Urban Talent Academy

What Urban Talent Academy does

Urban Talent Academy (UTA), legally Stichting Urban Talent, is a Dutch non-profit foundation headquartered at Sportpark de Eendracht in Amsterdam that delivers alternative special education for vulnerable youth who have fallen out of, or are at risk of dropping out of, the regular Dutch education system. The academy combines structured academic instruction with sports-based personal development and operates across five core trajectories: Sportwerkt (VSO/secondary special education), Sportwerkt Junior (special primary education for ages 6+), MBO Level 1 (Entree Sport) and MBO Level 2 (Sport & Recreatie) vocational programs, and the Orion trajectory delivered in partnership with Orion College Amstel. A multidisciplinary care department — including a care coordinator, absence coordinator, budget coach, parent-child advisor, psychologist, and school doctor — supports students alongside UTA, Orion, and ROC van Amsterdam teaching staff.

The core product is an integrated education-and-sports platform anchored at a single green, low-stimulus campus, with the only Entree Sport MBO program in Amsterdam and a continuous learning pathway from VSO through MBO Level 2 under one team. Around the educational core, UTA runs supplementary programs including Buitenschoolse opvang (after-school care) with trauma boxing and Urban Voetbalhelden football, the SC Urban amateur football club (champions in its first year, 2023), and free Zomerweken summer programming. Reach is delivered through school referrals, neighborhood community events, and a small direct-enrollment motion.

UTA is financed primarily through the Dutch passend onderwijs government funding regime for special education, with after-school care pricing negotiated individually per family and summer programming offered free of charge. Ownership rests with founder-director Mira Mellema (with John also listed as Eigenaar/co-owner), and the foundation operates without venture capital, private equity, or a parent-company structure, reporting a 100% pass rate across all ROC van Amsterdam and Orion MBO classes for the 2024/2025 school year.

Name

Urban Talent Academy

Legal name

Stichting Urban Talent

Website

https://urbanvoetbalschool.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Urban Talent Academy is a Dutch non-profit foundation in Amsterdam delivering sports-based special education for vulnerable youth at risk of school dropout, operating VSO, MBO, and after-school programs in partnership with Orion College Amstel and ROC van Amsterdam.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.) (MPAKAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sport-Specific Skills Coaching (e.g., soccer, basketball, tennis) (HSADAEAA), Outdoor Education & Adventure Programs (School-Run) (EDAJAJAJ), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Vocational sports training
• Youth education programs
• After-school care
• Sports-based learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Special Education Services: Government-funded special education services provided through the Dutch 'passend onderwijs' (appropriate education) system. The institution receives funding for educating students with special needs who cannot succeed in regular education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Urban Talent Academy operates a portfolio of sports-integrated special education trajectories for vulnerable youth in Amsterdam, including VSO (Sportwerkt), special primary education (Sportwerkt Junior), MBO 1 and 2 vocational sports programs (Entree Sport, Sport & Recreatie), the Orion trajectory, and after-school care (Buitenschoolse opvang). Programs are delivered at Sportpark de Eendracht through partnerships with Orion College Amstel and ROC van Amsterdam, and are supported by a multidisciplinary care department (care coordinator, psychologist, school doctor, budget coach, parent-child advisor).

Product overview

Urban Talent Academy operates a multi-trajectory education and sports platform serving vulnerable youth in Amsterdam. The core offerings include: Sportwerkt and Sportwerkt Junior (VSO and special primary education trajectories), MBO 1 & 2 vocational sports programs (Entree Sport and Sport & Recreatie), and the Orion trajectory in partnership with Orion College Amstel. Around these educational programs, the academy offers Buitenschoolse opvang (out-of-school care) including Urban Voetbalhelden football training and Boksen (boxing) programs. Additional offerings include SC Urban football club, Zomerweken summer camps, and a community coffee morning program. The model integrates education, sports, personal development, and healthy lifestyle across all programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sportwerkt: VSO (voortgezet speciaal onderwijs) education trajectory focused on personal development through sports and theoretical education for students at risk of dropping out.
• Sportwerkt Junior
• Orion Traject
• Urban Voetbalhelden
• SC Urban
• Buitenschoolse opvang (BSO)
• Zomerweken

Products and services

• Sportwerkt VSO (voortgezet speciaal onderwijs) trajectory combining theoretical education with sports to help students at risk of dropping out progress to further education and/or work. Delivered at Sportpark de Eendracht with small class sizes and personal mentoring.
• Sportwerkt Junior Special primary education trajectory for children aged 6+ combining sports with academics (math, language) to develop social skills and school performance. Functions as a bridging period while waiting for placement in special education or another suitable school.
• MBO 1 - Entree Sport One-year BOL vocational training (mbo level 1) in sports assistance, the only Entree MBO sports program in Amsterdam, with 3 days school and 2 days internship. Delivered in partnership with ROC van Amsterdam.
• MBO 2 - Sport & Recreatie Two-year BOL program (mbo level 2) training students as broadly deployable employees in sports and recreation settings, teaching service skills across various target groups. Delivered in partnership with ROC van Amsterdam.
• Orion Traject Collaboration trajectory with Orion College Amstel providing education for students who due to age or capabilities cannot yet attend MBO, now also including MBO programs (Entree Sport and Entree DJ/Events). Enables continuous learning pathway from VSO to MBO level 2.
• Buitenschoolse opvang (After-school care) Out-of-school care for youth aged 6+ with special educational needs, offering trauma boxing and Urban Football Heroes as sports-based after-school programs. Costs determined in consultation with the elementary school or based on individual situation.
• Urban Voetbalhelden Accessible football training program for children delivered by experienced trainers and former professional footballers, focusing on technical development and personal growth.
• Boksen voor basisschoolleerlingen (Trauma boxing) Trauma boxing program for elementary school children combining sport, emotional development, and personal leadership under professional boxer guidance.
• SC Urban Amsterdam football club initiative of Urban Talent Academy offering teams for different levels (junior and senior) with focus on personal development alongside sporting performance.
• Zomerweken (Summer weeks) Free summer program at Sportpark de Eendracht featuring laser gaming, bouncy castles, archery, football, workshops, and healthy lunches for children. Functions as a community outreach and engagement channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% pass rate for all ROC van Amsterdam and Orion MBO students in 2024/2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orion College AmstelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Orion College Amstel for VSO education and MBO programs. Orion provides didactical offerings and specialized knowledge while UTA provides the strong pedagogical climate and specific setting. Combined approach enables education for youth who need more support than regular education can offer.
• ROC van AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ROC van Amsterdam for MBO level 1 (Entree Sport) and MBO level 2 (Sport & Recreatie) programs. UTA provides the location and pedagogical support while ROC provides the official vocational education framework and accreditation.
• Sportpark de EendrachtcoreOthersSports complex in the Tuinen van West (Gardens of West Amsterdam) serving as the location for all UTA programs including education, sports activities, summer weeks, and SC Urban football club. Provides green, low-stimulus learning environment.
• SparkminorOthersPartner supporting the Urban Talent Academy and its mission to support vulnerable youth in Amsterdam.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• NOC*NSF: Dutch Olympic and sport federation umbrella body supporting Dutch sport infrastructure, policy, and athlete pathways. Not a direct competitor but an ecosystem partner that influences the regulatory and funding environment in which UTA operates.

Direct peers

• Johan Cruyff Foundation: Major Dutch foundation using sport to promote youth development and social participation, including Cruyff Courts in vulnerable neighborhoods. Operates a similar sport-for-youth-development model in the Netherlands with comparable target population to UTA.
• Jeugdsportfonds: Dutch national fund that enables children from low-income families to participate in sports by paying membership and equipment costs. Targets the same vulnerable-youth segment as UTA and often serves as a feeder for sport-based youth development programs.
• Streetkick Foundation: Dutch foundation using street football as a tool for personal development of vulnerable youth in the Netherlands. Closely comparable mission, geography, and methodology to UTA's Sportwerkt and Urban Voetbalhelden programs.
• Krajicek Foundation: Dutch non-profit foundation that builds and operates sports facilities in vulnerable neighborhoods to provide free sport access for at-risk youth. Shares UTA's mission of using sport as a vehicle for social inclusion and youth development in Dutch urban settings.
• CIOS Nederland: Dutch national network of MBO sports vocational training colleges offering level 1-4 qualifications in sport and movement. Comparable to UTA's MBO 1 Entree Sport and MBO 2 Sport & Recreatie programs, though CIOS is a broader vocational provider rather than a special-education foundation.

Broad incumbents

• Right to Play: International organization using sport and play to educate and empower children facing adversity. Shares UTA's sport-as-development methodology but operates at global scale across developing-country contexts rather than Dutch special education.
• ALO (Academie Lichamelijke Opvoeding): Dutch established sports higher-education institution training PE teachers and sports professionals. Broader, more academic sports education provider; adjacent rather than directly competitive with UTA's MBO Sport programs.
• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Global foundation funding sport-for-development projects that use sport to address social challenges facing youth. Operates on a grant-making model across many countries; comparable high-level mission to UTA's sport-for-youth-development approach.

Regional players

• Sportbedrijf Amsterdam: Amsterdam municipal sports organization operating sports facilities, programs, and community initiatives across the city. Same geography as UTA and shares the goal of increasing sport participation, but serves all residents rather than the at-risk-youth niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UrbanTalentAcademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urbantalentacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/urbantalentacademy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Urban Talent Academy