YES Forum

What YES Forum does

YES Forum is a Stuttgart-headquartered European network organisation structured as an EEIG (European Economic Interest Grouping), founded in 2002, that convenes 46 youth and social work member organisations across 20 European countries to improve outcomes for disadvantaged young people. Its core deliverable is a portfolio of transnational EU-funded projects — including Generation LINK (2026-2029), EU Player (2024-2027), YES — Youth Empowerment for a Stronger Europe (2025-2027), Back On Track (2024-2026, Interreg Danube), and Zug um Zug — Train to Europe (2024-2027) — which produce tangible outputs such as board games (the 'Europe United' strategic game with Red Glove Edizioni), handbooks, training curricula, PhotoVoice methodologies, and youth-friendly EU policy documents. The organisation also operates advocacy and policy-engagement activities, contributing to the European Semester process, EU Youth Test consultations, and Civil Society Week, with formal recognition by the European Commission and Council of Europe as an expert body on disadvantaged youth and membership in the EESC Liaison Group and Social Platform.

The underlying technology footprint is conventional and project-supportive rather than product-defining: Microsoft Teams for events, a SharePoint intranet (yesirev.sharepoint.com) for member collaboration, Matomo for web analytics, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) for email/newsletter automation, Discord for the Young Advocates Network, and YouTube for multimedia content. No proprietary software platform, AI/ML systems, or API integrations are indicated in the source material; the product portfolio is a set of discrete projects rather than a unified SaaS offering.

YES Forum's business model is grant-and-membership based and non-commercial. The dominant revenue stream is EU project funding from Erasmus+ (KA220-YOU, ERASMUS-YOUTH), Interreg Danube Region, and direct European Commission grants, supplemented by recurring membership fees from the 46 member organisations and recognition-derived professional-services contributions to European Semester consultations. There is no published pricing for end users; participation in projects and events is free for beneficiaries. Distribution is community-led through the member network (reaching 90 affiliated organisations across 22 EU Member States), event-driven (Policy Events in Brussels, Annual Events hosted by rotating members, YESpresso networking sessions), and partner-channel based through project consortia with organisations such as Caritas Europa, ÖJAB, BAG EJSA, CMO STAMM, and IEKEP.

Name

YES Forum

Legal name

YES Forum EEIG

Website

https://yes-forum.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Short description

YES Forum is a Stuttgart-based European network of 46 youth and social work organisations across 20 countries, coordinating Erasmus+ and Interreg-funded transnational projects to support disadvantaged young people through EU policy advocacy, capacity building, and project delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Social Policy Advocacy Network

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAAAK

Study Abroad Provider Networks, Consortia & Membership Organizations

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

SECONDARYEDAIABAJ

Erasmus+ and Government-Sponsored Exchange Partnerships

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/University/College Exchange Programs & Partnerships

Keywords

• Youth social work
• EU policy advocacy
• Non-formal education
• NEET integration support
• Civil society network

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EU Project Funding: The primary revenue stream comes from EU-funded projects including Erasmus+ (KA220-YOU, ERASMUS-YOUTH), Interreg Danube Region Programme, and other European Commission grants. Projects include Generation LINK (Erasmus+ 2026-2029), EU Player (Erasmus+ 2024-2027), YES Project (ERASMUS-YOUTH 2025-2027), Back On Track (Interreg Danube 2024-2026), and others.
2. Membership Fees: Revenue is generated through membership contributions from the 46 member organisations across 20 European countries. Membership is governed by the YES Forum EEIG constitution and provides access to network benefits, collaboration spaces, and collective representation at EU level.
3. European Semester Consultancy: The organisation contributes to the European Semester process and receives recognition as an expert organisation in the field of disadvantaged young people by the European Commission and Council of Europe.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

YES Forum is a European network of 46 youth and social work organisations operating across 20 countries, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. The organisation delivers transnational projects funded primarily by Erasmus+ and Interreg, engages in advocacy with EU institutions (DG EMPL, European Parliament, EESC), and supports member organisations in implementing EU policies for disadvantaged young people, including NEETs and youth at risk of social exclusion. Core offerings include capacity-building trainings, policy events, project coordination, and the production of educational resources such as the 'Europe United' board game and youth-friendly EU documents.

Product overview

YES Forum is a European network platform for youth and social work organisations, not a traditional software product company. It offers a portfolio of transnational projects focused on youth empowerment and social inclusion rather than a unified software product or SaaS platform. Key projects include Generation LINK (intergenerational dialogue, 2026-2029), EU Player (game-based EU learning), YES (youth empowerment), Back On Track (NEET integration), CitiGenZ (EU awareness), READY (accessible EU documents), U.Pin (climate education), and various other initiatives covering topics from digital skills to vocational training. These projects operate as standalone programs with their own outputs (games, handbooks, training materials) rather than an integrated platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Generation LINK A three-year Erasmus+ project (2026-2029) pairing junior and senior colleagues in reciprocal-mentoring tandems to improve intergenerational dialogue and coherence in the workplace. Targeted at youth and social work professionals and organisations.
• EU Player - Europe United Erasmus+ project (2024-2027) using the 'Europe United' strategic board game to teach young people about the European Union through role-playing and game-based learning. Targets youth workers, educators, and disadvantaged young people across partner countries.
• YES - Youth Empowerment for a Stronger Europe Erasmus+ project (2025-2027) strengthening youth engagement by promoting awareness of the European Union, democracy, and active citizenship through training and advocacy campaigns. Targeted at young people and Caritas network partners.
• Back On Track Interreg Danube Region project (2024-2026) fostering the (re)integration of NEETs in rural areas through mentoring programmes and digital training models. Targets disadvantaged young people in rural Danube Region communities.
• Zug um Zug - Train to Europe Erasmus+ project (2024-2027) reimagining mobile youth work through travel, training professionals and young people in mobile youth work methodologies across Germany, Italy, and Austria.
• READY Project creating youth-friendly and easy-to-understand materials on the EU including infographics explaining EU treaties and policies, designed to improve EU literacy among vulnerable youth.
• CitiGenZ Project fostering a sense of belonging to the EU among Generation Z, equipping young people with knowledge of the EU and means to become active European citizens through learning boxes, games, and workshops.
• U.Pin Project raising awareness about climate change and informing young people about EU Green Deal solutions through educational content disseminated via newsfeed-style channels.
• YES Forum Network Membership EEIG membership for youth and social work organisations, providing access to EU funding opportunities, policy advocacy support, transnational project partnerships, capacity-building webinars and trainings, and a SharePoint collaboration space. Currently 46 member organisations across 20 European countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80+ youth workers, young people, and professionals from 15+ countries engaged in 2025 Policy Event
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• CMO Stamm (The Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Project partner in Generation LINK (2026-2029), a three-year Erasmus+ project on intergenerational dialogue. CMO Stamm contributes to pairing junior and senior colleagues in reciprocal-mentoring tandems to address workforce knowledge transfer challenges in youth and social work sector.
• Internationaler Bund (IB) Südwest, GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Project partner in Generation LINK (2026-2029), addressing communication gaps between generations in the workplace and knowledge exchange challenges in the youth and social work sector.
• Piteå Kommun (Sweden)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Project partner in Generation LINK (2026-2029), contributing to improved intergenerational dialogue and coherence in the workplace across partner countries.
• EU Civil Dialogue Coalition (250+ organisations)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2025YES Forum signed open letter to European Council calling for stronger social dimension in next EU budget, preserving ESF+ and ERDF as stand-alone funds, and protecting funding for social inclusion, child poverty, homelessness, and youth employment.
• Caritas Czech RepubliccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Project coordinator of YES project (Youth Empowerment for a Stronger Europe, 2025-2027). YES Forum is a project partner contributing to youth advocacy training and campaign development.
• Caritas EuropacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Project partner in YES project (2025-2027) focused on strengthening youth engagement in democratic life and promoting awareness of EU, democracy, and active citizenship.
• Caritas SloveniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Project partner in YES project (2025-2027) contributing to advocacy campaigns and youth empowerment activities.
• Caritas FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Project partner in YES project (2025-2027) focused on intercultural exchanges and understanding diverse social realities within European contexts.
• European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025YES Forum is member of EESC's Liaison Group bridging civil society organisations and EU institutions. Co-organised 2024 Policy Event on Social Cohesion in Digital Transition with EESC and BAG EJSA.
• Social PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Active member of Social Platform, the major European platform of NGOs working in the social sector. Participates in Social Rights are Human Rights events and campaigns.
• BAG EJSA (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Evangelische Jugendsozialarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Founder member of YES Forum. Co-organiser of 2024 Policy Event and annual advocacy activities. 75th anniversary celebrations with regional gatherings in Regensburg.
• Civil Society Europe (CSE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joined CSE and EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group in call for open, transparent, and regular dialogue with civil society (#EUCivilDialogueNow campaign).
• YES Innovation & ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Project coordinator of Zug um Zug - Train to Europe (2024-2027), an Erasmus+ project reimagining mobile youth work through travel. YES Forum is a project partner.
• Associazione Gio.Net (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Project partner in Zug um Zug - Train to Europe (2024-2027), contributing to mobile youth work methodology development across Germany, Italy, and Austria.
• ÖJAB (Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Project coordinator of Back On Track (2024-2026), funded by Interreg Danube Region Programme. YES Forum is a partner contributing to fostering (re)integration of rural NEETs in the Danube Region.
• South Muntenia Regional Development Agency (Romania)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project addressing NEET integration in rural Danube Region through mentoring programmes and digital training models.
• ADEL SlovakiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project contributing to transnational cross-sectoral stakeholder network for rural NEET support.
• DEX Innovation Centre (Czech Republic)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project focusing on innovative digital training models for rural NEETs.
• Development Association NERDA (Bosnia and Herzegovina)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project contributing to stakeholder network and outreach strategies for rural NEETs.
• Pannon Novum West-Transdanubian Regional Innovation Nonprofit Ltd. (Hungary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project implementing mentoring programme and digital training tailored to rural NEET needs.
• Philanthropy, Charitable Foundation of Serbian Orthodox Church (Serbia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project contributing to stakeholder network and NEET outreach in rural areas.
• Foundation for Improvement of Employment Possibilities PRIZMA (Slovenia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project, organised first stakeholder workshop on unlocking NEET potential in Danube Region (48 participants).
• Human Innovation Group Nonprofit Ltd. (Hungary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project contributing to innovative approaches for rural NEET integration.
• ipcenter.at Ltd. (Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project bringing expertise in training and education for disadvantaged youth.
• Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency (Bulgaria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project contributing to outreach and support for rural NEETs in Bulgaria.
• Ministry of Economy of Tuzla Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project contributing to regional economic development approaches for NEET integration.
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry of SerbiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Partner in Back On Track project contributing to labour market connections and employment opportunities for rural NEETs.
• IEKEP (Greece)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Partner in EU Player project (2024-2027) focusing on game-based learning about the European Union. IEKEP brings expertise in vocational guidance and training for disadvantaged youth.
• Zefiro (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Partner in EU Player project (2024-2027), hosted international training on gamification in Lucca (March 2026). Specialises in vocational training and non-formal education for vulnerable youth.
• Finglas Youth Resource Centre (Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Partner in EU Player project (2024-2027) contributing to youth engagement and EU awareness activities in Ireland.
• Red Glove Edizioni (Italy)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2024Professional educational game developer partnered with EU Player project to develop 'Europe United' strategic board game for EU education.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• European Youth Forum: The leading pan-European platform of youth organisations representing millions of young people; directly comparable to YES Forum as a membership-based youth network engaging EU institutions on policy, though broader in scope (general youth issues vs. disadvantaged youth).
• SALTO-YOUTH: EU resource centre supporting youth work and Erasmus+ / European Solidarity Corps quality and strategy; comparable as a youth-sector EU-network actor coordinating capacity building and project partnerships across Member States.
• Eurodesk: European youth information network with national member offices across Europe providing mobility information to young people; comparable as a Brussels-based European youth network coordinating national member organisations.
• ERYICA (European Youth Information and Counselling Agency): European network of youth information services with members across Europe; comparable in operating model as an EEIG-style European network coordinating national member organisations in the youth-work sector.
• Eurochild: European network advocating for children's rights and wellbeing, with members across Europe; comparable as a Brussels-based European NGO network engaged in EU policy advocacy for vulnerable young people.
• Youth for Exchange and Understanding (YEU): International non-governmental youth organisation coordinating youth exchanges and citizenship projects; comparable as a network delivering non-formal education and Erasmus+ youth projects across Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Social Platform: Major European platform of NGOs working in the social sector; YES Forum is an active member, and Social Platform is comparable as a broader EU-level civil society network engaging EU institutions on social policy.
• Lifelong Learning Platform: European civil society network promoting lifelong learning across all education sectors; comparable as an EU-level membership network engaging policymakers on education and youth issues.

Regional players

• European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA): European NGO with member organisations across Europe providing adult education and second-chance learning; comparable in advocating for disadvantaged learners and engaging EU institutions on education policy.

Emerging players

• Caritas Europa: European confederation of Caritas organisations working on social justice, poverty, and migration; directly comparable as a project partner on YES Project and 2026 Policy Event, with overlapping focus on disadvantaged young people.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@yesforum7036
• Facebookfacebook.com/YES.Forum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yes-forum-ewiv
• Instagraminstagram.com/yes.forum

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 YES Forum