Wazo Coop

What Wazo Coop does

Wazo Coop is a non-profit social initiative cooperative (cooperativa de iniciativa social sin ánimo de lucro) registered under Ley 9/2018 de sociedades cooperativas de Extremadura, headquartered in Valdefuentes (Cáceres) with a secondary space in Almendralejo (Badajoz). It is the first entity of its kind in Extremadura and operates at the intersection of Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) and the Creative and Cultural Industries, focusing on generating positive social impact in depopulated rural territories through participatory, democratic governance and approximately 25+ thematic programmes including Music4Coop, Rural-ESS, CulturCoop, DESOPAEX, Mujer-ESS, Joven-ESS, Olympe Emprende, Rural Rise, Place Out!, and FLAIR. Its core beneficiaries are rural residents, women, youth (14–35), migrants, creative professionals, and local public administrations across Extremadura and 10+ European partner countries; outputs include training, cultural events, community radio (Wazo Coop Radio), publications (Wazo Magazine via Substack, Wazo Books), podcasts, artistic installations, and freely disseminated toolkits under open licences.

Wazo Coop does not sell products or services commercially; it is entirely funded through competitive public grants and co-financing arrangements from EU programmes (Erasmus+ Key Actions 1, 2, and 3; Creative Europe; SMP-COSME), Spanish national ministries (Ministry of Culture; Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge), the Junta de Extremadura, provincial councils (Diputación de Badajoz, Cáceres), and crowdfunding. Disclosed individual project budgets range from 11,140 EUR (Coop Time) to 399,674 EUR (Place Out!), with a portfolio totalling approximately 1.7M+ EUR across named projects. The cooperative maintains an operating model of 5 staff executing high volumes of grant-funded programming through European consortia with recurring partners including Diesis Network (Belgium), Materahub (Italy), The Democratic Society (UK), LAMA (Italy), RESEO (Belgium), and Impact Hub International. No equity capital, venture funding, or parent entity is involved; surplus is reinvested into mission and employment creation as required by the cooperative's non-profit statutes.

Name

Wazo Coop

Legal name

Wazo Iniciativa social sin ánimo de lucro

Website

https://wazo.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Wazo Coop is a non-profit social initiative cooperative in Extremadura, Spain, operating at the intersection of Social Solidarity Economy and Creative and Cultural Industries to deliver ~25+ EU and nationally funded programmes empowering rural residents, women, youth, migrants, and cultural workers across 10+ European countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social and Solidarity Economy Cooperative Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL)

Keywords

• Rural community development
• Social solidarity economy
• Cultural cooperative projects
• EU grant programs
• Creative cultural industries

Headquarters

HQ city

Valdefuentes

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Project-Based EU and Government Funding: As a non-profit cooperative, Wazo Coop funds its operations and mission primarily through competitive project grants and co-financing agreements with EU programmes (Erasmus+, Creative Europe, SMP-COSME), national ministries (Ministry of Culture, Ministry for Ecological Transition), regional governments (Junta de Extremadura), and provincial councils (Diputación de Badajoz, Cáceres). Revenue is not derived from commercial sales but from grant disbursements, co-financing contributions, and crowdfunding campaigns.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wazo Coop is a non-profit social initiative cooperative that designs, coordinates, and disseminates cultural and social-inclusion projects at the intersection of the Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) and Creative and Cultural Industries. It executes a portfolio of 25+ active programs — including Music4Coop, CulturCoop, Rural-ESS, DESOPAEX, Olympe Emprende, Rural Rise, HerStory Our Future, Storydoers, FLAIR, Migrant-ESS, Rural Pride, Coop Time, Their Jobs Our Heritage, and EU SMART Composer — targeting rural empowerment, youth, gender equality, migrant inclusion, and cultural participation in Extremadura and across 10+ European countries, financed through EU programs (Erasmus+, Creative Europe, Horizon Europe, CERV) and Spanish public funding.

Product overview

Wazo Coop is a non-profit social initiative cooperative (the first of its kind in Extremadura, Spain) that operates as a unified portfolio of programs rather than a traditional product platform. The organization works at the intersection of Social Solidarity Economy and Creative/Cultural Industries to generate positive impact in rural areas. Its core offering consists of approximately 25+ thematic programs including Music4Coop (cooperative music sector development), Rural-ESS (sustainable heritage development), CulturCoop (cultural industries cooperation), DESOPAEX (Extremaduran heritage preservation), Mujer-ESS (women's economic empowerment), Joven-ESS (youth employment in rural areas), and Olympe Emprende (female cooperative entrepreneurship). Additional programs span digital storytelling (Storydoers), youth leadership (Place Out!, HerStory Our Future), international music exchanges (Rural Routes Rhythms), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Rural Pride), migrant integration (Migrant-ESS), community radio (Radio 5, Wazo Coop Radio), publishing (Wazo Magazine, Wazo Books), and cultural tourism (ArtenRuinas, Archeoandrea). All programs share common threads: participatory governance, democratic management, rural territorial focus, and alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals. The organization functions as a project-based cooperative rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WAZO Magazine: An online publication (substack) covering topics related to creative industries, rural development, social economy, and sustainable development.
• WAZO Books
• Wazo Coop Radio

Products and services

• Rural Routes Rhythms Cultural-routes program that pairs rural territorial routes with musical and artistic activities to foster rural cultural tourism and participation.
• Storydoers
• Music4Coop Music-focused project within Wazo Coop's portfolio that connects musical practice with the cooperative and social-economy model, aimed at rural and cultural-participation audiences in Extremadura and across Europe.
• CulturCoop Program that links cooperative-form organizations with cultural and creative industries, supporting cultural production, training, and rural cultural participation.
• Rural-ESS Rural-focused Social and Solidarity Economy project that promotes cooperative models and social-economy practices in rural areas of Extremadura and partner European territories.
• DESOPAEX Extremadura-region project addressing depopulation and rural-development challenges through social-economy approaches.
• Joven-ESS Youth-focused Social and Solidarity Economy program that engages young people in cooperative and social-economy initiatives in rural areas.
• Mujer-ESS Women's-focused Social and Solidarity Economy program promoting gender equality and women's participation in cooperative and social-economy activities.
• Olympe Emprende Women's entrepreneurship program that supports women-led cooperative and social-economy ventures.
• Rural Rise Rural empowerment program addressing depopulation and rural-development challenges through cultural and social-economy activities.
• Place Out! Place-based activation program that supports rural communities in reclaiming and revitalizing local cultural and social assets.
• HerStory, Our Future Women's-history storytelling program that documents and disseminates women's contributions to rural and cultural life.
• Rural Connect Program that connects rural communities across Extremadura and Europe through cultural and social-economy exchange activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18+ EU and nationally funded projects completed or ongoing across Extremadura and Europe
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anthem (Wales, UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Anthem (Wales) partners with Wazo Coop in Rural Routes Rhythms, a Taith-funded international exchange programme connecting young musicians from Spain and Wales in rural music collaboration.
• LAMA (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025LAMA (Italy) is the lead EU partner in FLAIR (Flourishing Art in Rural Areas), working alongside Wazo Coop and ACASA to explore how artistic practices contribute to youth wellbeing in rural areas.
• ACASA (Romania)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ACASA (Romania) is a partner in FLAIR, addressing youth wellbeing, social justice, and migration through arts-based methodologies in rural Romania.
• Materahub (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Materahub Consorzio Industrie Culturali e Creative (Italy) is a key strategic partner in Rural Rise (SMP-COSME) and EU SMART Composer projects. As a cultural and creative industries consortium, Materahub brings expertise in territorial development and creative economy that aligns with Wazo Coop's rural ESS mission.
• Diesis Network (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Diesis Network is the lead coordinator of the RURAL RiSE project consortium, bringing extensive experience in social economy policy and European project management. Wazo Coop participates as the Spanish partner alongside Italian and Serbian municipalities.
• Young Ambassadors (Serbia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Young Ambassadors is a Serbian youth organisation partnering in Rural Rise, contributing perspectives on youth entrepreneurship and social enterprise in the Western Balkans.
• Ayuntamiento de Valdefuentes (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Town Council of Valdefuentes is a core local partner in multiple Wazo Coop projects including Rural Rise, RURAL RiSE, and Music4Coop. It co-hosts the Music4Coop Fest and collaborated on the Local Action Plan presented in Brussels.
• Ayuntamiento de Botija (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Town Council of Botija partnered with Wazo Coop for the Music4Coop Fest 2026, hosting the professional meet-up and experiential tour at the Archaeological Site of Villasviejas del Tamuja.
• Associação da Minha Rua (Portugal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Associação da Minha Rua (Portugal) partners with Wazo Coop in Their Jobs Our Heritage, contributing expertise in cultural heritage documentation and intergenerational knowledge transmission.
• Contexto (Portugal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Contexto (Portugal) is a partner in Their Jobs Our Heritage, providing expertise in cultural sustainability and circular economy approaches to traditional craft preservation.
• The Democratic Society (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The Democratic Society is a partner in Place Out! (Erasmus+ KA3), bringing expertise in youth participation and democratic governance processes across four European territories.
• Agenzia LAMA (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Agenzia LAMA is a partner in Place Out!, contributing to the cross-regional cooperation and youth empowerment methodology across Italy, Spain, Greece, and Bulgaria.
• Impact Hub InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Impact Hub International participates in Place Out! bringing its global network of innovation hubs and expertise in entrepreneurship and social impact to the rural youth empowerment context.
• Youth Institute of Extremadura (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Instituto de la Juventud de Extremadura (the regional youth institute) partners in Place Out!, connecting the project to regional youth policy and providing institutional support in Extremadura.
• Unione Montana dei Comuni del Mugello (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The mountain union of municipalities in Mugello, Italy, represents the Italian project territory in the Place Out! consortium, contributing local governance and rural development perspective.
• Gabrovo Municipality (Bulgaria)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Gabrovo Municipality in Bulgaria represents the Bulgarian project territory in the Place Out! consortium, one of four territories sharing similar marginalisation dynamics.
• ActionAid Hellas (Greece)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022ActionAid Hellas participates in Place Out! bringing its expertise in youth activism and social justice to the project's work in the Halkidiki region of Greece.
• Beecom (Bulgaria)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Beecom is a Bulgarian partner in Place Out! contributing to youth empowerment and digital inclusion methodologies in rural territories.
• Ecosystem Europe (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Ecosystem Europe is a partner in Place Out! and Storydoers projects, contributing expertise in sustainable development and rural innovation across European territories.
• Diesis Network (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Diesis Network is a partner in Storydoers, providing expertise in social economy and cooperative development to the project's digital storytelling for local tourism initiative.
• Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and IndustryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry participates in Storydoers, representing the Bulgarian perspective on rural tourism development and SME digital capacity.
• AITR – Turismo Responsabile (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022AITR (Italy) is a partner in Storydoers, contributing expertise in responsible tourism and digital storytelling methodologies.
• Walora (Austria)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Walora (Austria) participates in Storydoers, contributing Austrian perspectives on rural digital tourism and community engagement.
• Le Nouveau Studio (France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Le Nouveau Studio (France) leads the Rural Stories project in partnership with Wazo Coop, contributing citizen journalism and participatory media expertise.
• Signélazer (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Signélazer (Belgium) is a partner in Rural Stories, contributing Belgian perspectives on rural cultural journalism and media production.
• CAAP Maribor (Slovenia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CAAP Maribor (Slovenia) partnered with Wazo Coop in Coop Time (Erasmus+ KA1), receiving job shadowing and training at Wazo Coop facilities on ESS methodologies and participatory leadership.
• Tandem Social (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Tandem Social (Spain) co-developed the Olympe Emprende programme with Wazo Coop, providing expertise in social entrepreneurship, gender mainstreaming, and ESS training delivery.
• Abeluria Coop (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Abeluria Sociedad Cooperativa Gallega partnered with Wazo Coop in Olympe Emprende, contributing expertise in cooperative development, social economy, and feminist economics.
• CEPES (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CEPES (Confederación Empresarial de Economía Social) acts as the Intermediate Body for the POISES programme (European Social Fund) and promoted the Olympe Emprende initiative in which Wazo Coop participates as a implementing partner.
• Coompanion (Sweden)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Coompanion (Sweden) is a partner in EU SMART Composer, bringing cooperative development expertise and Nordic perspectives on music education to the project consortium.
• RESEO – Red Europea para la Enseñanza de la Ópera, la Música y la Danza (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020RESEO is the European network for opera, music, and dance education and a partner in EU SMART Composer, providing specialist knowledge in music education methodology across Europe.
• Le LABA (France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Le LABA (France) participates in EU SMART Composer and Rural Stories projects, contributing expertise in arts education and participatory methodologies.
• Abbaye aux Dames – La Cité Musicale (France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes, France, is a partner in EU SMART Composer, hosting training activities and contributing musical and cultural heritage expertise.
• DESOPAEX Consortium PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020DESOPAEX operates as a multi-activity programme focused on sustainable development of Extremaduran heritage. Wazo Coop leads the programme with various local and regional partners across culture, heritage, tourism, and social sectors.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Diesis Network: Belgium-based international cooperative federation representing social economy enterprises. Diesis is a direct partner in the Rural Rise and Place Out! projects and operates a comparable EU-wide project-driven model focused on social economy development, making it the closest functional peer to Wazo Coop.
• Materahub: Italian consortium of cultural and creative industries focused on territorial development and creative economy. Materahub is a direct partner in Rural Rise and EU SMART Composer and shares Wazo Coop's positioning at the intersection of cultural industries and regional development.
• Tandem Social: Spanish social cooperative co-developing the Olympe Emprende programme with Wazo Coop. Tandem Social works on social entrepreneurship, gender mainstreaming, and cooperative ESG training delivery, making it a close operational peer in the Andalusian/Extremaduran social economy ecosystem.
• EMES International Research Network: EU-level research network studying social economy, social enterprises, and the third sector. EMES provides intellectual and methodological scaffolding that closely mirrors Wazo Coop's framing of cooperativa de iniciativa social sin ánimo de lucro and rural ESS development.
• REVES Network: European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy. REVES is a directly comparable EU membership organization promoting social economy at subnational level, the same territorial level at which Wazo Coop operates through local action plans.
• CECOP-CICOPA Europe: European confederation of cooperatives in industry, services, and crafts. CECOP represents the cooperative organisational form that Wazo Coop itself takes, and advocates for cooperative-friendly policy at EU level — a direct structural peer.
• Euclid Network: European network of social enterprises and innovators that maps, connects, and supports impact-led organizations across Europe. Euclid shares Wazo's pan-European project delivery model and social economy orientation.

Broad incumbents

• CEPES (Confederación Empresarial de Economía Social de España): Spain's national umbrella organization for the social economy and the Intermediate Body for the POISES programme that co-funds Wazo Coop's Olympe Emprende. CEPES is a much larger incumbent that frames the ecosystem in which Wazo Coop operates.
• Cooperatives Europe: Brussels-based regional office of the International Cooperative Alliance representing European cooperatives. A broader incumbent that provides policy advocacy and representation for the cooperative movement in which Wazo Coop participates.
• Cáritas Spain: Large Spanish NGO providing social services including in rural Extremadura. Cáritas operates at vastly larger scale but shares similar beneficiary populations (women, youth, migrants) and territorial focus, making it a useful backdrop for understanding Wazo's positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Wazo_Coop
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCriZRdQaGwUITPU3ZvbTR7A
• Facebookfacebook.com/wazocoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wazocoop
• Instagraminstagram.com/wazocoop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Wazo Coop