Technical Institute of Heraklion Chamber

What Technical Institute of Heraklion Chamber does

The Technical Institute of Heraklion Chamber (ΚΕΚ Τεχνικές Σχολές Επιμελητηρίου Ηρακλείου), operating under the consumer brand Katartisi.gr, is a licensed vocational training center (KEK) affiliated with the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce in Nea Alikarnassos, Crete, Greece. Since approximately 1950 it has delivered continuing vocational education to Cretan and Greek workers across eight categories of programming: technical skills, professional certifications, HO.RE.CA (hotels, restaurants, catering), business skills, personal development, foreign languages, distance learning, and member-card offerings. Its catalog comprises roughly 237 products, with around 100 seminars running annually, delivered through both physical classrooms (capacity 20-30 seats with AV and computer labs) and synchronous online learning with one-month post-session recording access.

The institute's distinctive competitive layer is its regulatory and certification stack rather than proprietary technology. It holds KEK licensing under EOPPEP and partners with German DVS-GSI (ISO 9606 welding examinations on-site and Düsseldorf advanced training), EFET (Level 1 food safety training and electronic examinations), Italian Pizza Academy with i-skills (Professional Pizzaiolo), and ALTUS LSA (EASA drone pilot certification with practical training across six cities). Revenue mechanics layer four streams: per-seminar fees (€15-€1,500 depending on duration and specialization), an annual membership card (katartisi+ at €450/year covering ~100 seminars), facility rental (€200+VAT per classroom plus facilitator fees), and parking spot leases (€10-28/month). A fifth channel — DYPA-subsidized government training vouchers up to €750 per participant under Greece 2.0 — supplements direct revenue and drives enrollment volume.

Operationally it is a small institution (16 employees) routing enrollment through a WooCommerce e-commerce storefront, a secretariat, and government voucher portals. The customer base spans tourism and hospitality professionals (primary), private-sector employees and unemployed individuals (primary, often via subsidies), entrepreneurs and technical trades workers (secondary), and students/recent graduates (secondary). Marketing relies on the website, email newsletter (SendinBlue), Facebook organic, local SEO, and institutional referrals from the parent Chamber, DYPA, and EOPPEP. The institute also participates in multiple EU-funded projects (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+) for curriculum co-development in digital and green skills, with no disclosed funding rounds, M&A, or external investment.

Name

Technical Institute of Heraklion Chamber

Legal name

ΚΕΚ Τεχνικές Σχολές Επιμελητηρίου Ηρακλείου

Website

https://katartisi.gr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Technical Institute of Heraklion Chamber (Katartisi.gr) is a licensed KEK vocational training center in Crete, Greece, delivering roughly 100 annual seminars across technical, hospitality, business, and digital categories to Cretan and Greek workers, with government-subsidized, corporate membership, and international certification programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training and Professional Certification

NAICS

Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDABALAI

Education & Training Providers

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Industry-Specific Professional Training (e.g., Healthcare, Manufacturing, Construction)

SECONDARYEDABALAO

Hospitality & Food Service

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Industry-Specific Professional Training (e.g., Healthcare, Manufacturing, Construction)

SECONDARYEDAOAKAA

Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training)

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Culinary Arts, Baking & Food Service Training

SECONDARYEDAOAKAE

Restaurant & Foodservice Operations Management

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Culinary Arts, Baking & Food Service Training

SECONDARYEDAOAKAH

Bar & Beverage (Bartending/Mixology/Coffee/Tea)

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Culinary Arts, Baking & Food Service Training

SECONDARYEDAOAKAL

Institutional & Commercial Kitchen Training (Schools/Healthcare/Corporate)

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Culinary Arts, Baking & Food Service Training

Keywords

• Vocational training
• Professional certification
• Continuing education
• Technical skills training
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Nea Alikarnassos (Heraklion)

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 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. Individual Seminar and Course Fees: One-time fees charged per seminar or course enrollment. Individual programs range from €15 to €1,500 depending on duration and specialization.
2. Annual Membership Card (katartisi+): Annual personal membership card priced at €450, granting unlimited access to approximately 100 seminars per year. Corporate membership cards available for businesses with no per-person limit, only one participant per class.
3. Classroom and Venue Rental: Teaching and event room rental services. Classrooms accommodate 20-30 persons equipped with projectors, screens, computers, and Wi-Fi. Rental cost: €200 + VAT per room plus facilitator fee.
4. Parking Space Rental: Parking spaces for car rental businesses in Alikarnassos area, with seasonal pricing from €10-28 per space per month.
5. Subsidized Government Training Programs: DYPA-subsidized vocational training programs for unemployed and employed individuals, providing training allowances of up to €750 for eligible participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Technical Institute of Heraklion Chamber (KEK) is a Chamber-affiliated vocational training center that delivers in-person and synchronous distance-learning seminars, professional certification programs, and subsidized training courses to individuals and businesses in Greece. It offers an annual membership card (katartisi+) providing access to roughly 100 seminars per year, alongside specialized international certification programs in welding (DVS-GSI/ISO 9606), drone piloting (EASA), food safety (EFET), and professional pizza making (Italian Pizza Academy), plus classroom and parking rentals.

Product overview

The Technical Institute of Heraklion Chamber (ΚΕΚ Τεχνικές Σχολές Επιμελητηρίου Ηρακλείου / katartisi.gr) is a vocational training center offering a diverse portfolio of approximately 237 seminars and training programs across 8 main categories. The core offering includes: seminars (general training), professional certifications (welding, drone piloting, food safety, security), HO.RE.CA training, business skills (sales, marketing, HR, logistics), personal development, foreign languages (French, German), distance learning, and a membership card program. Key branded programs include the International Welder School (in partnership with German DVS-GSI), the Professional Pizzaiolo School (with Italian Pizza Academy), and the Europe 4.0 Digital micro-credential webinar series. Additional services include classroom/event space rental and parking. The institute also administers subsidized training programs funded by DYPA and participates in European partnership projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• katartisi+: Annual membership card program offering unlimited access to over 100 seminars per year for 450 EUR per year.

Products and services

• Seminars and Training Programs Vocational training seminars delivered in person and via synchronous distance learning across technical, hospitality, business, language, and personal development categories for individuals and corporate members.
• katartisi+ Annual Membership Card Annual subscription (€450 individual; corporate variant available) granting unlimited access to roughly 100 seminars per year, excluding specialized programs such as welding, transport drivers, adult educators, pizza maker, optical fiber, and security.
• International Welder School (DVS-GSI / ISO 9606) International welding certification program delivered in partnership with German DVS-GSI, covering MMA and TIG plate and tube welding techniques, with exams leading to ISO 9606 internationally recognized welder certificates.
• Certified Drone Pilot Training (EASA) EASA/YPA-certified drone pilot training combining 20 hours of online theoretical instruction with 2 hours of practical flight training, leading to a European drone pilot license from the Civil Aviation Authority.
• Professional Pizzaiolo School (Italian Pizza Academy) Professional pizza maker training in partnership with the Italian Pizza Academy and i-skills certification body, combining online theory with hands-on workshop hours and awarding an Italian-recognized pizzaiolo credential.
• EFET Food Safety Certification Training EFET-authorized Level 1 food safety training for food handlers, with electronic examinations administered through the EFET platform and certified trainers drawn from the EFET Trainer Registry.
• DYPA Subsidized Training Programs Government-subsidized vocational training programs for unemployed and employed individuals covering digital skills, green skills, and financial literacy, with training allowances of up to €750 for eligible participants.
• Classroom and Event Space Rental Rental of teaching and event classrooms (capacity 20-30 persons) and a 21-computer informatics lab, equipped with projectors, screens, Wi-Fi, and optional coffee break service, available to external organizations.
• Parking Space Rental Parking spaces rented to car rental businesses in the Nea Alikarnassos area near Ikarou and Archimedes streets at €10-€28 per space per month.
• Europe 4.0 Digital Micro-Credential Webinars Ten micro-credential webinars covering Europe 4.0 digital topics including AI, Cybersecurity, 5G/6G, Quantum Computing, IoT, Robotics, Cloud, Metaverse, AR, and Mobile Internet.
• AI Office Automation Seminar 12-hour seminar (€90) teaching productivity improvement through AI tools including ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini for emails, reports, presentations, data organization, tables, and text summarization.
• B2B and XVAN Sales Excellence Seminar 12-hour seminar (€150) covering modern B2B and XVAN sales techniques and customer development practices for wholesale trade.
• Sales Techniques and Modern Skills in Retail Trade (Distance Learning) 20-hour distance-learning seminar (€190) covering sales techniques and modern retail skills for the retail trade sector.
• Social Media Mastery Program 20-hour program (€250) delivered in partnership with Social Builders - The Content House covering social media mastery on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Quantifiable outcome

• Training allowance up to €750 per participant for subsidized programs
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DVS-GSI (Gesellschaft für Schweißtechnik International mbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Welding Association partner for international welding certification programs. Six-class welding program leads to internationally recognized ISO 9606 welding certificates. Examinations administered by DVS-GSI experts at the Heraklion facility. Additionally, a two-week advanced retraining program in Düsseldorf, Germany is available for program graduates.
• Italian Pizza Academy / i-skillscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint certification for Professional Pizza Maker (Formazione professionale pizzaiolo). Combines 15 hours of synchronous distance learning with 65 hours of practical workshop training. Certifications awarded by Italian Pizza Academy and i-skills (certification body).
• ALTUS LSA (EASA/YPA Certified Training Center)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEASA-authorized drone pilot training partner. Provides 20 hours of online theoretical training plus 2 hours of practical flight training across six cities (Heraklion, Chania, Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Alexandroupoli). Graduates receive European EASA drone pilot license from the Civil Aviation Authority.
• EFET (National Food Authority of Greece)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAuthorized Level 1 food safety training provider. Issues attendance certificates and administers electronic examinations through the EFET platform. Trainers selected from the EFET Trainer Registry.
• Social Builders - The Content HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital marketing and content creation training partner for the Social Media Mastery seminar program. Social Builders provides the training curriculum and instructor for social media and digital marketing courses.
• DxHub (Horizon Europe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and development project under Horizon Europe (HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-07) as a Coordination and Support Action. Focus on innovation and development.
• Green Host (European Tourism Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean program developing an integrated curriculum with emphasis on green skills integration for tourism sector professionals.
• Career Intelligence (Erasmus+)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ project running from 31.05.2022 to 30.11.2024, addressing the role of digitalization and green skills in career development.
• FEA-VEE - Fashion Earth Alliance (Erasmus+)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational excellence program for fashion, textiles, and apparel industries. Addresses training, policy reform, and sustainability in the sector.
• Remote_WorkEUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate Digital Transformation for Remote Working project supporting SME owners and workers in digital transition and remote work adoption.
• No One Behind! (Erasmus+)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ project aimed at social and professional integration of vulnerable populations through digital and ecological competence development.
• Επιμελητήριο Ηρακλείου (Heraklion Chamber of Commerce)coreOthersParent organization. The Technical Schools operate as the KEK (vocational training center) of the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce, using its facilities and benefiting from institutional support and industry connections.
• ΕΟΠΠΕΠ (National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment body overseeing vocational training center (KEK) licensing and quality standards. Links provided on website footer for verification and regulatory compliance.
• ΔΥΠΑ (Manpower Employment Organization / DYPA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment employment agency providing subsidized vocational training programs. Offers training vouchers up to €750 for unemployed and private sector employees. Programs aligned with Greece 2.0 Recovery Plan (NextGenerationEU).
• ACTA (Anatolia College Alumni Association)minorOthersLinked as a useful resource link in the website footer for additional professional development opportunities.
• I-SKILLS (Certification Body)coreOthersSkills certification body referenced for professional qualifications, particularly in conjunction with the Italian Pizza Academy for pizza maker certification.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BCA College: Greek private college offering vocational and professional programs across multiple disciplines. Comparable in serving adult learners seeking certifications and career-oriented training in Greece.
• Mediterranean College: Greek private college offering professional and vocational programs with international accreditation. Comparable as a Greek institution delivering internationally certified credentials to working professionals.
• IEK Delta: One of Greece's largest private vocational training institutes (IEK) offering a broad catalog of professional certifications and seminars. Highly comparable as a multi-disciplinary Greek vocational training provider with similar government-recognized credential offerings.
• AKMI International Educational Group: Greek vocational training and lifelong learning provider with multiple campuses and a wide course catalog. Comparable as a multi-program Greek training institution serving similar working-professional and unemployed segments.

Broad incumbents

• Udemy: Global online learning marketplace with broad catalog of professional and vocational courses. Comparable in monetizing per-course and subscription access to diverse professional development content.
• Coursera: Global online learning platform partnering with universities and companies for credentialed courses. Comparable in delivering certificate-bearing professional courses via distance learning to working professionals.
• Skillsoft: Global corporate training and professional development provider with broad course catalog. Comparable in delivering subscription and per-course vocational/business training to enterprises and individuals.
• LinkedIn Learning: Large-scale online professional learning platform covering business, technology, and creative skills. Comparable in offering subscription-based access to a broad catalog of professional development seminars.

Regional players

• PeopleCert: Greek-headquartered global certification body offering professional credentials (IT, project management, language). Comparable as a certification-issuing peer operating from Greece with similar exam-based credential model.
• ISAG (European Business School): Greece-based business school offering professional development and management training. Comparable in delivering business-skills seminars and professional certifications to Greek working professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/katartisi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Technical Institute of Heraklion Chamber