WABE

What WABE does

WABE is a German non-profit child and youth welfare organization (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2001 and headquartered in Hamburg. It operates approximately 30 daycare centers (Kitas), 4 school cooperation sites, 2 parent-child centers (Eltern-Kind-Zentren), and one international school, serving roughly 4,500 children across five German states — Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hessen, and Baden-Württemberg — and one international site in Amman, Jordan. Headcount is reported at 950 to 1,900 staff depending on counting scope.

The organization's core product is its proprietary "Open Pedagogy of Mindfulness" (Offene Pädagogik der Achtsamkeit), a pedagogical framework developed and refined over more than 20 years, supported by an in-house WABE Academy that delivers continuous professional development to its educators. WABE's legal structure is a multi-entity ecosystem: WABE Nord Betriebs gGmbH (facility operations), WABE International Academy / WABE International School (premium K-12 with IB program), Queen Bee Immobilien (real estate), and WABE-Kita Amman (Jordan operations). Quality certification is held through Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, and the organization won the Deutscher Kita-Preis in 2020.

WABE's revenue model combines income-based parent fees for daycare, corporate-childcare contracts (B2B), municipal partnership funding tied to publicly mandated slots (B2G), and tuition from the international school — addressing three distinct customer classes (families, employers, and municipalities). Geographic and segment diversification are structural features of the model, and the multi-entity structure supports vertical integration of operations, pedagogy IP, and facility ownership.

Name

WABE

Legal name

WABE e.V.

Website

https://wabe.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

WABE is a German non-profit child and youth welfare organization founded in 2001, operating roughly 30 daycare centers, parent-child centers, and an international school across five German states and Jordan, serving about 4,500 children under its proprietary "Open Pedagogy of Mindfulness" framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childcare and Early Childhood Education Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Child and Youth Services (62411), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Day Nursery Programs (EDACACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports (EDAKAMAE), Health Education & Parent Coaching (Sleep, Safety, Illness Management) (EDACAMAN)

Keywords

• Child daycare services
• Early childhood education
• School care programs
• International baccalaureate school
• Parent-child centers

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal/Public Funding (Parent Fees): Primary revenue from parent fees for daycare and school care services. Fees are income-based (nach Einkommen gestaffelt) in Hamburg and follow city guidelines in Ahrensburg. Lunch costs are separate and also income-tiered. Federal 'Bildung und Teilhabe' (BuT) subsidies available for eligible families.
2. Corporate Childcare Contracts: Revenue from companies purchasing dedicated daycare places under the Federal 'Company Childcare' funding program. Companies receive benefits including employer image gain, employee retention, and reduced absenteeism.
3. Municipal Partnerships (Construction & Operation): Revenue from municipalities for Kita construction and ongoing operational partnerships. WABE provides complete project delivery from new building/extension through professional operation, including listed buildings and modern facilities.
4. School Tuition (WABE International School): Tuition-based revenue from international school operations. WABE International School is a state-approved alternative school offering grades 1-12 with IB program. Currently expanding to serve up to 300 students.
5. Parent-Child Center Services (EKiZ): Free services at Eltern-Kind-Zentren open to families with children 0 to school entry, regardless of Kita voucher status. Organic meals provided free for children, 2 EUR for adults.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

WABE e.V. operates a network of approximately 30 daycare centers (Kindertagesstätten) for children aged 0-6, parent-child centers (Eltern-Kind-Zentren) for families with children from birth to school entry, full-day school care programs (GBS in Hamburg and OGS in Ahrensburg) for elementary school children, and the WABE International School in Pinneberg offering grades 1 through 12 with the International Baccalaureate diploma. All facilities implement WABE's proprietary Open Pedagogy of Mindfulness framework emphasizing self-directed, inclusive, child-led learning with specialized programs including Pikler/Hengstenberg motor development, Kneipp health promotion, intergenerational exchange with senior residents, and bilingual or trilingual offerings.

Product overview

WABE (Wohnen, Arbeiten, Betreuen und Entwickeln - living, working, caring and developing) is a German educational institution and childcare/youth welfare provider operating a network of daycare centers, parent-child centers, and schools. The organization offers approximately 30 daycare facilities across five German states, an international school in Pinneberg serving grades 1-12 with IB diploma, parent-child centers in Hamburg, and full-day school care partnerships. The portfolio is unified under the 'Open Pedagogy of Mindfulness' educational concept. WABE also operates through subsidiaries: WABE Nord for northern German operations, Queen Bee Immobilien for real estate management, and WABE International Academy for staff training, plus an international daycare in Jordan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WABE International School: State-approved international school in Pinneberg, Schleswig-Holstein, offering grades 1-12 with International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. Recognized IB World School.
• EKiZ (Eltern-Kind-Zentren)

Products and services

• WABE Daycare Centers (Kindertagesst\u00e4tten / Kitas) Approximately 30 daycare centers caring for infants to school-age children using the Open Pedagogy of Mindfulness framework, including Pikler/Hengstenberg motor development, Kneipp facilities, inclusive practices, and themed programming (music, art, exercise, language). Open to families via online registration at anmeldung.wabe.de.
• WABE International School State-approved alternative school in Pinneberg, Schleswig-Holstein, offering grades 1-12 with the International Baccalaureate diploma. English-language instruction with German preservation, serving 220+ students from 45 nations with 29 teachers from 8 nations; recognized as an IB World School.
• Eltern-Kind-Zentren (EKiZ) - Parent-Child Centers Open-access parent-child centers for families with children from birth to school entry, offering open meetings, parent-child courses, movement activities, health promotion, language support, family counseling, and free breakfast/children's meals. No Kita voucher required; services are free of charge.
• School Cooperations (GBS / OGS) Full-day school care for elementary-school students including GBS in Hamburg (free basic care 08:00-16:00, additional fees for early/late and holiday care) and OGS in Ahrensburg (variable pricing per Stadt Ahrensburg guidelines). Services include lunch, homework support, recreational activities, and holiday care. Federal BuT subsidies available; sibling discounts for second child.
• Corporate Childcare Belegpl\u00e4tze (Company Daycare Places) Companies purchase dedicated Kita places for employees under the Federal Ministry 'Company Childcare' funding program. WABE provides needs-based solutions, free occupancy advice, and direct billing of care costs to employers. Benefits include employer image enhancement, employee retention, reduced absenteeism, and equal-opportunity positioning.
• WABE-Kita Amman (Jordan) - German-English-Arabic Daycare Bilingual (German-English-Arabic) daycare center in Amman, Jordan, serving approximately 90 children aged 1-6 years. Implements WABE's Open Pedagogy of Mindfulness across 1,000 square meters. Targets internationally-mobile and local families in the Middle East.
• Municipal Kita Construction and Operation Partnerships Turnkey Kita construction and ongoing operation for German municipalities, delivered by interdisciplinary teams of architects, engineers, planners, and pedagogical specialists. Includes new buildings, replacements, extensions, and listed-building conversions. Contact via the website form for partnership initiation.
• WABE International Academy (WIA) - Educator Professional Development Educational institution and subsidiary of WABE e.V. offering professional development, training, and qualification courses for pedagogical professionals and those interested in education. Provides internal continuing education, lifelong learning programs, and international educator exchange.

Quantifiable outcome

• German Kita-Preis 2020 winner (2nd place 'Kita of the Year') - prevailed against 1,500 applicants
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PFLEGEN & WOHNEN HAMBURGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-carrier cooperation partner for the award-winning 'Jung und Alt gemeinsam' (Young and Old Together) intergenerational project. Connects WABE daycare centers with senior care facilities at four locations: Farmsen, Elfsaal (structurally integrated), Alsterklang, and Farbenspiel (adjacent). Joint activities include reading, singing, cooking, gardening, gymnastics, celebrations, and cultural outings. Structured planning includes barrier-free access, height-adjustable tables, and jointly designed outdoor areas.
• KitaPortal Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-wide daycare database of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Youth, Family and Senior Citizens (24143 Kiel). WABE links its Schleswig-Holstein daycare centers to the portal, enabling families to find and register for available places through the official municipal system.
• Lichtwark School (Artists)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist cooperation at WABE Daycare Center Elfsaal, providing creative and cultural enrichment programs for children.
• MAKARA Karate SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKarate school cooperation at Elfsaal daycare center, offering martial arts programs for children.
• Jenfelder MoorparkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature cooperation at Elfsaal daycare center, connecting children with local natural environment for outdoor exploration and learning.
• Samba CamaraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly drum sessions provided at Elfsaal daycare center, offering musical education and cultural exposure through African drumming.
• Forum Sozial e.V. Schleswig-HolsteinminorOthersWABE is a member of Forum Sozial e.V. in Schleswig-Holstein, one of four welfare association memberships including Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverbände in Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hessen, and Baden-Württemberg.
• WABE Nord Betriebs gGmbHcoreOthersWholly owned subsidiary of WABE e.V. responsible for commercial operation and organizational development of daycare centers in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Operates OGS facilities in Ahrensburg.
• WABE International AcademycoreOthersEducational subsidiary founded in 2007 offering training and qualification programs for pedagogical professionals. Provides internal continuing education and international exchange programs.
• Queen Bee Immobilien GmbHcoreOthersReal estate subsidiary managing property administration, asset management, and project development for educational institutions and commercial properties including subsidized real estate.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Phorms Education: Operator of bilingual German-English schools and Kitas across multiple German cities including Hamburg. Most directly comparable peer to WABE International School in the bilingual/international K-12 segment, serving similar expatriate and German families seeking English-medium education.
• Stepke Kitas: German Kita operator with facilities in multiple states, including northern Germany. Comparable to WABE in operating model (multi-state, partnership-based) and competitive set for municipal contracts and parent registrations.
• Pädiko gGmbH: Private non-profit Kita chain operating multiple facilities across northern Germany including Hamburg. Directly comparable to WABE in the Hamburg Kita market, competing for the same parent registrations and municipal placements with similar educational positioning.
• Hamburg International School (HIS): Established international school in Hamburg offering IB programs from K-12. Direct competitor to WABE International School for expatriate families in the Hamburg metropolitan region, particularly relevant given WABE International School's growth trajectory.
• Fröbel Bildung und Erziehung gGmbH: One of Germany's largest non-profit Kita operators with more than 200 facilities nationally. Directly comparable to WABE in its welfare-association roots, multi-state presence, and focus on pedagogical quality. Competes with WABE for municipal operating contracts and corporate childcare placements.

Broad incumbents

• Diakonie Kita operations: Protestant welfare organization operating a large network of Kitas across Germany. Comparable to WABE's welfare-affiliated non-profit structure and competes in the same multi-state municipal Kita market, though with different religious affiliation and broader geographic footprint.
• Caritas Kita operations: Caritas operates several thousand daycare centers across Germany via its regional associations. Comparable to WABE as a welfare-affiliated non-profit Kita provider with municipal contract relationships and pedagogical programs. Caritas's size and Catholic affiliation give it different but overlapping market coverage.
• AWO (Arbeiterwohlfahrt) Kita operations: AWO operates thousands of Kitas across Germany as one of the six top welfare associations. Like WABE, AWO is a registered association (e.V.) under the Paritätische umbrella and offers full-day childcare and school cooperations. Comparable in operating model but far larger and more geographically distributed.
• Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe Kita operations: Johanniter operates Kitas in multiple German states with focus on inclusive and high-quality pedagogy. Comparable to WABE in pedagogical philosophy and quality positioning, competing for similar municipal contracts in overlapping German regions.

Regional players

• Bilingualer Kindergarten / International Preschools Hamburg: Smaller independent bilingual Kita operators in the Hamburg region. Comparable to WABE's multilingual Amman operation and bilingual facility offerings (e.g., WABE Farbenspiel bilingual nursery). Represents the niche competitive set WABE competes with for premium positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61564696302027
• Instagraminstagram.com/wabe_ev

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries5 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 WABE