Finnish cultural centre promoting cross-border cooperation.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MASS LBP: Canadian civic engagement firm that designs and runs deliberative processes (e.g., citizens' assemblies) using structured facilitation methods. Comparable to Erätauko in providing methodology plus technology-enabled delivery for citizen deliberation commissioned by governments and public bodies.
• Democracy International: Germany-based network promoting deliberative democracy and citizens' assemblies across Europe. Comparable to Erätauko in advocating and operationalizing structured citizen dialogue methods, including the EU-level push for permanent deliberative mechanisms that aligns with Erätauko's international expansion strategy.
• National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD): US-based network hub for the dialogue and deliberation field. NCDD curates methodologies (including Erätauko-style structured dialogue), trains facilitators, and connects practitioners, making it a direct peer in the methodology-distribution and community-building layer of civic dialogue work.
• Healthy Democracy: US nonprofit that designs and runs deliberative democracy processes (Citizens' Initiative Reviews, deliberative polls). Direct peer because it pairs structured facilitation methodology with commissioned delivery for government and civic partners, mirroring Erätauko's government-commissioned dialogue model.
• National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI): US-based nonprofit that develops and disseminates a structured, moderator-guided public deliberation method (the 'Issues Book' approach). NIFI is a direct methodological peer: both organizations package a semi-structured facilitation framework, train moderators, and supply ready-to-use discussion materials for civic participation.

Regional players

• DemNet: Finnish network supporting democratic participation and civil society. Direct domestic peer to Erätauko-säätiö in mission and geography, both operating in Finland to strengthen civic engagement, though DemNet works through member NGOs rather than a single dialogue methodology.

Broad incumbents

• Interpeace: International organization building peace through inclusive dialogue and collaborative processes across fragile contexts. While operating at much larger scale and on conflict rather than civic polarization, Interpeace is comparable as an institutionalized dialogue-methodology organization with multi-country programs and institutional funders.
• Sitra: Finnish Innovation Fund, the strategic origin of the Erätauko method and an ongoing core partner. Sitra operates as a broader Finnish foundation tackling democracy, sustainability, and societal renewal, making it comparable in mission and footprint though larger and more diversified than Erätauko-säätiö.
• More in Common: International nonprofit addressing polarization and social fragmentation through research, dialogue, and narrative work. Comparable to Erätauko in mission (constructive dialogue as antidote to polarization) and target audience (governments and civic institutions), though it operates at larger scale with a broader portfolio.
• International Association for Public Participation (IAP2): Global association setting standards and training practitioners in public participation and civic engagement. IAP2 is comparable as a broader incumbent in the citizen-engagement training and methodology space, where Erätauko-säätiö represents a country-specific structured-dialogue approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ErataukoSaatio
• Instagraminstagram.com/erataukosaatio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/erataukosaatio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Erätauko Säätiö