Politik zum Anfassen

What Politik zum Anfassen does

Politik zum Anfassen e.V. is a German non-profit civic education organization (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2006 by Monika Dehmel and Gregor Dehmel, headquartered in Altwarmb\u00fcchen/Isernhagen near Hanover. It designs and delivers gamified, simulation-based democratic participation programs for children, youth, schools, municipalities, and companies, built around a portfolio that includes the Pimp Your Town! municipal-politics simulation, Kinderrat (elementary-school democracy councils), Demokratie-Safari (preschool), Demokratie-Escape mobile rooms, WahlFUN exhibition, and AI-literacy workshops (Faktenwerkstatt KI, B\u00e4llebadmuseum). Its proprietary technology layer is PLACEm (Mitrede-App), a DSGVO-compliant digital participation platform available on Apple App Store and Google Play, with gamified surveys, a reward-points system, and a Kiosk mode for displaying content in municipal venues; cloud hosting runs on AWS in Frankfurt under ISO 27001/27017/2018 and PCI DSS Level 1 certifications.

The organization is funded entirely through project-based grants and contracts from foundations, federal ministries (notably the 'Demokratie leben!' program via BAFzA), state and municipal governments, and selective corporate and lottery funding (Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, VGH Stiftung, Google.org). It functions as a Koordinierungs- und Fachstelle (coordination and specialist office) for the Partnerschaft f\u00fcr Demokratie Isernhagen and is active in over 40 such partnerships annually out of the 300+ nationwide. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct field delivery in schools and municipalities, a self-serve digital app, mobile exhibit rentals, corporate workshops (DEMOKRATIEm), and broadcast reach via podcast (ETCPB), YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and a newsletter. The team is small (11-50 employees including approximately 22 Freiwilligendienstleistende volunteers per year) and operates without equity capital, maintaining non-partisan status as a 'Familien-NGO.'

Name

Politik zum Anfassen

Legal name

Politik zum Anfassen e.V.

Website

https://politikzumanfassen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Education and Democratic Engagement Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Governance, Democracy & Rule of Law (BPAGABAI), Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK), Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL)

Keywords

• Civic education programs
• Youth participation projects
• Democratic engagement workshops
• Political simulation games
• Digital participation tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Project Funding and Grants: The organization is funded entirely through project-based financing from foundations and public funding. They receive support through the federal program 'Demokratie leben!' and operate as coordinators for Partnerschaften für Demokratie.
2. Municipal and Government Contracts: Financing comes from commissions by municipalities, federal ministries, and state ministries. No large funding that could restrict their independence.
3. Workshop and Seminar Services: Offerings include workshops for companies (DEMOKRATIEm), seminars using LEGO SERIOUS PLAY methods, and educational sessions on topics like AI and society. Pricing varies by project scope.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Politik zum Anfassen e.V. is a non-profit civic education organization that develops and delivers hands-on projects making political education and democratic participation tangible. Core offerings include the proprietary PLACEm digital participation app, simulation games such as Pimp Your Town!, mobile escape rooms (Demokratie-Escape, Rathaus-Escape), interactive exhibitions (WahlFUN, Bällebadmuseum), and structured programs like Kinderrat, Demokratie-Safari, and DEMOKRATIEm for companies, targeting children, youth, schools, municipalities, and corporate clients.

Product overview

Politik zum Anfassen e.V. is a non-profit civic education organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of democratic participation programs. The core offerings include PLACEm (a digital participation app), Pimp Your Town! (simulation games), and various hands-on exhibitions and escape rooms for civic education. Programs span from kindergarten through adult education, including the Kinderrat for elementary students, Demokratie-Safari for preschoolers, WahlFUN exhibitions, and mobile escape rooms. The organization provides AI-focused workshops through the Faktenwerkstatt KI and Beteiligung mit KI-Hausmitteln, along with company programs (DEMOKRATIEm), podcasts (ETCPB), and volunteer/apprenticeship opportunities. Services include coordination for Partnerschaften für Demokratie, participatory research (PASIRA), and networking events. Founded in 2006, the organization operates from its 'Demokratielebensraum' office in Isernhagen near Hanover.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PLACEm: Digital participation app enabling citizens to engage in democratic processes and local decision-making
• Pimp Your Town!
• Kinderrat
• Demokratie-Escape
• WahlFUN
• Bällebadmuseum
• DEMOKRATIEm
• Denkbaukasten

Products and services

• PLACEm (Mitrede-App) Digital participation app enabling municipalities, schools, and organizations to collect citizen input through surveys and discussions with gamification elements (point systems and rewards). Available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store; DSGVO-compliant.
• Pimp Your Town! Large-scale simulation game on democracy and local politics where youth experience municipal decision-making processes; often serves as entry point to youth forums. Deployed across 40+ Partnerschaften für Demokratie annually.
• WahlFUN (Mitmach-Ausstellung) Hands-on exhibition making democratic concepts accessible at fairs and markets, covering topics from European elections to the Basic Law and inclusion.
• Bällebadmuseum Interactive exhibition on AI and democracy exploring societal implications of AI-generated images through a ball pit museum concept with quizzes and workshops; available for loan or booking with accompaniment.
• Demokratie-Escape (Mobile Escape-Rooms) Mobile escape rooms themed around the Basic Law (75 years) and local politics for engaging civic education experiences ranging from quick activities to extended sessions.
• Kinderrat Democracy program for elementary school students where children develop and discuss their own ideas for neighborhoods with support from local politicians.
• Demokratie-Safari Local politics education for preschoolers where up to 20 children form a council, learning about municipal politics through playful introduction.
• Kommuki Open data platform providing civic data access for transparency and participation.
• WahlFUN-Show Game show format combining crash courses on local politics with interactive entertainment for democracy conferences.
• Rathaus-Escape Mobile escape room making local politics engaging through riddle-based learning experiences adaptable to various venues.
• Demokratie leben! Angebote Comprehensive package of programs for Partnerschaften für Demokratie including public relations projects, youth programs, workshops, and networking support.
• PASIRA (Situations- und Ressourcen-Analyse) Participatory analysis service combining quantitative and qualitative research conducted by youth to support municipalities and Partnerschaften für Demokratie.
• Abenteuer Politik Geocaching adventure games teaching local politics through outdoor exploration and rally experiences.
• Denkbaukasten Democracy workshops using LEGO Serious Play materials and methods to foster participation across hierarchies and generate tangible results.
• Wissen zum Anfassen Workshop and lecture series covering participation topics including AI applications, the PLACEm app, podcast creation, and 13.5 golden principles of participation.
• DEMOKRATIEm Democracy education program for companies engaging apprentices or teams in interactive mini-simulation games, escape rooms, and AI futures perspectives; typically 4 hours.
• Erstwahlprofis First-time voter education project where participants learn election mechanics and staff actual polling stations.
• Jugend im Parlament (JiP) Simulation of parliament for youth based on the Bremische Bürgerschaft, providing direct parliamentary experience.
• ETCPB (Kommunalpolitik-Podcast) Weekly podcast about local politics and participation available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Faktenwerkstatt KI Critical AI literacy workshops examining AI capabilities, societal implications, and fact-checking for democracy education.
• Partnerschaft für Demokratie Isernhagen Coordination Coordination and specialist services for the Partnership for Democracy in Isernhagen as part of the federal 'Demokratie leben!' program since May 2021.
• Schleife verbindet Networking events and monthly PfD-Lunch sessions connecting coordinators from Partnerships for Democracy across Germany.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ years of successful democratic education and participation projects since 2006
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gemeinde IsernhagencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2021Cooperation with the municipality of Isernhagen to implement the Partnerschaft für Demokratie program, jointly conducting democracy and diversity projects
• Bundesministerium für Bildung, Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMBF)coreOthersPrimary funder through the 'Demokratie leben!' federal program, providing grants and framework for the Partnerschaften für Demokratie network
• Bundesverband Innovative BildungsprogrammeminorOthersMembership in association of innovative educational programs for youth participation and political education in schools
• Der Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband NiedersachsenminorOthersMember of the Paritarian Welfare Association of Lower Saxony, providing framework and support for social welfare initiatives
• HAUS RISSENminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for the 'Erstwahlprofis' (First-Time Voter Professionals) project, originally Erstwahlhelfer, which helps young people understand voting processes
• BAFzA (Bundesamt für Familie und zivilgesellschaftliche Aufgaben)coreOthersFederal Office for Family and Civil Society Affairs; location of annual 'Schleife verbindet' networking meeting in Schleife

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (BpB): Federal German government agency for political education with nationwide reach, materials, and grantmaking. Operates in the same political-education category at much greater scale, and is itself a primary supporter/funder of the civic participation ecosystem in which Politik zum Anfassen operates.

Direct peers

• Mehr Demokratie e.V. German non-profit advocating for direct democracy, citizens' referendums, and participatory reform. Directly comparable as a civic participation NGO operating across German federal states on democratic education and reform, with a similar association structure and reliance on membership/foundation funding.
• Liquid Demokratie e.V. (now OpenPetition): German civic-tech non-profit operating the OpenPetition platform for citizen petitions and the adhocracy+ participation tool. Directly comparable as a digital civic engagement provider serving municipalities and citizens, with adjacent event/workshop offerings similar to PLACEm's positioning.

Emerging players

• Make.org: European civic participation platform running large-scale citizen consultations for governments and NGOs. Comparable as a provider of digital civic engagement tools serving municipalities and citizens, though operating at multi-country European scale vs. Politik zum Anfassen's domestic focus.
• Open Knowledge Foundation Germany: German civic-tech non-profit promoting open data, transparency, and civic participation tools. Comparable to Politik zum Anfassen's open-data platform Kommuki and PLACEm participation tooling, with overlap in the GovTech-for-social-good space.
• Consul (Decide Madrid / Consul Democracy Foundation): Open-source civic participation software used by hundreds of cities globally for participatory budgeting and citizen proposals. Comparable as a software-based municipal participation platform competing for the same digital civic engagement wallet that PLACEm targets in Germany.

Others

• betterplace.org: Germany's largest online donation platform for non-profits and social projects. Adjacent rather than competing — Politik zum Anfassen is a typical NGO user of betterplace for donations, and betterplace sits in the same civic-society infrastructure ecosystem.

Regional players

• Demokrateam Berlin / Beratungsstelle für Kinder- und Jugendbeteiligung Sachsen: Regional/state-level coordination offices for child and youth civic participation in other German Länder. Directly comparable to Politik zum Anfassen's PfD coordination role but operating in different federal states (Berlin/Saxony), competing for the same federal program contracts on a regional basis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/PolitikzumAnfassen
• Facebookfacebook.com/politikzumanfassen
• Instagraminstagram.com/politikzumanfassen
• TikToktiktok.com/@politikzumanfassen
• Xx.com/politikanfassen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Politik zum Anfassen