PWG Foundation
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
PWG Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- 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
PWG Foundation industry classification
Industry- 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
Where PWG Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
PWG Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Cost-based rental model with rents approximately 1/3 below market average |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
PWG Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use PWG Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PWG Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
PWG Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KPMG AGcoreKPMG 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, ZürichcoreArchitecture 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, ZürichminorLandscape architecture firm for the Flüelastrasse 16 commercial new construction project, contributing to the outdoor space design of the property.
- EBP Schweiz AG, ZürichcoreEngineering firm (Bauingenieur, HLSE-Planung, Brandschutzplanung, Verkehrsplanung, Bauphysik) for multiple PWG projects including Albisstrasse 116 comprehensive renovation and Flüelastrasse 16.
- Fuchs & IgelcoreZurich-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 ZürichcoreJoint 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)minorVerein '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)minorZurich-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 HoffmanncoreArchitecture 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 GemeinwohlminorPWG 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 ArchitektenminorWon 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
PWG Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
PWG Foundation social profiles
Digital presencePWG Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PWG Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
PWG Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PWG Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PWG Foundation
What does PWG Foundation do?
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.
Is PWG Foundation a public or private company?
PWG Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PWG Foundation founded?
PWG Foundation was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PWG Foundation based?
PWG Foundation is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does PWG Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: residential and Commercial Rental Income.
Who are PWG Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich (ABZ), Genossenschaft Kalkbreite, Baugenossenschaft mehr als wohnen and Stiftung Alterswohnungen der Stadt Zürich. Others are Bundesamt für Wohnungswesen (BWO) and Wohnbaugenossenschaften Schweiz (wbg). Stadt Zürich Wohnungsamt is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does PWG Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for PWG Foundation.
What industry is PWG Foundation in?
PWG Foundation's product category is Affordable Residential Real Estate. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations. Its NAICS code is 53111 and its SIC code is 6519.