Junior Uni Wuppertal

What Junior Uni Wuppertal does

Junior Uni Wuppertal (legal entity: Junior Uni Wuppertaler Kinder- und Jugenduniversität gGmbH für das Bergische Land) is a private, non-profit (gGmbH) extracurricular educational institution founded in 2008 and headquartered at Am Brögel 31, 42283 Wuppertal, Germany. It delivers hands-on, experiment-based courses for children and youth aged 4-20 across natural sciences, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), with offerings that include weekly student courses (4-8 weeks), long-term research groups (3-9 months), competition preparation (Jugend forscht, GYPT, First Lego League), the annual Junior Uni Challenge project competition, school partnership programs at Starter/Growth/Lighthouse tiers, career orientation modules, and events such as the Forschernacht (Research Night) and GameJam.

The institution operates a single physical campus with barrier-free, wheelchair-accessible facilities, laboratories, and workshop spaces equipped with Arduinos, 3D printers, industrial robots, and the Calliope Mini platform. Course registration is handled through a self-serve website, supplemented by in-person and telephone registration. The organization is led by two Managing Directors, Dr. Ariane Staab and Dr. Annika Spathmann, with Dr. Jennifer Boek (former CERN researcher) heading competition coordination and school communication.

The business model is almost exclusively privately financed. Revenue derives from nominal course fees of 5-15 EUR per participant (with the Wuppertal-Pass enabling free participation and Jobcenter subsidies available) plus a dominant stream of donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. The four named institutional supporters are Dr. Werner-Jackstädt-Stiftung, E/D/E-Stiftung, KNIPEX-Stiftung, and the Verein der Freunde und Förderer (Friends and Supporters Association), with Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal as banking partner. A formalized Kurspate (course-sponsor) scheme covers the gap between true per-course cost (~2,500 EUR per semester) and participant fees. Marketing and distribution rely on multi-channel social media, an email newsletter via Brevo, a dedicated press team, word-of-mouth, and direct school partnerships with 8 named institutions across Wuppertal and Solingen.

Name

Junior Uni Wuppertal

Legal name

Junior Uni Wuppertaler Kinder- und Jugenduniversität gGmbH für das Bergische Land

Website

https://www.junioruni-wuppertal.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Junior Uni Wuppertal is a non-profit (gGmbH) extracurricular educational institution in Wuppertal, Germany, founded in 2008, providing hands-on STEAM courses, research groups, and competition preparation for children and youth aged 4-20, almost exclusively privately financed through foundations, corporate sponsors, and nominal course fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Extracurricular Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pre-College Summer/Winter Academic Programs (High School Students) (EDAIAIAD)

Keywords

• Extracurricular education programs
• STEAM education services
• Children's university programs
• School partnership programs
• Youth research competitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Wuppertal

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Fees: Nominal course fees of 5-15€ per course charged to participants to maintain accessibility while generating revenue. Prices kept intentionally low to enable broad participation regardless of family income.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Majority of funding comes from private donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. Shareholders include Dr. Werner-Jackstädt-Stiftung, E/D/E-Stiftung, KNIPEX-Stiftung, and the Friends and Supporters Association (Verein der Freunde und Förderer).
3. Public Funding: Support from various foundations, companies, and private individuals enabling scholarships and subsidized participation for low-income families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Junior Uni Wuppertal is a non-profit extracurricular learning institution that delivers hands-on courses, research projects, and competition programs for children and youth aged 4-20 across science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) subjects. Courses are offered in-person and online, typically running 4-8 weeks, and are priced at 5-15 EUR per course (including public transport for research courses) to keep them broadly accessible, with the majority of operating costs covered by private donations and foundation sponsorships.

Product overview

Junior Uni Wuppertal is an extracurricular educational institution for children and youth aged 4-20 in Wuppertal, Germany. It operates as a single unified institution offering a diverse portfolio of educational services rather than a software product platform. The core offerings include weekly courses for individual students (Kurse für Student*innen) covering STEM, arts, and humanities; group courses for schools and daycare centers (Kurse für Gruppen); long-term research groups (Forschergruppen) lasting 3-9 months; and competition preparation programs (Wettbewerbe) including Jugend forscht, GYPT, and First Lego League. Additional programs include the Junior Uni Challenge annual project competition, school partnerships (Schulpartnerschaften) at Starter/Growth/Lighthouse levels, career orientation (Berufsorientierung), project courses for upper secondary students, and MINT-EC point accreditation. The institution also provides inclusion and social support services (Bildung und Soziales) and organizes special events like the GameJam programming marathon and Forschernacht (Research Night). Courses are primarily privately funded with fees of 5-15€ per course including free public transport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kurse für Student*innen (Courses for Students)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 youth participants at single event (5th Research Night)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bergische Universität Wuppertal (BUW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceives anonymized statistical participant data (name, address, date of birth) from Junior Uni for research purposes. Collaboration includes JobTalk Live series events open to university students and public.
• Gymnasium am KothenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool partnership providing curriculum-aligned courses and MINT-EC point opportunities for students.
• Realschule HelmholtzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool partnership for providing accessible STEAM education to students.
• Realschule Neue FriedrichstraßeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool partnership for enhanced STEM learning opportunities.
• Wilhelm-Dörpfeld-GymnasiumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGymnasium school partnership offering MINT-EC points and project courses.
• Herder PrivatschuleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrivate school partnership for innovative learning formats.
• Gymnasium SedanstraßeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGymnasium partnership for student participation in Junior Uni programs.
• FALS SolingenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool partnership extending Junior Uni reach to Solingen region.
• Gesamtschule Else Lasker-SchülerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComprehensive school partnership for inclusive education approach.
• MINT-ECcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of MINT-focused schools. Junior Uni serves as engaged partner contributing to MINT certificate program by offering designated courses for MINT-EC points.
• BetterplaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline donation platform enabling supporters to contribute to specific Junior Uni projects. Various projects listed allowing targeted funding.
• Universität Duisburg-EssenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for freestyle-physics competition where Junior Uni teams present their research projects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kinderforschungszentrum Hellweg: Children's research center at the University of Siegen offering experimental science workshops and research projects for school-age children in the region. Directly comparable in target demographic, hands-on research model, and university partnership structure.
• Haus der kleinen Forscher: Germany's leading foundation for STEM early-childhood and primary education, providing hands-on science programs across a national network. Closely comparable in mission (STEAM enrichment for children), funding model (foundation-backed), and pedagogical approach.
• Junior Uni Siegen: Sister institution within the 'Netzwerk der Junior Unis' offering the same extracurricular STEAM courses and research programs for children and youth in Siegen. Direct peer in mission, target demographic, and operating model.
• TUMO Centers: International network of free, foundation-supported creative-technology learning centers for teens aged 12–18, offering self-directed programs in programming, design, and science. Closely comparable concept (donor-funded, teen-targeted, hands-on STEAM).
• Wissenswerkstatt Elmshorn: Non-profit hands-on workshop for youth and adults in Elmshorn offering practical STEM, technology, and craft courses with professionally equipped labs. Same target audience (youth and families), same operational approach (low-barrier access, equipment-based learning).
• Lernort Labor: Germany-wide network of university-based student laboratories delivering authentic STEM research experiences for school-aged children and youth. Comparable mission (hands-on youth research, competition preparation, school partnerships).

Broad incumbents

• Mathematikum Gießen: Germany's first interactive mathematics museum offering hands-on experiments and educational programs for school classes and families. Comparable in mission (making STEM accessible through hands-on engagement) but operating at a broader, museum-based scale.
• Phänomenta Wolfsburg: Large German science center in Wolfsburg with interactive hands-on exhibits and educational programs for school groups and families. Broader incumbent offering STEAM experiential learning, but as part of a fixed-museum model rather than a course-based youth university.
• Deutsches Museum München: One of the world's largest science and technology museums with extensive youth and school programs, including workshops and demonstrations. Overlaps in audience (K–12 learners, schools) but is a broad incumbent with a wider portfolio rather than a focused youth university.
• Explorado Kindermuseum Duisburg: Children's discovery museum in Duisburg focused on hands-on experimentation for ages 4–12. Comparable educational mission and audience (youth-focused experiential learning), but delivered through a fixed museum facility rather than weekly courses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@junioruni.wuppertal
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8zaGEDkz92ZiyRiE2Yu7MQ/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/JuniorUniWuppertal
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/junior-uni-wuppertal
• Instagraminstagram.com/junioruniwuppertal
• TikToktiktok.com/@junioruni.wuppertal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Junior Uni Wuppertal