Kasseler Stottertherapie

What Kasseler Stottertherapie does

Kasseler Stottertherapie (legal entity: KST Institut GmbH) is a Germany-based, privately held specialty care provider founded in 1996 that delivers intensive, computer-assisted stuttering therapy under medical direction. The company runs age-segmented cohort programs (Frankini for ages 3-6, Franka for 6-9, Kiku for 9-12, and JuE for adolescents and adults) delivered as in-person residential courses at its Bad Emstal facility and as online group therapy via the proprietary freach web platform. Long-term clinical studies with Universität Kassel report 93% immediate, 89% one-year and 75% three-year sustained improvement, and the therapy is referenced in the German S3 medical guidelines for speech fluency disorders.

The proprietary technology stack consists of the flunatic therapy software (real-time audio analysis, speech recognition, gamified exercises), the freach online therapy platform (virtual therapy rooms, hybrid delivery, built with ZTM and Vitero GmbH), and the speechagain AI-driven digital therapy application developed by the affiliated Digithep GmbH. The revenue model is anchored in reimbursement by nearly all major German statutory health insurers (AOK, TK, DAK, Barmer, IKK, KKH and others) on multi-year contracts, with patients paying a co-payment (Eigenanteil) for residential courses; international patients from Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein access services via the European S2 form, and speechagain adds a self-service consumer subscription layer.

The company is led by founder and Medical Director Dr. Alexander Wolff von Gudenberg and Managing Director Herbert Frosch, with Kristina Anders as Therapeutic Director and Dr. Harald Mollberg as Commercial Director. Reach extends to roughly 4,000 treated patients across ~500 courses and 40,000+ hours of online therapy, serving a German-speaking core market plus select international patients, while maintaining a small 1-10 employee footprint.

Name

Kasseler Stottertherapie

Legal name

KST Institut GmbH

Website

https://kasseler-stottertherapie.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kasseler Stottertherapie is a German specialty care provider founded in 1996 that delivers intensive, computer-assisted stuttering therapy in age-segmented cohorts, combining in-person residential courses with online therapy and AI-based digital practice tools, reimbursed by nearly all major German health insurers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Speech Therapy Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Fluency (Stuttering/Cluttering) Services (School-Age) (EDAKAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL)

Keywords

• Stuttering therapy
• Speech fluency treatment
• Intensive therapy courses
• Speech therapy software
• Online stuttering therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bad Homburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Therapy Services (Insurance-Reimbursed): Intensive stuttering therapy courses for children, youth, and adults delivered in-person at Bad Emstal facility or online via freach platform. Services are reimbursed by German statutory health insurance (GKV) and private insurers. Patients pay only a co-payment (Eigenanteil) for in-person therapy covering travel, accommodation, meals, and course materials.
2. International Patient Services: Therapy services for patients from Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein using the European S2 form for cross-border insurance reimbursement, and private pay options.
3. Software Licensing (speechagain): Digital stuttering therapy application available as self-service software for independent practice, positioned for younger demographics and broader market accessibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kasseler Stottertherapie provides intensive, computer-assisted stuttering therapy based on the fluency-shaping methodology, delivered in small age-segmented groups (children 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, and youth/adults 13+). Therapy is offered in person at the Bad Emstal institute and online via the proprietary Freach virtual therapy room, supported by the Flunatic speech practice software and the AI-driven Speechagain app. Treatment is recommended in German S3 medical guidelines and is reimbursed by nearly all German statutory health insurers.

Product overview

Kasseler Stottertherapie offers an intensive computer-assisted stuttering therapy based on fluency shaping methodology, available in both in-person and online formats. The core therapy is supported by proprietary software including Flunatic/Flunatic.Web for speech practice and feedback, and the Freach online therapy platform for virtual therapy sessions. The company also offers the Speechagain digital therapy app using AI and speech recognition for independent practice. Therapy programs are organized by age groups: Frankini (3-6 years), Franka (6-9 years), Kiku (9-12 years), and JuE for youth and adults (13+). Online therapy for ages 13+ is available via the Freach platform with virtual therapy rooms. Systematic aftercare and stabilization programs support long-term therapy outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KST Flunatic: Therapy software developed by KST for stuttering treatment support.
• KST Freach
• Speechagain

Products and services

• Kasseler Stottertherapie Intensivkurs (Intensive Stuttering Therapy) Intensive computer-assisted stuttering therapy based on the fluency-shaping methodology, delivered in small age-matched cohorts for children (3-6, 6-9, 9-12 years) and youth/adults (13+), in person at the Bad Emstal institute. Includes systematic aftercare and is covered by German statutory health insurance.
• Online-Therapie ab 13 Jahren (Online Stuttering Therapy from Age 13) Online intensive stuttering therapy for adolescents and adults from age 13, delivered in virtual therapy rooms via the Freach platform; combines live online group sessions with computer-assisted practice. Reimbursed by German health insurers.
• Stabilisierung / Nachsorge (Long-Term Stabilization and Aftercare) Follow-up program for therapy graduates consisting of stabilization weekends and teletherapeutic group sessions to maintain fluent speech after completion of the intensive course; available with prescription.
• Flunatic / Flunatic.Web (Therapy Software) Proprietary computer-assisted speech therapy software developed by KST that provides real-time audio feedback on speech patterns, timing, and fluency, with exercises for vowel prolongation, consonant stretching, situational practice, and gamified progress tracking. Used by participants during and after therapy.
• Freach (Online Therapy Platform) Web-based platform for planning and conducting online group stuttering therapy sessions in virtual therapy rooms, developed by KST in cooperation with ZTM and Vitero GmbH. Enables hybrid therapy combining in-person and remote sessions via internet browser.
• Speechagain (AI-Based Digital Stuttering Therapy App) Self-service digital stuttering therapy application using automatic speech recognition and artificial intelligence, enabling patients to practice independently of location, time, and therapist availability. Developed by Digithep GmbH, founded by Dr. Alexander Wolff von Gudenberg.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of patients show significant improvement immediately after therapy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Long-standing partnership for online therapy development and research. TK funded comparative studies demonstrating online therapy effectiveness equal to in-person treatment. TK promotes KST therapy to insured members and covers costs.
• Universität KasselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term research partnership for clinical studies on therapy outcomes. Prof. Dr. Harald Euler conducted 30+ years of longitudinal studies on therapy effectiveness with 450+ patients.
• PARLO InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute for speech therapy founded by Dr. Alexander Wolff von Gudenberg; co-develops therapy concepts and conducts scientific research.
• Zentrum für Telemedizin e.V. (ZTM)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in developing the freach online therapy platform for virtual therapy rooms and telemedicine solutions.
• University of Frankfurt / Goethe UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed FranKa therapy program for children ages 6-9 with the Clinic for Phoniatrics. Joint pilot project with GEK health insurance.
• Bundesvereinigung Stottern & Selbsthilfe e.V. (BVSS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman national self-help organization for people who stutter; mutual support and awareness partnership.
• Freunde der Kasseler Stottertherapie e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriends association supporting therapy and patients; celebrating 25th anniversary in 2025.
• ProLogminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShop partner for therapy materials and equipment.
• AOK HessencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in 'Stadt.Land.Gesund' lighthouse project; AOK Hessen enables online therapy access for insured members age 12+.
• International Universities NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch network including University of Sydney, Ruhr University Bochum, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, University of Göttingen, University of Bamberg, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
• intermedix / CGM GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStarting January 2020, providing KST expertise and knowledge about stuttering to medical professionals through CGM's practice management software.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tobii Dynavox: Tobii Dynavox is a global leader in assistive communication and AAC devices and software for people with speech and language disabilities. They serve a broader SLP/speech-disorder population than KST's stuttering specialty.
• Lingraphica: Lingraphica is a US device and software provider focused on speech and language disorders, serving speech-language pathologists and patients. It overlaps with KST as a SLP tools and therapy-content provider, though primarily in the aphasia segment.

Emerging players

• Constant Therapy Health: Constant Therapy provides AI-driven digital speech, language, and cognitive therapy exercises. While broader than stuttering alone, its self-service digital therapy model is comparable to KST's speechagain app trajectory.
• Speech Blubs: Speech Blubs is a speech-language app focused on pediatric speech and language development, adjacent to KST's Frankini/Franka/Kiku early-intervention programs. Both target parents seeking tech-enabled speech therapy for children.
• Casa Futura Technologies (SpeechEasy): Casa Futura markets SpeechEasy, an FDA-cleared delayed auditory feedback device for stuttering. It competes on an alternative modality (device-based fluency shaping) versus KST's therapy + software approach, addressing the same stuttering patient population.
• Stamurai: Stamurai is a mobile app offering self-directed stuttering therapy using speech exercises and AI feedback. It overlaps with KST's speechagain product on digital self-practice but lacks intensive clinician-led group therapy and European payer reimbursement.

Others

• PARLO Institut: Research institute co-founded by KST's medical director for speech therapy research; deep partnership in therapy concept development and clinical research rather than direct competition.
• Stuttering Foundation of America: A nonprofit that provides free resources, workshops, and referrals for people who stutter. It overlaps as a non-direct competitor channel that shapes patient awareness and physician referral patterns relevant to KST.
• International Stuttering Association (ISA): Global umbrella for national stuttering self-help organizations. Operates as a referral ecosystem and awareness body that influences demand for specialized therapy providers such as KST.

Regional players

• Logopädie-Praxis networks (Germany): Germany-wide network of independent speech-language pathology practices (Logopädie-Praxen) that deliver conventional outpatient speech therapy reimbursed by Krankenkassen. They serve as both competitors for stuttering referrals and potential feeder channel for KST's intensive courses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KSTstottertherapie
• Facebookfacebook.com/kasseler.stottertherapie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Kasseler Stottertherapie