ESPAS

What ESPAS does

ESPAS (Stiftung ESPAS) is a Swiss non-profit foundation founded in 2004 and headquartered in Zürich, operating across three locations (Zürich Höngg, Winterthur, Richterswil) in the greater Zurich metropolitan area with 278 employees. The foundation operates a dual-mission model: delivering vocational rehabilitation and professional integration services for individuals with psychological or physical disabilities receiving Swiss disability insurance (IV) benefits, while simultaneously running a commercial B2B outsourcing arm that provides fulfillment, marketing and sales support, scanning and data capture, multi-lingual telephone service, and association support to enterprise and SMB clients.

The commercial service portfolio targets diverse industries — including retail (De'Longhi, SF Retail Holding AG), financial services (VZ VermögensZentrum), non-profit organizations (Pro Infirmis, SEREO), skincare and supplements (VEDIC LAB, Triple Solution, Radiant Beauty), sustainable fashion (Round Rivers), and consumer products (Oxa Life, Schwesternuhr, On Running). Technology infrastructure centers on Descartes pixi Warehouse Management System (implemented 2022, claimed 500% productivity increase in order processing), Abacus ERP for HR and accounting, Brevo for email marketing, and a Digitaler Posteingang digital mail service. Operations are supported by adapted workstations where employees with disabilities perform tasks across logistics, customer service, and administrative functions, with HACCP certification enabling food-handling work.

Revenue is generated through four streams: B2B outsourcing service fees from commercial clients, public funding via IV (disability insurance) measures for vocational rehabilitation participants, vocational training program fees, and tax-deductible charitable donations in the canton of Zurich. Distribution is exclusively regional, relying on direct B2B enterprise sales, the IV Zürich referral network, and partnerships with over 35 Swiss practice firms for vocational training cooperation. Marketing channels include a professional website, LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram presence, the annual Marktplatz IV Zürich industry event, and Brevo-powered newsletters. The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees (Stiftungsrat) and managed by an executive team led by Managing Director Michael Frei (appointed May 2026, succeeding Rita Durschei who served 34 years), with Danja Klink as Head of Services and Marco Scotti as Head of Central Services.

Name

ESPAS

Legal name

Stiftung ESPAS

Website

https://espas.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Stiftung ESPAS is a Swiss non-profit foundation operating across three Zurich-area locations, employing 278 staff to deliver B2B outsourcing services (fulfillment, telephone service, scanning, marketing support) while providing vocational rehabilitation and professional integration for individuals with psychological or physical disabilities receiving Swiss disability insurance benefits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Rehabilitation & Social Enterprise Outsourcing Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), All Other Business Support Services (561499)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)

akta.pro primary industry

Onboarding, Offboarding & Employee Lifecycle Administration (BPACAHAL)

Keywords

• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Disability employment integration
• Fulfillment services
• Scanning data capture
• Telephone answering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Outsourcing Services (B2B): ESPAS provides businesses with professional outsourcing services including fulfillment, marketing and sales support, scanning and data capture, telephone service, and association support. These services are delivered by employees with disabilities working at adapted workstations, providing companies with cost-effective operational support while enabling social integration.
2. Vocational Rehabilitation Programs: ESPAS receives funding and support through IV (disability insurance) measures and programs for municipalities, supporting individuals with physical or psychological impairments in their professional reintegration. Revenue comes from public funding and service contracts.
3. Apprenticeship Training: ESPAS offers adapted vocational training positions for young people with disabilities, supported through IV funding and in cooperation with partner companies for external workplace training.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ESPAS is a Swiss nonprofit foundation that delivers professional B2B outsourcing services — including fulfillment, marketing and sales support, document scanning and data capture, multi-lingual telephone answering, and association support — to commercial clients. In parallel, it provides vocational rehabilitation and labor-market integration programs for people with psychological or physical impairments, financed by Swiss disability insurance (IV) measures and delivered through adapted workplaces, apprenticeships, the Praxisfirma practice company, and Partnerbetrieb external placements.

Product overview

ESPAS is a social enterprise foundation (Stiftung) offering vocational rehabilitation and integration services. The organization provides a portfolio of services including: Fulfillment (web shop logistics, packaging, shipping), Marketing- und Sales-Support, Scanning und Datenerfassung (document scanning, questionnaire processing), Telefonservice (multi-language customer service), and Vereins-Support. Integration programs include IV-Massnahmen (individual placement measures), Berufsausbildung (apprenticeships), Angepasste Arbeitsplätze (adapted workplaces), and Partnerbetrieb (external placement with partner companies). The Praxisfirma provides practice company experience, and the Digitaler Posteingang offers digital mail services. Services are delivered across three locations in Zürich Höngg, Winterthur, and Richterswil.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fulfillment Complete order fulfillment services for B2B clients: order processing, picking, packaging, shipping, and inventory management for webshops and retail customers, executed using the Descartes pixi WMS at ESPAS facilities.
• Marketing- und Sales-Support Outsourced marketing and sales support for businesses, including promotional campaign handling, customer service, and promotional material processing.
• Scanning und Datenerfassung Document scanning and electronic data capture services for questionnaires, forms, and archival materials, delivered for clients such as Zimraum (Stadt Aarau 2025 population survey).
• Telefonservice Professional multi-language telephone answering service (Swiss German, German, French, English) for organizations including Pro Infirmis and Genossenschaft Baufreunde, including after-hours coverage.
• Vereins-Support Administrative and operational support services for associations and non-profit organizations, including correspondence, member administration and back-office tasks.
• Digitaler Posteingang (Digital Mail Service) Digital mail handling service where incoming postal mail is redirected to ESPAS, sorted, scanned, and delivered digitally to enable 24/7 document availability and streamlined workflow.
• IV-Massnahmen (Disability Insurance Measures) Individual occupational integration measures for people receiving IV benefits, tailored to personal needs and goals, delivered through adapted workplaces, job coaching, and work trials.
• Lehrstellen / Berufsausbildung (Apprenticeships) Adapted apprenticeship placements and vocational training for young people with disabilities in commercial (KV), customer dialogue, IT, and logistics fields, including external workplace placements with partner companies such as On, Swisscom and ISS.
• Angepasste Arbeitsplätze (Adapted Workplaces) Adapted workplace placements at ESPAS facilities for IV pensioners who wish to participate in working life, with assignments across fulfillment, telephone, scanning and administrative services.
• Partnerbetrieb (External Placement Program) External workplace program in which qualified individuals are placed with partner companies (e.g., On, Swisscom, ISS) for sustainable employment integration in the primary labor market.
• Programme für Gemeinden Integration programs designed for municipalities to support local employment and social integration initiatives for people with disabilities.
• Praxisfirma (Practice Company) Simulated commercial work environment where participants gain real-world business experience across administration, logistics, and customer service as part of vocational rehabilitation.
• ESPAS Restaurant On-site restaurant at ESPAS offering daily changing menus for employees and visitors, open Monday to Friday, also functioning as a vocational training environment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500% productivity increase in order processing after implementing Descartes pixi WMS since 2022
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SEREOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Partnership for webshop management, logistics, confectioning, and administrative processes for SEREO and its customers (recycling organizations). ESPAS provides comprehensive outsourcing services including bonus processing and special orders.
• WädiLaufminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Silver sponsor participation in the largest running sports event at the left Zurich lakeshore. ESPAS employees pack Goodie-Bags and distribute event flyers as meaningful work activities.
• Round RiversminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Partnership with the Zurich label Round Rivers that produces high-quality textiles from collected river plastic with regional production. ESPAS handles processing and confectioning tasks in the value chain.
• SF Retail Holding AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Partnership since April 2025 for confectioning approximately 60,000 gummy bags in four varieties for cinema distribution. ESPAS works with HACCP food safety standards and produces around 2,000 bags weekly.
• ZimraumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Partnership since 2015 for scanning and data capture services. ESPAS electronically processes paper questionnaires for population surveys, handling over 900 questionnaires for the Stadt Aarau 2025 survey.
• Pro InfirmiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2025Over 10-year partnership with Pro Infirmis, including telephone services for approximately 2.5 years. ESPAS handles calls in Swiss German, German, French, and English, ensuring constant telephone presence for Pro Infirmis customers.
• SchwesternuhrminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 August 2025Partnership since January 2025 for order and logistics processes including hoodie printing. ESPAS handles the complete process from goods receipt through shipping to returns, now including direct hoodie printing with transfer press.
• Triple Solution SkincareminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025Partnership with Triple Solution Skincare for fulfillment services. The company creates high-quality products from natural ingredients, and ESPAS handles the complete logistics process dynamically and with passion.
• VEDIC LABminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2025Partnership combining Ayurvedic wisdom with clinical science for high-quality, effective, and ethical products. ESPAS handles the complete fulfillment process including order processing, shipping, invoicing, and complete inventory management for VEDIC LAB.
• Genossenschaft BaufreundeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2024Partnership with the Genossenschaft Baufreunde housing cooperative for telephone services. ESPAS handles calls outside business hours, with employee Bea professionally managing inquiries.
• De'LonghicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2024Long-standing partnership for processing money-back guarantee promotions. ESPAS handles the reliable and professional execution of promotions, allowing customers to test high-quality De'Longhi products risk-free.
• Oxa LifeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 August 2024Partnership with Oxa Life, an innovative company that developed a breathing coach at ETH Zürich. ESPAS supports them with webshop fulfillment services, ensuring their products reach customers reliably and on time.
• MIND Kommunikation GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 16 April 2024Website conception, design, and development partner. MIND redesigned ESPAS's website in 2024 as a reference project, creating a modern, clearly structured, and user-friendly online presence.
• Radiant BeautyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 March 2024Partnership with Radiant Beauty, founded by Claudia Sa, offering high-quality natural cosmetics and dietary supplements. ESPAS provides fulfillment services including packaging and shipping, with emphasis on ecological and sustainable packaging materials without plastic.
• GummiLoveminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2023Partnership with the GummiLove association for sexual health prevention. ESPAS handles confecting and shipping of educational materials including teaching packages for professionals, parents, teachers, youth workers, and magazines for teenagers with facts and useful products.
• Descartes pixicoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Technology partnership for warehouse management system (WMS) implementation since 2022. The Descartes pixi WMS enabled 500% productivity increase in order processing and significantly reduced error rates.
• IV ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual participation in Marktplatz IV Zürich marketplace event where integration and vocational measure providers present their offerings. ESPAS provides information on vocational training positions and integration opportunities.
• Verein LäbesruumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation based on trust, professionalism, and shared goals for enabling people. The collaboration focuses on helping individuals with disabilities through combined support from ESPAS and Läbesruum.
• Lernstube WinterthurminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering low-threshold educational and support services to strengthen basic competencies and facilitate entry into the labor market. Collaboration creates practical offerings professionally supported by ESPAS, Läbesruum, and Lernstube.
• On (Running)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership company providing external workplace training opportunities for ESPAS participants. Successfully supported employee Astrid in transitioning to employment at On after vocational training.
• SwisscomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal workplace training partner where ESPAS participant Stigie transitioned to employment after completing IT apprenticeship. Stigie now works in monitoring, reporting, and frontend development.
• ISSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company that took its first person from the secondary labor market, providing external workplace training for ESPAS participant Florence after her stroke.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Insieme Schweiz: Swiss umbrella association for the interests of people with intellectual disabilities, with affiliated foundations that operate workplaces and integration services comparable to ESPAS's IV-anchored adapted workplace model.
• WABE Bern: Bern-based social enterprise providing adapted workplaces and B2B services (assembly, packaging, mailing) for people with disabilities, with the same Swiss integration-plus-services business model as ESPAS.
• Brühlgut Stiftung: Swiss foundation operating adapted workplaces and B2B services (logistics, assembly, packaging) in greater Winterthur/Zürich area, with a very similar dual mission of vocational integration for people with disabilities plus commercial B2B fulfillment.
• ATZ Arbeitsagogisches Zentrum: Swiss vocational integration and work-pedagogical organization providing adapted workplaces and reintegration programs, comparable to ESPAS's IV-Massnahmen and Berufsausbildung offerings.

Others

• Pro Infirmis: Swiss disability organization that is both an ESPAS customer (multi-year telephone service partnership) and a peer in the broader disability-services ecosystem. Useful as a strategic-partner and customer benchmark, though its core business is advocacy/case management rather than B2B outsourcing.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas Schweiz: Largest Swiss social-aid organization, operating broader social and integration services including some workplace integration programs. Comparable as a large Swiss social-services player but with a much wider mission than ESPAS's focused vocational reintegration and B2B services.
• Capita: Large UK-listed BPO and customer experience provider operating contact centers, document processing, and back-office services. Comparable to ESPAS's telephone service and scanning/data capture lines from a pure BPO perspective, illustrating large-scale commercial competitors in adjacent service lines.
• Concentrix: Global BPO and customer experience outsourcer with multilingual contact-center and back-office services. Relevant as a large-scale, multilingual telephone-service competitor to ESPAS's Telefonservice offering for enterprise customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/espas.stiftung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/espasstiftung
• Instagraminstagram.com/espasstiftung/?hl=de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 ESPAS