Jugendkulturhaus Dynamo

What Jugendkulturhaus Dynamo does

Jugendkulturhaus Dynamo is a non-commercial municipal youth culture house in Zurich, Switzerland, operating since 1988 under the Social Services of the City of Zürich (Soziale Dienste der Stadt Zürich). Housed in a multi-building complex on the Limmat river at Wasserwerkstrasse 21, it provides free or low-threshold access to professional-grade creative infrastructure across six distinct workshops: Druckwerkstatt (screen printing, Risograph, laser), Metallwerkstatt (MIG/WIG welding, jewelry, sandblasting, plasma), Digitalwerkstatt (3D printing in PLA, resin, and ceramic; CNC routing; laser cutting; thermoforming), Textilwerkstatt (sewing, plotting, tufting, leather), Keramikwerkstatt (pottery wheels, kilns), and Fotolabor (analog film development and printing).

Its business model blends public subsidy from the City of Zürich with diversified, usage-based commercial revenue streams: workshop entry and machine-time fees (CHF 3-50 day passes tiered by age, plus separate machine-time rates from CHF 10/hour youth to CHF 90/hour commercial), room rental across 10+ event spaces (CHF 18.20-43.70/hour; Saal holds 600+), course fees for external instructors (CHF 100-250 per participant), restaurant and bar receipts from Chuchi am Wasser, and a January-February pop-up restaurant program ("Chuchi macht Platz") that takes a 10% revenue share. Pricing is intentionally tiered by age and residence status, with 50% Kulturlegi discounts and free access for asylum-status (N) holders.

Dynamo serves primarily youth and young adults aged 16-28, but operates as an open-access venue across age groups. Distribution is purely direct and physical, supplemented by online event ticketing through Eventfrog, Ticketcorner, Ticketmaster, and Loopnbeat. Programmatic offerings include Dynamic Days holiday courses for 12-15 year-olds, the annual Schaustelle Christmas market, the Open Call community project program (≈3,000 visitors in 2025), Raumbörse room-matching (transitioning out in 2026), Projektraum 13 project space, and the Each One Teach One hip-hop workshop series. The organization holds a 14-person staff and carries no equity investors, functioning as a public-sector cultural institution rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

Jugendkulturhaus Dynamo

Legal name

Jugendkulturhaus Dynamo

Website

https://dynamo.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jugendkulturhaus Dynamo is a non-commercial municipal youth culture house in Zurich, Switzerland, operating since 1988 under the City of Zürich's Social Services. It runs six open-access workshops, a restaurant on the Limmat, 10+ rentable event spaces, and youth programs serving users aged roughly 12-28.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Cultural Center

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA), Textile & Fiber Arts Classes (Weaving, Knitting, Embroidery, Dyeing) (THAJAKAB), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

Keywords

• Youth cultural center
• Creative workshop facilities
• Maker space access
• Event venue rentals
• Community cultural programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Workshop Entry and Usage Fees: Time-based fees for workshop access categorized by age (under 18, under 28, over 28) and workshop type (attended vs unattended). Machine time fees for specialized equipment like lasercutters, CNC, and plasma cutters.
2. Room Rental: Rental income from over 10 spaces including Saal for concerts (600+ capacity), Werk21 for intimate gigs, Tanzdach, Cambium, Projektraum 13, Studio 17, and Haus 19 meeting rooms. Prices vary by space, age, and usage type.
3. Restaurant & Bar (Chuchi am Wasser): Food service including daily menus (vegetarian/vegan and meat/fish), snacks, beverages, and cocktails. Located at unique riverside position on the Limmat. Sustainability-focused with food waste reduction and local sourcing.
4. Course Fees: Revenue from external instructors hosting courses in various disciplines. Fees typically range from CHF 100-250 for participants under 28 or with Kulturlegi, higher for those over 28. Additional material costs may apply.
5. City of Zürich Public Funding: As an institution under the Social Services of the City of Zürich, Dynamo receives public funding as a non-commercial institution serving youth cultural development.
6. Restaurant Pop-up Intervals: Chuchi macht Platz initiative where external projects can operate the restaurant during January-February closure period. 10% of revenue goes to Dynamo.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jugendkulturhaus Dynamo operates a publicly funded youth cultural center providing access to six specialized creative workshops (printing, metalworking, digital fabrication, textiles, ceramics, and analog photography), event and concert venue rentals across 10+ spaces, an on-site restaurant and bar, and youth programs including holiday courses, project spaces, and cultural events. The center serves primarily youth aged 16-28 and the broader Zurich community with subsidized creative access, equipment, and infrastructure.

Product overview

Jugendkulturhaus Dynamo is a non-commercial youth cultural center in Zurich offering a comprehensive range of creative workshops, event spaces, and cultural programs. The facility operates six workshop areas: Druckwerkstatt (screen printing/laser), Metallwerkstatt (metalworking/jewelry), Digitalwerkstatt (3D printing/CNC), Textilwerkstatt (sewing/tufting), Keramikwerkstatt (pottery/ceramics), and Fotolabor (analog photography). Supporting services include Raumvermietung for event venues (hall for 600+, Werk 21 music club), Chuchi am Wasser restaurant, and various youth programs including Dynamic Days holiday courses, Schaustelle Christmas market, Open Call project spaces, and Raumbörse room exchange. The center serves primarily youth aged 16-28 but is open to all, providing tools, machines, and expert support for creative projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dynamic Days: Holiday courses during spring vacation for 12-15 year old city of Zurich youth, offering workshops in various creative and sports activities.
• Schaustelle
• Raumbörse
• Chuchi macht Platz
• Projektraum 13

Products and services

• Druckwerkstatt (Print Workshop) Workshop offering screen printing (Siebdruck), Risograph printing, and laser cutting services with various materials including wood, acrylic, and cardboard. Available as day pass with usage-based fees plus material costs.
• Metallwerkstatt (Metal Workshop) Workshop for metalworking including welding (MIG/WIG), plasma cutting, blacksmithing, jewelry making, and sandblasting with professional equipment. Available as day pass with usage-based fees plus material costs.
• Digitalwerkstatt (Digital Workshop) Digital fabrication workshop featuring 3D printing (resin, PLA, ceramic), CNC routing, laser cutting, rendering PCs, and thermoforming capabilities. Machine time billed separately for lasercutters, CNC, and plasma cutters.
• Textilwerkstatt (Textile Workshop) Textile workshop with sewing machines, cutting plotters, tufting guns, leather working equipment, and a dyeing kitchen for fabric work.
• Keramikwerkstatt (Ceramic Workshop) Pottery and ceramic workshop with electric pottery wheels, kiln, and summer outdoor studio for throwing, modeling, and glazing clay pieces.
• Fotolabor (Photo Lab) Analog photography lab for film development and photo printing with professional-grade equipment including a full-format camera.
• Raumvermietung (Room Rental) Rental of various event spaces including the Saal (hall for 600+ visitors), Werk 21 music club, Tanzdach, Cambium, Projektraum 13, Studio 17, and Haus 19 meeting rooms. Saal and Werk 21 rented only for public events, not private parties.
• Chuchi am Wasser Restaurant & Bar On-site restaurant and bar offering daily menus, snacks, and beverages with vegetarian/vegan and meat/fish options, located by the Limmat river. Sustainability-focused with food waste reduction and local sourcing under Stadtzürcher Ernährungsstrategie since 2019.
• Dynamic Days Ferienangebote Holiday course program for 12-15 year old City of Zurich youth during spring breaks, offering workshops in 3D design, beat production, comics, photography, graffiti, ceramics, boxing, fashion, skateboarding, welding, screen printing, and dance. CHF 160 for City residents, CHF 200 for non-residents.
• Schaustelle Annual DIY Christmas market held in December featuring local creators selling handmade products including ceramics, photography, illustrations, and silver jewelry, plus hands-on workshops.
• Raumbörse Room exchange service helping young creatives find affordable studio or project spaces in Zurich, operated in partnership with the city.
• Open Call Annual program offering free or low-cost space rental for young, local, non-profit creative projects including concerts, exhibitions, workshops, and performances.
• Projektraum 13 Project space available for 1 week to 3 months for young local makers working on non-profit innovative projects.
• Chuchi Macht Platz Pop-up restaurant opportunity during January-February when the restaurant closes, inviting creative projects to operate the venue with 10% of revenue going to Dynamo.
• Each One Teach One

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 3000 visitors and 40+ events realized during Open Call 2025 from 100+ inquiries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stadtzürcher Ernährungsstrategie (City of Zurich Nutrition Strategy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Active participant in the City of Zurich's nutrition strategy since 2019. Committed to sustainability goals including food waste reduction, balanced and healthy offerings, and increased purchasing of environmentally friendly foods produced fairly.
• Service Civil International (SCI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular cooperation with non-profit organization Service Civil International to organize projects in and around the youth culture house. Aims to strengthen cooperation with Swiss initiatives and promote intercultural collaboration.
• Ozelot StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZurich-based creative studio specializing in new technologies, art, and contemporary culture. Created the Ato Automat vending machine and curatorial platform for local designers and artists as part of the Dynamo Schaustelle initiative.
• Büro RadicalminorOthersReferenced in Dynamo awareness concept development. Contributed to the framework for addressing discrimination and creating socially just spaces.
• Raksa (Netzwerk rassismuskritische Soziale Arbeit)minorOthersReferenced in Dynamo awareness concept development. Network for racism-critical social work that informed awareness policies.
• Kollektiv Vo DaminorOthersReferenced in Dynamo awareness concept development. Contributed to awareness framework for addressing discrimination and creating safe spaces.
• Schauspielhaus ZürichminorOthersDynamo referenced Schauspielhaus Zurich's glossary as an orientation framework for their awareness concept development, thanking them for the foundational work.
• Zürcher Sport-Ferienlager FieschminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership bringing sports vacation camp concept to Dynamic Days holiday programming. Joint initiative providing sports activities during school breaks.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gessnerallee: Zürich performing arts venue presenting contemporary theater, dance, and performance. Comparable as a city-supported cultural institution hosting public events and renting space to independent creators in the same city.
• Dampfzentrale: Cultural center in Bern housed in a former industrial building, hosting contemporary performing arts, concerts, and festivals. Comparable as a regionally supported Swiss cultural venue offering multi-disciplinary programming in a repurposed historic site.
• Kaserne Basel: Cultural venue in Basel combining independent theater, club nights, and youth-oriented programming. Comparable to Dynamo as a Swiss municipal cultural venue offering multi-use event spaces and creative community programming.
• Helsinki Club Zürich: Zürich venue hosting concerts, club nights, and cultural events with strong youth and subcultural orientation. Directly comparable as a Zürich-based cultural venue in the same alternative/creative programming space as Dynamo.
• Rote Fabrik: Alternative cultural center in Zürich offering concerts, theater, cinema, and workshops in a repurposed industrial site. Directly comparable to Dynamo as a long-running, mission-driven cultural venue serving Zürich's creative community.

Regional players

• Jugendzentrum Spektrum: Generic category of municipal youth centers across DACH-region cities offering similar workshop and event programming to Dynamo, but typically serving different German-speaking cities rather than Zürich.
• E-Werk Freiburg: Cultural center in Freiburg im Breisgau offering concerts, workshops, and youth programming in a former power station. Comparable as a German alternative cultural venue combining maker/creative spaces with event programming.
• SO36: Iconic Berlin cultural venue with a long history of punk, subcultural, and youth programming. Comparable in mission and programmatic orientation as an alternative cultural venue serving subcultural communities, though operating in a different national market.

Broad incumbents

• Kulturhaus Südpark: Municipal cultural center in Cologne, Germany, offering workshops, concerts, and youth programming under city administration. Comparable in structure as a publicly funded multi-disciplinary cultural center, though operating at larger scale in a different country.
• ETH Zürich FabLab: University-affiliated fabrication laboratory offering access to 3D printing, laser cutting, and digital tools. Comparable as a maker-space resource in Zürich, though positioned for academic users rather than Dynamo's youth/community demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DynamoZurich
• Instagraminstagram.com/dynamo_zuerich
• TikToktiktok.com/@dynamo_zuerich
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jugendkulturhaus-dynamo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Jugendkulturhaus Dynamo