Institute for Positive Health

What Institute for Positive Health does

Institute for Positive Health (iPH / Stichting Institute for Positive Health) is a Dutch non-profit foundation headquartered in Utrecht that serves as the central expertise center for the Positieve Gezondheid (Positive Health) movement. Founded by physician-researcher Machteld Huber following her 2014 doctoral dissertation on a new dynamic concept of health, iPH promotes a six-dimension framework — bodily functions, mental well-being, meaningfulness, quality of life, participation, and daily functioning — visualized through its copyrighted 'Spinnenweb' (Spider Web) tool. The foundation operates as the movement's knowledge hub, coordinating research dissemination, professional training, and adoption across the Dutch healthcare, municipal-policy, and education sectors, while extending internationally through Positive Health International (PHi).

The core product surface is anchored by the Mijn Positieve Gezondheid digital questionnaire (available in adult, youth, adolescent, and simplified variants, with API integration for organizational licenses) and supporting tools such as the Actiewiel (Action Wheel) and Evaluatiewijzer (Evaluation Guide). The business model is hybrid and primarily service-led: revenue is generated from professional training programs (Werken met Positieve Gezondheid, Leergang 'De Bestemmingen', train-the-trainer certifications), annual group licenses for the digital questionnaire, physical materials via the iPH webshop, the published handbook (€49.95), and bespoke lectures/workshops delivered by the founder. iPH is a CRKBO-registered educational institution, and as of 1 January 2026 operates as an independent foundation led by Director Miriam de Kleijn, with founder Machteld Huber continuing in a strategic advisory role.

Name

Institute for Positive Health

Legal name

Stichting Institute for Positive Health

Website

https://iph.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

iPH is a Dutch non-profit foundation that operates the Positieve Gezondheid (Positive Health) movement. It distributes the copyrighted six-dimension Spider Web framework, Mijn Positieve Gezondheid digital questionnaire, training programs, and group licenses to healthcare professionals, municipalities, educators, and organizations in the Netherlands and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health education and preventive health consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Workplace Wellness & Wellbeing Education (EDAAAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Global Health Technical Assistance (BPADAEAH)

Keywords

• Preventive health training
• Positive health methodology
• Holistic health frameworks
• Health dialogue tools
• Wellness consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training Programs: iPH Academy offers various training programs including 'Werken met Positieve Gezondheid', 'Leergang De Bestemmingen', and specialized workshops. Programs available via open enrollment or in-company. Train-de-trainer certifications also available.
2. Group Licenses: Organizations can obtain paid group licenses to use the digital questionnaire (Mijn Positieve Gezondheid) within their teams or user groups, including API integration to their own software systems.
3. Product Sales (Webshop): Sale of physical materials including spider web notepads, brochures, flyers for patients/youth/simple versions, and other branded materials supporting Positive Health conversations.
4. Handbook Sales: Sale of the 'Handbook Positive Health in Primary Care' published by Bohn Stafleu van Loghum, priced at €49.95. International English edition available via Positive Health International.
5. Lectures and Workshops: Lectures introducing Positive Health philosophy, research background, and practical applications. Workshop sessions for hands-on experience with the spider web. Rates agreed upon request.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Institute for Positive Health (iPH) develops and disseminates the Positive Health (Positieve Gezondheid) framework, centered on the six-dimension Spider Web dialogue tool and the Mijn Positieve Gezondheid digital questionnaire. It monetizes this framework through training programs (Werken met Positieve Gezondheid, Leergang 'De Bestemmingen', train-de-trainer certifications), organizational group licenses with API integration, the Handbook Positive Health in Primary Care, lectures and workshops, and a webshop of branded physical materials.

Product overview

Institute for Positive Health (iPH / Stichting Institute for Positive Health) is the independent expertise center and driving force behind the Positieve Gezondheid (Positive Health) movement, which promotes a broad view of health centered on resilience, self-management, and meaningfulness rather than the absence of disease. The portfolio centers on the Spinnenweb (Spider Web) — a six-dimension dialogue tool — and the digital questionnaire platform Mijn Positieve Gezondheid (available for adults, children, youth, and a simplified version), both supported by the conversation methodology Het Andere Gesprek (The Alternative Dialogue) and its companion tool, the Actiewiel (Action Wheel). iPH offers these core tools alongside a professional toolbox, an evaluation guide (Evaluatiewijzer), a knowledge bank, training programs (including the Werken met Positieve Gezondheid program and the De Bestemmingen learning track), group licenses with API integration for organizations, physical materials via a webshop, and publications including the Handboek Positieve Gezondheid in de Huisartspraktijk. International reach is provided through Positive Health International (PHi). The organization operates as a CRKBO-registered educational institution and transitioned to an independent foundation on 1 January 2026, led by director Miriam de Kleijn and founded by Machteld Huber.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Positive Health: The core philosophy/concept of health as the ability to adapt and self-manage, featuring six dimensions: bodily functions, mental well-being, meaning, quality of life, participation, and daily functioning
• Positieve Gezondheid

Products and services

• Mijn Positieve Gezondheid (Digital Questionnaire) A digital questionnaire tool that lets individuals and organizations assess health across the six Positive Health dimensions via a spider web visualization. Offered in versions for adults (42 questions), children (ages 8-16), adolescents/young adults (16-25), and a simplified version. Supports group licenses with API integration into the customer's own software.
• Spinnenweb (Spider Web) dialogue tool

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% fewer hospital referrals for practices implementing Positive Health
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Positive Health International (PHi)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Separate international organization established to enable the Positive Health movement worldwide. Managed by Karolien van den Brekel and Barbara Piper-Roelofs. Offers local and online training and implementation support for professionals and organizations internationally.
• ZonMwcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2021Dutch organization for health research and development. Co-organized the 10-year conference with iPH. Funds research projects using Positive Health tools and methodologies, including studies on children and COVID.
• Health Council of the Netherlands (Gezondheidsraad)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2021Advisory body on health and healthcare. Co-organized the 10-year conference and involved in original 2009 international conference that led to Positive Health concept.
• Alles Is GezondheidcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork organization with regional advisors (Margriet de Jager for regions, Piet Vessies for Positive Healthy Workplaces) who support implementation of Positive Health across various sectors.
• EuroHealthNetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean partnership for health and social equity. Organized international workshop component of the 10-year conference. Work on health equity and Positive Health examples from European partnership.
• LHV AcademiecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDutch GP association academy offering training 'Positive Health in the General Practice' for house doctors based on iPH methodology.
• CRKBOminorOthersDutch register for recognized educational institutions. iPH is a CRKBO-registered institution, providing formal status for their training programs.
• Atma InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSource of the Action Wheel methodology which iPH has adapted and uses in their training courses on Positive Health.
• Alex JadadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder of Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Toronto. Keynote speaker at 10-year conference. Developed Trusted Networks concept that connects with Positive Health. Co-author of original 2011 BMJ article.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Loketgezondleven: Joint initiative by Kenniscentrum Sport & Bewegen and RIVM providing a database of recognized health interventions in the Netherlands. Directly comparable as a Dutch public-health knowledge platform that iPH cites as a partner for evidence-based implementation.
• Pharos: Dutch Centre of Expertise on Health Disparities, focused on reducing health inequalities through knowledge, research, and practice. Comparable as a Dutch knowledge center promoting a broad, equity-oriented view of health similar to Positive Health's framing.
• EuroHealthNet: European partnership for health and social equity that co-organized the international workshop at iPH's 10-year conference. Comparable as a knowledge and advocacy network promoting holistic, equity-focused health frameworks across European countries.
• Alles Is Gezondheid: Dutch national network organization partnering with iPH on Positive Health implementation, with regional advisors supporting municipalities, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Directly comparable as a movement-style network promoting the same broad health framework in the Netherlands.
• WELCOA (Wellness Council of America): US-based organization providing wellness education, certification, and resources to workplaces and practitioners. Comparable as a movement-style wellness education and certification body with a train-the-trainer model targeting professionals.

Broad incumbents

• Virgin Pulse / Personify Health: Global employee wellbeing and health-navigation platform serving employers and health plans. Comparable as a scaled incumbent in workplace wellness and population health that competes for the same employer and health-plan budgets iPH targets with its group licenses.
• Vitality Group: Global provider of wellness, prevention, and health-promotion programs for insurers and employers. Comparable as a large incumbent commercializing behavior-change and prevention frameworks that compete conceptually with Positive Health at the employer/payer level.

Regional players

• Trimbos Institute: Dutch knowledge center for mental health and addiction, applying research to practice and policy in the Netherlands. Comparable as a Dutch expert/knowledge center developing frameworks and tools that influence how professionals and policymakers address population health.

Emerging players

• International WELL Building Institute (IWBI): Organization behind the WELL Building Standard, which promotes health and well-being in built environments through a multi-dimensional framework. Comparable as a framework-driven organization translating a multi-dimensional health concept into certified, monetizable implementations.

Others

• RIVM (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu): Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, a key partner in the Loketgezondleven initiative. Comparable as the dominant Dutch public-health research and policy body whose work intersects with iPH's health framework and policy ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/IPH_NL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCh22WvOmAr1S98WyrTrU8dw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/17959009

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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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 Institute for Positive Health