Foundation WBM Madiswil

What Foundation WBM Madiswil does

Stiftung WBM Madiswil is a Swiss nonprofit foundation (Stiftung) founded around 1970 and headquartered in Madiswil, Canton of Bern, that combines sheltered employment and supported living for adults with disabilities with market-oriented industrial and hospitality services. The foundation serves approximately 240 employees and 25 residents at its Wohnhaus in Madiswil, supported by comprehensive training programs and in close cooperation with Canton Bern, the cantonal disability insurance offices (IV-Stellen), and external partner companies for vocational integration. Its operations span mechanical manufacturing (CNC milling and turning, electropolishing/trowalizing), assembly and packaging (including high-volume contracts such as packaging 60,000 election envelopes), a professional laundry with pickup-and-delivery, in-house cleaning and catering, and a creative Atelier. A sub-brand, the Bio-Bäckerei & Kaffeerösterei "Bim Donner" in Rohrbach, produces organic bread, pastries, and hand-roasted coffee through a 10-person team, with a retail shop and adjacent Café Kuriosum in Madiswil for direct-to-consumer sales.

The foundation's commercial service portfolio is organized into two pillars: contract manufacturing and hospitality services for external clients (industrial firms such as Hüsler Nest, AFAG Automation AG, Motorex, and Geiser; hotels, care homes, and restaurants for laundry), and consumer-facing retail through the Bim Donner shop and Café Kuriosum. Revenue is generated through transaction-based industrial fees, per-unit laundry pricing (CHF 3–25 per item with tiered pickup/delivery fees), hardware sales of artisanal food products, cantonal/IV funding under the new BLG individual need-based financing system that took effect in 2024, and donations. Distribution is hybrid: direct B2B field sales to enterprise customers, owned retail storefronts, and pickup-and-delivery logistics for hospitality clients. In 2022 the foundation opened the Grüne Halle market hall in Langenthal but withdrew from the venture in 2023, consolidating operations around Madiswil and Rohrbach.

The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees (Stiftungsrat) chaired by Anita Hüsler and led operationally by Geschäftsführer Stephan Weber (in role since January 7, 2013) and deputy Erika Lerch. It maintains active engagement through social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram), a newsletter, a portrait series "Mitten im Leben," community events such as the annual Open Day (drawing ~700 visitors in 2022), and earned regional media coverage. The foundation operates under Swiss foundation law with no parent company and no venture-capital or private-equity backing; commercial surpluses and donations are reinvested into its social mission.

Name

Foundation WBM Madiswil

Legal name

Stiftung WBM Madiswil

Website

https://wbm-madiswil.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Stiftung WBM Madiswil is a Swiss nonprofit foundation, founded in 1970, operating sheltered employment, supported living, and vocational integration for ~240 employees and 25 residents with disabilities in Canton Bern, alongside commercial CNC manufacturing, assembly/packaging, laundry, and the Bim Donner organic bakery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sheltered Employment and Disability Support Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

Keywords

• Sheltered employment services
• Mechanical manufacturing services
• Assembly and packaging services
• Supported living services
• Vocational integration programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Madiswil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Manufacturing Services: Mechanical manufacturing and assembly/packaging services for industry and trade customers, producing individual parts, series, and assemblies
2. Professional Services: Hospitality services including professional cleaning, laundry, and catering for external clients (companies, homes, hotels, restaurants, clubs, private individuals)
3. Artisanal Food Products: Organic bakery and coffee roasting operations (Bim Donner) selling bread, pastries, and hand-roasted coffee directly to consumers and businesses
4. Government-Funded Care Services: Residential care and professional integration services funded through Cantonal disability benefits (IV/ disability insurance), with individual need-based financing under the BLG system since 2024
5. Donations and Charitable Support: The foundation relies on donations to continue providing meaningful workplaces and living options for people with and without support needs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Foundation WBM Madiswil is a Swiss nonprofit foundation that provides sheltered employment, residential care, and vocational integration programs for adults with disabilities. It operates as a market-economic enterprise producing industrial goods (CNC machining, conventional metal/plastic machining, assembly and packaging) and offering hospitality services (laundry, cleaning, catering) for external commercial customers, alongside an organic bakery and coffee roastery sub-brand ("Bim Donner") and a residential home for 25 residents.

Product overview

Foundation WBM Madiswil is a sheltered workshop and supported-living provider operating since 1970 in Madiswil and Rohrbach, Canton Bern. Its commercial services are organized into a portfolio of production and hospitality offerings: the core industrial services (Mechanische Fertigung, Montage & Verpacken, Wäscherei), internal support services (Verpflegung, Reinigung, Atelier), and two branded sub-operations — Café Kuriosum (a café and craft shop) and Bio-Bäckerei & Kaffeerösterei Bim Donner (an organic bakery and coffee roastery in Rohrbach). Residential services provide supported living for 25 residents. Vocational integration programs help people with disabilities enter the general labor market. All services are designed for inclusive employment alongside people with and without support needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bim Donner: Bio-Bäckerei und Kaffeerösterei - organic bakery and specialty coffee roastery located in Rohrbach, producing bread, pastries, and hand-roasted coffee. Serves as both a commercial business and a workplace for people with and without disabilities.

Products and services

• Mechanical Manufacturing (Mechanische Fertigung) CNC and conventional machining services for metal and plastics, including milling, turning, grinding, electropolishing/trowalizing, sawing, and assembly of single parts, series, and sub-assemblies for industrial and commercial customers.
• Assembly & Packaging (Montage & Verpacken) Flexible assembly and packaging services handling simple to complex orders including packaging/pouching, labeling, filling (granules, pieces, liquids), sealing/welding, foiling/shrink-wrapping, banderoling, gluing, primary and secondary packaging, marking, and final inspection/quality control.
• Laundry Services (Wäscherei) Professional laundry service including washing, ironing, mending, alterations, and labeling for businesses, care homes, hotels, restaurants, clubs, and private individuals, with pickup and delivery within the region.
• Catering (Verpflegung) In-house kitchen providing daily fresh, regional, seasonal, and balanced meals for residents and employees, including salads, vegetarian dishes, meat dishes, and à-la-carte offerings.
• Cleaning Services (Reinigung) Professional cleaning and technical maintenance services ensuring hygiene, safety, and cleanliness across foundation buildings, including small repairs and upkeep.
• Café Kuriosum Café and gift shop on the 2nd floor of the WBM foundation building, selling coffee, tea, croissants, and handmade gift articles produced by Atelier employees, wheelchair accessible.
• Bio-Bäckerei & Kaffeerösterei Bim Donner Organic bakery and coffee roastery operated in Rohrbach, producing bio breads, pastries, and hand-roasted coffee, with an associated retail shop and 10-person team.
• Supported Living (Betreutes Wohnen) Supported housing for 25 people with disabilities at Unterdorfstrasse 68, Madiswil, offering individual room design, residential groups, leisure activities, and personal development support.
• Vocational Integration (Arbeitsintegration) Program supporting youth and adults with disabilities in entering or returning to the regular labor market through training placements, work trials, and close cooperation with cantonal IV offices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25 persons live self-determined lives in the residential home
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lions Club LangenthalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025The Lions Club Langenthal provided active support with transportation between workshop locations during the 2025 Health Day event.
• Stiftung BWOminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration on the 'Auf Augenhöhe' project in 2025, bringing together approximately 200 people from two foundations to exchange ideas and meet at eye level across ten workshops on topics including living, future planning, relationships, and sexuality.
• Canton Bern / IV-StellencoreOthers · 1 January 2022The foundation works in close cooperation with Canton Bern and the disability insurance offices (IV-Stellen) for professional integration programs, training, and individual need-based financing under the BLG system.
• Grüne Halle LangenthalminorOthers · 1 January 2022A vision from 2019, the Grüne Halle was a market hall concept operated by the foundation in Langenthal from 2022-2023, offering additional work fields for people with and without support needs. The project closed in 2023.
• Partner Companies for Professional IntegrationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal partner companies from industry, trade, and services provide training and work placement opportunities for participants in the professional integration program, enabling entry or return to the regular labor market.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Werkst\u00e4tten f\u00fcr behinderte Menschen (Diakonie Werkst\u00e4tten): Diakonie Werkst\u00e4tten across Germany operate sheltered workshops providing industrial assembly, packaging, manufacturing, and supported employment services; the model closely mirrors WBM's industrial-services sheltered work, but operations are based in Germany rather than Switzerland.

Broad incumbents

• INSOS Schweiz: INSOS Schweiz is the national umbrella association of Swiss social enterprises and institutions for people with disabilities; WBM would be one of its member organizations, and INSOS's broader portfolio spans exactly the same sheltered work and supported living categories as WBM at industry-association level.
• Pro Infirmis: Pro Infirmis is Switzerland's largest disability-rights and service organization, providing advice, supported housing, and employment programs nationally; it is a broad incumbent offering overlapping disability-support services to WBM, though its model is more advocacy and case-management focused than industrial manufacturing.
• ServiceSource: ServiceSource is a large US nonprofit providing disability employment services, ABA therapy, and community-based day services; while WBM focuses more on sheltered industrial work than US-style supported employment, both address the same population and outcome (employment for people with disabilities).
• Melwood: Melwood is one of the largest US nonprofit social enterprises providing employment, vocational training, and residential services to people with disabilities; it operates recreational, horticultural, and contract services rather than the CNC/industrial manufacturing focus of WBM, making it a broader-incumbent peer.

Direct peers

• Stiftung BWO: Swiss Stiftung BWO is explicitly named as a partner of WBM on the joint 2025 "Auf Augenh\u00f6he" project; it runs a near-identical model of sheltered work, residential care, and vocational integration for people with disabilities, differing mainly in regional footprint within Switzerland.
• Stiftung Wisli: Swiss Stiftung Wisli in Winterthur provides sheltered employment, residential care, and vocational integration for adults with disabilities with a similarly diversified portfolio including assembly, packaging, laundry, and food services comparable to WBM.
• Lebenshilfe Werkst\u00e4tten: German Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe operates one of the largest networks of sheltered workshops (WfbM) for people with disabilities, offering assembly, manufacturing, and care services directly comparable to WBM's combined industrial and residential model, but operating in Germany.
• Stiftung Br\u00e4ndi: Swiss Stiftung Br\u00e4ndi operates sheltered workshops and supported housing for people with disabilities in the Canton of Lucerne, combining industrial services with residential care on the same inclusive-employment model as WBM, making it the closest geographic and operational peer.
• Caritas Werkst\u00e4tten: Caritas Germany runs sheltered workshops and social enterprises (CarIntegrA, Caritas Wertarbeit) providing assembly, packaging, laundry, and food services to people with disabilities, following the same inclusive-employment model as WBM at broader national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wbmmadiswil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-wbm
• Instagraminstagram.com/stiftung_wbm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Foundation WBM Madiswil