Woko

What Woko does

WOKO (Woko Studentische Wohngenossenschaft Zürich) is a non-profit student housing cooperative founded in 1956 by the student bodies of ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. It is the largest provider of student housing in Switzerland, managing over 70 properties and approximately 4,000 rooms across Zurich, Winterthur, and Wädenswil. The cooperative serves undergraduate and doctoral students from ETH Zurich, UZH, ZHAW, ZHdK, PHZH, HfH, and exchange students, as well as limited subtenants and parking renters. It does not receive state subsidies and operates on a self-sustaining, balanced-budget basis.

WOKO's operations are supported by a digital platform (woko.ch) that includes a property directory, online rental application system, digital bulletin board of available units, online damage reporting form, tenant service portal, and guides and tips resources. On the supply side, WOKO rents and manages properties from over 30 owners, including public-sector landlords (City and Canton of Zurich), universities (ETH, UZH), housing cooperatives (PWG, mehr als wohnen), foundations (SSWZ, SWOWI, Abendrot), and private individuals. A House Representative Program employs over 70 student workers as on-site liaisons between tenants and the professional administration of 41 full-time staff.

WOKO generates revenue almost entirely through monthly rental payments for rooms (CHF 252-1,458), sublets (CHF 370-1,180), and parking spaces (CHF 20-150), with all-inclusive pricing covering furnishings and ancillary costs. As a non-profit cooperative, surpluses are reinvested into operations rather than distributed. Member entities are exclusively legal persons, including student organizations (VSETH, VSUZH, AVETH), alumni associations (ETH Alumni, UZH Alumni, ZUNIV), and educational institutions. Distribution occurs directly through the website and two physical offices (Zurich headquarters at Hardturmstrasse 3 and a Winterthur desk at Eduard-Steiner-Strasse 7), with no intermediary channel.

Name

Woko

Legal name

Woko Studentische Wohngenossenschaft Zürich

Website

https://woko.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WOKO is Switzerland's largest student housing cooperative, managing approximately 4,000 rooms across 70+ properties in Zurich, Winterthur, and Wädenswil. Founded in 1956 as a non-profit, it rents affordable, furnished accommodation to students of major Zurich-area universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Housing Services

NAICS

Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (721310)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Off-Campus / University-Affiliated Housing Management (EDAEAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Off-Campus Shared Student Houses (Room-by-Room) (THAMAGAC), Student Residence Halls & Dormitory Management (On-/Near-Campus) (EDAIALAB)

Keywords

• Student housing rentals
• Affordable accommodation
• Housing cooperative
• Shared flat rentals
• Property management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Student Room Rentals: WOKO generates revenue through monthly rental payments from students for rooms in shared flats. As a non-profit cooperative, rental income covers operational costs, property management, and maintenance without generating profit. Rents are priced affordably and include furnishings and ancillary costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

WOKO is a non-profit student housing cooperative that rents approximately 4,000 furnished rooms across more than 70 properties in Zurich, Winterthur, and Wädenswil. It offers affordable shared flats, studios, parking spaces, and sublets to university students, with rents that include furnishings and ancillary costs. The cooperative partners closely with major Zurich-area universities and manages properties for institutional owners.

Product overview

WOKO operates as a non-profit student housing cooperative offering a comprehensive digital platform for affordable student accommodation management. The core offering includes the Student Housing Platform with available unit listings, a property directory spanning over 70 properties with approximately 4,000 rooms in Zurich, Winterthur, and Wädenswil. Supporting services include an online damage reporting system, tenant service portal, rental application workflow, guides and tips resources, and a property partnership program for property owners. The platform also manages a house representative program employing student workers as on-site liaisons.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Student Room Rentals (Shared Flats and Studios) Monthly furnished room rentals in shared flats and studios offered to university students in Zurich, Winterthur, and Wädenswil, with rents including furnishings and ancillary costs.
• Sublet Rentals Short-term sublet rentals of student rooms to non-students during semester breaks, available for up to 12 months total.
• Parking Space Rentals Monthly parking space rentals for motorcycles and cars at WOKO residential properties, available to tenants and external parties.
• Property Partnership Program Service enabling property owners, foundations, and institutions to partner with WOKO for student housing management, including property acquisition, renovation, and ongoing administration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 4000 students housed annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ETH ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor university partner whose student body co-founded WOKO. ETH Zurich students are eligible to rent WOKO rooms. WOKO manages ETH-owned properties for student housing.
• University of Zurich (UZH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor university partner whose student body co-founded WOKO. UZH students are eligible to rent WOKO rooms. WOKO manages UZH-owned properties for student housing.
• SSWZ (Stiftung Studentisches Wohnen Zürich)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation co-founded by WOKO in 1987 to acquire, build, and renovate properties with student living space. WOKO manages all SSWZ properties.
• SWOWI (Wohnstiftung für Studierende Winterthur)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent Housing Foundation in Winterthur. WOKO rents and manages SWOWI properties for subletting to students.
• City and Canton of ZurichmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOKO rents properties from public sector for subletting to students at affordable rates.
• ZHAW Zurich University of Applied SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWOKO provides housing for ZHAW students in Winterthur and Wädenswil locations, with special rental authorizations for Applied Psychology and Social Work students in Zurich area.
• Stiftung PWG (Privaatrechtliche Wohnbaugenossenschaft)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty foundation providing housing for diverse and livable Zurich. WOKO provides high occupancy, good mix, and lively living environment for students.
• Stiftung AbendrotmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner for project development in Zurich. WOKO serves as user representative, global tenant for cooperative student housing, professional for construction and operation, and manager of entire developments.
• Baugenossenschaft mehr als wohnenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing cooperative providing intergenerational living spaces. Partnership enables students to access affordable housing with good urban connections in Zurich housing market.
• Over 30 Property OwnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVarious institutional investors, building cooperatives, and private individuals providing properties to WOKO for student housing management.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Woko