Diamante Foundation

What Diamante Foundation does

Fondazione Diamante is a Swiss nonprofit foundation established in 1978 (with predecessor workshops dating to 1972) and headquartered in Manno, Canton Ticino. It provides vocational rehabilitation, sheltered employment, and social-inclusion services to adults with cognitive, psychiatric, and physical disabilities who are beneficiaries of Switzerland's federal disability insurance (Assicurazione Invalidità). The foundation combines a social mission with a commercial operating model: it runs a network of more than 18 specialized workshops across the canton covering ceramics (La Linea, Riva San Vitale), woodworking (L'Idea, Chiasso), serigraphy and DTF printing (Seriarte), sewing and textiles (Il Punto, Incontro 1, KilometroZARO), multimedia and digitization (Laser), industrial cabling and assembly (Cabla for Schindler SA), automotive services (AUTOnomie), industrial laundry (Tre Valli, Officine FFS at Swiss Federal Railways), administrative/graphics (Appunti, PROposta), and agricultural production (Polo Agricolo, a Bio Suisse-certified organic farm and vineyard).

Commercially, Fondazione Diamante generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales at 18+ retail points across Ticino, the negozioamico.ch online shop, gift and Christmas catalog products, two restaurants (Canvetto Luganese and al Bel, the latter a Slow Food Chefs Alliance member), catering (TIcucinoio), and B2B industrial services (assembly for Schindler, integrated workplace for Migros at Sant'Antonino since 1989, retail placements at Coop stores in Castione and Tenero). Two wine labels (ViteDiverse and ViteAssieme) are vinified in partnership with cantine Fratelli Corti and Böscioro. Alongside the commercial streams, the foundation operates four residential foyers (Casa Anni, La Gente, Camminata, Al Sasso) and housing-support services for residents with disabilities. The organization is governed by a Direzione e Segretariato, has no parent company or external investor disclosed, and lists a Banca Cler SA donation account on its website.

Name

Diamante Foundation

Legal name

Fondazione Diamante per realizzazioni a favore degli handicappati

Website

https://f-diamante.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fondazione Diamante is a Swiss nonprofit foundation operating 18+ workshops, restaurants, farms, and residential foyers across Canton Ticino to deliver vocational rehabilitation and social inclusion for adults with disabilities receiving AI (Assicurazione Invalidità) benefits, while selling artisan goods, food, and B2B services (Schindler, Migros, Coop).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)

Keywords

• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Disability employment services
• Social enterprise workshops
• Artisan food production
• Residential care housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Manno

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Artisan Product Sales: Sale of handcrafted products including ceramics, woodwork, textiles, printed materials, and artisanal foods. Products sold through own retail stores, online shop (negozioamico.ch), and direct from workshops.
2. Restaurant and Catering Services: Restaurant operations including Canvetto Luganese (fine dining, osteria, pasta shop, coffee roasting) and al Bel (bar-restaurant). Also provides catering services for events, conferences, and private functions.
3. Agricultural Product Sales: Sale of organic produce from Polo Agricolo including vegetables, poultry, rabbits, eggs, and wine (ViteDiverse and ViteAssieme labels). Products sold at farm shop and through other foundation retail locations.
4. Workshop and Assembly Services: Industrial assembly, cabling, packaging, printing, and laundry services provided to external companies including Schindler SA, Migros, and regional businesses.
5. Space Rental: Rental of event spaces including meeting rooms, banquet halls, and the Casa Irma vacation house in Ascona. Also farm event space at Sosta della Quaglia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fondazione Diamante is a Swiss nonprofit social enterprise that operates vocational rehabilitation workshops, sheltered employment programs, and residential housing services for adults with disabilities (AI benefit recipients) in the Canton of Ticino. It generates revenue through artisan product sales (ceramics, woodwork, textiles, food), restaurant and catering services, industrial services (assembly, laundry, printing) for businesses, organic farm production, retail stores, event space rentals, and a vacation house, with all activities employing collaborators with disabilities.

Product overview

Fondazione Diamante is a social enterprise providing vocational training, employment, and inclusion services for people with disabilities across Ticino, Switzerland. The organization operates a network of approximately 20 specialized workshops/laboratories organized by service type: artisan workshops (L'Idea for woodwork, La Linea for ceramics, Il Punto for textiles/sewing); food production facilities (aTavola, TIcucinoio, Canvetto Luganese with its pasta workshop and coffee roastery); agricultural operations (Polo Agricolo with Bio Suisse certification); administrative and graphic services (Appunti, Laser with multimedia/digitalization); industrial/manufacturing (Cabla for cable assembly, Officine FFS industrial laundry, AUTOnomie car wash, Seriarte for screen printing); retail stores (KilometroZARO, La Butega de la Val with postal agency, multiple point-of-sale locations); and two restaurants (al Bel, Canvetto Luganese). The organization also provides housing/foyer services and operates an online shop (Negozioamico.ch) selling products from all workshops. Wine production is managed through two labels: Vite Diverse (Luganese) and Vite Assieme (Sopraceneri).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Canvetto Luganese Restaurant Inclusive public restaurant offering table service, osteria dining, fresh pasta, and coffee roasted in-house, serving local residents and visitors in Lugano; also offers hall rentals for events.
• al Bel Bar-Restaurant Inclusive bar-restaurant in Bellinzona offering midday dining, bar service, and coffee breaks/aperitifs for corporate and public events.
• TIcucinoio Catering Service Catering service and food transformation workshop in Taverne offering aperitifs, coffee breaks, event catering, meal preparation, and domestic economy services for events and corporate functions.
• Polo Agricolo Organic Farm Bio Suisse certified organic farm cultivating vegetables, raising poultry and rabbits, and producing wine under the ViteDiverse and ViteAssieme labels; sells via farm shop and other foundation retail locations.
• Cabla Industrial Assembly Services Industrial assembly and contract manufacturing services including cable assembly, electromechanical component assembly, cartonage, and external services for companies such as Schindler SA.
• Tre Valli Industrial Laundry and Multi-Service Industrial laundry services for restaurants and hotels, plus firewood production, woodworking, garden maintenance, and meal preparation services from Biasca.
• Seriarte Screen Printing and Production Screen printing (serigraphy), digital printing, DTF printing, graphic design, copying, finishing, assembly, and packaging services for textiles, sportswear, work clothing, and external businesses.
• La Linea Ceramics Production and Shop Ceramics production and retail shop in Riva San Vitale using traditional terracotta techniques, offering table ceramics, decorative items, and customized/personalized objects.
• L'Idea Woodworking Workshop Woodworking workshop producing trophies, artisanal objects, custom frames and borders, and furniture restoration services from Chiasso.
• AUTOnomie Car Wash and Vehicle Services Car wash and vehicle maintenance workshop in Cadenazzo offering manual washing, interior cleaning, upholstery renovation, vehicle maintenance, and simple repairs.
• Casa Irma Vacation Rental Vacation rental house in Ascona with 5.5 rooms and 9 beds in a large public park near the lake, available for short-term stays.
• Residential Foyer and Housing Support Services Residential housing services and supported living for adults with cognitive, psychiatric, and physical disabilities across four foyers and additional housing support units in Ticino.
• Negozioamico Online Shop Online e-commerce shop selling ceramics, textiles, food items, gift cards, Christmas catalog items, and artisanal products from all foundation workshops with home delivery.
• ViteDiverse and ViteAssieme Wine Labels Two wine labels produced from Fondazione Diamante's vineyards: ViteDiverse (Merlot DOC and Chardonnay DOC from Luganese area, vinified by Fratelli Corti) and ViteAssieme (Merlot DOC and Johanniter Ticino DOC from Sopraceneri, vinified by Boscioro).
• Sosta della Quaglia Event Venue Farm venue space for rental hosting family or corporate events for up to 20 people, located within the Polo Agricolo organic farm in Gudo.
• Il Punto Sewing and Garden Maintenance Services Sewing, object-making, serial manual production, and garden maintenance services from the Mendrisio workshop.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 years of continuous operation in Ticino providing disability services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CoopcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Fondazione Diamante collaborates with Coop on workplace inclusion projects. After launching in Castione in 2024, the partnership expanded to Tenero in 2026. People with disabilities (AI beneficiaries) work in Coop stores, gaining retail experience and developing skills in a public-facing environment. This represents a concrete example of shared commitment to equal opportunities and active participation in working life.
• Schindler SAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Cabla laboratory originated from a Schindler SA cabling outsourcing project in 1993. The partnership has since expanded to include other companies. Cabla also operates an integrated group within Schindler's Locarno factory (opened June 2021).
• Migros TicinocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989An integrated laboratory has operated within Migros Ticino logistics facility since 1989. Collaborators with disabilities work alongside Migros employees in logistics and waste management operations. Two social educators and one logistics employee oversee the program. This is a flagship example of integrated employment for people with disabilities in Switzerland.
• Fratelli Corti (winery)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFratelli Corti of Balerna handles winemaking for the ViteDiverse label, producing Merlot and Chardonnay from Fondazione Diamante's terraced vineyards in the Luganese area.
• Boscioro (winery)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoscioro of Gerra Piano handles winemaking for the ViteAssieme label, producing Johanniter and Merlot wines from Fondazione Diamante's Sopraceneri vineyards.
• Slow FoodminorGTM or Marketing Partneral Bel restaurant is a member of the Slow Food Chefs Alliance, demonstrating commitment to quality, local, and sustainable food practices.
• Fair Trade Town BellinzonaminorGTM or Marketing Partneral Bel is a partner of Fair Trade Town Bellinzona, supporting ethical and fair trade practices in the region.
• Le FornaciminorOthersL'Idea workshop (2008) was created from the merger of historic laboratories Le Fornaci of Chiasso and L'Idea of Maroggia, continuing the traditional craft production of wood objects and frames.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pro Infirmis: Switzerland's largest disability advocacy and service organization, providing counseling, supported housing, and employment programs nationwide. Broad incumbent shaping the same funding and policy environment as Fondazione Diamante.
• Insieme Schweiz: National umbrella association for people with intellectual disabilities in Switzerland, supporting member organizations including sheltered workshop operators. Diamante is part of the same ARTISET/Insieme ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Stiftung Bühl: Wädenswil-based foundation operating sheltered workshops and supported housing for people with disabilities. Closely mirrors Diamante's combination of vocational production and residential foyers.
• Stiftung Brühlgut: Swiss foundation in Winterthur operating sheltered workshops and residential services for people with disabilities across multiple production lines. Closely matches Diamante's workshop-plus-foyer integrated model.
• Stiftung Rütimattli: Luzern-area foundation offering vocational training, residential, and day-program services for people with disabilities. Comparable integrated social-enterprise model in the German-speaking Swiss context.
• Stiftung Weidli: Stans-based foundation operating residential facilities and sheltered workshops for people with disabilities, including food and artisan production. Direct peer in workshop-based social enterprise.
• Stiftung Wagerenhof: Uster-based Swiss foundation combining residential homes, day programs, and vocational workshops for people with disabilities, with on-site restaurant and retail operations. Strong structural and operational parallel to Fondazione Diamante.
• Stiftung Rossfeld: Bern-based foundation providing school, vocational training, residential, and workshop services for people with physical disabilities. Comparable combination of residential and productive employment under one nonprofit roof.
• Stiftung Contenti: Luzern-area foundation providing sheltered employment and residential services for people with disabilities. Comparable scale and workshop-portfolio approach to Diamante.
• Stiftung Bächtelen: Bern-area foundation running sheltered workshops and vocational integration programs. Direct peer in the Swiss social-enterprise / sheltered-employment ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100082863701502
• Instagraminstagram.com/fondazionediamante
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondazione-diamante

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Diamante Foundation