PWG Foundation

Name

PWG Foundation

Legal name

Stiftung PWG zur Erhaltung von preisgünstigen Wohn- und Gewerberäumen der Stadt Zürich

Website

https://pwg.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PWG Foundation is a Zurich-based Swiss non-profit foundation that acquires and permanently holds residential and commercial properties at cost-rent levels (~26% below market), serving low-to-moderate-income households, small local businesses, and community organizations across 203 properties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Residential Real Estate

NAICS

Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (except Miniwarehouses) (531120)

SIC

Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

Keywords

• Affordable housing
• Residential rental
• Commercial space leasing
• Non-profit foundation
• Property management

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Residential and Commercial Rental Income: The foundation generates revenue through rental income from 2,538 apartments and 366 commercial premises. Rents are set according to the cost-rent principle (Kostenmiete) and are on average approximately one third below market rates. The foundation maintains a solid financial base with 427.8 million CHF in equity against 1,367 million CHF in asset value.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PWG Foundation is a non-profit Swiss foundation that acquires and permanently preserves residential and commercial properties in the city of Zurich, renting 2,538 apartments and 366 commercial premises at cost-rent levels approximately 26% below market rates. Existing tenants are guaranteed the same rent after acquisition, and properties are never resold.

Product overview

PWG Foundation operates as a non-profit real estate organization offering affordable housing and commercial spaces in Zurich. Its core portfolio consists of 2,538 apartments and 366 commercial units across 203 properties. Services include property acquisition (taking over existing tenancies at unchanged rents), comprehensive property and portfolio management, and construction project management with a focus on sustainability and Net Zero 2040. The foundation finances operations through sustainable bonds and manages tenant relations through defined rental criteria. Commercial tenants operate diverse businesses from PWG-owned properties, including CycleLab (digital bicycle workshop), studiogolf (indoor golf simulator), and NOZO jewelry studio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affordable Housing Portfolio Portfolio of 2,538 affordable apartments across 203 properties in the city of Zurich, offered at cost-rent pricing to eligible households seeking affordable rental housing.
• Commercial Space Management 366 commercial rental units including retail, office, atelier, workshop, and service spaces for local small businesses at subsidized rates.
• Property Acquisition Services Acquisition of residential and commercial buildings in Zurich to permanently preserve affordability; existing tenancies are assumed unchanged and current occupants are guaranteed the same rent.
• Construction Project Management Planning and execution of renovation, replacement, and new construction projects on foundation properties, with emphasis on long-term solutions, cost efficiency, and sustainability.
• Property Management In-house administration of foundation properties, including tenant relations, rental allocation according to defined criteria, maintenance, and neighborhood-level management.
• Portfolio Management Strategic planning, maintenance, and optimization of the growing property portfolio, including energy efficiency upgrades aligned with the Net Zero 2040 target.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rents are on average 26% below market rates (Wüest & Partner study)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KPMG AGcoreOthersKPMG AG serves as the foundation's auditor (Kontrollstelle). The audit term is four years, aligned with the Foundation Council term. The municipal council is responsible for their election.
• BS+EMI Architektenpartner AG, ZürichcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture and construction management firm for the first PWG commercial-only new construction project at Flüelastrasse 16 in Altstetten (completed 2025). The building was designed to complete the street frontage in an expressive manner.
• Daniel Ganz Landschaftsarchitekt*innen, BSLA, ZürichminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architecture firm for the Flüelastrasse 16 commercial new construction project, contributing to the outdoor space design of the property.
• EBP Schweiz AG, ZürichcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm (Bauingenieur, HLSE-Planung, Brandschutzplanung, Verkehrsplanung, Bauphysik) for multiple PWG projects including Albisstrasse 116 comprehensive renovation and Flüelastrasse 16.
• Fuchs & IgelcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerZurich-based company specializing in biodiversity and natural outdoor space design. PWG Foundation collaborates with Fuchs & Igel on biodiversity projects at various properties including Edisonstrasse 12, Schürliweg 2, and Forchstrasse 290. The company emphasizes sustainability, using natural materials from the region and electric cargo bikes for transportation.
• Literaturhaus ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partner in the 'Writers in Residence' program established in 2013 for PWG's 20th anniversary. The program provides selected international authors with housing for six months to focus on their writing. Generously supported by Canton and City of Zurich.
• Reparaturia (Repair Café)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVerein 'Reparaturia' operates a repair café in the basement of PWG property at Jungstrasse 17, offering neighborhood residents the opportunity to repair broken items together. The initiative promotes sustainability and community building. Founded in 2021 by Rolf Huber and Toni Waldvogel, the association repairs 450+ items annually.
• Powch (Zurich label)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZurich-based label that collaborated with PWG Foundation and ZHdK students to create 'Viaduktbags' – handcrafted bags made from construction site banners (Blachen) from the Lettenviadukt renovation. The unique bags are sold for CHF 30 in stores at IM VIADUKT.
• Studio Trachsler HoffmanncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm that won the project competition for the conversion of the former SRG office building at Schärenmoosstrasse 115, 117 into approximately 200 apartments plus commercial spaces. Partnered with Seforb Bauingenieure and Mettler Landschaftsarchitektur.
• Allianz für das GemeinwohlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPWG Foundation is a member of the 'Alliance for the Common Good' (Allianz für das Gemeinwohl), which brings together organizations working for the common good.
• Baumberger & Stegmeier ArchitektenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWon the invited study competition for the new construction project at Witikonerstrasse 517-521 (2018-2020). The project utilized development reserves while preserving the existing building.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich (ABZ): One of the largest housing cooperatives in Zurich, providing affordable rental housing on a non-profit basis. Directly comparable to PWG in mission (below-market rents, tenant security), target market (Zurich households), and asset base (multi-thousand unit residential portfolio). Differentiated only by cooperative (vs. foundation) legal form.
• Genossenschaft Kalkbreite: Zurich-based housing cooperative operating award-winning mixed-use developments with sub-market rents and sustainable design. Directly comparable to PWG on target market, affordability mission, urban Zurich geography, and integrated residential-commercial model.
• Baugenossenschaft mehr als wohnen: Zurich-area housing cooperative focused on innovative, sustainable, affordable rental housing with strong community participation. Closely comparable to PWG on target customers (low/middle-income Zurich households), pricing model (cost-rent/sub-market), and value proposition (long-term affordability plus ecological/sustainability focus).
• Stiftung Alterswohnungen der Stadt Zürich: City of Zurich-affiliated foundation providing affordable senior housing in Zurich. Closely comparable legal structure (Stiftung), geographic mandate (city of Zurich only), and non-profit rental model. Differs only by tenant segment focus (seniors).

Others

• Bundesamt für Wohnungswesen (BWO): Swiss federal housing office that administers national housing policy, subsidies, and programs supporting non-profit and cooperative housing providers. Relevant as the upstream policy/funder that shapes the regulatory and subsidy environment in which PWG and similar foundations operate.
• Wohnbaugenossenschaften Schweiz (wbg): National umbrella association of Swiss housing cooperatives and non-profit housing providers. Comparable as the sector-wide representative body for the cooperative/non-profit housing model that PWG operates within, including advocacy, benchmarking, and best-practice sharing.

Broad incumbents

• Stadt Zürich Wohnungsamt: Municipal housing office of the City of Zurich, overseeing public-subsidized housing and broader housing policy. Comparable to PWG as the public-sector counterpart operating affordable housing stock in the same geography; broader in scope as it sets policy rather than exclusively operating its own portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/stiftungpwg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-pwg
• Instagraminstagram.com/stiftungpwg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 PWG Foundation