Sonos

What Sonos does

The Schweizerischer Hörbehindertenverband Sonos (Swiss Association of the Hearing Impaired Sonos) is a non-profit umbrella association (Verein) founded in 1911 in Winterthur, Switzerland by Eugen Sutermeister. It serves the approximately 600,000 people in Switzerland living with moderate-to-profound hearing loss or deafness through advocacy, direct services, education, and policy work, operating alongside 34 member organizations. The organization is registered under Swiss law (CHE-107.345.096), funded by membership fees, donations, and project grants, and operates from its headquarters at Oberer Graben 48 in Winterthur with a secondary location at the BSFH vocational school in Zürich-Oerlikon. Headcount is small, with only named individuals identified across the management, Deafstart, film, and BSFH teams.

Sonos's core offerings center on accessible education and entrepreneurship enablement. The interactive web-based Lernprogramm für Gebärdensprache (Sign Language Learning Program), hosted at gebaerdenlernen.ch, delivers over 2,000 vocabulary words and 900 glossed sentences for Deutschschweizerische Gebärdensprache (DSGS, German-Swiss Sign Language) and is offered free of charge to families with hearing-impaired children and other learners. The Deafstart entrepreneurship seminar program, developed in collaboration with the Institut für Jungunternehmen (IFJ, Institute for Young Entrepreneurs), runs six modules for aspiring deaf entrepreneurs and culminates in a pitch competition with prize money. Sonos has sponsored the BSFH Berufsfachschule (vocational school for learners with hearing and communication disabilities) for over 60 years, delivering federally recognized vocational qualifications; the school expanded its scope in 2017 to include learners with autism spectrum disorder, speech, and visual impairments. Additional offerings include the biennial Fachtagung «Hörbehinderung und Arbeit» (Hearing Disability and Work) professional conference, a newsletter, the Sonos-Zeitung newspaper, and accessible children's films including the Globi series in sign language.

The business model is non-commercial. Core services are delivered free of charge, with revenue drawn from three primary streams: recurring membership fees from 34 member organizations, individual and corporate donations (one-time and recurring monthly or annual contributions processed via PostFinance, Visa, Mastercard, and Twint with suggested tiers at CHF 30–360), and project-specific foundation grants. A minor commercial activity is the transparent Type IIR medical face mask co-developed with Flawa Consumer GmbH in 2021 (CHF 39.90 per box of 25). Strategic partnerships with public and private actors — SBB (Swiss Federal Railways), Flawa, IFJ, ETH-Bibliothek, HfH-Bibliothek, Novartis, SRG (Swiss Broadcasting Corporation), and a broader coalition of disability organizations — extend Sonos's reach into transportation accessibility (Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard rollout, 2025), cultural inclusion (Feel the Beat event at ESC 2025 in Basel), and historical preservation through the Schweizerisches Gehörlosenarchiv digitization of 110 years of Swiss deaf history (30,000 pages, 2017–2020). Distribution is primarily direct-to-community via the online learning platform, the member organization network, and physical offices.

Name

Sonos

Legal name

Schweizerischer Hörbehindertenverband Sonos

Website

https://hoerbehindert.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Schweizerischer Hörbehindertenverband Sonos (Swiss Association of the Hearing Impaired Sonos) is a Swiss non-profit umbrella association founded in 1911 that advocates for people with hearing disabilities in Switzerland through direct services, sign-language education, vocational training, and policy work alongside 34 member organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

Keywords

• Hearing disability advocacy
• Sign language education
• Disability support services
• Vocational training
• Nonprofit association

Headquarters

HQ city

Winterthur

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: 34 member organizations pay membership fees to be part of the Sonos umbrella association.
2. Donations and Sponsorship: Individual and corporate donations support the organization's programs. Donations are facilitated through the website with options for one-time or recurring contributions (monthly, annually). Payment processed via PostFinance, Visa, Mastercard, and Twint.
3. Foundation Grants: Various foundations provide financial support for specific projects such as the Deafstart entrepreneurship seminar and the sign language learning program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Schweizerischer Hörbehindertenverband Sonos is a non-profit umbrella association that advocates for people with hearing disabilities in Switzerland and delivers direct services including an interactive DSGS sign language learning program, entrepreneurship seminars (Deafstart), vocational training through BSFH Berufsfachschule, and a biennial professional conference on hearing impairment and work. All programs are coordinated under one national organization that has operated for over a century and supports individuals from early childhood through old age.

Product overview

Sonos operates as a unified advocacy and service organization offering a portfolio of programs for people with hearing impairments. The core offerings include the Lernprogramm für Gebärdensprache (DSGS) — an interactive sign language learning platform — and Deafstart, a seminar series for entrepreneurship preparation. These are supplemented by the BSFH Berufsfachschule vocational training program and the biennial Fachtagung «Hörbehinderung und Arbeit» conference. Additional services include a newsletter and newspaper. All services are coordinated under the Swiss Association for the Hearing Impaired umbrella to support accessibility, education, and social participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gebärdensprache Lernen (DSGS Learning Program): Interactive learning program for German Swiss Sign Language (Deutschschweizerische Gebärdensprache/DSGS) with over 2000 words and 900 sentences.
• #deafstart

Products and services

• Lernprogramm für Gebärdensprache (DSGS)

Quantifiable outcome

• 600,000 people in Switzerland with hearing disabilities benefit from advocacy efforts
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 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

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

• SBB (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2025SBB is implementing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Project in Switzerland, with Sonos as a partner organization among 16 other disability organizations. The project provides sunflower lanyards at 16 SBB travel centers to signal hidden disabilities including hearing impairments.
• SRG (Schweizerische Radio- und Fernsehgesellschaft)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 May 2025Co-organizer of the 'Feel the Beat' inclusive disco event at ESC 2025 in Basel, making music accessible to people with hearing disabilities through tactile vibration floors and visual displays.
• NovartisminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 May 2025Sponsor/partner for the 'Feel the Beat' inclusive disco event at ESC 2025.
• Flawa Consumer GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2021Joint development of transparent medical face masks (Type IIR) with transparent window to enable lip-reading for people with hearing disabilities. Sonos accompanied the project and Flawa manufactured the masks in Switzerland.
• IFJ (Institut für Jungunternehmen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Collaboration with the Institute for Young Enterprises (IFJ) to deliver the Deafstart entrepreneurship seminar program for people with hearing disabilities. IFJ provides expert knowledge on business creation while Sonos provides sign language interpretation and accessibility.
• BSFH (Berufsfachschule für Lernende mit Hör- und Kommunikationsbehinderung)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSonos has been the sponsor/trustee of BSFH vocational school for over 60 years. BSFH provides recognized vocational education and training for young people with hearing and communication disabilities in German-speaking Switzerland.
• SGB-FSS (Schweizerischer Gehörlosenbund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founding partner of the Fachkommission 'Hörbehinderte im öffentlichen Verkehr' (HöV) and collaboration on advocacy for deaf rights and sign language recognition. SGB-FSS is also co-organizer of the 'Hörbehinderung und Arbeit' professional conference.
• Pro Audito SchweizmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Fachkommission HöV (Hörbehinderte im öffentlichen Verkehr) working on accessibility in public transportation. Pro Audito Schweiz advocates for people with hearing disabilities.
• BFSUG (Beratungsstelle für Schwerhörige und Gehörlose)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the 'Hörbehinderung und Arbeit' professional conference. BFSUG provides counseling services and was instrumental in organizing the 2018 conference.
• ETH-BibliothekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for digitization of 110 years of Swiss deaf history (30,000 pages from Sonos and Visuell Plus journals) through the Schweizerisches Gehörlosenarchiv project (2017-2020).
• HfH-Bibliothek (Interkantonale Hochschule für Heilpädagogik)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead institution for the Schweizerisches Gehörlosenarchiv digitization project (2017-2020), making 110 years of deaf history accessible online.
• SVEHK (Schweizerische Vereinigung der Eltern hörgeschädigter Kinder)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the open letter to Federal Council calling for support of transparent masks and inclusion of people with hearing disabilities.
• Fondation A CapellamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in advocacy efforts for transparent masks and hearing disability rights.
• pro audito schweizmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in advocacy for hearing disability rights, co-signatory of open letter to Federal Council and member of the open letter coalition.
• Forom ÉcouteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Fachkommission 'Hörbehinderte im öffentlichen Verkehr' (HöV) working on transportation accessibility.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SVEHK (Schweizerische Vereinigung der Eltern hörgeschädigter Kinder): SVEHK is the Swiss association for parents of hearing-impaired children, partnering with Sonos on advocacy (e.g., transparent masks letter to Federal Council). Both target families with hearing-impaired children and serve overlapping early-intervention needs.
• Pro Audito Schweiz: Pro Audito Schweiz is the major Swiss organization for people with hearing impairments (particularly hard-of-hearing), and co-founder of the HöV commission with Sonos. Overlapping advocacy, accessibility, and member services make it a direct peer.
• Schweizerischer Gehörlosenbund (SGB-FSS): SGB-FSS is the Swiss deaf community's national umbrella organization and co-founding partner of the Fachkommission HöV with Sonos. Both serve Swiss deaf and hearing-impaired populations through advocacy, sign language promotion, and member services, making them the most direct peer.
• BFSUG (Beratungsstelle für Schwerhörige und Gehörlose): BFSUG provides counseling services for hard-of-hearing and deaf individuals in Switzerland and co-organizes the biennial 'Hörbehinderung und Arbeit' conference with Sonos. Strong overlap in target population and service delivery (counseling, employer engagement).

Regional players

• Access Israel: Access Israel is a national disability advocacy and accessibility organization in Israel. While serving a different national deaf community, it operates a comparable mission around accessibility, sign language rights, and barrier-free public services.
• Deutsche Gehörlosen-Bund: Deutscher Gehörlosen-Bund is the national umbrella for deaf associations in Germany. Operates a similar Dachverband structure with member organizations, advocacy, and sign language promotion, but focuses on German Sign Language (DGS) rather than DSGS.
• Forom Écoute: Forom Écoute is the Swiss francophone advocacy organization for hearing-impaired people and a member of the HöV commission. It serves the same population as Sonos but primarily in French-speaking Switzerland, making it a regional peer.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of the Deaf (NAD): NAD is the US civil rights organization for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, advocating for sign language rights and accessibility. Comparable advocacy mission and member organization model, but with much broader US national scope.
• RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People): RNID is the UK's largest charity for people with hearing loss, providing advocacy, services, and research. Comparable mission (advocacy, services for hearing-impaired population) but operates at much larger national scale and serves as a broad incumbent reference point.
• proinfirmis: proinfirmis is a major Swiss disability advocacy and service organization covering all disability types. While not focused exclusively on hearing impairment, it competes for the same funding pools and serves overlapping policy and accessibility domains.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sonos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Sonos