Convergence Durable

What Convergence Durable does

Convergence Durable (legal name: Association Convergence Durable) is a Swiss non-profit association headquartered in Lausanne, Vaud, that operates a web-based directory and marketplace aggregating eco-responsible organizations in French-speaking Switzerland (Romandie). Founded in 2020 by five Master's students in Sustainability at the University of Lausanne via the UCreate entrepreneurship program, the association transitioned from a student project to a formal non-profit in February 2024 and now lists 102 vetted partner organizations across domains such as zero-waste retail, sustainable mobility, eco-design, ethical fashion, renewable energy, and environmental associations. Its core product is the 'Convergence Durable' web platform, comprising a partner directory, an interactive geographic map, an events portal with ticketing, a sales channel for sustainable products and services, and a donations/engagement system, all governed by an internal ethical charter used to screen out greenwashing.

The association serves two primary segments: eco-conscious citizens seeking sustainable alternatives and community connection, and sustainable organizations seeking visibility, networking, and cross-promotion. Distribution is essentially self-serve through the public website, supplemented by recurring offline touchpoints such as 'Apéros Réseau' network aperitifs and regional events like 'Terroir Valaisan'. Marketing relies on Instagram, a monthly email newsletter, partner cross-promotion, community events, and word of mouth rather than paid acquisition. Convergence Durable does not charge end consumers; revenue mechanics consist of small-scale crowdfunding campaigns, donations, in-kind partner counterparty contributions, and membership dues, with two disclosed raises of 20,000 CHF (2024) and 8,645 CHF (2026).

The organization is operated by roughly 18 active members, including two part-time paid interns and several unpaid volunteers/stagiaires, under a shared-governance steering committee with leaders for partnership, treasury, communications, events, graphics, citizen transition, and regional cantons (notably a Valais lead). Technology is largely off-the-shelf and externalized: the next-generation platform is being built by EcoVisuel, a responsible-communication agency. Strategic priorities visible in 2026 include a September 2026 platform relaunch, expansion into Valais, the development of a physical hub called 'Le QG' in central Lausanne, and a pursuit of public-utility association status to make donations tax-deductible.

Name

Convergence Durable

Legal name

Association Convergence Durable

Website

https://convergence-durable.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Convergence Durable is a Lausanne-based Swiss non-profit operating a web directory and marketplace aggregating 100+ vetted eco-responsible organizations across French-speaking Switzerland for eco-conscious citizens and sustainable businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Community Platform

NAICS

Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Networking & Matchmaking Solutions (1:1, Group, AI Matchmaking) (THAHAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Mobile Apps & Second-Screen Experiences (Agendas, Messaging, Push, Check-in) (THAHAOAG), Integration & Managed Services for Hybrid Events (Platform Integrations, Ops, Support) (THAHAOAO)

Keywords

• Sustainability directory platform
• Eco-responsible marketplace
• Community engagement platform
• Sustainable organization network
• Ecological transition platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Crowdfunding: The association conducts crowdfunding campaigns to fund platform development. In 2024, a crowdfunding campaign raised 20,000 CHF. In 2026, a Phase 1 campaign raised 8,645 CHF from partners, exceeding the 7,000 CHF target.
2. Partner contributions: Partners contribute financially or provide in-kind support (counterparties for crowdfunding backers) to support the association's operations and platform development.
3. Donations: The association accepts donations from individuals and organizations. They are in the process of becoming a public utility association, which would make donations tax-deductible.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Convergence Durable operates a community-led web platform that aggregates 102+ vetted eco-responsible organizations and sustainable alternatives across French-speaking Switzerland (Suisse romande). The platform combines a searchable partner directory, an event portal with ticketing, a digital sales channel for eco-products and services, an interactive geographic map, and a donation/engagement system, complemented by physical community events such as network aperitifs and the planned 'Le QG' convergence space in Lausanne.

Product overview

Convergence Durable operates a unified digital platform serving as a directory, marketplace, and community hub for eco-responsible organizations in French-speaking Switzerland. The core platform combines a partner directory of over 100 sustainable alternatives, an events portal with ticketing capabilities, a sales channel for eco-products and services, and a donations/engagement system. All offerings are integrated within a single web-based platform accessible at convergence-durable.ch, designed to connect citizens with local sustainability initiatives, facilitate event registration, and support the ecological transition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Convergence Durable Directory & Community Platform Web-based directory and community platform aggregating 102+ eco-responsible organizations across French-speaking Switzerland. Serves eco-conscious citizens seeking vetted sustainable alternatives, events, products, and services; and serves partner sustainable organizations seeking visibility. Includes category filters, partner profiles, an interactive map, an event portal, a sales channel, and a donation/engagement system.
• Event Portal with Ticketing Event portal with integrated ticketing for eco-friendly events, workshops, and trainings offered by partner organizations across French-speaking Switzerland, including the Apéros Réseau and 'Terroir Valaisan' trilogy.
• Partner Directory (Liste d'alternatives) Searchable database of 102+ eco-responsible partner organizations categorized by domain (food, mobility, energy, zero waste, etc.) and service type (events, training, communities, sustainable purchases), serving citizens seeking vetted local alternatives.
• Interactive Map of Sustainable Alternatives Geographic visualization tool showing the location of 100+ sustainable alternatives across French-speaking Switzerland, enabling citizens to discover eco-responsible options near them.
• Digital Sales Channel for Sustainable Products & Services Digital sales channel enabling 100+ partner organizations to offer sustainable products and services through the platform, connecting eco-responsible sellers with eco-conscious citizens in French-speaking Switzerland.
• Le QG Physical Convergence Space Planned free and accessible physical space in central Lausanne to foster social connection, cooperation, and visibility for local sustainable initiatives, complementing the digital platform with in-person community engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 102 sustainable organizations listed and accessible through the platform
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EcoVisuelcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026EcoVisuel is credited as the digital development partner responsible for building Convergence Durable's new platform. As an agency of responsible communication, EcoVisuel helps develop the digital infrastructure that powers the platform's directory, event ticketing, and sales features.
• Various platform partners (80+ organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Over 80 sustainable organizations are listed on the Convergence Durable platform as partners. Partners include diverse organizations across sectors such as zero-waste shops, sustainable mobility providers, eco-design studios, and environmental associations. Many partners provided free counterparty offerings during the 2024 crowdfunding campaign.
• UCreate (Université de Lausanne Entrepreneurship Hub)minorOthers · 1 January 2020UCreate is the entrepreneurial program at the University of Lausanne that supported Convergence Durable's initial platform development through its funding call for projects. This early support helped launch the first version of the web platform.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ecosia: Berlin-based nonprofit search engine that channels profits into environmental projects. Comparable as a sustainability-themed nonprofit platform driving user behavior change, though Ecosia operates at vastly greater scale in a different category.
• Meetup: Global community-event platform that, like Convergence Durable, organizes in-person local gatherings and uses community networks as the core GTM motion. Comparable event-discovery and community-building functionality, though focused on general interests rather than sustainability.
• Too Good To Go: Large-scale European marketplace reducing food waste by connecting consumers with surplus food from local businesses. Operates a much broader and better-capitalized version of the same citizen-to-sustainable-business marketplace dynamic.

Direct peers

• Cagette.net: French cooperative online platform connecting local producers and consumers, explicitly cited as the inspiration for Convergence Durable. Operates a similar community-led marketplace and directory model focused on sustainable local alternatives, making it the closest direct peer.
• La Ruche qui dit Oui: France-based community-led food platform organizing local sales between producers and citizen 'hives'. Operates a comparable hybrid model with a digital platform plus in-person community gatherings, in the same sustainability/local-alternatives niche.
• Open Food Network: Global nonprofit cooperative platform enabling local food enterprises and communities to coordinate sustainable food distribution. Similar nonprofit governance, directory + marketplace structure, and community-driven ethos targeting ecological transition.

Emerging players

• Yuka: Consumer mobile app scoring food and cosmetic products for health and environmental impact. Operates in the same eco-conscious-citizen segment and uses product-level sustainability signals, though as a consumer product rather than a community-led directory.
• WeGreen: European platform aggregating sustainable brands and projects with a directory plus community engagement model. Comparable in scope (multi-category sustainability directory) but operates across a larger geography and from a tech-company rather than nonprofit base.

Others

• UCreate (Université de Lausanne): Entrepreneurship hub at the University of Lausanne that incubated Convergence Durable through its funding-call program. Listed as a partner and is comparable as a Swiss academic-incubator ecosystem participant supporting sustainability ventures.

Regional players

• Caritas Suisse: Swiss nonprofit umbrella for social and sustainability action with regional Caritas chapters including Caritas Vaud (already a Convergence Durable partner). Comparable as a Swiss-rooted nonprofit serving citizens seeking responsible alternatives, but at much larger scale and with broader social scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/convergence-durable
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/convergence-durable
• Instagraminstagram.com/convergence_durable

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Convergence Durable