What Lacoh does

Lacoh is a Dutch trade association (branchevereniging), operational since at least 2013 and headquartered in Baarn, Netherlands, that represents companies developing and supplying assistive devices for speech support, arm support, and environmental control. Its membership comprises seven suppliers — Assistive Innovations, Focal Meditech, KMD, QuoVadis Nederland, rdgKompagne, Sarkow, and RTD Arnhem — collectively serving end users with functional limitations arising from muscular diseases, spinal cord injuries, spasticity, neurological conditions, and age-related decline. The association's stated mission is to improve self-reliance and independence of people with disabilities by aligning member solutions with end-user needs and coordinating with patient organizations, healthcare providers, insurers, and Dutch government bodies.\n\nThe association's primary product offering is the FGI Protocol (Functioneringsgericht Indiceren), a structured methodology and accompanying digital portal for healthcare professionals to determine appropriate assistive communication devices based on functional needs rather than medical diagnosis alone, aligned with the WHO's International Classification of Functioning (ICF) framework. The FGI Protocol was developed in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), Zorginstituut Nederland, and Zorgverzekeraars Nederland, following a petition initiated by ISAAC-NF. Beyond the FGI Protocol, Lacoh operates a website (lacoh.nl), a LinkedIn presence, and a member-governance structure in which all board seats are held by representatives of member companies, with one external Board Advisor (T. Wedda).\n\nLacoh's business model is membership-fee based, with revenue derived from the recurring subscriptions paid by its seven member companies. The go-to-market motion is community-led rather than commercial: the association facilitates knowledge exchange among members, convenes dialogue with healthcare professionals and patient organizations, and engages in regulatory advocacy on reimbursement frameworks. Distribution of the underlying assistive devices is handled directly by member companies, typically through referrals from physiotherapists, speech therapists, and other care providers. No external venture or private-equity ownership is disclosed, and the organization operates exclusively within the Netherlands.

Name

Lacoh

Legal name

Lacoh

Website

https://lacoh.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lacoh is a Dutch trade association representing seven member companies that develop and supply assistive devices for speech support, arm support, and environmental control for people with functional limitations across the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Baarn

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Lacoh generates revenue through membership fees paid by companies that develop and supply assistive devices for speech support, arm support, and environmental control.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Lacoh is a Dutch trade association (branchevereniging) for companies that develop and supply assistive devices in three categories: speech support, arm support, and environmental control. The association facilitates knowledge exchange among its member companies, coordinates with healthcare professionals, patient organizations, insurers, and government bodies, and maintains the FGI protocol that standardizes how communication device needs are assessed.

Product overview

Lacoh is a Dutch industry association (branchevereniging) for suppliers of assistive technology, not a single product company. The association encompasses multiple member companies that collectively offer devices for speech support, arm support, and environmental control. The primary offering is the FGI Protocol (Functioneringsgericht Indiceren), a structured methodology and digital portal for healthcare professionals to determine appropriate assistive devices based on functional needs rather than medical diagnosis. Member companies include Assistive Innovations (arm supports, robot arms, eating devices), Focal Meditech (head/arm supports, environmental control, communication), KMD (speech support, alternative communication, computer aids), QuoVadis (environmental control, domotica, communication), rdgKompagne (communication, PC adaptations, cognitive support), Sarkow (eating devices, arm supports, therapy materials), and RTD Arnhem (communication, computer adaptations, domotica).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FGI Protocol (Functioneringsgericht Indiceren) A structured methodology, including a digital portal, for healthcare professionals to determine the most appropriate assistive communication device for clients based on functional capabilities rather than medical diagnosis alone. Aligned with the WHO ICF framework.
• Lacoh Association Membership Membership-based trade association services for Dutch suppliers of assistive devices for speech support, arm support, and environmental control, including industry representation, knowledge exchange, and stakeholder engagement.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ISAAC-NFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISAAC-NF (International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication - Netherlands chapter) initiated a petition 'Vergoed spraakcomputers: iedereen een stem' (Reimburse speech computers: everyone a voice) which prompted dialogue between Lacoh, the Ministry of VWS, Zorginstituut Nederland, and Zorgverzekeraars Nederland to develop the FGI protocol.
• Ministerie van VWS (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of VWS was involved in discussions following the ISAAC-NF petition, working with Lacoh to establish a clear, objective protocol for determining communication device needs.
• Zorginstituut NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Lacoh on developing the Functioneringsgericht Indiceren (FGI) protocol for assistive communication devices.
• Zorgverzekeraars NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked with Lacoh and other stakeholders to establish the FGI protocol for determining medical device necessity based on functional needs rather than just medical diagnosis.
• Assistive InnovationscoreOthersMember company supplying assistive devices for people with limited arm, hand, or finger function due to muscular diseases, spinal cord injuries, spasticity, neurological conditions, or age. Products include arm supports, eating devices, rehabilitation aids, and robot arms. Located in Didam, Netherlands.
• Focal MeditechcoreOthersMember company supplying devices for people with reduced arm or hand function. Products include head and arm supports, environmental control, communication devices, wheelchairs, and breathing equipment. Located in Tilburg, Netherlands.
• KMD (Klein & Melgert Developments)coreOthersMember company developing and supplying products for people with speech and/or motor impairments. Products include speech support (alternative communication), computer use, and environmental control devices. Located in Duiven, Netherlands.
• QuoVadis Nederland BVcoreOthersMember company and total system integrator supplying solutions for environmental control (home automation integration), communication aids, care call solutions, and operating adjustments. Located in Baarn, Netherlands.
• rdgKompagnecoreOthersMember company supplying total solutions for people with disabilities. Products include communication aids, adapted controls, PC and workstation adjustments, environmental control, and cognitive support tools. Located in Enschede, Netherlands.
• SarkowcoreOthersMember company supplying and advising on products for people with disabilities. Products include eating equipment, arm support, special drinking cups and cutlery, walking aids, upholstery materials, therapy materials, and various chairs and blankets. Located in Leusden, Netherlands.
• RTD ArnhemcoreOthersMember company supplying aids and adaptations for people with (physical) disabilities. Products include communication devices, computer adaptations, and environmental control (home automation). Located in Heteren, Netherlands.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America): US-based interdisciplinary association for assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering. Comparable in mission (advancing assistive-technology access) but operates in North America rather than Europe.
• ARATA (Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association): Australian multidisciplinary association for assistive technology and rehabilitation. Comparable mission to Lacoh but operating in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• COCIR (European Coordination Committee of the Radiological, Electromedical and Healthcare IT Industry): European trade association representing medical device and healthcare IT industries, including assistive and rehabilitation technologies. Comparable as a healthcare industry association engaging with EU regulators, but covers a much broader device portfolio.

Direct peers

• EASTIN (European Assistive Technology Information Network): Network of national assistive-technology information resources across Europe. Comparable to Lacoh as an industry-coordinating body for assistive device suppliers and prescribers, with broader geographic scope.
• AAATE (Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe): European-level professional and industry association for assistive technology stakeholders. Directly comparable to Lacoh as a trade body advancing assistive-device adoption, though operating pan-Europe rather than country-specific.

Others

• IGJ (Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd / Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate): Dutch regulator overseeing healthcare quality and medical devices. Not a peer association but a stakeholder counterpart relevant to Lacoh's regulatory and reimbursement interactions.
• Zorgverzekeraars Nederland: Dutch association of health insurers. Functions as a payer-side counterpart with which Lacoh collaborates on FGI protocol development, providing market-side context for member device reimbursement.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lacoh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Lacoh