Protect Our Winters Austria

What Protect Our Winters Austria does

Protect Our Winters Austria (POW Austria) is a Vienna-based nonprofit association (gemeinnütziger Verein), founded in 2015 by former professional snowboarder Dani Hochmuth and operating under the global Protect Our Winters movement and the POW Europe umbrella (consolidated January 2020). The organization functions as the unified advocacy voice of Austria's outdoor community — skiers, snowboarders, ski tourers, climbers, hikers, mountain bikers, and allied scientists, brands, creatives, and mountain guides — pressing for climate policy that protects winter tourism and alpine ecosystems. Its core advocacy work is supported by structured "Alliances" (Athlete, Science, Brand, Creative, Guides) and program products including the Öffi-Touren hybrid guidebook series (co-produced with Verein Bahn zum Berg and published by Kompass Verlag, now covering five regional editions including a cross-border Bayern volume), the Hot Planet Cool Athletes (HPCA) school workshop program, and the Klimawissen climate knowledge resource portal.

The organization generates revenue through four channels: recurring individual and family membership fees (minimum €30/year individual, €50/year family, collected via SEPA direct debit), individual donations (tax-deductible since 1 January 2024 under Reg.Nr. NT24094), corporate partnerships through its Brand Alliance (including Bergwelt Tirol since 2025 and 1% for the Planet member companies), and ancillary income from the Öffi-Touren guidebook retail channel. POW Austria first created paid staff positions in 2020 (Managing Director Moritz Nachtschatt) and has grown to approximately 19 staff plus an extended volunteer network with regional team leads in Graz, Innsbruck, and Vienna. Its go-to-market is community-led: mobilizing athletes and outdoor enthusiasts as advocacy ambassadors, building scientific credibility through the Science Alliance, and engaging policy makers via stakeholder consultation and open letters. A notable policy win was the inclusion of POW Austria's demands in the federal Vision-T tourism strategy, presented in 2026.

Name

Protect Our Winters Austria

Legal name

PROTECT OUR WINTERS AUSTRIA, gemeinnütziger Verein für Klimabildung und nachhaltigen Wintertourismus

Website

https://protectourwinters.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Protect Our Winters Austria is a Vienna-based nonprofit founded in 2015 that mobilizes Austria's outdoor community — athletes, scientists, brands, and guides — to advocate for climate policy protecting winter tourism and alpine ecosystems through membership, donations, and coalition advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Advocacy and Environmental Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)

Keywords

• Climate advocacy nonprofit
• Outdoor community mobilization
• Sustainable winter tourism
• Climate education workshops
• Public transport hiking guides

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees collected via SEPA direct debit. Individual membership minimum €30/year; family membership minimum €50/year for up to four members. Membership is terminable at any time.
2. Individual Donations: Donations from private individuals. Donations are tax-deductible in Austria (registered charity since 1 January 2024, Reg.Nr. NT24094).
3. Corporate Partnerships: Brand partnerships and alliances with companies in the outdoor sports industry that share POW's climate protection mission. Partners include Brand Alliance members such as Bergwelt Tirol – Miteinander erleben (since 2025).
4. 1% for the Planet: POW Austria is a member of the 1% for the Planet network, through which member companies donate 1% of sales to environmental nonprofits, providing an additional funding channel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Protect Our Winters Austria is a nonprofit climate advocacy organization that mobilizes Austria's outdoor community (athletes, scientists, creatives, guides, brands, and enthusiasts) to advocate for climate protection measures that safeguard winter tourism, alpine ecosystems, and outdoor recreation. It delivers this through policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement, free climate education workshops in schools (Hot Planet Cool Athletes), the Öffi-Touren hybrid guidebook series for climate-friendly mountain recreation via public transport, and a curated Klimawissen (Climate Knowledge) resource portal.

Product overview

Protect Our Winters Austria is a non-profit climate advocacy organization focused on protecting winter sports and outdoor recreation through climate protection initiatives. The organization operates programs including climate education workshops (Hot Planet Cool Athletes), sustainable mobility advocacy through the 'öffi-Touren' guidebook series produced with Bahn zum Berg and Kompass Verlag, a Brand Alliance partnership network, and Science/ Athlete/ Creative Alliances. Key products include the öffi-Touren hybrid guidebook series, the Klimawissen (climate knowledge) resource portal, and various advocacy and awareness campaigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hot Planet Cool Athletes (HPCA): Workshop program where POW visits schools to educate children and youth about sustainability and climate change.

Products and services

• Öffi-Touren Guidebook Series Hybrid guidebook series published with Kompass Verlag and Bahn zum Berg, featuring QR codes linking to digital tour planning tools including GPX tracks and real-time public transport schedules. Editions cover Nordtirol (summer/winter), Oberösterreich, Wien/Niederösterreich, and Bayern, enabling climate-friendly mountain recreation via public transport.
• Hot Planet Cool Athletes (HPCA) Free school workshops where professional outdoor athletes deliver climate education presentations to children and youth about sustainability and climate change impacts on mountains and winter sports.
• Klimawissen (Climate Knowledge) Resource Portal Online resource portal providing curated climate facts, statistics, podcasts, films, and external resources about climate change impacts in Austria, particularly for winter tourism and Alpine regions, including POW's own annual reports and position papers.
• Annual Reports, Advocacy Reports & Position Papers Free downloadable publications including POW Austria's annual reports, advocacy reports documenting the organization's policy work, and position papers on topics such as energy in the Alps.

Quantifiable outcome

• POW Austria's advocacy contributed to the inclusion of its key demands in the Vision-T tourism strategy, a major national policy framework.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 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

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Verein Bahn zum BergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPOW Austria and the nonprofit Verein Bahn zum Berg co-produce the 'öffi-Touren' guidebook series, published by Kompass Verlag. Five editions have been published covering Nordtirol (summer and winter), Oberösterreich, Wien/Niederösterreich, and Bayern. The guidebooks enable climate-friendly mountain recreation via public transport, reaching 9 million people in the two largest Alpine metropolitan regions. POW also promotes Zuugle, Bahn zum Berg's public transit mountain tour search engine.
• 1% for the PlanetcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPOW Austria is a member of the 1% for the Planet network. Member companies donate 1% of their annual sales to environmental nonprofits in the network, providing an additional donation channel for POW. POW promotes this membership as an option for supporters who wish to donate through this framework.
• Bergwelt Tirol – Miteinander erlebencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSince 2025, Bergwelt Tirol – Miteinander erleben is part of POW Austria's Brand Alliance. The program, initiated by the Tyrolean state government in 2014, works to resolve conflicts between mountain sports and nature/wildlife protection through a participatory approach involving hunters, foresters, farmers, tourism, conservation, and mountain sports stakeholders. Bergwelt Tirol communicates behavioral guidelines for hikers, climbers, mountain bikers, and ski tourers, and integrates public transit options into its wayfinding.
• Vision BerchtesgadenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPOW Austria collaborates with Vision Berchtesgaden alongside POW Germany and Mountain Wilderness on the cross-border Öffi-Touren Bayern guidebook project, extending climate-friendly mountain recreation planning beyond Austrian borders.
• Mountain WildernessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMountain Wilderness is a partner in the cross-border Öffi-Touren Bayern guidebook collaboration, contributing to the shared goal of sustainable and climate-friendly alpine recreation.
• Ulrike Pröbstl Haider (BOKU Wien)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor at BOKU Vienna and member of POW Austria's Science Alliance. She is one of Austria's leading tourism researchers and a contributor to the Austrian Climate Assessment Report. She supported POW's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• Oliver Fritz (WIFO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearcher at WIFO (Austrian Institute of Economic Research), MSc, and member of POW Austria's Science Alliance. Contributor to the Austrian Climate Assessment Report. Supported POW's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• Robert Steiger (University of Innsbruck)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate Professor at the University of Innsbruck and member of POW Austria's Science Alliance. One of Austria's leading tourism researchers and contributor to the Austrian Climate Assessment Report. Supported POW's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• Österreichischer AlpenvereincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV) is one of the most prominent outdoor organizations in Austria. It supported POW Austria's Vision-T advocacy letter, aligning with its mission to protect Austria's mountains and alpine environment.
• GeoSphere AustriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeoSphere Austria (Austrian geological and meteorological institute) is Austria's leading public institution for earth system sciences. Supported POW Austria's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• Naturfreunde ÖsterreichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaturfreunde Österreich is a major Austrian outdoor recreation and environmental organization. Supported POW Austria's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• CIPRA ÖsterreichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIPRA Österreich (International Commission for the Protection of the Alps) is an alpine environmental organization. Supported POW Austria's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• Nationalpark GesäusecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian national park supported POW Austria's Vision-T advocacy letter as part of the broad coalition of stakeholders advocating for sustainable tourism policy.
• Nationalpark Donau-AuencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Donau-Auen National Park supported POW Austria's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• VAVÖ – Verband der Alpinen Vereine ÖsterreichscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Association of Austrian Alpine Associations (VAVÖ) represents Austria's alpine clubs. Supported POW Austria's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• ecoplus Alpin GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional development agency, represented by Markus Redl. Supported POW Austria's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• Tourismusverband SalzkammergutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Salzkammergut Tourism Board supported POW Austria's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• Zell am See-Kaprun Tourismus GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Austrian ski destination tourism board supported POW Austria's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• Saalfelden Leogang Touristik GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism board of the Saalfelden Leogang region, a prominent ski destination, supported POW Austria's Vision-T advocacy letter.
• Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft, Energie und Tourismus (BMWET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustria's Federal Ministry for Economics, Energy and Tourism is the body responsible for the Vision-T tourism strategy. POW Austria participated in the open stakeholder consultation process for Vision-T and provided written input advocating for climate protection integration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Verein Bahn zum Berg: Austrian nonprofit partner of POW Austria that co-produces the Öffi-Touren guidebook series and operates the Zuugle public-transit mountain tour search engine. Smaller and more focused on sustainable mobility in mountain recreation, but mission-aligned and operationally intertwined with POW Austria.

Direct peers

• Protect Our Winters France: French chapter of the global POW movement, operating the same athlete-led climate advocacy model for the French outdoor and winter sports community. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and community-led GTM.
• Protect Our Winters Norway: Norwegian chapter of the POW movement, focused on Nordic winter sports and climate advocacy. Comparable in mission and community-led model, with particular relevance to ski and snow-dependent recreation.
• Protect Our Winters (USA): The original Protect Our Winters chapter founded in 2007 by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones. It is the global parent of the POW movement and operates the exact same athlete-led climate advocacy model that POW Austria is built on, sharing brand, mission, and global chapter structure.
• Protect Our Winters Germany: Sister chapter of POW Austria with a near-identical athlete-led climate advocacy model for the German outdoor community. POW Austria already collaborates with POW Germany on cross-border projects like the Öffi-Touren Bayern guidebook.
• Mountain Wilderness: An alpine environmental organization that partners with POW Austria on the Öffi-Touren Bayern guidebook. Operates a similar nonprofit model focused on protecting alpine environments and shares overlapping outdoor-community membership in Austria.
• Protect Our Winters Italy: Italian POW chapter focused on the Italian outdoor community and Dolomites. Operates the same community-led advocacy model and shares the alpine-tourism climate framing that POW Austria uses.
• Protect Our Winters Switzerland: Another Alpine-market POW chapter serving the Swiss outdoor community. Shares the same outdoor-community climate advocacy model, Science Alliance structure, and overlap with alpine tourism issues as POW Austria.
• Protect Our Winters Europe: The umbrella organization consolidating the European POW chapters (Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, UK) since January 2020. POW Austria is a member chapter, and the two operate at different levels of the same advocacy stack.

Broad incumbents

• CIPRA - International Commission for the Protection of the Alps: An established alpine environmental NGO with a long-standing Alpine-protection mandate. POW Austria already collaborates with CIPRA Österreich on Vision-T and is a comparable player in alpine climate advocacy, though CIPRA operates at a broader pan-Alpine scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ProtectOurWintersAustria
• Instagraminstagram.com/protectourwintersaustria
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/protect-our-winters-austria

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Protect Our Winters Austria