Tukena

What Tukena does

Tukena is a Finnish disability-services organization operating as a dual-entity structure: the public-benefit Tukena-säätiö (foundation) and the service-producing social enterprise Tukena Oy, together delivering a comprehensive portfolio of disability and special-support services. Founded circa 1993 (originally as Kehitysvammaisten Palvelusäätiö) under the auspices of Kehitysvammaisten Tukiliitto (Finnish Disability Association) and rebranded to Tukena in 2023, the organization is headquartered in Tampere and operates 51 service units nationwide with 501-1,000 employees. Its service catalog covers round-the-clock supported housing (Asumispalvelut), personal assistance (Henkilökohtainen apu), short-term care and family respite (Lyhytaikainen huolenpito), day activities (Päivätoiminta), work activities and job coaching (Työtoiminta ja työhönvalmennus), speech-disability interpretation services (Puhevammaisten tulkkauspalvelu), and coaching (valmennus), delivered through residential service units, supported apartments, and regional employment programs including Pirkanmaan palkkaamo.

The operating model is fundamentally a publicly commissioned care delivery business rather than a commercial SaaS or product company. Service delivery relies on trained care staff and interpreters using AAC methods, pictographs, and sign language, supported by standard client information management systems (IMS) for documentation and Microsoft Teams for remote interpretation. Service users access Tukena through municipal needs assessments and disability services pathways; direct service fees are generally not charged to end users. Revenue is contracted with Finland's 21 wellbeing services counties (hyvinvointialueet) under the post-2023 SOTE reform and the new disability services law effective 2025, supplemented by Kela (Social Insurance Institution) funding, STEA grants, and EU project funding (notably the EQUAL CARE project under EASPD). Tukena's go-to-market is sales-led public-sector tendering, with nationwide direct recruitment of practical nurses, registered nurses, social workers, and other social/healthcare professionals as the principal talent acquisition channel.

Tukena runs parallel public-benefit activities — including rights advocacy, family support programs, employment inclusion (Pirkanmaan palkkaamo), and justice promotion — alongside its contracted services. Strategic priorities visible in the data include expanding children's services (Tukena Tiitiäinen, launched July 2026 in North Karelia), operating new physical capacity (Tukena Tapiontupa in Lappeenranta opened 2023; Tukena Meritähti in Kokkola opened August 2024; Käpytikka-talo in Helsinki acquired February 2024), and participating in EU-funded international projects. The organization is independently owned by its founding association Kehitysvammaisten Tukiliitto and not backed by private equity or venture capital.

Name

Tukena

Legal name

Tukena-säätiö ja Tukena Oy

Website

https://tukena.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Tukena is a Finnish dual-entity social services organization (foundation plus social enterprise) operating 51 service units nationwide that delivers residential housing, personal assistance, day programs, employment support, speech interpretation, and coaching for people with intellectual disabilities and their families, funded primarily by Finland's wellbeing services counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Respite Care for Adults with Disabilities / Special Needs (HSABAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based / Nonprofit Assisted Living Providers (HLADABAH), Transportation & Errands (Non-Emergency) (HLADAGAF)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Supported housing services
• Personal assistance services
• Intellectual disability care
• Vocational rehabilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampere

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Assisted living and residential services: Round-the-clock housing services (ympärivuorokautinen palveluasuminen) for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, funded by wellbeing services counties under Finland's social services framework.
2. Personal assistance and home support: Personal assistance (henkilökohtainen apu) services for individuals needing support with daily living activities, funded through disability services allocations.
3. Day programs and employment support: Day activities (päivätoiminta) and work activities (työtoiminta) including vocational coaching, funded through social services and employment services.
4. Short-term care and family respite: Short-term care (lyhytaikainen huolenpito) and family respite (perhelomitus) services, funded through disability and social services.
5. Training and coaching services: Paid training programs on equality in care work (Equal Care project), partially funded by the European Union. Also provides coaching (valmennus) services under the new disability services law.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tukena provides residential housing (24/7 supported housing in 51 service units), personal assistance, day activities, work activities and job coaching, speech disability interpreting, short-term care, and coaching services for people with intellectual disabilities and others needing special support, plus family support services across Finland. Services are commissioned by Finland's wellbeing services counties (hyvinvointialueet), Kela-funded for interpreters, and supplemented by EU-funded training and advocacy initiatives.

Product overview

Tukena is a Finnish social services organization consisting of Tukena-säätiö (foundation) and Tukena Oy (social enterprise) that develops and provides services for people with intellectual disabilities and others needing special support. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of care and support services including: residential housing services (Asumispalvelut), personal assistance (Henkilökohtainen apu), speech disability interpreting services (Puhevammaisten tulkkauspalvelu), short-term care (Lyhytaikainen huolenpito), day activities (Päivätoiminta), work activities and job coaching (Työtoiminta ja työhönvalmennus), and coaching/valmennus services. They operate 51 service units across Finland with supported housing options, manage supported apartments, and run public benefit programs including family support, rights advocacy, and employment inclusion initiatives. The organization also conducts training programs, coordinates regional employment centers, and participates in international projects like the EU-funded Equal Care initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Equal Care: EU-funded international project (EQUAL CARE, 2025-2026) promoting gender equality in care work across 8 European countries, coordinated by EASPD.
• Meidän Jamit

Products and services

• Asumispalvelut (Housing Services) Round-the-clock (ympärivuorokautinen) supported housing services for adults with intellectual disabilities or other support needs, organized in residential units with staff support; commissioned by Finland's wellbeing services counties.
• Henkilökohtainen apu (Personal Assistance) Personal assistance services enabling people with disabilities to live independently and participate in daily activities, work, and hobbies; funded through disability services allocations.
• Lyhytaikainen huolenpito (Short-term Care) Short-term care and family respite (perhelomitus) services providing temporary support and care for families and caregivers of people with disabilities; funded through disability and social services.
• Puhevammaisten tulkkauspalvelu (Speech Disability Interpreting Service) Interpreting services for people with speech disabilities, delivered by trained speech interpreters using AAC methods, pictographs, sign language support, and digital communication tools across Central Finland, North Savo, Kainuu, and Lapland; arranged by Kela and free for the user.
• Päivätoiminta (Day Activities) Daytime activity services for people with disabilities, providing meaningful daily activities, social participation, and skill development; funded through social services.
• Työtoiminta ja työhönvalmennus (Work Activities and Job Coaching) Employment support services including work activities (työtoiminta), job coaching, and support for finding and maintaining paid employment for people with disabilities; funded through social services and employment services.
• Valmennus (Coaching) Coaching services to strengthen skills needed for independent living and life transitions, including communication, independent living skills, and life change preparation; included in the new Finnish disability services law effective 2025.
• Erityinen osallisuuden tuki (Special Inclusion Support) Special inclusion support service for people with intellectual disabilities, introduced under the new Finnish disability services law effective 2025.
• Tukiasunnot (Supported Housing Apartments) Supported rental apartments for people with disabilities, available across different regions of Finland.
• Palveluyksiköt (Residential Service Units) 51 residential service units across Finland offering 24/7 supported housing for adults with intellectual disabilities or other support needs.
• Koulutukset (Training Programs) Training programs including the Equal Care project on gender equality in care work, professional development for staff, and public education initiatives; some partially funded by the European Union.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600 basic education students educated about disability awareness through school visits
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EASPD (European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025EASPD coordinates the EQUAL CARE project (2025–2026), which promotes gender equality in care and nursing work across Europe. Tukena is the Finnish partner implementing pilot trainings. The project brings together 10 partner organizations from 8 European countries (Belgium, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Greece, Austria, Slovenia, and Finland).
• Equal Care project partners (Belgium, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Greece, Austria, Slovenia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEight European countries participate in the Equal Care project coordinated by EASPD. National pilot trainings are conducted simultaneously across all partner countries. Tukena represents Finland in this EU-funded initiative.
• Pirkanmaan hyvinvointialue (Pirkanmaa Wellbeing Services County)coreOthersPirkanmaa wellbeing services county provides general funding (yleisavustus) to Tukena-säätiö's coordinated Pirkanmaan palkkaamo (Pirkanmaa Employment Center), which supports people with disabilities in finding paid employment in the Pirkanmaa region.
• Tampereen Kehitysvammaisten Tuki ry (Tampere Disability Support Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative 'Meidän Jamit' — an open community meeting place held monthly at Tulppaanitalo, Tampere. Implemented together since the initiative began, combining Tukena-säätiö's professional disability services with the association's peer support network.
• UVVA group project consortium (Uudistuva ja moninainen vammaistyö Uudellamaalla)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded group project (ESR+) running 1.11.2023–31.10.2026. Main implementer: Diakonia University of Applied Sciences (Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu). Co-implementers: Tukena-säätiö, Helsingin Diakonissalaitos, Kirkkopalvelut ry (STEP-koulutus), Suomen Diakoniaopisto. Aim: increase attractiveness of disability sector work.
• Aitoon koulutuskeskus (Aitoo Education Center)minorOthersTukena organized a joint recreation and training day for employment coaches (työhönvalmentajat) and their clients at Aitoon koulutuskeskus.
• ICALL (Inclusive Communities for All) international projectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational project developing accessible and inclusive communities for people with disabilities. During the project in 2024, Tukena conducted surveys and group interviews with municipal representatives, service providers, and people with disabilities. A free course will be organized in the Jyväskylä region in late 2025.
• Hyvinvoinnin lataamo projectminorOthersProject (2021–2023) focused on strengthening resources and supporting daily life for single-parent families of children with special needs. Organized Nepsymessut (neurodiversity fair) which attracted over 4,000 and 3,000 participants on its two days.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Attendo: Attendo is a major Nordic for-profit care provider operating disability, elderly, and social-care services across Finland, Sweden, and other Nordic countries. Broader portfolio than Tukena but competes for the same wellbeing-county contracts in disability services.
• Mehiläinen: Mehiläinen is one of Finland's largest private healthcare and social services groups, providing disability and social-care services alongside its broader medical platform. Competes with Tukena for county disability contracts and represents a private-equity-backed scaled incumbent.
• Terveystalo: Terveystalo is one of Finland's largest private healthcare companies, listed on Helsinki exchange, with growing social and occupational health services. Represents a large private-sector incumbent with the scale and capital to bid for broader wellbeing-county contracts overlapping with Tukena's service scope.
• Norlandia Care: Norlandia Care is a Nordic care-services group providing disability, elderly, and social services across multiple Nordic countries. Comparable in residential care and personal assistance offerings, and competes for municipal/county contracts in Finland.

Direct peers

• Rinnekoti: Rinnekoti is a Finnish nonprofit foundation providing housing, employment support, and day services for people with intellectual disabilities in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Highly comparable to Tukena in mission, service mix (residential + day + employment), and nonprofit foundation governance.
• Kehitysvammaliitto (KVPS): KVPS is a Finnish service foundation supporting people with intellectual disabilities through advocacy, family support, and service development. Comparable to Tukena in disability focus, foundation status, and nationwide Finnish footprint.
• Aspa: Aspa is a Finnish social services organization specializing in personal assistance (henkilökohtainen apu) and housing services for people with disabilities. Directly overlaps with Tukena's core personal-assistance and supported-housing lines and shares the same public-sector commissioning model.
• Kehitysvammaisten Tukiliitto: Kehitysvammaisten Tukiliitto is the Finnish national disability association and founding organization of Tukena-säätiö. Directly connected via corporate lineage and operates parallel member-driven disability support, advocacy, and family services across Finland.

Others

• EASPD: EASPD is the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities and the coordinating partner of the EQUAL CARE project in which Tukena participates. Acts as an ecosystem/industry-association peer rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Autismiliitto: Autismiliitto is the Finnish national autism association providing family support, advocacy, and service development for people on the autism spectrum. Overlaps with Tukena's primary user base (intellectual/developmental disabilities including autism) and shares the Finnish nonprofit foundation model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KVPSTukenaOy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kvpstukenaoy
• Instagraminstagram.com/tukenatapiontupa
• Xx.com/KVPSTukenaOy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Tukena