HandsAway
HandsAway is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 2018 that delivers in-person and VR-based sensitization workshops, public campaigns, and educational resources to combat sexist and sexual violence, primarily serving young people aged 12-25 in Île-de-France schools and the general public.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
HandsAway firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HandsAway
- Legal name
- HandsAway
- Website
- https://handsaway.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- HandsAway is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 2018 that delivers in-person and VR-based sensitization workshops, public campaigns, and educational resources to combat sexist and sexual violence, primarily serving young people aged 12-25 in Île-de-France schools and the general public.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HandsAway industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sexual violence prevention and awareness services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dropout Prevention, Re-Engagement & Truancy Intervention Programs (EDAJAEAD)
Keywords
Where HandsAway is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
HandsAway business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Mécénat Financier: HandsAway relies on financial donations from individuals and corporations. Corporate donations of €1,000 fund one sensitization day. As a recognized general interest organization, donations are 60% tax-deductible for companies.
- Service Civique Funding: The association hosts service civique volunteers receiving government stipends (€619.83/month plus 50% transport subsidy), providing workforce at reduced cost.
- Corporate Mécénat de Compétences: Companies provide skilled employees on their work time to support HandsAway's communication strategy, HR processes, and pedagogical engineering.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
HandsAway product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HandsAway is a French non-profit association that delivers free sensitization workshops (in-person and VR-based), public awareness campaigns, and educational resources to prevent sexist and sexual violence. Its primary audiences are youth aged 12-25 in schools and youth structures, as well as the broader general public through events and communication campaigns. Following the closure of its pioneering mobile application in 2020, the association now concentrates on structured 4-step school interventions, immersive VR sessions, and high-visibility pro-bono creative campaigns.
Product overview
HandsAway is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 2018 that previously operated a unified mobile application (2016–2020) — the first free app against sexist and sexual aggression — enabling geolocated alerting, testimony, and community support via Street Angels. Following the app's closure in 2020 due to cyberharassment, the association shifted to a multi-product service portfolio: in-person and VR-based awareness workshops for youth (12–25 years) and the general public, communication campaigns, downloadable educational resources (flyers, the 'Cocotte' dating guide with Bumble), and strategic partnerships with other harassment-reporting apps (Umay and The Sorority). The offering combines digital tools, immersive technology, and community-based sensitization to fight sexist and sexual violence in public spaces.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Virtual Reality Sensitization Workshops (Sensibilisation en réalité virtuelle) Immersive VR sensitization sessions using headsets to deliver two approximately 12-minute films: one targeting ages 14+ on school and cyberbullying in a high school context, and one targeting ages 15+ on sexism and sexual violence in a first-year post-secondary context. Designed to foster empathy and enable bystander intervention identification among young people at festivals, events, schools, and universities.
- In-Person Awareness Workshops (Ateliers de sensibilisation) Structured in-person sensitization workshops covering sexism, sexual violence, consent, gender stereotypes, hegemonic masculinity, and street harassment, delivered in colleges, lycées, universities, youth structures, sports clubs, and public events. Schools follow a 4-step intervention format (needs audit, adult orientation, themed workshops, partner-led sessions with satisfaction surveys). 200+ workshops have been delivered since 2019.
- Public Awareness Communication Campaigns (Campagnes de communication) High-profile public awareness communication campaigns using bold visuals and provocative messaging to trigger public awareness and shift attitudes on sexual and sexist violence. Notable campaigns include Nuit Sans Peur (300 illuminated digital billboards in western Paris), Décoder les femmes (satirical 2000-page book with TBWA\Paris and Tinder), Ghost Injuries (Snapchat geofilters), Ceci n'est pas un consentement, and Bande de bites.
- Educational Resources and Sensitization Flyers (Ressources à partager) Freely downloadable educational materials including flyers on the identification of VSS types, the 5D bystander intervention method (licensed from Right to Be, formerly Hollaback!), and resources for victims and witnesses of sexist and sexual violence. Designed for self-service learning and for use by educators, parents, and youth workers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 12,000+ people sensitized; 200+ workshops since 2019; 8.8/10 average participant satisfaction
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use HandsAway
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
HandsAway technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
HandsAway partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- JCDecaux (implied)minorFor 'Nuit Sans Peur' campaign, 300 digital advertising panels in western Paris were illuminated from 21h to 7h to brighten dark streets and enhance public safety perception.
- BumbleminorPartnership to promote healthy dating practices through a reimagined 'rock-paper-scissors' (Cocotte) game guiding users through dating stages. Distributed as a downloadable resource.
- UmayminorFollowing HandsAway app closure in 2020 due to cyberharassment, partnered with Umay ( Garde Ton Corps) app for street harassment reporting referrals.
- The SororityminorFollowing HandsAway app closure in 2020 due to cyberharassment, partnered with The Sorority app for street harassment reporting referrals.
- TBWA\PariscorePro-bono creative agency partner for multiple campaigns including 'Nuit Sans Peur' (illuminating 300 digital billboards), 'Ghost Injuries' (Snapchat geofilters), 'Bande de bites', and 'Ceci n'est pas un consentement'. Provided high-visibility creative work.
- SnapchatminorPartnership for 'Ghost Injuries' campaign creating unique geofilters at locations where harassment was reported, exposing users to the invisible history of places.
- TinderminorSupported the 'Décoder les femmes' campaign promoting consent education through the book's release and QR codes linking to resources.
- Right to Be (formerly Hollaback!)coreLicensed the 5D bystander intervention method (Distract, Delegate, Document, Direct, Dialog) developed by the US NGO for training witnesses of street harassment.
- RATPminorPublic transportation authority supporter of HandsAway, listed among supporters on the main website.
- SOS HomophobieminorDavid Malazoue, Vice-president of SOS Homophobie and attorney, serves on HandsAway's Strategic Committee.
- AssoConnectminorCamille Ginoux, account manager at AssoConnect (association management software), serves as a volunteer representative on the Strategic Committee.
- WemanityminorManaëlle Perchet, CSR Manager at Wemanity, serves on HandsAway's Strategic Committee.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HandsAway competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Right to Be (formerly Hollaback!): US-based NGO combatting street harassment with the 5D bystander intervention method that HandsAway has formally licensed. Direct methodological peer with overlapping workshop and bystander-training focus.
- Mouvement du Nid: French NGO working against sexual violence and exploitation, with prevention and victim-support services. Comparable mission scope and non-profit operating model in France.
- The Sorority: French women's safety app and community, also a referral partner of HandsAway post-2020. Direct peer in mobile-first personal-safety tooling for women.
- Umay: French personal safety app for women in public spaces; HandsAway's referral partner following the 2020 app closure. Direct peer in street-harassment reporting and victim-safety technology.
- Nous Toutes: French feminist collective mobilizing against sexual and sexist violence through public campaigns and grassroots activism. Highly comparable mission, French geography, and awareness-campaign-led GTM.
- Femmes Solidaires: French federation of associations fighting for women's rights and against sexist and sexual violence. Comparable grassroots non-profit model and prevention-education mission.
- Fondation des Femmes: French foundation funding and advocating on women's rights and gender-based violence. Comparable as a French non-profit in the same cause area, with an analogous donation and mécénat funding base.
- En Avant Toutes: French NGO focused on sexism and sexual violence in public spaces, including bystander training. Direct peer on mission, French geography, and sensitization-workshop delivery model.
- Collectif Féministe Contre le Viol (CFCV): Long-standing French feminist collective (founded 1985) supporting rape victims and running prevention initiatives. Comparable as a French non-profit operating in adjacent victim-support and prevention services.
Broad incumbents
- Le Planning Familial: Long-established French organization for sexual and reproductive health with a broader educational mandate. Comparable as a large French non-profit running sexuality/consent education, but at significantly larger scale and scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
HandsAway social profiles
Digital presenceHandsAway compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
HandsAway financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HandsAway leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
HandsAway funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HandsAway M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HandsAway
What does HandsAway do?
HandsAway is a French non-profit association that delivers free sensitization workshops (in-person and VR-based), public awareness campaigns, and educational resources to prevent sexist and sexual violence. Its primary audiences are youth aged 12-25 in schools and youth structures, as well as the broader general public through events and communication campaigns. Following the closure of its pioneering mobile application in 2020, the association now concentrates on structured 4-step school interventions, immersive VR sessions, and high-visibility pro-bono creative campaigns.
Is HandsAway a public or private company?
HandsAway is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was HandsAway founded?
HandsAway was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is HandsAway based?
HandsAway is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does HandsAway make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Mécénat Financier is the primary driver. The others are service Civique Funding and corporate Mécénat de Compétences.
Who are HandsAway's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Right to Be (formerly Hollaback!), Mouvement du Nid, The Sorority, Umay, Nous Toutes, Femmes Solidaires, Fondation des Femmes, En Avant Toutes and Collectif Féministe Contre le Viol (CFCV). Le Planning Familial is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does HandsAway have an API?
No public API is recorded for HandsAway.
What industry is HandsAway in?
HandsAway's product category is Sexual violence prevention and awareness services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAEAD, Dropout Prevention, Re-Engagement & Truancy Intervention Programs. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.