Carpe Diem

What Carpe Diem does

Carpe Diem (legal name: Udruga Carpe Diem – udruga za poticanje i razvoj kreativnih i socijalnih potencijala djece, mladih i odraslih) is a Croatian non-profit civil society association founded in 2005/2007 and headquartered at Vrbanićev perivoj 4, Karlovac. The organization delivers non-formal education, youth development, volunteering coordination, and community programs to children, adolescents, young adults (its primary 15-30 segment), adults/seniors, civil society organizations, and international volunteers across Karlovac County. Its service portfolio is anchored by four specialized facilities: Youth Center Grabrik (140 m2, operated since 2008 under a City of Karlovac tender with Kinoklub Karlovac), VolonterKA Local Volunteer Center (opened August 2013, quality-labeled since 2019), the Info Center for Youth (counseling, workshops, mobile Info Bicycle), and Social Center Prostor(i)ja (free civic-society hub). All services are provided free of charge.

The underlying technology is intentionally lightweight: a website (carpediem.hr), a dedicated youth information portal (portalzamlade.info), standard social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and the Info Bicycle mobile outreach point. Carpe Diem does not offer software products, platforms, or developer APIs; technology functions as a distribution and information layer over its community-led programs. The organization holds credentials including ambassador status for European Solidarity Corps and Eurodesk multiplier designation for Karlovac County.

The revenue model is grant- and donation-driven rather than commercial. Funding streams comprise institutional support from the National Foundation for Civil Society Development, government grants from the Ministry of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, EU funding via Erasmus+ and AMPEU, in-kind support (facilities) from the City of Karlovac and Karlovac County, and individual/corporate donations. Pricing to end users is zero-rated across all programs and facilities. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Governance sits with President Aleksandra Podrebarac, supported by a seven-person leadership team covering finance, volunteer coordination, international activities, and program delivery.

Name

Carpe Diem

Legal name

Carpe Diem – udruga za poticanje i razvoj kreativnih i socijalnih potencijala djece, mladih i odraslih

Website

https://carpediem.hr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Carpe Diem is a Croatian non-profit association based in Karlovac that delivers free non-formal education, volunteering, and community programs to youth, adults, and civil society organizations across Karlovac County through four specialized centers and EU-backed programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development & Community Education Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Educational Support Services (611710), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAGAD

Education & Teaching Volunteer Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Service Learning, Volunteering & Gap Year Programs

SECONDARYBPAGAFAB

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYEDAAAMAK

Civic Engagement, Volunteering & Leadership Education for Seniors

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Learning for Seniors (Third Age / Lifelong Learning Institutes)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Non-formal education
• Volunteer coordination
• Community engagement programs
• Civil society association

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlovac

HQ country

Croatia

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Support: Carpe Diem receives institutional support from the National Foundation for Civil Society Development (Nacionalna zaklada za razvoj civilnog društva) for stabilization and development of the association.
2. Government Grants: Funding from Ministry of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy for programs including 'Together for a Better Community' and Local Volunteer Center VolonterKA.
3. EU Programs: European Union funding through Erasmus+ program supporting education, training, youth, and sport initiatives. Also receives support from Agency for Mobility and EU Programs (AMPEU).
4. Local Government Support: Space and facilities provided by City of Karlovac (owner of Youth Center Grabrik space) and Karlovac County.
5. Donations: Individual and corporate donations supporting organizational activities and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Carpe Diem is a Croatian civil society association (udruga) that delivers non-formal education, youth development, volunteering coordination, and community programs through four interconnected centers: Youth Center Grabrik, Local Volunteer Center VolonterKA, Youth Info Center, and Social Center Prostor(i)ja. The association provides free services to children, youth, and adults in Karlovac County, including workshops, lectures, individual consultations, IT skills training, international volunteer hosting through the European Solidarity Corps, and shared space for civil society organizations.

Product overview

Carpe Diem is an NGO (non-governmental organization) that operates a portfolio of interconnected community programs and services rather than a technology product platform. The core offerings include the Youth Center Grabrik (physical space for youth), VolonterKA Local Volunteer Center (volunteer coordination and education), the Youth Info Center (information and counseling services), and the Prostor(i)ja Social Center (civil society hub). These programs are complemented by specific initiatives like the 'Zajedno za bolju zajednicu II' program, the 'Splet generacija – naše vrijeme' program, and mobile services like the Info Bike. Programs support youth employment development, artistic expression, active citizenship, and international youth mobility through the European Solidarity Corps. The organization does not offer technology products, software platforms, or developer APIs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Center Grabrik (Centar za mlade u Grabriku)

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth employment support through IT skills training
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Karlovac (Grad Karlovac)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Karlovac is the owner of Youth Center Grabrik space (140 m2) and provides facilities to Carpe Diem through a competitive tender process. The city identifies Karlovac as a city at the confluence of four rivers and provides administrative and political support for organizational activities.
• Karlovac County (Karlovačka županija)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKarlovac County is the administrative, political, economic, cultural and sports center of the region. Carpe Diem serves as the Info Center for Youth of Karlovac County and the county provides support for organizational activities.
• Kinoklub KarlovaccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrently partners with Carpe Diem to operate Youth Center Grabrik.
• GOOD Initiative (GOOD Inicijativa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of civil society organizations focused on non-formal education and human rights since 2008, advocating for systematic introduction of human rights and democratic citizenship education in the educational system.
• Network of Youth Information Centers in Croatia (Zajednica informativnih centara za mlade u Hrvatskoj)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-governmental, non-profit organization established 28.07.2008 in Zagreb with the goal of developing a quality system for youth information in Croatia. Founders include Info zona Split, UMKI Rijeka, ZAMISLI Zagreb, and PRONI Centar.
• Croatian Volunteer Development Center (Hrvatski centar za razvoj volonterstva)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes development of volunteering in Croatia through influencing public policies and legal environment, promoting and establishing standards for volunteer education and management.
• EurodeskcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree information service for youth and those working with them. Provides information about work, study, and volunteering opportunities in Europe. Carpe Diem serves as Eurodesk multipliers for Karlovac County.
• European Solidarity Corps (Europske snage solidarnosti)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram providing opportunities for young people to contribute to society through volunteering and solidarity. Carpe Diem is the ambassador of European Solidarity Corps for Karlovac County and hosts 3 international volunteers annually.
• KAoperativaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of civil society organizations dealing with independent culture in Karlovac. Activities focused on improving conditions for independent culture work in Karlovac and Karlovac County.
• Regional Youth Info Center UMKIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1998, creates and implements projects aimed at improving the lives of youth (15-30 years), protecting youth rights, economic and social empowerment, and community involvement.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Info zona: Croatian youth information center based in Split and co-founder of the Network of Youth Information Centers in Croatia. Operates the same youth-info and non-formal education model as Carpe Diem and is referenced in the data as a peer organization within the national youth information network.
• PRONI Centar: Croatian youth organization and co-founder of the Network of Youth Information Centers. Delivers non-formal education, youth worker training, and youth information services comparable to Carpe Diem's portfolio across a different Croatian region.
• UMKI (Udruga mladih za informiranje o kvaliteti življenja): Regional Youth Info Center in Rijeka operating since 1998, focused on youth rights, social empowerment, and community involvement for ages 15–30. Named in Carpe Diem's partnership list and operates a directly comparable youth information and community development model.
• ZAMISLI: Zagreb-based youth information center and co-founder of the Network of Youth Information Centers. Provides information, counseling, and non-formal education to youth with a directly overlapping program design to Carpe Diem's Info Center for Youth.
• GOOD Inicijativa: Croatian network of civil society organizations (since 2008) focused on non-formal education and human rights. Named Carpe Diem partner, with an overlapping mission of systematic human rights and democratic citizenship education through non-formal methods.

Broad incumbents

• Hrvatski centar za razvoj volonterstva: National Croatian center promoting volunteering through public policy, legal framework, and standards development for volunteer management. A named Carpe Diem partner that operates at a national level rather than Karlovac County, sitting one tier above Carpe Diem's VolonterKA volunteer center.
• Mreža mladih Hrvatske: Croatian national youth network coordinating youth policy advocacy and non-formal education. Represents the broader umbrella organization within which Carpe Diem's youth-focused programs sit, providing a comparable but higher-level peer for institutional comparison.

Regional players

• KAoperativa: Network of civil society organizations in Karlovac focused on independent culture, sharing the same Karlovac geography as Carpe Diem. Listed as a partner and represents a regional CSO ecosystem peer operating in overlapping physical and community space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/CARPEDIEMKarlovac
• Facebookfacebook.com/CarpeDiemKarlovac
• Instagraminstagram.com/carpe_diem_karlovac
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carpe-diem-ngo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Carpe Diem