What Löparakademin does

Löparakademin (LA) is a Swedish non-profit association (ideell organisation) founded in Husby, Stockholm in 2009 by Vandad Assadi, Babak Behdjou, Johan Danielsson, John Laselle, and David Lillo. The organization's mission is to advance equal health and social inclusion, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Health and Well-being) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities). It delivers three core 10-week programs: the original Löparakademin program for middle school youth (grades 7-9) combining running training, goal-setting workshops, and mentorship; Run your Health for parents combining physical training with psychoeducation led by dietitians, doctors, and psychologists; and Run for Office Academy targeting civic engagement and self-leadership for high school youth. All programs and events are offered completely free of charge to participants to remove economic barriers.

Supporting these programs are mass-participation running events (Kistaloppet, Järvafältet's largest annually recurring race since 2011; Skärholmsloppet since 2012), the Think Big Lectures free speaker series (since 2011), the LA on Tour pop-up holiday activities (2020s), and the Run for Zero (#RUN4ZERO) initiative launched in 2018 that eliminated all race registration fees. Operations span 20+ areas across Stockholm, Uppsala, Västerås, Gothenburg, and Malmö. In 2025, LA conducted 40 programs across these geographies with 24 staff and a volunteer leader base. An 85% participant survey result indicates positive perception shifts toward suburban areas after LA events.

The organization's revenue model is multi-stream grant and partnership funding rather than commercial revenue. Income derives from two flagship corporate sponsors (Vasakronan since 2013, Nike), 16+ foundations (Svenska Postkodlotteriets Stiftelse, Kronprinsessparets stiftelse, Åhlén-stiftelsen, Daniel Sachs Foundation, among others), public sector grants (Stockholms kommun, Järva and Skärholmen district administrations, Sundbybergs kommun), in-kind support (office space from Vasakronan), and a nominal 200 SEK support membership. Programs are distributed directly to participants via community-based outreach in schools and neighborhood facilities with no commercial intermediaries, making it a community-led, event-driven operating model.

Name

Löparakademin

Legal name

Löparakademin

Website

https://loparakademin.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Löparakademin is a Swedish non-profit founded in 2009 that delivers free running, health, and civic engagement programs to youth, parents, and families in socially vulnerable suburbs. Operating across 20+ areas in Sweden, it funds operations through corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and public sector support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community health and youth development programs

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Community health programs
• Youth running programs
• Social inclusion initiatives
• Non-profit community outreach
• Mass participation running events

Headquarters

HQ city

Sundbyberg

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Support members pay 200 SEK annually (per 2026). Membership fee goes entirely to operations.
2. Corporate partnerships and sponsorships: Main partners (Vasakronan since 2013, Nike) and additional partners (SKHLM, Kista Galleria, MKB Fastighets AB, Framtiden AB, Stockholmshem, Svenska Bostäder, Förvaltaren, Mellby Gård, Kista Limitless, Barebells, Vitamin Well, KINTO Mobility) provide financing, office space, and strategic support.
3. Foundation and public sector grants: Funded by foundations including Svenska Postkodlotteriets Stiftelse, Kronprinsessparets stiftelse, Stockholms kommun, Järva stadsdelsförvaltning, Skärholmens stadsdelsförvaltning, Sundbybergs kommun, Gålöstiftelsen, Stiftelsen Oscar Hirschs Minne, Åhlén-stiftelsen, Stiftelsen CHELHA, Hans & Lisbeth Hardmeiers stiftelse, Clas Groschinskys minnesfond, Prins Gustaf Adolfs och Prinsessan Sibyllas Minnesfond, Stiftelsen Karin och Ernst August Bångs minne, Ollie & Elof Ericssons Stiftelse för Välgörande Ändamål, Daniel Sachs Foundation, Gertrude och Ivar Philipsons Stiftelse.
4. Donations and gifts: Gifts and donations accepted via bankgiro or Swish. A gift letter (gåvobrev) is sent as acknowledgment. Support members and donors contribute to operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Löparakademin delivers a portfolio of free 10-week community programs (a youth running-and-mentorship program, a parent health program combining physical training with psychoeducation, and a youth civic engagement platform) along with mass-participation running events, a public lecture series, and school-break pop-up activities across approximately 20 areas in Sweden. All programs and events are completely free to participants, with operations funded by corporate sponsors (Vasakronan, Nike), foundation grants, public sector support, donations, and a 200 SEK annual support membership.

Product overview

Löparakademin (LA) is a non-profit organization operating as a multi-program platform focused on equal health and social inclusion. The portfolio consists of three core programs: (1) Löparakademin Tioveckorsprogrammet – a 10-week youth running and mentorship program for middle school students; (2) Run your Health – a 10-week parent health program combining training with psychoeducation; and (3) Run for Office Academy – a civic engagement platform for youth. Supporting these programs are event brands Kistaloppet, Skärholmsloppet, and Think Big Lectures, plus initiatives LA on Tour (school break activities) and Run for Zero (fee-free participation initiative). All offerings are free of charge to participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Löparakademin: Core ten-week youth program for grades 7–9 combining running training, workshops, and mentorship to build healthy habits and goal-setting skills.
• Run your Health
• Run for Office (RfO Academy)
• Kistaloppet
• Skärholmsloppet
• Think Big Lectures
• Run for Zero (#RUN4ZERO)
• LA on Tour

Products and services

• Löparakademin (Tioveckorsprogrammet) A 10-week youth program for grades 7–9 combining running training, goal-setting workshops, and mentorship, with participants working toward completing a 10-kilometer race. No prior training experience required. Free of charge.
• Run your Health A 10-week parent program combining physical training with psychoeducation led by personal trainers and featuring expert sessions with dietitians, doctors, and psychologists to support health lifestyle changes. Operates in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Free of charge.
• Run for Office Academy (RfO Academy) A platform and program accelerating young people's civic engagement through public education (folkbildning) and self-leadership development for upper-secondary students.
• Kistaloppet Järvafältet's largest annually recurring recreational running event and one of Stockholm's most notable races. Registration fees eliminated from 2018 under the Run for Zero initiative.
• Skärholmsloppet Annual 5-kilometer running event in Skärholmen, southern Stockholm, that has activated tens of thousands of families since 2012. Registration fees eliminated from 2018 under the Run for Zero initiative.
• Think Big Lectures A free public lecture series offering inspiration from some of Sweden's leading speakers.
• LA on Tour Pop-up activities during school breaks (sports, Easter, summer, autumn) featuring challenges, obstacle courses, and mini-runs for youth aged 10–15, run in cooperation with municipalities and city districts. 2025 areas include Rinkeby, Tensta, Husby, Rissne, Hallonbergen, and Skärholmen. No registration required.
• Run for Zero (#RUN4ZERO) An initiative launched in 2018 to eliminate economic barriers to exercise by removing registration fees for Kistaloppet and Skärholmsloppet, and offering free running groups for the general public, particularly targeting exercise-averse individuals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of runners in LA events reported gaining a more positive image of the suburb (förort)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SKHLMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner in the LA partnership section. Nature of collaboration not specified in detail.
• Kista GalleriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShopping center in Kista, Stockholm. Listed as a partner supporting LA's operations in the Kista area.
• MKB Fastighets ABminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMalmö-based property company (MKB). Listed as a partner in the LA partnership section.
• Framtiden ABminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner supporting LA's operations, particularly in Gothenburg areas.
• StockholmshemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal housing company in Stockholm. Listed as a partner supporting LA programs in Stockholm areas.
• Svenska BostäderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal housing company in Stockholm. Listed as a partner supporting LA programs.
• Järva stadsdelsförvaltningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJärva District Administration (northern Stockholm) supports LA operations in the Järva area (including Husby, Rinkeby, Tensta, Akalla, Kista). LA has worked closely with this area since founding in 2009.
• Skärholmens stadsdelsförvaltningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkärholmen District Administration supports LA operations in the Skärholmen area. Home to Skärholmsloppet since 2012.
• Sundbybergs kommunminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSundbyberg Municipality provides public sector support. Listed under foundations and public support.
• BarebellsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish protein bar and snack brand. Listed as a partner in the LA ecosystem.
• Vitamin WellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish beverage brand. Listed as a partner in the LA ecosystem.
• KINTO MobilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner in the LA partnership section. Nature of collaboration not specified.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Erikshjälpen: Large Swedish non-profit social organization with second-hand retail and youth support programs. Comparable in Swedish non-profit footprint and beneficiary communities, though operating in a fundamentally different revenue model (retail-driven).
• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Global foundation funding sport-for-development programs worldwide. Comparable to LA in framing sport as a vehicle for social inclusion and youth health; functions more as a funder/coordinator than a direct operator, but addresses the same beneficiary group.
• Right To Play: Global non-profit using sport and play for youth development in disadvantaged communities. Comparable to LA in the sport-for-social-inclusion thesis, but operates at much larger international scale with corporate sponsorship and national-program footprints.

Direct peers

• Star for Life: Swedish-founded non-profit running youth-development and mentorship programs targeting adolescents in vulnerable communities, with operations in Sweden and Southern Africa. Directly comparable to LA's mentoring-plus-running youth model.
• BRIS (Barnens Rätt i Samhället): Swedish non-profit supporting children and youth through counseling, advocacy, and community programs. Comparable to LA's youth-support mission though focused on child welfare rather than running-based delivery; both serve overlapping Swedish youth populations.
• Stiftelsen Friends: Swedish non-profit focused on anti-bullying and school climate, serving similar youth populations and partnering with municipalities and schools. Comparable organizational scale and Swedish non-profit operating model.
• Mentor (Sweden): Swedish non-profit running school-based youth mentorship programs across Sweden. Highly comparable to LA's mentorship pillar, with a similar partnership model vis-à-vis schools and municipalities, but without the running/sports component.
• Fryshuset: Swedish non-profit organization founded in 1984 that provides youth development programs across sports, culture, and civic engagement, including running and other sports-based youth initiatives. Highly comparable to LA in mission, target demographic (youth in socially vulnerable Swedish areas), and operating model.

Emerging players

• PeacePlayers International: Non-profit using basketball and sport to bridge divides and develop youth leadership across divided communities. Comparable to LA's Run for Office / youth civic engagement thesis, though sport modality differs.
• Sported (UK): UK charity supporting community sports groups delivering sport-for-development outcomes for disadvantaged youth. Highly comparable to LA in mission and beneficiary group, but operating in a different national policy context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/loparakademin
• Facebookfacebook.com/Loparakademin
• Instagraminstagram.com/loparakademin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/l%C3%B6parakademin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Löparakademin