What IPčko does

IPčko (legal entity: občianske združenie IPčko) is a Slovak non-profit civic association founded in 2012 in Bratislava, registered as a provider of social services for field crisis intervention under Law 448/2008. Its core offering is the Crisis Help Line IPčko (Krízová linka pomoci IPčko), delivering free, anonymous, 24/7 psychological crisis support via toll-free phone (0800 500 333, Slovak and Ukrainian), live chat, email ([email protected], response within 24 hours), and video counseling. The multi-channel platform is supported by a network of 8 Káčko (Centrá krízovej intervencie) crisis intervention centers covering every Slovak regional capital (Bratislava, Nitra, Banská Bystrica, Trnava, Košice, Prešov, Žilina, Trenčín), 6 low-threshold youth clubs (Machovisko, Flek klub, Kreate klub, ID klub, Connect klub, MEET klub), and the KITIP field intervention team which is an accredited component of Slovakia's Integrated Rescue System 112. In 2025, IPčko delivered 181,000+ helping contacts across channels.

The organization extends its core service through differentiated specialized modalities: a Psychological Virtual Reality Laboratory (est. 2020) providing VR exposure therapy and rehabilitation; Ježkoterapia (hedgehog-assisted therapy); Krabička bezpečia (Safety Boxes) — personalized toolkits for managing self-harm urges; Tabule nádeje (#STOPSAMOVRAŽDÁM) — 700+ railway hope boards resulting in 500+ outreach contacts; the Online Fieldwork team proactively mapping and intervening in Twitch, Discord, and closed online communities; and specialized websites including chcemsazabit.sk and stalosato.sk. The organization also runs accredited educational programs for schools, professionals, and corporate clients, holds IASP membership, and was registered as a certified educational institution (RCVI-2025-000219) effective October 1, 2025.

IPčko is funded through a diversified mix of revenue streams: Slovak government grants (Ministries of Labour, Interior, Education), EU and EEA program funding (five active projects covering 2024–2028), corporate partnerships structured in Gold/Silver/Bronze tiers (GlobalGiving, Nadácia Orange, Nadácia SPP, Slovenské elektrárne, Slovenská sporiteľňa, and others), individual donations (one-time and recurring monthly), and 2%/3% Slovak income tax allocations. All end-user services remain entirely free of charge. The organization employs qualified psychologists and social workers with accredited 370-hour training in internet-based crisis assistance and operates under GDPR-compliant data practices. Day-to-day management is led by Director Marek Madro and Executive Director Zuzana Juráneková, with a Supervisory Board chaired by Prof. Eva Gajdošová.

Name

IPčko

Legal name

občianske združenie IPčko

Website

https://ipcko.sk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Crisis Intervention Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Student Support Hotlines & Digital Wellbeing Tools (EDAJAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral & Social-Emotional Support (ABA, PBIS, Counseling) (EDAJAKAE), Behavioral Support & Intervention Services (PBIS/Behavior Coaching) (EDAJALAH), Behavioral Intervention & PBIS Supports (Tiered, Gen Ed) (EDAJAGAL)

Keywords

• Crisis intervention services
• Mental health support
• Suicide prevention
• Psychological counseling
• Online outreach youth

Headquarters

HQ city

Bratislava

HQ country

Slovakia

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual donations: One-time and regular financial donations from individuals. IPčko actively campaigns for recurring monthly donations as the most valuable support type. Donation options range from €10 to €100+ per transaction. Regular donors are highlighted as critical to maintaining continuous operations.
2. 2% / 3% income tax donations: Slovak tax donation scheme allowing individuals to direct 2% (or 3% if they performed 40+ hours of volunteer work) of their income tax to registered nonprofits. Companies can direct 1% or 2% depending on prior charitable giving. IPčko IČO: 422 617 91.
3. EU and government project funding: IPčko receives significant co-financing from European Union programs including: (1) 'Distant counseling in mental health via IPčko crisis helpline' (July 2024–June 2026) under EU Program Slovakia; (2) 'Integration of third-country nationals' (Jan 2024–Aug 2026); (3) 'Accessible innovative psychosocial help and crisis intervention in Žilina' (Oct 2025–Sep 2028); (4) 'Transfer of knowledge for youth mental health support in online space' (Jan 2026–Dec 2027); (5) 'Between Worlds: How to Help Youth Manage Frustration Without Radicalization and Violence' (June 2026–May 2027) under EEA Civil Society Fund Slovakia. Slovak government ministries (Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education) also provide direct funding.
4. Corporate partnerships and sponsorship: Companies support IPčko through financial contributions, pro bono services (legal, marketing, IT, design), employee engagement programs, in-kind donations, venue provision, and cause marketing. Three partnership tiers exist: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. IPčko offers workshops, lectures, and mental health support programs for corporate employees as part of partnerships.
5. Golden Partners / Institutional funding: Major institutional partners including Global Giving, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Interior, Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region, and others provide funding across gold, silver, and bronze partnership tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

IPčko is a Slovak civic association providing free, anonymous, 24/7 psychological crisis intervention through a nationwide helpline (phone 0800 500 333, live chat, email, and video counseling), eight regional Káčka crisis intervention centers, six low-threshold youth clubs, and an accredited KITIP field intervention team. It complements direct service with proactive Online Fieldwork outreach on streaming and social platforms, a Virtual Reality therapy laboratory, hedgehog-assisted therapy, the Krabička bezpečia safety kit, railway hope boards (#STOPSAMOVRAŽDÁM), and accredited education programs for schools, professionals, and companies.

Product overview

IPčko is a Slovak civic association providing a multi-channel psychological crisis help service. Its core platform is the Krízová linka pomoci IPčko (Crisis Helpline), offering anonymous, free, 24/7 assistance via telephone (0800 500 333), chat, and email. The offering extends to eight regional Káčko crisis intervention centres, six low-threshold youth clubs (Machovisko, Flek klub, Kreate klub, ID klub, Connect klub, MEET klub), a the KITIP field crisis intervention team. Supporting the core service are specialized modalities including a VR psychology laboratory, hedgehog therapy, and the Krabička bezpečia (Safety Box) self-harm prevention kit. IPčko also runs proactive Online Fieldwork on social media and streaming platforms (Twitch, Discord), helpful websites (chcemsazabit.sk, stalosato.sk, Nevypočutý), podcasts (Hmmm..., Na nervy), and regular livestreams (Fučí ti duša?, Nevypočutý). Education and training programs for schools, professionals, firms, and the public round out the portfolio. All services are free, anonymous, and available non-stop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Káčko: Crisis intervention centers (Centrá krízovej intervencie) located in all eight regional capital cities of Slovakia (Bratislava, Nitra, Trnava, Žilina, Trenčín, Banská Bystrica, Prešov, Košice), providing in-person anonymous and free psychological crisis help.
• Kluby IPčka
• KITIP (Krízový intervenčný tím IPčko)
• Krízová linka pomoci IPčko
• Psychologické laboratórium VR
• Krabička bezpečia
• Nevypočutý
• Ježkoterapia

Products and services

• Telefonická poradňa (Phone Helpline) Anonymous, free, 24/7 telephone crisis psychological counseling available at 0800 500 333 in Slovak and Ukrainian. Users connect directly to trained counselors.
• Chatová poradňa (Chat Counseling) Anonymous, free, 24/7 chat-based crisis psychological counseling, typically about one hour per session, with counselors reachable via a live chat widget on ipcko.sk.
• E-mailová poradňa (Email Counseling) Free email-based crisis counseling at [email protected], with responses provided within 24 hours. Anonymous and free.
• Káčko (Crisis Intervention Centres) Eight regional crisis intervention centres providing free, anonymous, in-person psychological crisis help and short-term support across all Slovak regional capitals (Bratislava, Nitra, Trnava, Žilina, Trenčín, Banská Bystrica, Prešov, Košice).
• KITIP – Krízový intervenčný tím IPčko (Crisis Intervention Team) Field-based crisis intervention team deploying to acute crisis situations (suicidal crises, domestic/sexual violence, tragedies) across Slovakia in cooperation with rescue services; accredited part of the Integrated Rescue System 112.
• Nízkoprahové kluby (Low-threshold Youth Clubs) Six low-threshold youth clubs (Machovisko/Bratislava, Flek klub/Trnava, Kreate klub/Prešov, ID klub/Nitra, Connect klub/Košice, MEET klub/Žilina) providing informal psychological support, acceptance, activities, and professional help for young people.
• Online terénna práca (Online Fieldwork) Proactive outreach on social media, forums, streaming platforms (Twitch, Discord), and closed online communities to identify at-risk youth and offer professional help, including a supportive Discord community and Twitch streams.
• Psychologické laboratórium VR (VR Psychology Laboratory) Virtual reality therapy using exposure therapy and virtual rehabilitation for phobias, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and social skills training, available free and anonymously at Káčka centres.
• Ježkoterapia (Hedgehog Therapy) Animal-assisted therapy using hedgehogs as emotional mirrors to help clients understand their feelings, stress responses, and coping strategies, led by a psychologist at Káčka centres and low-threshold clubs.
• Krabička bezpečia (Safety Box) Personalized tool for self-harm prevention containing items (rubber bands, colouring supplies, stress ball, journal, plush toy, USB with comfort content, green tattoo to replace self-harm tools, healthcare first aid card) to help young people manage emotional distress.
• Vzdelávacie programy (Education Programs) Accredited and certified training courses for schools, professionals, companies, parents, and the public on mental health, crisis intervention, radicalization prevention (Nevypočutý program), and digital literacy, delivered in-person and online by IPčko's expert team.

Quantifiable outcome

• 181,000+ helping contacts delivered in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Žilinská univerzita v Žiline (University of Žilina)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Memorandum of cooperation supporting joint mental health initiatives and academic collaboration.
• Chuť žiť, o.z.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Memorandum of cooperation. Partnership in activities related to eating disorders, with IPčko counselors participating in preventive campaigns and providing online help.
• Slovenský Červený kríž – Územný spolok Žilina (Slovak Red Cross – Žilina Branch)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Collaborated with IPčko to create the Healthcare First Aid Card included in Safety Boxes, providing guidance on wound care and first aid procedures.
• Trnavská univerzita v Trnave (Trnava University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Memorandum of cooperation for joint mental health support and academic cooperation.
• Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa v Nitre (Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Memorandum of cooperation for joint mental health support and academic collaboration.
• Paneurópska vysoká škola (Pan-European University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Memorandum of cooperation for joint mental health support and academic collaboration.
• Vysoká škola zdravotníctva a sociálnej práce sv. Alžbety v Bratislave (St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Memorandum of cooperation with the Department of Psychology for joint mental health support and academic collaboration.
• Protiteroristická centrála Prezídia Policajného zboru (Anti-Terrorism Centre of the Police Force Presidium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Expert partner for the Nevypočutý training program on youth radicalization prevention. Jointly delivers training to professionals (teachers, social workers) across Slovakia on recognizing radicalization signs, identifying risk levels, conducting safe conversations, and intervening effectively.
• Prešovská univerzita v Prešove (University of Prešov)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Memorandum of cooperation with the aim of jointly supporting student mental health. Mutual involvement in projects, research, and event organization reflecting the needs of young people in academic environments.
• NexteriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Collaborated on the 'Máš dosť životov?' campaign targeting 15-19 year olds, distributing 3,000 helping materials and reaching 150 classes across 8th and 9th grades of Slovak elementary schools.
• Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic (Ministerstvo vnútra SR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Memorandum of cooperation signed with Ministry of Interior. Supports IPčko's crisis intervention services and social work. Ministry provides institutional backing for IPčko's role in the Integrated Rescue System 112.
• Železnice Slovenskej republiky (Railways of the Slovak Republic)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for the #STOPSAMOVRAŽDÁM initiative. Railway infrastructure used to place 700+ informational boards at high-risk locations. Joint effort to reduce railway suicides. Ongoing maintenance and placement of boards.
• Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko, a.s. (Railway Company Slovakia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership through memorandum of cooperation supporting the #STOPSAMOVRAŽDÁM railway safety initiative and broader cooperation on passenger welfare and crisis support.
• Svetluna, o.z. (First Slovak organization for bereaved support)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with the first Slovak organization focused on supporting bereaved people. Jointly provides psychological and legal support for people who have lost loved ones — combining emotional support with practical and legal guidance.
• SPŠ elektrotechnická Prešov (Technical Secondary School of Electrical Engineering, Prešov)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Memorandum of cooperation supporting educational and prevention activities at the school.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Samaritans: UK-based charity providing 24/7 anonymous emotional support via phone, email, and letter — directly comparable to IPčko's crisis helpline model and free, confidential service ethos.
• Lifeline Australia: Australia's 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention service offering phone, text, and webchat — directly comparable in service model, anonymity, and free 24/7 access to IPčko's Crisis Help Line.
• Childline: UK-based free, confidential helpline for children and young people, available 24/7 via phone, online chat, and email — closely comparable to IPčko's youth-focused helpline and digital outreach model.
• Crisis Text Line: US-based nonprofit offering 24/7 text-based crisis intervention with trained volunteer counselors — directly comparable to IPčko's chat counseling and online terrain work model.
• Kids Help Phone: Canada's national 24/7 e-mental health service for young people, offering phone, text, and live chat counseling — closely comparable to IPčko's youth-focused crisis intervention across multiple channels.
• Linka detskej istoty: Slovakia's national helpline for children and youth providing anonymous crisis support and consultation — a direct Slovak peer running a parallel crisis-line service with overlapping methodology and donor base.
• Papyrus HOPELineUK: UK charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide, operating a confidential helpline, text, and email support — directly comparable to IPčko's youth suicide-prevention mission and multi-channel support.

Broad incumbents

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: US national 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis hotline network — a broader incumbent offering phone, text, and chat crisis services across the entire US, comparable in mission but at vastly larger scale.
• Beyond Blue: Australia's leading mental health organization providing 24/7 support, information, and resources — comparable broad mental-health nonprofit with overlapping helpline, online chat, and public-awareness functions.

Regional players

• Linka bezpečí: Czech Republic's national 24/7 crisis phone line for children and youth — a regional peer operating an equivalent youth crisis helpline in the neighboring Czech market with similar service ethos.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IpckoSk
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ip%C4%8Dko-sk

Compliance8 records

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 IPčko