Joensuun seudun erilaiset oppijat ry

What Joensuun seudun erilaiset oppijat ry does

Joensuun seudun erilaiset oppijat ry (JOSE) is a Finnish non-profit association (rekisteröity yhdistys) founded in 1998 and headquartered in Joensuu, operating across the North Karelia region. Its mission is to support individuals with learning difficulties — including challenges with reading, writing, mathematics, and concentration — along with their families and the professionals who work with them. JOSE delivers low-threshold services that do not require a formal diagnosis, comprising individual guidance and counseling, reading screening and individual testing (using the Niilo Mäki Institute's Digilukiseula digital tool), peer support groups, paid and free training programs, summer reading camps, an open study workshop, and a free loanable assistive-tool backpack program.

The organization generates revenue through a hybrid non-profit model: tiered annual membership fees (€20-50), retail and e-commerce sales of learning assistive products (priced €1.05-€115, with a 10% member discount), paid customized training packages (€100-€175), reading screening (€20) and individual test (€30) fees, and — most significantly — multi-year project grants from Finnish and EU public sources including ESR+ (Tulevaisuuden työkyky, 2023-2026 with Karelia and Savonia Universities of Applied Sciences), the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (Askeleet arkeen, 2024-2026), and RAY/STEA (AK-Opinpesä). Distribution is hybrid, combining a physical store (JOSEn puoti, Kalevankatu 22, Joensuu), a national e-commerce storefront, direct office services, and Opinpesä information points co-located with partner institutions such as Karelia AMK and regional libraries.

Name

Joensuun seudun erilaiset oppijat ry

Legal name

Joensuun seudun erilaiset oppijat ry

Website

https://lukijose.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

JOSE ry is a Finnish non-profit association, founded in 1998 and based in Joensuu, that delivers low-threshold support — including assessment, guidance, peer groups, training, and assistive retail — to individuals with learning difficulties and their families across North Karelia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJALAJ

Specialized Learning Support (Dyslexia/LD Coaching, Assistive Strategies)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Educational Support Services (Tutoring & Counseling)

SECONDARYEDANAHAJ

Special Education & Learning Differences Learning Centers (Dyslexia/ADHD/IEP Support)

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Small-Group Tutoring & Learning Centers

SECONDARYEDAFAKAG

Executive Functioning & Behavioral Support Tools (ADHD, SEL/Behavior Tracking, Routines)

Education/Education Technology (EdTech) & Digital Learning/Accessibility, Assistive Technology & Special Needs EdTech

Keywords

• Learning difficulty support
• Assistive learning products
• Reading screening services
• Special education training
• Peer support groups

Headquarters

HQ city

Joensuu

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individual members. Standard membership: €27/year for employed, €20/year for students/retirees/unemployed, and €50/year for supporting members.
2. Retail Sales - Assistive Products: Sales of learning assistive devices and tools through physical store (Josen puoti) and e-commerce shop. Products include reading aids, writing tools, math aids, concentration aids, fidget tools, weighted products, and timers. Net proceeds fund the association's operations.
3. Training and Courses: Revenue from paid training programs including customized training packages for professionals and organizations. Free assistive equipment training provided periodically. Pricing ranges from €100-175 per training package.
4. Testing Services: Fees charged for reading screening tests (€20) and individual tests (€30) used to diagnose reading difficulties.
5. Government and Project Funding: ESR+ funding (European Social Fund) for Tulevaisuuden työkyky project 2023-2026, RAY/STEA funding for AK-Opinpesä, sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö funding for Askeleet arkeen project, and other project-based funding from regional and national sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Joensuun seudun erilaiset oppijat ry (JOSE) is a Finnish non-profit association founded in 1998 that provides low-threshold support services for individuals with learning difficulties across the North Karelia region. Its core offering combines individual counseling, reading screening and testing (using Niilo Mäki Institute's Digilukiseula tool), customized professional training, peer support groups, and reading camps for children, together with retail of learning assistive products (reading rulers, weighted items, fidget tools, writing aids, math aids, chewable jewelry) through a physical store (JOSEn puoti) and an e-commerce shop whose net proceeds fund the association's operations.

Product overview

JOSE operates a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services supporting individuals with learning difficulties across North Karelia, Finland. The core offering includes a physical store (JOSEn puoti) and e-commerce platform (verkkokauppa) selling over 199 learning aid products organized into categories: timers (ajastimet), weighted products (painotuotteet), stress/fidget toys (stressilelut), reading aids (lukemisen apuvälineet), math tools (matematiikan apuvälineet), writing aids (kirjoittamisen apuvälineet), chewable jewelry (mutusteltavat purukorut), concentration aids (keskittymisen apuvälineet), educational games (pelit), and JOSE-branded merchandise (kannatustuotteet). Services include free loanable tool backpacks (apuvälinereppu), reading testing (lukitestaus), individual guidance (yksilöohjaus), training courses (koulutukset), reading camps (lukileiri), study workshops (opiskelupaja), and community projects. Revenue from product sales funds the association's operations. The organization runs two active EU-funded projects addressing work capacity and ex-offender support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JOSE verkkokauppa (E-commerce Shop)

Quantifiable outcome

• 165 clients served through the Lifelong Learning Center project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Niilo Mäki Instituutti (Niilo Mäki Institute)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Provides the Digilukiseula digital reading screening tool used by JOSE for reading assessments. The tool is specifically designed for Finnish-language reading difficulty identification.
• Karelia ammattikorkeakoulu (Karelia University of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Co-implementer of the 'Tulevaisuuden työkyky' (Future Work Capacity) project (8/2023-7/2026), funded by ESR+. JOSE serves as the learning difficulty expert, developing accessibility and digital tools for higher education students. Jointly develops training materials and services.
• Savonia ammattikorkeakoulu (Savonia University of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Co-implementer of the 'Tulevaisuuden työkyky' (Future Work Capacity) project (8/2023-7/2026), funded by ESR+. Partnership focuses on enhancing study ability and accessibility for university students.
• Joensuun kaupunki (City of Joensuu)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2019Partner in the 'Elinikäisen oppimisen keskus' (Lifelong Learning Center) project (2019-2022), co-funded by European Social Fund. Supported the establishment of an accessible learning space.
• Pohjois-Karjalan maakuntaliitto (North Karelia Regional Council)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2019Partner in the 'Elinikäisen oppimisen keskus' project (2019-2022), contributing to regional development of adult basic skills education.
• Riveria (Vocational College)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2019Partner in the 'Elinikäisen oppimisen keskus' project, collaborating on adult education and skills development.
• Pohjois-Karjalan Sosiaaliturvayhdistys ryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2019Partner in the 'Elinikäisen oppimisen keskus' project, collaborating on social welfare aspects of adult learning support.
• Pohjois-Karjalan Mielenterveydentuki ryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2019Partner in the 'Elinikäisen oppimisen keskus' project, focusing on mental health aspects of learning difficulties.
• Erilaisten oppijoiden liitto ry (Finnish Association for Diverse Learners)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006National umbrella organization for learning difficulty associations. JOSE has been represented on the national board since 2006. Provides joint membership benefits, training resources, and coordinates national advocacy.
• Ernst & Young Oy (KHT)minorOthersProvides audit services as the appointed auditor and deputy auditor for the association. Financial oversight and compliance.
• Pohjois-Karjalan sosiaaliturvayhdistys ryminorOthersProvides bookkeeping services for the association as contracted accounting service provider.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Autismiliitto: Finnish national non-profit association supporting autistic individuals and families through peer groups, guidance, advocacy, and training — directly analogous operating model and revenue mix to JOSE.
• Helsingin seudun erilaiset oppijat HESE ry: Regional Helsinki-area peer association of JOSE's national umbrella, providing comparable learning-difficulty support services (peer groups, training, assistive tools, guidance) in a different Finnish region.
• Erilaisten oppijoiden liitto ry: National Finnish umbrella association for learning-difficulty organizations, of which JOSE has been a board member since 2006. Directly comparable mission, structure, and service categories at a national scale.
• ADHD-liitto: Finnish national non-profit supporting people with ADHD and their families, providing peer support, guidance, training, and advocacy. Operates a similar membership-and-service-delivery model as JOSE and serves an overlapping population.

Broad incumbents

• British Dyslexia Association: UK national non-profit providing information, training, assessment, and advocacy for dyslexic individuals. Comparable mission and service portfolio at a larger national scale; serves as a benchmark for what an established national association can become.
• International Dyslexia Association: US-based large non-profit providing information, resources, training, and advocacy on dyslexia and related learning difficulties. Comparable domain and service categories at significantly greater geographic and operational scale.
• Learning Ally: US non-profit providing audiobooks, parent resources, and educator training for students with reading differences including dyslexia. Overlapping mission (reading difficulties) and adjacent service categories (training, tools, advocacy).

Regional players

• Dyslexiförbundet (Swedish Dyslexia Association): Swedish national dyslexia association offering peer support, advice, and advocacy. Closest Nordic peer by mission and structure to JOSE, but operating in Sweden rather than Finland.
• Norwegian Dyslexia Association (Dysleksi Norge): Norwegian national non-profit providing information, advocacy, and peer support for dyslexic individuals. Directly comparable mission and member-based operating model, but serving the Norwegian market rather than Finland.

Others

• Niilo Mäki Instituutti: Finnish research institute whose Digilukiseula digital reading-screening tool JOSE uses. Adjacent ecosystem participant — not a direct service competitor but a core technology and research partner in the same domain.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Joensuunerilaisetoppijat
• Instagraminstagram.com/joensuun_erilaiset_oppijat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/joensuun-seudun-erilaiset-oppijat-ry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Joensuun seudun erilaiset oppijat ry