The Academy of Entrepreneurship (AKEP) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, with an innovative and authentic character, trying to meet the new challenges of the modern labour market as its first priority. It has been founded in 2007 by the historical Educational Association of Athens ‘HFAISTOS’.
Its aim is to create a healthier entrepreneurial environment on a national and European level and to support young people who wish to make their innovative and social entrepreneurial ideas come true. AKEP's main objective is the cultivation of the essential entrepreneurial attitude and transfer of the necessary knowledge to public and private organisations related to youth and social entrepreneurship.
For that reason, AKEP has been one of the Intermediary organisations in Greece for the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme since 2012. This is a cross border exchange programme which gives new or aspiring social entrepreneurs the chance to learn from experienced ones running small businesses in other Participating Countries, since 2009. AKEP's role is to facilitate Greek social entrepreneurs’ non-formal entrepreneurial learning experience throughout Europe and to connect experienced host entrepreneurs with new or aspiring entrepreneurs.
AKEP is a social entrepreneurship ecosystem accelerator as it cultivates entrepreneurship and employability soft and technical skills, with a focus on non-formal learning of entrepreneurial skills for public and private organisations and anyone involved in them (trainers of entrepreneurs). AKEP's vision is to accomplish the Global Sustainable Goals until 2030 in the best way possible through the cultivation of an entrepreneurial mindset in private and public organisations in Europe.
AKEP has been the national partner of the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) in Greece since 2008. AKEP is also a member of the Global Entrepreneurship Research Network, the Entrepreneur Envoy network, the European Association of Development Research and Training and the Euclid Network.
AKEP has been nominated as the official National partner in Greece for the Startup Nations Global Network and constitutes an important communication channel for startup entrepreneurs and policymakers both on a European and global level.
AKEP is participating in various European research projects that support entrepreneurship development and employability, especially regarding youth. The research and social innovation department can strongly support the activities of any project related to business, youth entrepreneurship, the labour market, and employment. AKEP’s network also involves Higher Education Institutions and Research centers.
