What Impact Gstaad does

Impact Gstaad is a Swiss non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein) headquartered in Gstaad, Canton of Bern, that operates as a membership-based sustainability platform. Founded in 2022 and built around four thematic pillars (Energy, Health, Building & Living, Nature) plus two cross-cutting themes (Impact Investing, Education & Awareness), it connects sustainability-focused companies, wealthy and influential locals, and sustainability experts in the Saanenland region. The organization runs the annual Green Business Award — Switzerland's leading corporate sustainability prize since 2019, co-organized with Green Business Switzerland and chaired by former Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard — alongside a portfolio of exclusive Impact Circle Events, smaller moderated Deep Dives, and a new Impact Experience format hosted at regional venues such as Glacier 3000.

The core product is the Impact Circle Membership, a tiered annual subscription with four levels — Supporter (CHF 2,000), Basic (CHF 5,000), Selected (CHF 10,000), and Summit (up to CHF 30,000) — granting event tickets, networking access, and brand visibility. An optional Young Impact Partnership (CHF 5,000 add-on) funds a cross-institutional sustainability education program for Saanenland students from public schools, Institut Le Rosey, and J.F. Kennedy International School. The organization has ~13 employees and a Management Board led by President Manuel Linder, supported by an Impact Advisory Board that includes entrepreneur and impact investor André Hoffmann and ETH climate professor Reto Knutti.

The business model is a recurring membership/subscription engine supplemented by corporate partnerships (e.g., Swiss Post, Mobiliar, Stromer), project sponsorships, and tax-exempt donations. Distribution is invitation-only and event-driven, with an annual flagship February event, topical Deep Dives, and supporting channels on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. There is no proprietary software or AI platform; the value proposition rests on the exclusivity of the Gstaad network, the brand recognition of the Green Business Award, and an integrated ecosystem spanning members, students, and award partners.

Name

Impact Gstaad

Legal name

Impact Gstaad Association

Website

https://impactgstaad.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Impact Gstaad is a Swiss non-profit association that runs a tiered Impact Circle membership, the Green Business Award, and the Young Impact education program, connecting sustainability-focused companies, wealthy locals, and experts in the Saanenland region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability non-profit association and membership platform

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Impact Investment & Social Finance Programs (BPADAOAJ), Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA)

Keywords

• Sustainability networking platform
• Membership association events
• Sustainability education programs
• Corporate sustainability award
• Impact investing community

Headquarters

HQ city

Gstaad

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Impact Circle Membership Fees: Impact Gstaad generates revenue through tiered membership fees in the Impact Circle. Membership categories range from Supporter (CHF 2,000) to Summit Membership (up to CHF 30,000), each providing event tickets, network access, and varying levels of online and offline brand presence.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Impact Gstaad is a Swiss non-profit association that operates a sustainability platform anchored by the tiered Impact Circle membership (CHF 2,000 to CHF 30,000 annually). Members gain access to closed Impact Circle events, networking with sustainability visionaries and potential investors, an online member platform, and brand visibility. The organization additionally runs the Young Impact cross-institutional education program for students, co-presents the Green Business Award (Switzerland's leading corporate sustainability award), and delivers curated Deep Dives and Impact Experience events for members.

Product overview

Impact Gstaad operates as a sustainability-focused organization with a membership-based platform structure, not a traditional product company. Its core offerings include the Impact Circle Membership program (with four tiers: Summit, Selected, Basic, and Supporter), the Young Impact educational initiative for students, and exclusive Impact Circle Events featuring sustainability content. The organization also offers Deep Dives (topic-specific smaller events), the Impact Experience (specialized educational events), and Green Business Award partnerships. The portfolio is supported by an online member platform providing networking and content access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Green Business Award: A prestigious Swiss award established in 2019 that honors innovative Swiss companies combining ecological impact with economic success, presented in partnership with Green Business Switzerland.
• Young Impact
• Impact Circle
• Impact Circle Deep Dives
• Impact Experience

Products and services

• Impact Circle Membership An exclusive tiered annual membership program at the core of Impact Gstaad's activities. Members gain access to closed Impact Circle events, networking with sustainability visionaries and potential investors, and an online member platform. Four tiers are available: Summit (up to CHF 30,000), Selected (CHF 10,000), Basic (CHF 5,000), and Supporter (CHF 2,000). Members include over 30 regional organizations and high-net-worth individuals.
• Young Impact

Quantifiable outcome

• Green Business Award winner New Roots achieved up to 60% CO2 reduction compared to conventional dairy products
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• myStromer AG (Stromer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Impact Gstaad partnered with Bern-based E-Bike manufacturer myStromer AG (Stromer) to provide two S-Pedelec bikes to the Alpenruhe foundation for use by its employees. The initiative combines social engagement with sustainable mobility, reducing car trips and promoting physical activity among staff.
• Green Business SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Impact Gstaad partners with Green Business Switzerland to co-organize the annual Green Business Award. The award is Switzerland's leading corporate sustainability prize, with the winner announced at Impact Circle's February event. Around 20 national experts nominate candidates, an interdisciplinary jury selects finalists, and the main jury chaired by Doris Leuthard determines the winner.
• Stiftung AlpenruheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of the Stromer E-Bikes partnership with Impact Gstaad. A social foundation in the Saanenland that benefits from sustainable mobility solutions for its staff.
• Swiss Post (Die Post)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Green Business Award. Swiss Post contributes to the award as part of its sustainability commitment, with CEO Roberto Cirillo serving on the main jury.
• MobiliarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Green Business Award. Mobiliar, a Swiss insurance company, supports the award as part of its sustainability and innovation agenda.
• J.F. Kennedy International SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school in the Young Impact educational program, participating alongside public schools and Institut Le Rosey in sustainability workshops and events for students.
• Institut Le RoseyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school in the Young Impact educational program, contributing to cross-institutional sustainability education alongside J.F. Kennedy International School and public schools.
• ZHAW (Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZHAW conducted a workshop at Young Impact Day 2024 where students transformed bread and overripe fruit into muffins and discovered food waste chips, promoting sustainable nutrition concepts.
• Swiss InsectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Insects led a workshop at Young Impact Day 2024 introducing students to edible insects (seasoned grasshoppers, chocolate-covered mealworms) as sustainable protein sources of the future.
• Madame FrigominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMadame Frigo participated in Young Impact Day 2024, teaching students about food sharing refrigerators and the background of food waste issues.
• Agro-ImageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgro-Image provided direct insights into local agriculture at Young Impact Day 2024, covering seasonal topics, fruit rotation, labels, and farming practices in an interactive format.
• Bäckerei earlybeckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBäckerei earlybeck provided catering for Young Impact Day 2024, using old bread to create new sourdough rolls and demonstrating full cocoa bean utilization with Fairtrade chocolate.
• Glacier 3000minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlacier 3000 hosted the Impact Experience event (August 2026) featuring a guided Science Walk with Dr. Matthias Huss exploring glaciers and water in the Saanenland, culminating in lunch at the Botta mountain restaurant.
• Gstaad Saanenland TourismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGstaad Saanenland Tourism co-hosts the Impact Experience event with Impact Gstaad, participating in the 'Fireside Chat' panel alongside Dr. Matthias Huss to discuss glaciers and regional water sustainability.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• myclimate: Swiss non-profit climate foundation offering education programs, corporate partnerships, and impact projects. Comparable in mission, Swiss non-profit structure, and engagement of schools and corporates on sustainability topics.
• Swiss Sustainable Finance: Swiss industry association promoting sustainable investing. Directly comparable as a membership/network platform connecting sustainability themes with Swiss capital markets — operating at a national scale versus Impact Gstaad's regional scope.
• Swiss Climate Foundation: Swiss foundation funding SME climate projects nationwide. Comparable as a Swiss sustainability grantmaking/financing platform, with similar enterprise and SME audience targeting.
• UN Global Compact Network Switzerland: Swiss local network of the UN Global Compact, convening companies around sustainability principles. Comparable as a Swiss membership/network organization promoting corporate sustainability practice.
• Green Business Switzerland: Co-organizer of the Green Business Award alongside Impact Gstaad. Both share the same award product, target sustainable Swiss SMEs, and overlap on juries and finalists — making it the most directly comparable organization.

Broad incumbents

• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD): Global CEO-led organization promoting sustainable business. Comparable in convening business leadership on sustainability but at much larger scale and with a broader policy/research remit.

Emerging players

• B Lab Switzerland: Swiss affiliate of the global B Corp movement certifying sustainable businesses. Comparable on the corporate sustainability assessment and community-building dimension, though operating a certification model rather than networking events.

Regional players

• Stiftung Alpenschutz (CIPRA Switzerland): Alpine-region sustainability NGO operating across Switzerland and neighboring Alpine countries. Comparable in alpine geographic focus and sustainability advocacy, though broader than Impact Gstaad's local convening role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@impactgstaad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/impactgstaad
• Instagraminstagram.com/impactgstaad/?hl=de

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 Impact Gstaad