Elpida

What Elpida does

Elpida, o.p.s. is a Czech public-benefit nonprofit founded in 2002 and headquartered at Na Bělidle 34, Praha 5 – Smíchov, that operates an integrated portfolio of programs for seniors aged 60+. Its core offerings are Centrum Elpida — two physical education centers in Prague (Bělidlo and Přístav) delivering language, computer, creative, and cultural courses (~600 language students/year at 1,999 CZK per semester); the Linka seniorů 800 200 007 free national crisis hotline handling ~21,533 calls annually; the elbot.cz e-learning platform with courses in languages, digital literacy, and AI; the quarterly Časopis Vital magazine (~20,000 readers); the Ponožky od babiěky social enterprise employing 200+ senior knitters producing 10,000+ pairs of hand-knitted socks per year; the Vzdělávací institut training professionals via the MPSV-accredited SEFTE (Senior Friendly Teacher) program (394 graduates since 2021); and cultural/community assets including the Elpida choir, Kavárna Stará škola, and the OLD'S COOL intergenerational festival and podcast.

The technology footprint is modest and operationally focused: a Moodle-based e-learning platform (elbot.cz), the toll-free hotline infrastructure (provided by T-Mobile), a Shopify-style e-commerce front at shop.elpida.cz, and content production for the magazine and podcast — there are no disclosed proprietary ML systems, apps, or APIs. Revenue is diversified across tuition (Language Academy, SEFTE fees of 10,900 CZK, custom corporate workshops), e-commerce unit pricing (305–388 CZK per pair of socks, with bulk discounts at 50+ units), magazine subscriptions, and substantial institutional support from a stable of named partners including Penny Market, NN Životní pojišťovna, MPSV (Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs), MHMP (City of Prague), Ambiente, T-Mobile, and the Vodafone Foundation, alongside donations and a public charity collection. The organization employs approximately 195 staff and is led by director Jiří Hrabě, with Jan Bartoš heading Centrum Elpida, Kateřina Bohatá leading the crisis line, Zuzana Vaidová managing the sock enterprise, and David Drvota coordinating the SEFTE Academy.

The customer base is heavily long-tail, with end users being individual seniors across the Czech Republic; a secondary B2B segment comprises municipalities (Bratislava, Prague), corporates (Vodafone, Penny), and libraries (Moravskoslezská vědecká knihovna v Ostravě) buying SEFTE and custom training. Geographic reach is nationally distributed across the Czech Republic via the hotline, e-learning, and knitter network, while physical service delivery is concentrated in Prague. Go-to-market is community-led — word-of-mouth, social-services referrals, media coverage, and partnerships drive acquisition, with Instagram, Facebook (elpidaproseniory), YouTube (elpida2002), a weekly email newsletter, and the OLD'S COOL festival serving as the primary channels.

Name

Elpida

Legal name

Elpida o. p. s.

Website

https://elpida.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Elpida is a Czech nonprofit founded in 2002 that runs two Prague education centers, a national senior crisis hotline, an e-learning platform, a magazine, a social-enterprise sock brand employing 200+ senior knitters, and an MPSV-accredited SEFTE training academy, serving Czech seniors aged 60+ and the professionals who support them.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Education and Active Aging Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (6117), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Emotional Regulation Programs (EDAMAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health, Wellness & Self-Care Skills (Sleep, Nutrition, Habits) (EDAMAIAJ), General ESL Programs (Multi-level Adult ESL) (EDAAACAA), Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports (EDAKAMAE)

Keywords

• Senior education services
• Crisis hotline support
• Active aging programs
• Social enterprise knitting
• Digital literacy training

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague 5 (Smíchov)

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational course fees: Language, computer, creative writing, YouTubering, and other courses for seniors at two Prague centers and online. Semester-based tuition; approximately 600 language students per year.
2. E-commerce - Ponožky od babičky: Hand-knitted socks and accessories sold online and at markets. Social enterprise model: 1/3 of revenue to knitters, 1/3 to project operations/VAT, 1/3 to Elpida center programs. 200+ knitters nationwide; each pair is unique.
3. Corporate training and custom programs: Custom workshops and training programs for organizations and companies on senior-friendly communication and practices, delivered by the Vzdělávací institut. Examples include Bratislava City Council, Vodafone, Moravskoslezská vědecká knihovna.
4. Časopis Vital magazine: Quarterly magazine for seniors, published under the brand vitalplus.org. Revenue from subscriptions and potentially advertising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Elpida is a Czech nonprofit organization that runs education centers and online courses for seniors (languages, digital literacy, AI), a free national crisis telephone hotline (Linka seniorů 800 200 007), publishes a magazine (Časopis Vital), and operates a social enterprise selling hand-knitted socks (Ponožky od babičky) produced by senior women. It also offers B2B training through the Vzdělávací institut, including the SEFTE Academy that certifies professionals in senior-friendly teaching and crisis intervention.

Product overview

Elpida operates as a comprehensive ecosystem of services for seniors, combining educational (Centrum Elpida with language, computer, and creative courses via elbot.cz online platform), crisis support (Linka seniorů 800 200 007), cultural (OLD'S COOL festival, choir, podcast), and social enterprise (Ponožky od babičky hand-knitted socks) offerings. The Vzdělávací institut extends Elpida's expertise to professionals through the SEFTE academy and specialized courses. The organization connects these products through its mission to help seniors remain active, confident, and respected members of society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ponožky od babičky: A social enterprise project where senior women knit and sell handcrafted socks made from recycled yarn. Provides income and community for over 200 knitters across Czech Republic.
• OLD'S COOL
• Linka seniorů
• Časopis Vital
• Vzdělávací institut Elpida
• elbot.cz
• Kavárna Stará škola

Products and services

• Centrum Elpida (Education and Cultural Centers) Educational and cultural centers for active seniors operating since 2003 at two Prague locations (Bělidlo and Přístav), offering language courses, computer courses, creative workshops, lectures, exercise programs, counseling, and community activities. Currently ~600 language students annually.
• Linka seniorů (Senior Crisis Hotline) Free, anonymous national crisis telephone service 800 200 007 available throughout the Czech Republic, providing support for seniors in acute crisis and long-term distress, including family relationships, loneliness, mental illness, depression, and suicidal ideation. Handles ~21,533 calls per year.
• elbot.cz (E-learning Platform) Online learning platform where seniors aged 60+ improve foreign language skills, digital literacy, information literacy, and work with AI technologies. Reaches seniors nationwide across the Czech Republic.
• Ponožky od babičky (Socks from Grandmother) Social enterprise producing hand-knitted socks by approximately 200 senior women from across the Czech Republic using recycled and donated yarn. Provides income and social community for seniors. Sold online via shop.elpida.cz and at markets. 10,000+ pairs produced annually.
• Časopis Vital (Vital Magazine) Quarterly magazine published by Elpida for seniors, featuring articles on active aging, health, culture, and lifestyle topics. 20,000 regular readers.
• Vzdělávací institut (Educational Institute) Educational institute offering comprehensive training programs for professionals working with people aged 60+, including senior-friendly communication, AI courses for instructors, media literacy for seniors, and crisis intervention training. Custom programs delivered to organizations and companies (e.g., City of Bratislava, Vodafone, libraries).
• Akademie SEFTE (Senior Friendly Teacher) Flagship certification academy that trains instructors and librarians to understand the learning process of seniors and apply Elpida's methodologies. MPSV-accredited under number A2024/1487-SP/PC. Full program priced at 10,900 CZK. 394 graduates since 2021.
• Kavárna Stará škola (Old School Café) Café operated by Elpida providing employment opportunities for seniors.
• Podcast OLD'S COOL Podcast series exploring topics related to aging that transcend generational boundaries, hosted by Adéla Paulík Lichková with guests including both experts and seniors.
• OLD'S COOL Festival Long-running intergenerational festival featuring exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, discussions, workshops, and events connecting young artists with seniors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 21,533 crisis hotline calls per year (2025), covering family relationships, loneliness, depression, domestic violence, and suicidal ideation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• T-Mobile Czech RepubliccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025T-Mobile is the main partner of Linka seniorů, providing technological infrastructure for the free national crisis hotline for seniors. Partnership also includes broader support for Elpida's education and senior quality-of-life programs. The hotline handles ~21,000 calls annually on topics including family relationships, loneliness, depression, domestic violence, and suicidal ideation.
• Penny Market (Česká republika)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMain partner of Elpida, supporting senior education and community programs. Listed as one of five main partners on elpida.cz.
• NN Životní pojišťovna (NN Life Insurance)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMain partner of Elpida; listed alongside Penny, MPSV, MHMP, and Ambiente as primary supporters.
• Ministerstvo práce a sociálních věcí (MPSV / Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment ministry listed as main partner; provides institutional support and accreditation for SEFTE and crisis intervention programs.
• Hlavní město Praha (MHMP / City of Prague)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Prague is a main partner; jointly funding reconstruction of the Smíchov headquarters building into a modern education and cultural center.
• Vodafone Czech RepublicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVodafone sales staff underwent senior-friendly soft skills training at Elpida's Vzdělávací institut to improve communication with elderly customers on digital technology topics.
• Magistrát města Bratislava (City of Bratislava)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustom SEFTE Academy delivered in cooperation with the Mayor's Council for the Rights of Older Residents of Bratislava; 24-hour hybrid program with accommodation and catering.
• Moravskoslezská vědecká knihovna v OstravěminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-day media literacy workshop hosted at the library for professionals working with seniors, covering disinformation and critical thinking.
• Ambiente (restaurant group)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as main partner alongside Penny, NN, MPSV, and MHMP.
• Nadace Via (Via Foundation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides transparency and governance oversight for the Rozsviťme Česko charity campaign; 28 years of philanthropy development in Czech Republic.
• KogneominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership under Erasmus+ program to support senior education across Europe.
• Forbes.cz / Forbes Czech RepublicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublished feature story 'Když je sociální podnik cool. Čím si Ponožky od babičky získaly mladou generaci?' (When social enterprise is cool. How Ponožky od babičky won over the young generation) on Forbes Life.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Age UK: UK charity providing services, advice, and advocacy for older people, including a national Advice Line, information resources, and local services. Comparable as a national-scope seniors nonprofit combining crisis/advice services, educational content, and partnership-funded programs for the 60+ population.
• AARP: Largest senior advocacy and services organization in the United States, providing education, community programs, publications, and insurance-related services to 50+ members. Comparable as a large-scale, multi-program active-aging nonprofit with educational content, media, and insurance partner relationships — operates at vastly larger scale but in the same category.
• Caritas Czech Republic: Largest social services and humanitarian aid nonprofit in the Czech Republic, providing services across elderly care, family support, and social integration. Comparable as a large-scale Czech social services nonprofit that addresses senior care among other vulnerable populations and competes for the same donor and government partnership base.

Direct peers

• Sue Ryder Czech Republic: International charity operating in the Czech Republic providing social and care services, including support for elderly and vulnerable populations. Comparable as a social-services nonprofit with similar crisis support, senior engagement, and partner-funded operating model in the same geography.
• Život 90: Czech nonprofit focused on seniors, operating a crisis line and day-center services in Prague. Directly comparable as a Czech-based senior social services nonprofit with overlapping mission around loneliness, crisis intervention, and active aging; competes for the same donor, partner, and volunteer pool.

Emerging players

• U3A (University of the Third Age): International network of self-funded older-adult learning cooperatives, particularly strong in the UK, France, and other European countries. Comparable as a provider of structured educational courses (often including languages, digital skills, and life skills) specifically designed for the 60+ demographic.
• Cyber-Seniors: Nonprofit providing digital literacy training, mentorship, and online programs for older adults. Directly comparable on the digital literacy / technology adoption mission that Elpida's e-learning platform and computer courses address, though Cyber-Seniors operates primarily in North America.
• Generations United: US-based nonprofit focused on intergenerational programs and policies connecting older adults and youth. Comparable on the intergenerational programs and festivals (OLD'S COOL) component of Elpida's mission, though Generations United focuses on advocacy and program design rather than direct service delivery.
• Silver Surfers: UK-based digital platform and content site targeting the over-50 demographic, covering technology, lifestyle, finance, and health. Comparable as a content/media destination serving active older adults with educational and informational content, though UK-focused and for-profit.

Others

• Adra Czech Republic: Czech humanitarian and development nonprofit providing social services, elderly care programs, and volunteer coordination. Comparable as a Czech social services nonprofit that mobilizes volunteers and engages corporate partners for senior-focused programs; less directly overlapping on educational and crisis line services but competes for partner funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/elpida2002
• Facebookfacebook.com/elpidaproseniory
• Instagraminstagram.com/elpidaproseniory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elpidaproseniory

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Elpida