What Stiftung AccessAbility does

Stiftung AccessAbility is a Swiss non-profit foundation established on July 4, 2016, by Accesstech AG in cooperation with the Swiss Blind and Visually Impaired Association (SBV/FSA) and Union Suisse des Aveugles (USA). The foundation delivers consulting, evaluation, installation, training, and technical support services for visually impaired and blind individuals across Switzerland, operating from five locations in Luzern (headquarters), Bern, St. Gallen, Neuchâtel, and Zürich. Its service portfolio includes assistive device consulting (Hilfsmittelberatung), on-site installation and workplace adaptation, user training delivered at foundation offices, homes, or workplaces, and ongoing technical support via a free hotline (0800 77 55 33) and remote desktop assistance (Fernwartung). The foundation's assistive technology offerings cover electronic aids, specialized software, computers, tablets, smartphones, and reading/writing products, with Accesstech AG serving as the primary supplier of devices.

The foundation is funded through mandates from the two national self-help organizations (FSA/SBV and USA/SBb) and through reimbursements from Swiss disability insurance (IV) and old-age insurance (AHV). Approximately 17 staff members, several of whom are themselves visually impaired or blind, carry over 30 years of combined experience from Accesstech AG's former Training and Support division. Governance is provided by a foundation board led by Urs Hiltebrand (President) and Christian Hugentobler (Vice President). The foundation does not disclose revenue figures and operates as a non-profit entity registered in Luzern, Switzerland, with no parent-subsidiary listed companies and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Stiftung AccessAbility

Legal name

Stiftung AccessAbility

Website

https://accessability.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stiftung AccessAbility is a Swiss non-profit foundation that provides consulting, installation, training, and technical support for assistive technologies used by visually impaired and blind individuals across five locations in Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assistive Technology Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

AT Device Setup, Integration & Technical Support (MDM, IT, Interoperability) (EDAKAIAK), Accessibility & Assistive Technology IT Support (EDALAMAJ), Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools (EDALAGAB)

Keywords

• Assistive technology consulting
• Visual impairment support
• Accessibility training services
• Disability support services
• Assistive device evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

Luzern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Foundation Services funded by Mandates: Services are provided through mandates from self-help organizations (FSA/SBV and USA/SBb). Clients receive funding through IV (disability insurance) and AHV (old-age insurance). The foundation offers evaluations, installations, training, and technical support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Stiftung AccessAbility is a non-profit foundation that provides consulting, on-site installation, training, and ongoing technical support for visually impaired and blind individuals in Switzerland using electronic assistive technologies. Services include assistive device evaluation and selection, workplace adaptation, hands-on training on computers, tablets, smartphones, and writing/reading products, plus free hotline and remote support for ongoing assistance.

Product overview

Stiftung AccessAbility is a non-profit foundation offering a unified service portfolio focused on accessibility solutions for visually impaired and blind individuals in Switzerland. The core offering combines consulting on assistive devices (Hilfsmittelberatung), on-site installation and adaptation, user training, and technical support via hotline and remote assistance. The foundation obtains assistive devices primarily from Accesstech AG, a Swiss specialist in the field. Services are delivered across five Swiss locations (Luzern, Bern, St. Gallen, Neuchâtel, and Zürich), with some staff members themselves being visually impaired or blind, providing firsthand experience with accessibility challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hilfsmittelberatung (Assistive Device Consulting)
• Installation und Anpassung (Installation and Adaptation)
• Schulung (Training)
• Hotline und Fernwartung (Hotline and Remote Support)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered founding, core and minor.

• Accesstech AGfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccesstech AG created the non-profit foundation AccessAbility. The company has provided assistive technology solutions in Switzerland for over 25 years. It transferred 17 experienced staff members from its Training and Support department to the foundation. Accesstech remains the primary supplier of assistive devices.
• Fédération Suisse des Aveugles et Malvoyants (FSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two primary self-help organizations that mandate the foundation's services. The foundation works closely with FSA to expand support services for visually impaired users of electronic assistive technologies.
• Union Suisse des Aveugles et Malvoyants (USA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond primary self-help organization that mandates the foundation's services. Mandates from USA enable the foundation to develop and expand the support network for visually impaired individuals.
• Von Gunten Häseli & Partner AGminorOthersAuditing firm designated as the foundation's audit/revision body.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• OrCam: Israeli developer of AI-powered wearable assistive devices for blind and visually impaired users. Comparable as an emerging AI-driven alternative in the assistive technology category that AccessAbility consults on.
• Be My Eyes: Danish mobile app providing on-demand visual assistance via live volunteers and integrated AI vision models. Comparable as an emerging digital alternative to AccessAbility's in-person and hotline support for visually impaired users.

Direct peers

• Pro Infirmis: Major Swiss non-profit foundation providing services and advocacy for people with disabilities. Comparable as a Swiss non-profit disability services foundation operating under IV-related mandates with a similar funding model.
• INSOS Schweiz: Swiss umbrella association of service providers for people with disabilities. Comparable as a non-profit ecosystem organization that supports IV-funded disability service providers across Switzerland.
• Retina Suisse: Swiss patient organization for people with retinal diseases. Comparable as a Switzerland-based non-profit serving the visually impaired community through counseling, information, and member services.
• Pro Senectute: Swiss foundation providing services and support for elderly citizens, including those with age-related impairments. Comparable as a Swiss non-profit service organization funded through AHV-eligible mandates with multi-regional presence.
• SZBlind (Schweizerisches Zentrum für Blinde und Sehbehinderte): Swiss national institution for blind and visually impaired individuals, providing education, vocational training, and rehabilitation services. Directly comparable to AccessAbility as a Swiss service provider in the same specialized disability vertical.

Broad incumbents

• Optelec: International manufacturer of low-vision and blindness aids (now part of Vispero). Comparable as an incumbent supplier of assistive devices that AccessAbility's clients use, sitting upstream in the same value chain.
• Humanware: International assistive technology manufacturer producing low-vision devices, braille displays, and magnifiers. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the assistive technology category that AccessAbility's clients rely on, though AccessAbility does not compete on hardware manufacturing.

Others

• Accesstech AG: Founding parent and primary assistive device supplier of Stiftung AccessAbility. Directly related as both governance parent and vertical supplier of the assistive technology hardware that AccessAbility installs and supports.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-accessability

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Stiftung AccessAbility