youmocracy

What youmocracy does

youmocracy e.V. is a Berlin-based, non-partisan non-profit association founded on September 2, 2020 that operates a hybrid digital-analog platform for civic education and democratic discourse among young people in Germany. Its core product is a multi-channel program combining an Instagram content platform (thematic weeks presenting sociopolitical topics from multiple perspectives, journalistically prepared by a team of ~10) with regional discussion forums delivered both in-person at schools and universities and via Zoom across eight or more German cities (Munich, Hamburg, Potsdam, Marburg, Saarbrücken, Freiburg, Augsburg, Jena, plus a Frankfurt am Main pilot). Supporting programs include the 'Diskussionskompass' (five principles for fair discourse), the 'Diskussionsschule' school curriculum, and a training program for discussion forum leaders.

The organization runs on a volunteer-heavy operating model: as of 2026 it has approximately 230 volunteers, one part-time employee, two working students, and five student assistants, governed by a 10-member non-partisan board chaired by Florentin Siegert. It does not charge for participation and generates no product revenue; funding flows from German foundation project grants (TÜV SÜD Stiftung, Deutsche Bahn Stiftung, Bildungsstiftung der Kreissparkasse Köln, Joachim Herz Stiftung, DSEE, Claussen-Simon-Stiftung, Zukunftsstiftung Ehrenamt Bayern, EVONIK-Stiftung, Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung), individual donations via bank transfer and betterplace.org crowdfunding, and prize money from civic awards. A high-profile advisory board (Kuratorium) including former Bundestag Presidents Norbert Lammert (CDU) and Wolfgang Thierse (SPD) provides institutional credibility, and the organization has been recognized through multiple awards including the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung 'Preis für Politische Influencer' (2021) and a 4th-place finish in the MITWIRKEN Crowdfunding Contest 2022 (€23,399.01 raised).

Name

youmocracy

Legal name

youmocracy e.V.

Website

https://youmocracy.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

youmocracy e.V. is a Berlin-based non-profit association that runs a hybrid civic-education platform for young people in Germany, combining Instagram-led sociopolitical thematic content with regional in-person and Zoom-based discussion forums across eight or more cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Education

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Feedback, Discussion Forums & Social Learning Communities (EDAFAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Public Speaking & Debate Programs (Live/Recorded) (EDAMAOAD), In-School Debate Teams & Speech Programs (EDAMAOAA)

Keywords

• Political education programs
• Youth discussion forums
• Democratic engagement initiatives
• Non-partisan civic dialogue
• Community discussion platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Project Funding: Youmocracy is primarily funded through project grants and funding from German foundations including TÜV SÜD Stiftung, Deutsche Bahn Stiftung, Bildungsstiftung der Kreissparkasse Köln, Joachim Herz Stiftung, Deutsche Stiftung für Engagement und Ehrenamt (DSEE), Claussen-Simon-Stiftung, Zukunftsstiftung Ehrenamt Bayern, EVONIK-Stiftung, and others. These grants support specific projects such as 'Demokratie braucht dich', 'Diskussionskultur an Schulen', and 'Diskussionskultur und Partizipation in Bayern'.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations via bank transfer (Ethik-Bank) and SEPA direct debit. Donations are tax-deductible as youmocracy e.V. is recognized as a charitable non-profit organization. The organization ran a crowdfunding campaign on betterplace.org and participated in the MITWIRKEN Crowdfunding Contest, raising €23,399.01.
3. Membership Contributions: The organization collects membership and supporter fees as part of its non-profit funding model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

youmocracy operates a hybrid digital-analog political discussion platform for young people in Germany. The organization combines an Instagram-based civic education content channel with regional in-person and Zoom-based discussion forums, employing trained volunteer facilitators (Diskussionsforenleiter*innen) to guide non-partisan political dialogue. Programs are offered free of charge to participants and include a school-targeted program (Diskussionsschule) and a facilitator training curriculum (Ausbildung Diskussionsforenleiter*innen), all grounded in the Diskussionskompass, a five-principle framework for fair discourse.

Product overview

youmocracy e.V. ist ein deutschlandweites, überparteiliches Diskussionsforum für junge Menschen im Rahmen der freiheitlich-demokratischen Grundordnung. Das Angebot besteht aus dem Instagram-Kanal (digitale Plattform für politische Bildung und Anregung zu Diskussionen), regionalen Diskussionsforen (hybrid durchgeführt in verschiedenen Städten wie München, Hamburg, Potsdam, Marburg, Saarbrücken, Freiburg und Augsburg), dem Diskussionskompass (fünf Prinzipien für faire Diskurse) und der Diskussionsschule (spezielles Schulprogramm). Dazu kommt die Ausbildung von Diskussionsforenleiter*innen. Die Mischung aus digitalen und analogen Formaten bildet das Kernangebot.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Regional Discussion Forums (Diskussionsforen) Hybrid in-person and Zoom-based political discussion forums held in multiple German cities, guided by trained facilitators using the Diskussionskompass framework to enable non-partisan political dialogue among young people aged approximately 15-25; participation is free.
• School Discussion Program (Diskussionsschule) School-based civic discussion program targeting students, extending youmocracy's discussion forum model into educational institutions to engage younger audiences in guided political dialogue within a classroom setting.
• Facilitator Training Program (Ausbildung Diskussionsforenleiter*innen) Structured training curriculum that prepares volunteer facilitators (Diskussionsforenleiter*innen) to lead youmocracy discussion forums, ensuring consistent application of the Diskussionskompass principles across all regional events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 young people reached on Instagram as of March 2021
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ifok GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 March 2021Since March 2021, youmocracy has been part of the ifok network, engaging in exchange and receiving process guidance. Youmocracy was nominated for the ifok Innovationspreis 2020 in March 2021.
• FES Ehemalige e.V.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2020Since October 2020, youmocracy has been supported by regular coaching from FES Ehemalige e.V., providing organizational development guidance and mentorship.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jugend debattiert: Germany's largest school debate competition, organized under the Hertie-Stiftung and other partners. Directly comparable because it also trains and empowers young people in structured, cross-partisan argumentation and operates inside the German school system.
• Aktion Zivilcourage e.V. German non-profit delivering civic education and democratic participation programs in schools and communities. Comparable mission around democratic culture, school-based workshops, and youth engagement.
• Politik zum Anfassen e.V. Non-profit providing political education workshops and simulation formats (Model UN, parliament simulations) for young people across Germany. Comparable target audience, civic education mission, and workshop-based delivery model.

Others

• betterplace.org: Germany's leading donation/crowdfunding platform for non-profits; youmocracy runs campaigns on it. Comparable ecosystem participant for funding non-profit civic initiatives, though not a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• startsocial e.V. Established national program coaching social-impact initiatives, including youmocracy itself (a past awardee). Comparable in target audience (young social entrepreneurs) and ecosystem role, but broader in scope.
• Körber-Stiftung: Major German foundation running civic education programs including 'Jugend debattiert'. Comparable funder/operator role in democracy education, with a much larger endowment and broader programming.
• Cusanuswerk: German scholarship foundation that awarded youmocracy the 'Preis für innovative Netzwerkideen' in 2022. Comparable in operating fellowship/peer-network programs for young leaders and in supporting democratic discourse.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung: Large German political foundation operating civic and political education programs for youth across all educational levels. Comparable civic education mission, though affiliated with the CDU rather than strictly non-partisan.
• Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung: Liberal political foundation running extensive youth political education programs in Germany and abroad. Comparable mission around democratic education, with a party-affiliated but policy-oriented perspective.
• Demokratie leben!: Federal government program funding local projects on democracy and civic participation — one of youmocracy's own funders. Comparable ecosystem role and target outcomes, but as a federal funding framework rather than a single operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcsGFT2rZ2nFL4EI7_W4hpA
• Facebookfacebook.com/youmocracy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youmocracy
• Instagraminstagram.com/youmocracy
• TikToktiktok.com/@youmocracy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 youmocracy