Dissens

Name

Dissens

Legal name

Dissens – Institut für Bildung und Forschung e.V.

Website

https://dissens.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dissens is a Berlin-based non-profit education and research institute founded in 1989, specializing in gender-reflective pedagogy, gender studies, and research on sexualized violence in institutional contexts. It serves educators, youth welfare organizations, and government/church institutions across Germany through training, publications, and commissioned research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project Funding and Grants: Dissens operates primarily through publicly funded project grants at the local (Landes-), federal (Bundes-), and European levels. Projects such as 'Schnittstelle Geschlecht' are financed by state ministries (e.g., Berliner Senatsverwaltung) and federal programs (e.g., Bundesprogramm Demokratie leben!). Funding is project-specific, time-limited, and recurring through competitive applications.
2. Training and Workshop Fees: The institute charges modest participation fees for its professional development courses. Example: 25 Euro participation fee for a 3.5-day foundational training in gender-reflective pedagogy. Additional certification-oriented programs (train-the-trainer series) also carry participant fees. These fees represent a minor supplementary revenue stream rather than a primary income source.
3. Donations: Dissens accepts donations from individuals and supporters. The institute maintains a donation tool via the Bank für Sozialwirtschaft AG, an IBAN-based transfer option, and a BildungsSpender affiliate mechanism. Donations of more than 300 EUR trigger a donation receipt for tax purposes.
4. Sales of Printed Materials: The institute sells printed versions of its pedagogical handbooks (e.g., the handbook on gender-reflective pedagogy for 5 EUR shipping cost). However, digital downloads are offered free of charge as a matter of principle, making this a minimal revenue stream focused on cost recovery rather than profit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dissens is a Berlin-based education, counseling, and research institute that delivers gender-reflective pedagogical training programs, professional development workshops, and scientific research/evaluation services. Its work covers sexualized violence in institutional contexts, anti-feminism, far-right gender politics, and gender/sexual diversity in educational settings. Offerings are delivered via in-person training at its Berlin office and partner venues, with accompanying free digital handbooks and modest printed handbook sales.

Product overview

Dissens - Institut für Bildung und Forschung e.V. is a Berlin-based education, counseling, and research institute founded in 1989, recognized as a provider of youth welfare services and the Federal Agency for Political Education. The institute operates a multi-project portfolio centered on gender studies and equality: the Schnittstelle Geschlecht (SchniG) project provides gender-reflective education as prevention against sexism, diversity hostility, and right-wing extremism, offering training programs and pedagogical publications including the 2025 'Geschlechterreflektierte Pädagogik gegen Diskriminierung und Rechtsextremismus' handout; the Interventionen für geschlechtliche und sexuelle Vielfalt project delivers workshops, training series, and educational materials on gender and sexual diversity; and the research division conducts scientific studies on sexualized violence in institutional contexts and extreme right masculinity. The institute also offers independent continuing education courses and workshops, operates a podcast, and has completed projects such as 'Antifeminismus begegnen - Demokratie stärken' (2022-2024). Materials are made available free or at low cost as a core principle of the organization's work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Interventionen für geschlechtliche und sexuelle Vielfalt: A project website of Dissens focused on gender and sexual diversity, providing workshops, educational materials,和方法, and training programs on the topic.

Products and services

• Schnittstelle Geschlecht (SchniG) - Geschlechterreflektierte Bildung als Prävention von Sexismus, Vielfaltsfeindlichkeit und Rechtsextremismus Comprehensive project offering training programs, pedagogical handouts, and educational materials on gender relations, gender-reflective education, anti-discrimination, and right-wing extremism prevention. Targeted at pedagogical professionals, teachers, and youth welfare workers in Berlin and beyond.
• Interventionen für geschlechtliche und sexuelle Vielfalt Project providing workshops, training series, and educational materials on gender and sexual diversity, including pedagogical methods, explanatory videos, glossaries, and publications for pedagogical work with children and young people.
• Fortbildungen und Workshops (Professional Training and Workshops) Independent continuing education courses and workshops on gender-reflective pedagogy, gender and sexual diversity, anti-feminism, and masculinity studies, offered at Dissens Berlin venue and partner institutions (e.g., LISUM, GRIPS Theater, Villa Fohrde, Akademie Waldschlösschen). Includes the 3.5-day foundational training in gender-reflective pedagogy (25 EUR per participant) and train-the-trainer certification series.
• Forschung und Evaluation (Research and Evaluation) Commissioned scientific research and evaluation services, including studies on sexualized violence in institutional contexts (e.g., Bistum Essen, Ev. Kirchenkreis Bielefeld, former Kinderheim Ramsau, Kornelimünster, Elsdorf), extreme-right masculinity and the manosphere, and academic documentation of historical abuse. Delivered as direct contractual engagements with church institutions and government bodies.
• Handreichung: Geschlechterreflektierte Pädagogik gegen Diskriminierung und Rechtsextremismus 140-page pedagogical handbook (2025) presenting Dissens' approach to gender-reflective pedagogy for preventing discrimination and right-wing extremism, with methods, exercises, and self-reflection tools for educators. Available free as PDF and as printed copy at shipping cost.
• Handreichung: Pädagogik geschlechtlicher, amouröser und sexueller Vielfalt – Zwischen Sensibilisierung und Empowerment Pedagogical handbook (2018) on gender, romantic, and sexual diversity in educational settings, addressing approaches between sensitization and empowerment. Available as free digital download and printed copy at 5 EUR shipping cost within Germany.
• Podcast Dissens podcast series (under the main Dissens brand and related project brands) covering masculinity, anti-feminism, digital spaces, and gender-reflective pedagogy. Available at dissens.de/podcast.
• Antifeminismus begegnen - Demokratie stärken Completed project (2022-2024) focused on confronting antifeminism and strengthening democracy through educational interventions, training, and resource development.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Berliner Senatsverwaltung für Arbeit, Soziales, Gleichstellung, Integration, Vielfalt und AntidiskriminierungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Berlin Senate administration for Labor, Social Affairs, Equality, Integration, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination provides core funding for the 'Schnittstelle Geschlecht' project, which is part of the Berlin state program against right-wing extremism, racism and anti-Semitism. This represents the primary public funding relationship for one of Dissens' flagship projects.
• Institut für Praxisforschung und Projektberatung (IPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDissens collaborates with IPP on research investigations into sexualized violence in institutional contexts, including the investigation into allegations against Franz Kardinal Hengsbach. The two institutes co-present findings at press conferences and publish joint research reports.
• Forschungsstelle für Zeitgeschichte Hamburg (FZH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFZH collaborates with Dissens and IPP on the research investigation into sexualized violence in institutional contexts, specifically the study on behalf of the Bistum Essen. FZH contributes historical research expertise to the investigation.
• GRIPS Theater BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDissens works with GRIPS Theater Berlin as a cooperation partner for theater-pedagogical workshops and events. Collaborative productions include 'Upload Virgin' and 'Princess'. GRIPS also co-hosts the 'Fachnachmittag Geschlecht & Pädagogik' event.
• RosaLinde Leipzig e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRosaLinde Leipzig is a partner in the joint project 'Vielfalt stärkt Demokratie!' (a joint project with Gerede e.V. Dresden) that was featured at a Dissens Fachnachmittag event. The partnership focuses on strategies against queerphobia.
• Gerede e.V. DresdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerede e.V. Dresden collaborates with RosaLinde Leipzig and Dissens in the project 'Vielfalt stärkt Demokratie!' focused on addressing queerphobia as a bridge ideology for right-wing and anti-democratic narratives.
• BildungsBausteine e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBildungsBausteine e.V. contributes to the Dissens 'Fachnachmittag Geschlecht & Pädagogik' event with a workshop on handling emotions in discrimination-critical educational work, as part of the 'as_ra – Intersektional gegen Rassismus und Antisemitismus' project.
• Gesicht Zeigen! Für ein weltoffenes Deutschland e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGesicht Zeigen! contributes to the Dissens 'Fachnachmittag Geschlecht & Pädagogik' event with a workshop on gender-reflective educational work in the project 'Die Freiheit, die ich meine', focusing on gender-separated workshop settings for youth.
• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a recognized provider of the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, Dissens participates in federal political education programs. The bpb logo is displayed on Dissens publications as a funding partner.
• Amadeu Antonio StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDissens participates in joint events with the Amadeu Antonio Stiftung, including a conference on 'Der antiweibliche Komplex im Rechtsextremismus' (March 2026) organized with the Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin and Dissens as a cooperating institute.
• Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin (ASH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASH cooperates with Dissens and Amadeu Antonio Stiftung on academic events focused on gender and right-wing extremism, including the conference 'Der antiweibliche Komplex im Rechtsextremismus' (March 2026).
• Landesinstitut für Schule und Medien Berlin-Brandenburg (LISUM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDissens cooperates with LISUM for the delivery of training courses and workshops for teachers and educators in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. Multiple training series have been conducted at LISUM facilities.
• GERDEA Research ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDissens staff participate in the GERDEA research consortium (Geschlecht als Bühne gesellschaftlicher Kämpfe), which held its final conference in March 2026. The consortium investigates gender as a arena of societal conflict.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bildungsstätte Anne Frank: Frankfurt-based political education institute focused on antisemitism, racism, and discrimination prevention with research, training, and exhibition programs. Highly comparable to Dissens in combining academic research, professional development for educators, and project-based civic education work in Germany.
• Gerede e.V. Dresden-based LGBTQ+ education and counseling organization and confirmed Dissens cooperation partner. Comparable as a similar-sized, project-funded educational provider focused on queerphobia, gender diversity, and democratic education in eastern Germany.
• Gesicht Zeigen! Für ein weltoffenes Deutschland e.V. Berlin-based association promoting democracy, diversity, and engagement against discrimination through educational programs and campaigns. Directly comparable to Dissens in size, Berlin base, and educational focus on discrimination and right-wing extremism.
• RosaLinde Leipzig e.V. Leipzig-based LGBTQ+ education and counseling organization and confirmed Dissens cooperation partner ('Vielfalt stärkt Demokratie!'). Comparable as a similarly sized, publicly funded civic education provider working on queerphobia and anti-democratic narratives.
• Agentur für Bildung – Geschichte, Politik und Medien e.V. Berlin-based non-profit offering political education projects, training, and publications on history, politics, and media. Comparable as a similar-sized civic education provider with project-based funding and educator training.
• Amadeu Antonio Stiftung: Berlin-based foundation funding and developing projects against right-wing extremism, racism, and antisemitism. Comparable as a thematic peer (active Dissens cooperation partner) operating at the intersection of civil society, civic education, and right-wing extremism prevention.

Broad incumbents

• Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung: Major left-leaning political foundation affiliated with Die Linke, conducting political education, research, and international dialogue work. Comparable as a much larger incumbent operating in the same civic/political education space across Germany and internationally.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung: Social democratic political foundation conducting political education, research, and international cooperation globally. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the German civic education ecosystem with overlapping themes on democracy and social inclusion.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: Green-affiliated political foundation running extensive civic education, gender, democracy, and anti-discrimination programming. Comparable thematic overlap with Dissens on gender, antifeminism, and democracy work, but at significantly larger scale.
• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb): Federal Agency for Political Education, the primary German government body for civic and political education and Dissens' direct funding/recognition partner. Acts as the broad incumbent that channels funding and accreditation to specialized providers like Dissens.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dissens.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dissens

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dissens