What WISS does

WISS Schulen für Wirtschaft Informatik Immobilien AG is a privately held Swiss for-profit vocational and professional education institution operating under the Kalaidos Bildungsgruppe Schweiz. Formed in 2021 from the merger of KS Kaderschulen and Stiftung WISS, the company delivers more than 40 federally accredited programs across Business (Wirtschaft), Computer Science (Informatik), Business Informatics (Wirtschaftsinformatik), and Real Estate (Immobilien), plus school-based vocational training (Grundbildung EFZ). Its portfolio spans entry-level ICT apprenticeships, multi-semester Höhere Fachschule (HF) diplomas, Nachdiplomstudien (NDS HF) for specialization, federally certified professional examinations (eidg. Fachausweis), modular AI competency courses, and CAS FH qualifications offered in partnership with Kalaidos Fachhochschule. WISS serves roughly 1,400-1,500 learners annually across four campuses in Bern, Luzern, St. Gallen, and Zürich, with a hybrid delivery model enabling in-person and MS Teams-based online participation.

The institution's technical backbone includes a proprietary cloud learning environment called WaaS (WISS as a Service), built to satisfy the BIVO21 educational ordinance for cloud instruction in informatics Grundbildung, and integrated with Cisco NetAcad and MS Teams. Revenue is generated primarily through per-program tuition fees (e.g., CHF 13,500 net after cantonal subsidies for the six-semester Dipl. Betriebswirtschafter/in HF) with installment plans, supplemented by short modular courses priced individually and by customized corporate training through the Firmenkunden division. WISS holds an estimated 32% market share in the Dipl. Wirtschaftsinformatiker/in HF segment, reports a +14% federal exam pass rate versus the Swiss national average, and operates a corporate partner network including Swisscom, SBB, Die Post, HEV Schweiz, Pistor, Graphax, Würth IT, Bühler AG, and Immobilien Börse AG for student placement and curriculum input.

Commercially, WISS pursues a sales-led go-to-market anchored by regular Infoanlässe information events at each campus, personal Bildungsberatung (educational counseling), corporate outreach, and presence at youth career fairs such as OBA and JOB4U. Marketing combines content (blog, SEO, newsletter), organic social (LinkedIn, Facebook, Xing, Instagram, YouTube), public diploma ceremonies at venues like Spirgarten Zürich, and a Friendship-Programm referral scheme. Quality is reinforced through eduQua:2021 recertification (2023), a #355 ranking in the Computerworld Top 500 ICT Firms Switzerland (2022, up 42 places), and integration into the Kalaidos Bildungsgruppe for institutional infrastructure and university articulation pathways.

Name

WISS

Legal name

WISS Schulen für Wirtschaft Informatik Immobilien AG

Website

https://wiss.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

WISS is a Swiss for-profit vocational and professional education institution offering 40+ federally accredited programs in Business, IT, Business Informatics, and Real Estate across four campuses in German-speaking Switzerland, serving roughly 1,400-1,500 learners per year through HF diplomas, eidg. Fachausweis tracks, and AI competency courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational and Professional Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business and Secretarial Schools (61141), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Business & Global Management Schools (EDAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Operations, Supply Chain & Logistics Management Schools (EDAHAHAF)

Keywords

• Vocational education programs
• Higher professional education
• Business informatics training
• Real estate certification
• Professional examination prep

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Course Fees: WISS generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged for its educational programs. Fees are charged per program/course and are subsidized by Swiss cantons. The institution offers installment payment options for fee settlement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WISS Schulen für Wirtschaft Informatik Immobilien AG operates as a Swiss educational institution delivering accredited diploma programs, vocational training, and professional certification courses in Business Administration, Computer Science, Business Informatics, and Real Estate. Programs span basic vocational education (EFZ), higher professional diplomas (HF), post-diploma studies (NDS HF), and preparation for federal professional examinations (eidg. Fachausweis/Diplom). The institution serves over 1,400 students annually across four campus locations and full online/hybrid delivery.

Product overview

WISS Schulen operates as a diversified educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs across four main subject areas: Business Administration (Wirtschaft), Computer Science (Informatik), Business Informatics (Wirtschaftsinformatik), and Real Estate (Immobilien), plus vocational basic training (Grundbildung). The core offerings are diploma programs at the Höhere Fachschule (HF) level including Dipl. Betriebswirtschafter/in HF, Dipl. Informatiker/in HF, Dipl. Wirtschaftsinformatiker/in HF, and Dipl. Prozesstechniker/in HF, supplemented by federally recognized professional exams (eidg. Fachausweis) such as AI Business Specialist, and Nachdiplomstudien (NDS HF) for advanced specialization. The institution also provides modular competency courses (KI-Professional WISS), vocational programs (ICT-Fachmann/-frau EFZ, Informatiker/in EFZ), CAS FH programs in partnership with Kalaidos Fachhochschule, and real estate certification pathways. Supporting infrastructure includes hybrid classroom technology, the proprietary WaaS cloud platform for IT education, and integration with tools like MS Teams and Cisco NetAcad for digital learning delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dipl. Betriebswirtschafter/in HF

Quantifiable outcome

• +14% exam pass rate (FA, Diplome) vs. Swiss average
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kalaidos Bildungsgruppe SchweizcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Kalaidos Bildungsgruppe Schweiz is the parent organization of WISS Schulen. WISS is a wholly owned subsidiary within the Kalaidos group. The group provides institutional infrastructure, quality frameworks, and access to the Kalaidos Fachhochschule for integrated HF + Bachelor pathways. The group also facilitated the 2021 merger between KS Kaderschulen and Stiftung WISS to form the unified WISS brand.
• Kalaidos Fachhochschule (KFH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership enabling WISS students to pursue additional CAS FH qualifications during their HF studies at preferential conditions, and to transition directly into the final year of a Bachelor FH program after completing their HF diploma. WISS students can earn a BSc FH in 1 additional year post-HF (vs. 2 years standard), through the HF+ program.
• Fernfachhochschule Schweiz (FFHS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing WISS HF graduates with advanced standing toward BSc programs at FFHS. WISS students receive up to 10 additional ECTS credits in project management compared to standard accreditation, facilitating faster degree completion.
• HEV Schweiz (Hauseigentümerverband Schweiz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHEV Schweiz is a co-developer of WISS real estate programs. Several property management certificate modules (Sachbearbeiter/in modules for Immobilienbewirtschaftung, Immobilienbewertung, Immobilienvermarktung, Liegenschaftenunterhalt, and Liegenschaftenbuchhaltung) are delivered jointly under the 'WISS/HEV' brand. HEV Schweiz is also a major employer partner and its logo appears on the WISS partner page.
• SwisscomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwisscom is one of WISS's employer partners, featured on the partner logo page. WISS students have visited Swisscom's data center in Wankdorf (Bern) for practical technology exposure as part of their informatics education.
• SBB (Swiss Federal Railways)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSBB is listed as an employer partner on the WISS website, indicating a recruitment and student placement relationship.
• Die PostminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDie Post is listed as an employer partner on the WISS website, indicating a recruitment and student placement relationship.
• PistorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPistor is listed as an employer partner on the WISS website.
• GraphaxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGraphax is listed as an employer partner on the WISS website.
• Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (Swiss Confederation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Swiss Confederation is listed as a partner logo on the WISS website, indicating government-level institutional recognition and collaboration.
• ZHAW (Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISS collaborated with ZHAW on a study examining AI friendships and VR experiences, where HF students participated in a research project exploring future human-AI social interactions.
• GDI Rüschlikon (Gottfried Duttlinger Institut)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe annual WISS Dozierendenanlass (lecturer event) was hosted at GDI Rüschlikon in 2024, indicating a recurring event partnership for faculty development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Digicomp Academy AG: Switzerland's largest independent IT training provider, offering vendor certifications, cloud, and AI courses. Competes with WISS for IT upskilling budget, particularly for the KI-Professional and AI Business Specialist programs.
• ZbW Bildungszentrum: Eastern Switzerland-based vocational education institution offering HF diplomas, eidg. FA, and continuing education in Business and IT. Direct geographic competitor in the St. Gallen market and similar program mix.
• Benedict Schools: Swiss private school group offering vocational and continuing education in business, languages, and IT across multiple Swiss cities. Comparable multi-campus model and program breadth, overlapping with WISS's HF and eidg. FA offerings.
• TEKO Schweizerische Fachschule: Swiss vocational school specializing in IT and engineering education, offering HF Informatik and related diplomas. Closest direct competitor to WISS's Dipl. Informatiker/in HF and ICT EFZ programs with similar blended learning approach.
• HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich: Zurich-based private business school offering HF diplomas, Bachelor, and MBA programs to working professionals. Most direct competitor to WISS's Dipl. Betriebswirtschafter/in HF and Wirtschaftsinformatik HF offerings, with comparable hybrid delivery and corporate client base.
• Fernfachhochschule Schweiz (FFHS): Switzerland's leading distance-learning university, offering Bachelor/Master programs in Business and IT. Both partner and competitor to WISS — provides WISS HF graduates with advanced standing toward BSc while competing for the same working-professional audience via remote delivery.
• SAKE Bildungszentrum: Swiss vocational training provider focused on business and IT programs for working professionals. Comparable model: HF diplomas, eidg. FA preparation, and modular continuing education, with similar target audience in German-speaking Switzerland.

Broad incumbents

• Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW): Large public university of applied sciences with strong Business and IT faculties in Northwestern Switzerland. Subsidized FH Bachelor/Master programs compete with WISS's HF and Kalaidos FH pathways for the same working-professional cohort at lower price points.
• Hochschule Luzern (HSLU): Public university of applied sciences with major Business and IT departments in Central Switzerland. Direct geographic overlap with WISS's Luzern campus; subsidized FH programs compete for HF-bound professionals in the same catchment area.
• Kalaidos Fachhochschule: Sister institution within the Kalaidos Bildungsgruppe Schweiz, operating at the FH (Bachelor/Master) level rather than WISS's HF level. Overlaps in subject areas (Business, IT, Wirtschaftsinformatik) and shares student pathways via the WISS HF→BSc FH program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/WISSWirtschaftsinformatikschuleSchweizZuerich
• Facebookfacebook.com/wisschweiz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wiss-wirtschaftsinformatikschule
• Instagraminstagram.com/wisschweiz
• Xx.com/Wisschweiz

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 WISS