ZIK

Social Welfare and Disability Support Serviceszik-ggmbh.de

ZIK was a Berlin non-profit providing rehabilitation, assisted living, homeless assistance, and youth welfare services. On January 1, 2025, it merged with ADV gGmbH, GamBe, and ZeitRaum to form LA VIDA gGmbH, now operating 30 neighborhood locations under publicly-funded German social welfare contracts.

Company typePrivate
Founded1989
HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What ZIK does

ZIK was a Berlin-based non-profit social services organization (gemeinnützige GmbH) founded in 1989 that delivered Eingliederungshilfe (rehabilitation and integration assistance) under the German social welfare system. Its service portfolio covered assisted living, ambulant care, and support for people with chronic or psychological illnesses, substance use disorders, and cognitive impairments, with additional programming in housing support for homeless individuals and child/youth welfare services. Specific pricing was not publicly disclosed because services were funded through statutory health insurance, social assistance, and public reimbursement rather than direct customer payments, with terms negotiated with public funding bodies.

On January 1, 2025, ZIK merged with three other established Berlin welfare organizations — ADV gGmbH, GamBe, and ZeitRaum — to form LA VIDA gGmbH. The combined entity draws on up to 50 years of integration assistance history and operates 30 locations across all districts of Berlin, from Spandau to Marzahn, delivering neighborhood-based ('Kiez') support. The unified service portfolio spans four verticals: Eingliederungshilfe, Wohnungslosenhilfe (homeless assistance), Arbeit & Beschäftigung (employment services), and Kinder- & Jugendhilfe (child and youth services). LA VIDA operates as a member of the Parität Berlin welfare umbrella association and runs a co-branded Housing First Berlin initiative (housingfirst-lavida.de) targeting chronic homelessness.

The organization is led by Martin Hilckmann as Managing Director and CEO. Post-merger, ZIK functions as a sub-brand within LA VIDA gGmbH rather than an independent entity. Distribution is direct through 30 neighborhood-based service sites; the digital channel consists of a multi-language website (German, English, Leichte Sprache/Easy Language) launched in May 2026 and press/media communications. No commercial distribution channels, app, or API offerings exist. The business model is fundamentally a publicly-funded welfare services contract structure rather than a market-driven revenue operation.

ZIK firmographics

Firmographics

Name: ZIK
Legal name: ZIK
Website: https://zik-ggmbh.de
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1989
Operating status: Acquired
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: ZIK was a Berlin non-profit providing rehabilitation, assisted living, homeless assistance, and youth welfare services. On January 1, 2025, it merged with ADV gGmbH, GamBe, and ZeitRaum to form LA VIDA gGmbH, now operating 30 neighborhood locations under publicly-funded German social welfare contracts.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

ZIK industry classification

Industry

Product category: Social Welfare and Disability Support Services
NAICS: Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Individual and Family Services (6241), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Residential Care Facilities (62399)
SIC: Services-Social Services (8300)
akta.pro industry: PRIMARYHSABAIAF
Behavioral Health & Cognitive Support Coordination (Dementia, Depression, SUD)
Home & Personal Services/Elder Care & In-Home Care Services/Care Coordination & Geriatric Care Management
SECONDARYEDAKANAK
Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation
Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Transition Services (Post-Secondary, Employment & Independent Living)

Keywords

Social welfare services
Integration assistance
Homeless assistance services
Supported living
Youth welfare services

Where ZIK is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Berlin
HQ country: Germany
HQ region: Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

ZIK business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

ZIK product offering

Product offering

Core offering

ZIK provides social support services for people with chronic or psychological illnesses, substance use disorders, or cognitive impairments in Berlin. Its service portfolio includes integration assistance (Eingliederungshilfe), homeless assistance (Wohnungslosenhilfe), work and employment support, and child and youth welfare services, delivered through neighborhood-based locations across Berlin as part of the merged LA VIDA gGmbH entity.

Product overview

ZIK is a social services organization that merged with ADV gGmbH, GamBe, and ZeitRaum on January 1, 2025 to form LA VIDA gGmbH. ZIK operates as a sub-brand within LA VIDA's integrated service portfolio, which includes Eingliederungshilfe (rehabilitation assistance), Wohnungslosenhilfe (homeless assistance), Arbeit & Beschäftigung (work and employment services), and Kinder- & Jugendhilfe (child and youth services). The organization supports people with chronic or psychological illnesses, substance use disorders, or cognitive impairments across 30 locations throughout Berlin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Eingliederungshilfe (Integration Assistance) Integration assistance (rehabilitation services) for people with chronic or psychological illnesses, substance use disorders, or cognitive impairments, delivered across 30 Berlin locations with a focus on self-determination and social participation.
Wohnungslosenhilfe (Homeless Assistance)
Arbeit & Beschäftigung (Work and Employment Services)
Kinder- & Jugendhilfe (Child and Youth Welfare)
Weitere Angebote (Additional Services)

Companies that use ZIK

Customer profile

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

ZIK technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

ZIK partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

ADV gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADV gGmbH is one of four organizations that merged with ZIK, GamBe, and ZeitRaum to form LA VIDA gGmbH on January 1, 2025. ADV is one of the founding member organizations of the new unified entity.
GamBecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGamBe is one of four organizations that merged with ADV, ZeitRaum, and ZIK to form LA VIDA gGmbH on January 1, 2025. GamBe is one of the founding member organizations of the new unified entity.
ZeitRaumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZeitRaum is one of four organizations that merged with ADV, GamBe, and ZIK to form LA VIDA gGmbH on January 1, 2025. ZeitRaum is one of the founding member organizations of the new unified entity.
Parität Berlin (DPW Parität Berlin)minorOthersLA VIDA displays the Parität Berlin logo on its website, indicating membership or partnership with the Berlin branch of the German Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband (Parity Welfare Association), a major social welfare umbrella organization.
Housing First Berlin (housingfirst-lavida.de)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA VIDA partners in the Housing First Berlin initiative, a program providing permanent housing for homeless individuals without preconditions. The initiative is jointly branded and operates as a collaborative effort to address homelessness in Berlin.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

ZIK competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

Volkssolidarität Berlin: Berlin-based welfare organization offering social services, senior support, and community programs. Overlaps with ZIK's caregiver and community support offerings, though focused more broadly on seniors and families.
Diakonie Berlin: Berlin arm of the national Protestant welfare association, providing social services including disability support, homelessness services, and youth welfare. Overlaps with ZIK's full service portfolio but at greater scale and broader scope.
Caritas Berlin: Regional branch of Germany's largest Catholic welfare association, offering a wide range of social, youth, and disability services in Berlin. Comparable in mission and funding model but much larger and broader in scope.
AWO Berlin (Arbeiterwohlfahrt): Berlin chapter of the national AWO federation, providing social assistance, youth welfare, and disability services. Similar funding model and target populations, but operates across many service areas beyond ZIK's focus.

Direct peers

Pinel gGmbH: Berlin-based non-profit providing psychiatric and psychosocial support services, including supported housing and outpatient care. Directly comparable to ZIK's services for people with chronic or psychological illnesses.
Pfefferwerk Stadtkultur gGmbH: Berlin-based non-profit social services organization offering integration assistance, youth welfare, and community-based support. Operates a similar portfolio of Eingliederungshilfe and neighborhood-level services for vulnerable populations in Berlin.
GEBEWO - Soziale Dienste Berlin: Berlin non-profit specializing in homelessness assistance, housing support, and social services for people in crisis. Comparable to ZIK's Wohnungslosenhilfe and general social support offerings.
Berliner Stadtmission: Major Berlin-based welfare organization providing homelessness services, supported housing, addiction support, and integration assistance. Directly comparable to ZIK on Wohnungslosenhilfe and social support missions.
Lebenshilfe Berlin: Berlin branch of the national Lebenshilfe federation for people with intellectual disabilities. Directly comparable to ZIK's integration assistance (Eingliederungshilfe) services for people with cognitive impairments.

Emerging players

SOS Kinderdorf Berlin-Brandenburg: Berlin-Brandenburg branch of SOS Kinderdorf providing child and youth welfare, family support, and educational programs. Comparable to ZIK's Kinder- & Jugendhilfe services but with a narrower focus on children and youth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

ZIK financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

ZIK leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

ZIK funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

ZIK M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIK

What does ZIK do?

Is ZIK a public or private company?

ZIK is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently acquired.

When was ZIK founded?

ZIK was founded in 1989. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is ZIK based?

ZIK is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.

Who are ZIK's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Volkssolidarität Berlin, Diakonie Berlin, Caritas Berlin and AWO Berlin (Arbeiterwohlfahrt). Direct peers are Pinel gGmbH, Pfefferwerk Stadtkultur gGmbH, GEBEWO - Soziale Dienste Berlin, Berliner Stadtmission and Lebenshilfe Berlin. SOS Kinderdorf Berlin-Brandenburg is listed as an emerging player.

Does ZIK have an API?

No public API is recorded for ZIK.

What industry is ZIK in?

ZIK's product category is Social Welfare and Disability Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSABAIAF, Behavioral Health & Cognitive Support Coordination (Dementia, Depression, SUD), with a secondary code of EDAKANAK, Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation. Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.