La Manivelle
La Manivelle is a Geneva-based non-profit cooperative operating Switzerland's first and largest object lending library, allowing members to borrow 4,500+ items across five branches. Revenue comes from annual subscription passes, per-item fees, repair services, home delivery, and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What La Manivelle does
La Manivelle is a non-profit cooperative (Coopérative La Manivelle – Bibliothèque de Partage d'Objets) headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, that operates Switzerland's first and largest object lending library. Founded in 2018 by an individual named Robert after bringing the concept from Canada, the cooperative allows members to borrow rather than purchase tools, equipment, and household objects, addressing overconsumption, household storage waste, and the environmental footprint of single-use purchases. Governance is provided by a board and members at the annual general meeting, with Philippe Nussbaum serving as Director and Arnaud Jolif as President.
The cooperative runs a catalog of 4,500+ items across DIY, kitchen, sport, events, travel, multimedia, electrical, cleaning, transport, and gardening categories, supported by five branches across Greater Geneva (Charmilles/MACO, Lancy, Meyrin, Pâquis, Thônex) and four partner pickup points (Comptoir immobilier, Foound, Meyrinroule, Katimavik). The underlying technology is the third-party MyTurn inventory management platform, which handles catalog browsing, reservations, and account management; the organization also operates a dedicated repair management system (atelierreparation.ch). Beyond lending, La Manivelle runs L'Atelier Réparation (a repair shop led by Yannick with an 80% repair success rate), a Pôle Formation training and professional reintegration center in partnership with PPE+, Travail+ (Armée du Salut), AI (Assurance Invalidité), and Hospice général, and PAMOS, a 1,200+-item scenic and performance objects library launched in June 2026.
La Manivelle generates revenue through annual Unlimited Borrowing Pass subscriptions, per-item borrowing fees, repair service charges (20 CHF estimate fee plus parts/labor), home delivery fees (free in Onex), grants, and donations; La Loterie Romande is named as a financial supporter. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer channels (branches, partner pickup points, home delivery) with a B2B2C Partner Pass program that sells annual access to companies, housing cooperatives, and associations for redistribution to their employees or members. The customer base is segmented horizontally into Geneva-area individuals and households (primary) and organizations purchasing Partner Passes (secondary), with annual Unlimited Pass pricing and per-item pricing structured to maximize accessibility rather than monetization.
La Manivelle firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- La Manivelle
- Legal name
- Coopérative La Manivelle – Bibliothèque de Partage d'Objets
- Website
- https://manivelle.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- La Manivelle is a Geneva-based non-profit cooperative operating Switzerland's first and largest object lending library, allowing members to borrow 4,500+ items across five branches. Revenue comes from annual subscription passes, per-item fees, repair services, home delivery, and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
La Manivelle industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Object Lending Library / Sharing Economy Services
- NAICS
- Home and Garden Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Parts Harvesting & Component Reuse (EUAIANAF)
Keywords
Where La Manivelle is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Geneva
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
La Manivelle business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Annual Borrowing Passes (Unlimited Pass): Customers purchase a 1-year unlimited borrowing pass that allows them to borrow as many objects as they want from the catalog with no per-item rental charges. This is the primary revenue stream and operates on a subscription model.
- Per-Item Borrowing: Individual items can be borrowed separately without a full Pass, providing a flexible, per-transaction revenue option for occasional users.
- Repair Services: The Atelier Réparation charges 20 CHF for repair estimates. Actual repair costs depend on parts and labor. A 50 CHF deposit is required for large appliances.
- Home Delivery: A paid delivery service is offered, with free delivery in Onex. Revenue from delivery fees supplements the membership/pass revenue.
- Grants and Donations: La Manivelle is primarily funded through grants. Employee shares and financial donations from members and supporters provide supplementary income. La Loterie Romande is mentioned as a supporter.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | 1-Year Unlimited Pass for individuals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Per-item borrowing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Repair estimate fee |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Large appliance deposit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Home delivery |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
La Manivelle product offering
Product offeringCore offering
La Manivelle is a non-profit cooperative that lends a catalog of more than 4,500 everyday objects (tools, kitchen, sports, travel, gardening, cleaning, and event equipment) to members through an annual subscription Pass or per-item borrowing, with pickup at 5 branches and 4 partner locations across Greater Geneva. The cooperative also operates L'Atelier Réparation (a repair workshop with an 80% repair success rate), the Pôle Formation (a professional reintegration and training center), and PAMOS (a dedicated library of more than 1,200 stage and performance objects).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- L'Atelier Réparation: A repair workshop service that repairs small appliances, DIY tools, luggage, and major appliances for both library items and personal objects. Managed by Yannick, the repair technician.
- Pôle Formation
- PAMOS
Products and services
- Object Lending Library Core lending service offering members access to a catalog of more than 4,500 everyday objects (DIY tools, kitchen equipment, sports gear, travel items, cleaning, gardening, multimedia, and event supplies) reserved through the MyTurn platform and picked up at any of 5 branches or 4 partner pickup points. Items are loaned for a default period of one week, with late fees of 1 CHF per day per item.
- Annual Borrowing Pass (1-Year Unlimited) Subscription product that grants the holder one year of unlimited borrowing from the 4,500+ object catalog with no per-item rental charges. Discounted rates are available for eligible members and dedicated Partner Pass rates are offered to organizations.
- Per-Item Borrowing Transactional borrowing option that lets customers borrow individual items from the catalog without purchasing a full Annual Pass, targeting occasional users who only need a single item (e.g., a screwdriver). Security deposits are required for certain specific items.
- L'Atelier Réparation (Repair Workshop) Repair service operated by Yannick that diagnoses faults, sources spare parts, and performs repairs on small appliances, DIY tools, luggage, and major appliances, both for La Manivelle's catalog and for individuals' personal items. Charges a 20 CHF fee for repair estimates and a 50 CHF deposit for large appliances, with an 80% repair success rate. Located at the Charmilles/MACO branch.
- Pôle Formation (Professional Reintegration Center) Training and professional reintegration program offering pathways to workforce re-entry through theory, supervised practical experience, and gradual empowerment, delivered in collaboration with PPE+, Travail+ (Armée du Salut), AI (Assurance Invalidité), and Hospice général. The program places trainees across operations, logistics, administration, and communication at La Manivelle.
- PAMOS (Performance and Stage Objects Library) Dedicated sub-library offering more than 1,200 stage and performance objects and scenic accessories for borrowing, targeting performers, event organizers, and stage productions. Operates as a separate device at the Charmilles site.
- Partner Pass Program B2B offering in which companies, housing cooperatives, associations, and other organizations purchase annual Partner Passes granting their employees, members, or residents direct access to the 4,500+ object catalog as a benefit, sustainability initiative, or community service.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% of items brought to the repair shop are successfully repaired, diverting them from waste.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use La Manivelle
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
La Manivelle technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
La Manivelle partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PPE+ (Programme pour les Places d'Exercice et les Parcours d'Employabilité)corePPE+ is a primary program partner for La Manivelle's training and professional reintegration center. The program places trainees at La Manivelle for work experience and skills development in operations, logistics, administration, and communication.
- Travail + (Armée du Salut)coreTravail + is a key program partner providing trainees for La Manivelle's reintegration and training center, supporting people in their return to employment through practical work experience.
- AI (Assurance Invalidité)coreThe Swiss disability insurance (AI) refers and supports individuals who can benefit from La Manivelle's training programs as part of their professional rehabilitation measures.
- Hospice général (Geneva)coreHospice général collaborates with La Manivelle on social insertion programs, referring individuals who can benefit from training and professional experience opportunities at the cooperative.
- Fondation Meyrinoise du CasinominorCo-organizer of free Repair Café events at the Meyrin branch. Provides support for community repair activities that complement La Manivelle's sustainability mission.
- Global Object Library NetworkminorLa Manivelle is part of a global movement of more than 100 similar object library projects worldwide. The concept originated in Canada and has spread internationally.
- Comptoir immobilier (Thônex)minorPartner pickup location for La Manivelle reservations in Thônex. Acts as a drop-off point for pre-reserved items.
- Foound - GrottesminorPartner pickup location for La Manivelle reservations in the Grottes neighborhood of Geneva.
- MeyrinrouleminorPartner pickup location for La Manivelle reservations in Meyrin, operated as part of the Genèveroule mobility network.
- Katimavik (Carouge)minorPartner pickup location for La Manivelle reservations in Carouge, operated in connection with Trajets citizen mobility programs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
La Manivelle competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Peerby: Dutch-founded peer-to-peer platform for borrowing everyday items from neighbors. Comparable to La Manivelle in promoting access-over-ownership and reducing overconsumption, though Peerby operates a marketplace model rather than maintaining a centralized inventory.
- Repair Café International: Global foundation coordinating volunteer-led repair events where broken items are fixed free or at low cost. Closely aligned with La Manivelle's Atelier Réparation mission and 80% repair success rate, and with the cooperative's community Repair Cafés hosted at Meyrin and other branches.
- Fat Llama: UK-based peer-to-peer rental marketplace for cameras, tools, and other equipment. Overlaps with La Manivelle in circular-economy framing and tool/equipment lending use cases, with broader geographic ambition and venture backing.
- Berkeley Tool Lending Library: Public-library-operated tool lending service in Berkeley, California, lending a wide range of home and garden tools to residents. Comparable to La Manivelle in catalog breadth, lending-model economics, and community-sustainability mission.
- Hygglo: Swedish peer-to-peer rental marketplace for consumer goods, tools, and equipment. Similar sharing-economy positioning to La Manivelle but with a distributed asset model and digital-first booking flow rather than physical branches.
- Toronto Tool Library: Community-run tool lending library in Toronto offering members borrowing access to a catalog of hand and power tools. Closest operational analogue to La Manivelle: subscription-based lending, mission-driven non-profit structure, community workshops, and emphasis on reuse over ownership.
Emerging players
- Stuffstr: App-based circular-economy service that helps users resell, repair, or recycle idle household items. Adjacent to La Manivelle in promoting reuse and reducing overconsumption, but operating via a digital marketplace model rather than physical inventory.
Broad incumbents
- Grover: Berlin-headquartered consumer electronics and small-appliance subscription rental company. Comparable to La Manivelle in subscription-based access-over-ownership for physical goods, but with a much broader catalog focus on tech and venture-backed scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
La Manivelle social profiles
Digital presenceLa Manivelle financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
La Manivelle leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
La Manivelle funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
La Manivelle M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about La Manivelle
What does La Manivelle do?
La Manivelle is a non-profit cooperative that lends a catalog of more than 4,500 everyday objects (tools, kitchen, sports, travel, gardening, cleaning, and event equipment) to members through an annual subscription Pass or per-item borrowing, with pickup at 5 branches and 4 partner locations across Greater Geneva. The cooperative also operates L'Atelier Réparation (a repair workshop with an 80% repair success rate), the Pôle Formation (a professional reintegration and training center), and PAMOS (a dedicated library of more than 1,200 stage and performance objects).
Is La Manivelle a public or private company?
La Manivelle is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was La Manivelle founded?
La Manivelle was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is La Manivelle based?
La Manivelle is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does La Manivelle make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Annual Borrowing Passes (Unlimited Pass) is the primary driver. The others are per-Item Borrowing, repair Services, home Delivery and grants and Donations.
Who are La Manivelle's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Peerby, Repair Café International, Fat Llama, Berkeley Tool Lending Library, Hygglo and Toronto Tool Library. Stuffstr is listed as an emerging player. Grover is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does La Manivelle have an API?
No public API is recorded for La Manivelle.
What industry is La Manivelle in?
La Manivelle's product category is Object Lending Library / Sharing Economy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIANAF, Parts Harvesting & Component Reuse. Its NAICS code is 811411.