Il Germoglio

What Il Germoglio does

Il Germoglio Cooperativa Sociale ONLUS is a non-profit social cooperative founded in 1991 and headquartered in Ferrara, Italy. The organization delivers a multi-service portfolio across six operational areas: Infanzia (early childhood education, including the 0-6 Polo d'Infanzia Don Dioli, managed since 2003), Minori (youth services), Ristorazione (catering and the social restaurant 381 Storie da Gustare), Mobilità (the Officine Ricicletta bicycle recycling and repair social enterprise), Ambiente (environmental and circular-economy services), and Ausili (assistive devices). Two cross-cutting social enterprises (Officine Ricicletta and 381 Storie da Gustare) function as labor-inclusion vehicles, integrating disadvantaged individuals, including people with mental-health conditions, into paid employment. The cooperative reports 60+ insertion pathways activated, 20+ training courses delivered, and 13 workers currently employed through its mental-health inclusion program.

The cooperative generates revenue through three primary streams: (1) recurring public service contracts with municipal and health authorities (Comune di Ferrara, ASP del Delta Ferrarese, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Ospedale del Delta), which underwrite the bulk of service delivery; (2) commercial transactions from its social enterprises (restaurant revenue, bicycle repair services, catering); and (3) donations and the Italian 5x1000 tax designation. GTM is community-led and relationship-driven, favoring public tenders, institutional partnerships, and local engagement. The cooperative is ISO 9001:2015 certified (BSI) and holds gender equality certification, and it operates within the Confcooperative Ferrara network. Its core technology is service delivery rather than software; there is no proprietary platform, AI capability, or API surface.

Governance is exercised through a five-member Board of Directors renewed in May 2024 for a three-year term. Strategic and operational leadership includes the Responsabile dell'area Inclusione Lavorativa (Gianluca Gardi), the Gender Equality Officer (Maura Tani), and project leads for Servizio Civile programs (Carla Berti). Recent initiatives include the Progetto FeNice labor-inclusion awareness campaign (November 2024), a workshop with Università di Ferrara on inclusive design (April 2025), and an experimental summer childcare service for 0-6 year olds launched in 2025. The cooperative operates exclusively within the Emilia-Romagna region and has no external investment, parent company, or M&A history.

Name

Il Germoglio

Legal name

Cooperativa Sociale Il Germoglio

Website

https://ilgermoglio.fe.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Il Germoglio is a Ferrara-based Italian social cooperative (ONLUS) founded in 1991 that delivers early childhood education, youth services, a social restaurant, bicycle recycling, environmental, and assistive services, while running labor-inclusion programs for disadvantaged individuals and people with mental-health conditions under public-sector contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Cooperative Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Equity, Access & Social Determinants Programs (BPAIAJAO)

Keywords

• Social cooperative services
• Labor inclusion programs
• Childhood education services
• Bicycle recycling enterprise
• Social restaurant operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Ferrara

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public Service Contracts: Il Germoglio generates revenue primarily through contracts with public institutions for social services, including management of childhood education facilities (Polo d'Infanzia Don Dioli), labor inclusion programs, and community services.
2. Commercial Operations: Revenue from commercial activities including the social restaurant (381 Storie da Gustare), bicycle repair and recycling services (Officine Ricicletta), and catering operations.
3. Donations and 5x1000: The cooperative receives support through donations and the Italian 5x1000 tax designation program for non-profit organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Il Germoglio is a multi-service social cooperative (Cooperativa Sociale ONLUS) based in Ferrara, Italy, delivering childhood education and care, youth development programs, social restaurant and catering services, bicycle recovery and recycling (Officine Ricicletta), environmental sustainability initiatives, assistive device services, and labor inclusion programs for people with disabilities and mental health challenges. Revenue is generated primarily through public service contracts with municipalities and health authorities, supplemented by commercial social enterprise activities and donor support including the Italian 5x1000 tax designation.

Product overview

Il Germoglio is a Social Cooperative (Cooperativa Sociale ONLUS) providing a portfolio of social services in Ferrara, Italy. The organization operates as a multi-service platform offering childhood education (Infanzia), youth services (Minori), restaurant and catering services (including the social restaurant 381 Storie da Gustare), sustainable mobility (including Officine Ricicletta bicycle recycling), environmental services, and assistive devices. The cooperative also runs employment inclusion programs and manages the Polo d'Infanzia Don Dioli facility. Founded in 1991, the organization has expanded from its original focus on educational services to encompass comprehensive social welfare programs targeting disadvantaged individuals and the local community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Officine Ricicletta: Bicycle repair and recycling social enterprise that recovers and restores abandoned bicycles in the city, promoting urban decorum, reuse, sustainable mobility, and social inclusion.
• 381 Storie da Gustare

Products and services

• Childhood Education and Care Services (Infanzia)
• Youth Development Services (Minori)
• 381 Storie da Gustare Social Restaurant
• Officine Ricicletta Bicycle Recycling
• Employment Inclusion Programs (Inserimento Lavorativo)
• Environmental Sustainability Services (Ambiente)
• Assistive Devices Services (Ausili)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 insertion pathways activated for disadvantaged individuals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Università di Ferrara (Unife)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2025Academic partnership for innovation in social design and inclusive design. Joint workshop on social innovation and inclusive design conducted with the Officine Ricicletta project.
• ASP del Delta FerraresecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2024Collaboration with the Local Health and Social Authority for labor inclusion programs and management of social services including the bar at Ospedale del Delta. ASP del Delta Ferrarese organized the Aziende Amiche 2024 event where Il Germoglio received recognition for its inclusion work.
• Regione Emilia-Romagna - Ufficio per il Servizio CivilecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2024Collaboration for Servizio Civile Regionale projects. The cooperative participates in regional civil service programs, hosting young volunteers for STEAM education projects at Polo d'Infanzia Don Dioli.
• Comune di FerraracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2017Municipal partnership for community services and the Ricicletta project. The Comune di Ferrara is a key institutional partner for social services delivery and environmental initiatives.
• HeraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2017Multiutility company partnership for the Ricicletta 2.0 project, contributing to circular economy and environmental sustainability initiatives.
• AMI FerraraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2017Mobility agency partnership for sustainable mobility initiatives and the Ricicletta bicycle recycling project.
• Confcooperative FerraracoreOthersMembership in the Confcooperative confederation, the major organization representing Italian cooperatives, providing network support and institutional representation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Caleidos Coop: Italian social cooperative providing social services, education, and labor inclusion programs. Comparable in scale, structure, and integrated service model serving disadvantaged populations.
• Consorzio Sol.Co: Consortium of social cooperatives based in Emilia-Romagna (same region as Il Germoglio), coordinating labor inclusion and social enterprise activities. Comparable as a regional Italian network supporting cooperative members in social service delivery.
• Proges: Italian social cooperative providing educational, social, healthcare, and inclusion services with multi-region operations. Directly comparable as a large Italian cooperative delivering integrated social services to public institutions and vulnerable populations.
• Kairos Cooperativa Sociale: Italian social cooperative providing social and educational services including childhood education, disability support, and community programs. Comparable as a multi-service Italian social cooperative working with public institutions.
• Il Cammino: Italian social cooperative focused on labor inclusion of disadvantaged individuals, particularly those with mental health conditions and disabilities. Comparable in mission, social enterprise model, and employment pathway approach.
• Solidarietà e Servizi: Italian social cooperative offering community-based social services, childcare, and inclusion programs. Comparable as a multi-vertical Italian cooperative working with municipalities and vulnerable populations.
• Coopselios: One of Italy's largest social cooperatives (Cooperativa Sociale) headquartered in Reggio Emilia, providing early childhood education, elder care, disability services, and social inclusion programs across multiple regions. Highly comparable in multi-service social cooperative model and public-sector contracting.

Emerging players

• Melwood: American social enterprise employing people with disabilities across multiple business lines (facility services, horticulture, recreation). Comparable as a multi-vertical social enterprise using employment as a vehicle for inclusion, though operating in a different regulatory context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnxCVInUCM8SsAIYAbN23cw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ilgermoglioferrara

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Il Germoglio