SEEDS Iceland

What SEEDS Iceland does

SEEDS Iceland (SEE beyonD borderS) is a Reykjavik-based non-profit voluntary service organization founded in 2005 that operates as an intermediary connecting international volunteers, primarily aged 18-30, with environmental conservation and community projects across Iceland. The organization runs a portfolio of program formats including short-term workcamps (9-16 days), long-term volunteer placements (3-12 months), European Solidarity Corps (ESC) placements, and Erasmus+ traineeships. Specialized programs include Coast Care Sundays (monthly coastal cleanups), the 'From Inside Out' Erasmus+ KA2 mental health awareness project, and the Trees & Seas Film-Activism Festival co-organized with Plastic Oceans. SEEDS also publishes the SEEDLING magazine and produces the podcast 'Sprouts og Spæra'. In 2023, SEEDS hosted over 1,000 volunteers from 43 countries across 69 camps.

The organization's business model is grant-funded rather than commercially priced. SEEDS receives co-funding from the European Commission through Erasmus+ Youth in Action and European Solidarity Corps programs, administered nationally through RANNIS and Umhverfisstofnun. Host organizations contribute accommodation and supervision at no monetary cost; if SEEDS provides food, hosts pay 1,600 ISK (~$11) per volunteer per day. Volunteer participants typically pay a modest participation fee. The GTM motion is community-led and event-driven: recruitment flows through the SCI (Service Civil International) network, Erasmus+ channels, word-of-mouth from alumni, and direct website application, while outbound placements enable Icelandic youth to volunteer in 80+ countries through SCI.

The technology stack is minimal — a content website (seeds.is), standard social media presence (Facebook, Instagram), podcast distribution, and seasonal magazine publication. There is no proprietary software platform; SEEDS' core technology is its program coordination methodology, host relationships, and accumulated brand credibility across two decades of operation. The organization is registered as an independent non-profit in Iceland with no parent company, no venture funding, and no equity instruments; it employs approximately 11 staff and is led by founder Oscar (Oscar-Mauricio Uscategui), who also serves as Director.

Name

SEEDS Iceland

Legal name

SEEDS Iceland

Website

https://seeds.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SEEDS Iceland is a Reykjavik-based non-profit founded in 2005 that connects international volunteers aged 18-30 with environmental conservation and community projects across Iceland through workcamps, long-term placements, and European Solidarity Corps programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Volunteer Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Volunteer workcamps
• Environmental volunteering programs
• Intercultural exchange programs
• Youth mobility initiatives
• Nonprofit volunteer coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavik

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. European Funding Programs: SEEDS receives co-funding from European Commission through Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) to host international volunteers in Iceland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SEEDS Iceland operates a portfolio of volunteer programs in Iceland that connect international participants with environmental and community projects. Core offerings include short-term workcamps lasting 9-16 days, long-term volunteering placements of 3-12 months, the European Solidarity Corps program, and Erasmus+ trainee/internship opportunities. Activities span coastal cleanups, reforestation, trail maintenance, environmental education, and intercultural exchange, with all camps operating on a vegetarian basis.

Product overview

SEEDS Iceland is a non-profit volunteering organization that connects international volunteers with environmental and community projects across Iceland. The organization offers a portfolio of volunteer programs including short-term workcamps (9-16 days), long-term volunteering (3-12 months), European Solidarity Corps, and Erasmus+ internships. SEEDS also facilitates youth exchanges, documentary screenings, and publishes SEEDLING magazine. The core offering consists of structured volunteer programs combined with environmental education, intercultural exchange, and photography-focused camps. The organization operates as a service-based platform coordinating between volunteers, hosts, and partner organizations in Iceland and abroad.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workcamps (Short-Term Opportunities) Short-term volunteer projects lasting 9-16 days where groups of participants live and work together on specific environmental or community projects across Iceland.
• Long-Term Volunteering (LTV) Volunteering projects lasting 3-12 months where volunteers become part of SEEDS' intercultural hub in Iceland.
• European Solidarity Corps (ESC) European Solidarity Corps program for young people participating in volunteer projects that benefit communities across Iceland.
• Erasmus+ Internships Trainee and internship opportunities for young people through the Erasmus+ program.
• Youth Exchanges International youth exchange programs allowing participants to volunteer abroad in various countries including Iceland.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 kg of trash removed from Icelandic coastlines in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Plastic OceanscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2024Collaborated on Trees & Seas Film-Activism Festival. Hosted screenings of environmental documentaries including 'The Last Glaciers' and 'The Future of the Ocean'.
• YouinEurope GreececoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024Collaborating on Erasmus+ KA2 project 'From Inside Out' - a toolkit about mental health. Participated in training seminar in Reykjavík with 20 youth workers.
• Ayuntamiento de MaracenacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024Partner in 'From Inside Out' Erasmus+ KA2 project working on mental health toolkit. Hosted first project meeting.
• PsientíficaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024Partner organization in 'From Inside Out' mental health awareness project.
• EPEKA NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024Partner organization in Erasmus+ mental health awareness project.
• Epeka SloveniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024Co-coordinator of 'From Inside Out' mental health project. Final meeting held in Nea Moudania, Greece.
• Centro de Juventude de ÁguedaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024Partner in mental health awareness project 'From Inside Out'.
• The Nordic House (Nordiskahúsið)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular collaboration for documentary screening events. Hosted multiple screenings of environmental documentaries including 'State of Change', 'Eating up Easter', and 'Out of Plastic'. Over 250 attendees across 7 successful events in 2022.
• The WHY FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish non-profit media organization producing investigative documentaries. Collaboration began in 2020 for documentary screening series 'At Home in the World'.
• Sólheimar Eco VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partner of Iceland's oldest eco-village (since 1930). SEEDS contributes volunteers for forestry projects and greenhouse work. Eco-village known for organic vegetables, candles, and inclusive community.
• Gaia IcelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization hosting Green Days events. SEEDS participates in trips to VAXA Technologies Iceland and Geothermal Exhibition.
• Landvernd (Umhverfisverndarsamtök)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization operating Alviðra environmental education center. Collaborates on Coast Care Sundays coastal cleanup initiatives.
• Ungir umhverfissinnarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth environmental organization participating in monthly Coast Care Sundays cleanup events.
• Dive.is - PADI 5 Star Dive Center IcelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on cleanup action removing 150 kg of trash from Grandi area. Dive center chose to support environmental cause.
• Sea Shepherd IcelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine conservation organization. Organized coastal cleanup at Grótta with about 30 participants including SEEDS volunteers, Sea Shepherds, locals and foreigners.
• Blái herinn (Blue Army)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIcelandic cleanup organization led by Tómas. Long-standing collaboration on coastal cleanup actions including Reykjanes peninsula cleanups. Collected hundreds of kilograms of fishing nets and waste.
• VAXA Technologies IcelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology organization visited during Green Days with Gaia Iceland.
• ESB - Evrópusambandið á Íslandi (EU in Iceland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union representation in Iceland. Co-hosted screening of documentary 'The Changing Face of Iceland' on climate crisis.
• Foster Social Inclusion ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-country project with organizations from Poland, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Lithuania and Iceland. Creating training modules and best practices handbook for social inclusion through volunteering.
• OneRadioErasmusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject giving young Europeans a voice through podcast episodes on culture, politics, art and music. SEEDS joined with four other NGOs.
• Laiks Jauniešiem (Latvia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization visited in Latvia as part of Norden project 'Being a quality volunteer is cool'.
• Visuomenės ir verslo plėtros institutas (Lithuania)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization visited in Lithuania as part of Norden quality volunteer project.
• SCI - Service Civil InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational volunteering network. SEEDS is part of SCI and facilitates volunteer exchanges. Icelandic youth can volunteer abroad in 80+ countries through SCI.
• RANNIS (Icelandic National Agency for Erasmus+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational agency co-funding European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+ programs. Invited SEEDS to celebrate International Volunteer Day 2021.
• Umhverfisstofnun (Environment Agency of Iceland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment environment agency. Cooperates with SEEDS on hosting EVS volunteers and environmental projects. Organized seminars and training for volunteers.
• AUS (Alþjóðleg Ungmennaskipti - Icelandic branch of ICYE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIcelandic youth exchange organization. Cooperated with UST and SEEDS as three main hosts of volunteers in Iceland.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SCI - Service Civil International: Global volunteer-exchange network that SEEDS itself belongs to. SCI operates short-term workcamps across 80+ countries, making it the umbrella incumbent of which SEEDS is a national branch-like node.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: Large international volunteer and intercultural exchange organization with global programs. Comparable in mission (intercultural exchange, youth mobility) but operates at much larger scale with broader programming.

Direct peers

• Projects Abroad: International volunteer organization offering short- and long-term placements including environmental conservation projects. Directly comparable to SEEDS' workcamp and long-term volunteering program structure.
• WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms): Global volunteer-exchange network placing volunteers on organic farms. Highly comparable to SEEDS in hosting international environmental/agricultural volunteers, with broader geographic coverage and a similar mission.
• International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ): Large volunteer abroad organization placing participants in environmental, conservation, and community projects across 50+ countries. Closely matches SEEDS' short-term volunteer placement model with fee-based programs.
• GoEco: Volunteer abroad platform offering wildlife, environmental, and conservation programs in dozens of countries. Comparable to SEEDS in placing international volunteers on environmental projects with structured short-term formats.
• Workaway: Online platform connecting travelers with hosts for volunteer work worldwide, including many environmental and conservation projects. Comparable to SEEDS as a volunteer placement intermediary with a global host network.

Others

• Erasmus+ Youth (European Commission): EU funding and program framework that SEEDS draws from. As the primary funder and program backbone for SEEDS, Erasmus+ Youth is the critical enabling platform that defines SEEDS' operating model.

Emerging players

• Plastic Oceans: Direct partner of SEEDS (Trees & Seas Film Festival). Operates adjacent environmental education and cleanup initiatives globally, overlapping in mission but not in volunteer placement.
• Ecosia Foundation: Environmental organization funding reforestation and conservation. While not a volunteer placement org, it is thematically adjacent in environmental volunteerism and reforestation partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seeds-iceland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 SEEDS Iceland