Spring ACT
Spring ACT is a Swiss non-profit that operates Sophia, an AI-powered chatbot supporting domestic violence survivors across 182 countries in 12+ languages. Accessible without installation via WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, and web browsers, Sophia helps users gather evidence, assess rights, and access local resources anonymously.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBern, Switzerland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Spring ACT does
Spring ACT is a Swiss-registered non-profit organisation (CHE-460.488.475) headquartered in Bern that uses technology to address global social injustices, with a primary operational focus on supporting survivors of domestic violence. The organisation develops and operates Sophia, an AI-powered chatbot that assists survivors through a three-part G.A.L. framework: Gather potential evidence (via the proprietary Digital Safe feature), Assess legal rights, and Learn about locally available options. Sophia is accessible 24/7 across 182 countries and 12+ languages, with no application download required, via any web browser (sophia.chat) and through WhatsApp (+41 79 79 29 000), Telegram, and Viber. User interactions are designed to leave no digital trace, and survivor data is stored encrypted on servers in Switzerland under Swiss data privacy standards.
The underlying platform architecture combines generative AI (Sophia 2.0, launched late 2024), NLP, and structured knowledge retrieval. The Digital Safe is a personal encrypted vault using image-password authentication, client-side encryption/decryption, and a one-time decoy access link that redirects to Google and rewrites browser history on logout. Spring ACT also operates Comeback CatZ, a separate consumer app targeting sexism and imposter syndrome, and is developing an ImpACT Platform to scale localisation of Sophia across additional markets. Distribution is product-led (no install) and community-led (ACTivists, Impact Ambassadors, in-country NGO partners such as East Europe Foundation Moldova). Recognition includes the UN AI for Good Impact Award 2025, Innovation in Global Security Prize 2022, Swiss Future Prize, EPFL Tech4Impact NGO Council membership, and She Shapes AI Global Award 2025.
Spring ACT does not sell to end users; the chatbot and Digital Safe are free to survivors globally. The organisation is funded primarily through donations (Swiss IBAN, Twint), grants, and in-kind resource partnerships, with institutional anchors including L'Oréal, the European Investment Bank, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the Embassy of Sweden. Country-launch initiatives (Moldova in April 2025, Slovakia in October 2025) are co-funded by development banks, embassies, and corporate partners, while operational scale is delivered through an international volunteer base supplemented by a small paid core. Founder and CEO Rhiana Spring leads the organisation with a President and Board (Lorraine Taylor, Elisabeth Baumann, Dan Sternberg); a Technology Lead (Salifu Mutaru) and Project Manager (Laura Cestaro) round out the named operational leadership.
Spring ACT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spring ACT
- Legal name
- Spring ACT
- Website
- https://springact.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Spring ACT is a Swiss non-profit that operates Sophia, an AI-powered chatbot supporting domestic violence survivors across 182 countries in 12+ languages. Accessible without installation via WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, and web browsers, Sophia helps users gather evidence, assess rights, and access local resources anonymously.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Spring ACT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Impact Chatbot / Domestic Violence Support Technology
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms (HLALAEAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Agents & Autonomous Workflows (Tool Use, Planning, Multi-Agent) (HDAAACAF)
Keywords
Where Spring ACT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bern
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Spring ACT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Spring ACT is a registered Swiss charity (CHE-460.488.475) funded primarily through donations. The organisation accepts financial contributions from individuals and organisations via its website, with IBAN and bank details provided for Swiss transfers.
- Resource Partnerships (In-Kind): Spring ACT partners with companies that provide resources (e.g., server space, pro bono legal services, design, technology expertise) rather than cash, reducing operational costs and enabling practical service delivery without monetary exchange.
- Grants and Awards: Spring ACT receives grant funding through institutional partnerships, including awards such as the UN AI for Good Impact Award 2025, and partnerships with development banks and government agencies (e.g., Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, European Investment Bank).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free for all users — chatbot Sophia is provided at no cost to individuals affected by domestic violence |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Spring ACT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spring ACT builds and operates "Sophia," a free AI-powered chatbot that provides 24/7 anonymous support to domestic violence survivors worldwide. The chatbot guides users through three core functions under the GAL framework: Gather potential evidence (with the secure Digital Safe vault), Assess legal rights, and Learn about local options, helplines, and shelters.
Product overview
Spring ACT operates a suite of technology products focused on ending domestic violence and gender-based injustice. Their flagship offering is Sophia, an AI chatbot available across WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, and web browsers, which guides survivors through evidence gathering (via the Digital Safe module), rights assessment, and resource access. They also developed Comeback CatZ as a separate app targeting sexism and workplace harassment. An ImpACT Platform is under development to scale and localize Sophia globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sophia: Chatbot Sophia is the organization's flagship AI-powered chatbot designed to support victim-survivors of domestic violence globally. It operates 24/7, available via messaging apps and web browser, offering anonymous assistance to gather evidence, assess rights, and learn options for escaping abusive situations.
- Comeback CatZ
- Digital Safe
Products and services
- Sophia Chatbot AI-powered chatbot providing 24/7 anonymous support to domestic violence survivors worldwide. Available via web browser (sophia.chat) and messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) with no download required. Operates in 12+ languages and guides users through the GAL framework: Gather evidence, Assess legal rights, and Learn about local resources.
- Sophia 2.0 (Generative AI Upgrade) Enhanced version of the Sophia chatbot powered by generative AI, delivering more natural and dynamic conversations with survivors and improved support solutions.
- Comeback CatZ Mobile app by Spring ACT (via Spring Tech) empowering users to speak up against sexism with confidence and humor, targeting imposter syndrome and everyday sexism through interactive games and content.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 50,000 conversations facilitated in 182 countries since launch
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Spring ACT
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Spring ACT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability5 records
Feature4 records
Spring ACT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting, key and advisory.
- East Europe Foundation MoldovacoreSophia launched in Moldova in partnership with East Europe Foundation Moldova, enabling access to support for over 2.4 million people. The foundation is a key local partner adapting Sophia to Moldova's legal framework and domestic violence support ecosystem.
- Embassy of Sweden in ChisinausupportingEmbassy of Sweden in Chisinau partnered in the Moldova launch of Sophia, supporting the initiative financially and diplomatically to extend safety and support resources to Moldova.
- L'OréalkeyPartnership with L'Oréal under the Ukraine+ Project, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank, to support domestic violence survivors. L'Oréal contributes through corporate social responsibility initiatives alongside Spring ACT's tech-for-good mission.
- ZendesksupportingZendesk is an ACT Partner providing technology support through its Tech for Good mission. Zendesk's platform values making information accessible and connecting people in need with resources and support, aligning with Sophia's mission.
- Quevis & Co.coreQuevis & Co., led by LGBTQ+ entrepreneur Clinton Albuquerque, is Spring ACT's creative partner responsible for designing the Spring ACT brand identity, the Sophia chatbot interface, website, and all branding materials. Pro-bono creative services since the organisation's inception.
- Dr. Gabriela TejadaadvisoryVice-President of UNESCO's Swiss Commission and Academic Deputy at ETH Lausanne College of Humanities serves as a senior advisor, contributing expertise in science, technology, and education to foster inclusive societies and support Spring ACT's mission.
- Nimli SenaratnaadvisoryACT Advisor and YCombinator Graduate, Co-Founder of Oolu. Passionate about gender equality through technology and supporting women entrepreneurs, Nimli provides strategic advisory support to Spring ACT.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Spring ACT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Refuge (UK): UK charity running the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and supporting survivors of domestic violence. Directly comparable as a non-profit DV support organisation providing helpline, refuge, and resource-referral services, the human-service counterpart to Sophia's chatbot delivery model.
- WomensLaw.org: US-based non-profit providing plain-language legal information and resources for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Directly comparable in Sophia's Assess function — empowering survivors with knowledge of legal rights, court procedures, and safety resources.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): US-based anti-sexual-violence non-profit operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Comparable as a major survivor-support non-profit with 24/7 confidential helpline services and resource-referral infrastructure, serving a partially overlapping population.
- Crisis Text Line: US-based non-profit providing 24/7 text-based crisis intervention, including for survivors of domestic violence. Directly comparable to Spring ACT's Sophia in modality (always-on, anonymous, conversational), target population (people in crisis), and outcome (referral to local resources and safety planning).
- Equality Now: International human rights non-profit working to end violence and discrimination against women and girls globally through legal advocacy. Comparable as a globally operating non-profit tackling gender-based violence and women's rights with an advocacy and partnership model similar to Spring ACT's localisation strategy.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: US-based non-profit operating the largest DV-specific crisis hotline, providing 24/7 confidential support to survivors. Directly comparable in mission (DV-specific survivor support), services (evidence guidance, safety planning, resource referral), and operating model (free, anonymous, always-on).
Emerging players
- Chayn: UK-registered global non-profit creating online resources and tools for survivors of gender-based violence. Directly comparable as a tech-enabled survivor-support organisation offering digital guides, helplines, and resources — operating in a similar niche to Sophia.
- Wysa: AI-driven mental health chatbot providing anonymous, always-on support for emotional wellbeing, including crisis intervention. Comparable as an AI-chatbot in the mental health and crisis-support space serving vulnerable populations globally, with partial overlap in target users and modality.
- Woebot Health: US-based digital mental health company using AI-powered conversational agents for mental health support. Comparable as an AI-driven chatbot for sensitive mental health and crisis-adjacent populations, though focused on broader mental health rather than DV-specific survivor support.
Others
- Z Zurich Foundation (Zendesk Foundation): Corporate foundation supporting tech-for-good and survivor-support initiatives. Comparable as a funder/ecosystem partner in the DV survivor-support space, relevant as a potential collaborator and as a model for how Spring ACT could expand its institutional funding base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Spring ACT social profiles
Digital presenceSpring ACT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spring ACT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Spring ACT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spring ACT 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 Spring ACT
What does Spring ACT do?
Spring ACT builds and operates "Sophia," a free AI-powered chatbot that provides 24/7 anonymous support to domestic violence survivors worldwide. The chatbot guides users through three core functions under the GAL framework: Gather potential evidence (with the secure Digital Safe vault), Assess legal rights, and Learn about local options, helplines, and shelters.
Is Spring ACT a public or private company?
Spring ACT is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Spring ACT founded?
Spring ACT was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Spring ACT based?
Spring ACT is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Spring ACT make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are resource Partnerships (In-Kind) and grants and Awards.
Who are Spring ACT's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Refuge (UK), WomensLaw.org, RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), Crisis Text Line, Equality Now and National Domestic Violence Hotline. Emerging players are Chayn, Wysa and Woebot Health. Z Zurich Foundation (Zendesk Foundation) is listed as an others.
Does Spring ACT have an API?
No public API is recorded for Spring ACT.
What industry is Spring ACT in?
Spring ACT's product category is Social Impact Chatbot / Domestic Violence Support Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLALAEAI, Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms, with a secondary code of HDAAACAF, Agents & Autonomous Workflows (Tool Use, Planning, Multi-Agent). Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8600.