What Refuge Worldwide does

Refuge Worldwide is a non-profit community radio station and grassroots organization operating under the legal entity Studio 110 UG (limited liability), headquartered at Sonnenallee 110 in Berlin's Neukölln district. Founded in 2015 as a fundraising platform supporting grassroots and non-profit causes in Berlin, the organization launched its radio station in 2021 to amplify music and social issues through live broadcasting. The station serves an audience of underground, experimental, electronic, jazz, hip-hop, and world music listeners, and provides a platform for over 500 resident and guest artists to host radio shows. Programming is distributed globally through the Refuge Worldwide website, a native mobile app (iOS and Android), and audio archives on SoundCloud and Mixcloud; live video is delivered via Mux. Community engagement is anchored on a Discord chat server and supported through Telegram, Instagram, and a Mailchimp newsletter.

The organization's product surface has expanded beyond broadcasting. In June 2026, Refuge Worldwide launched Unity In The Community, an educational platform offering broadcasting workshops to bring young people into community radio, alongside the Radio Radio Radio workshop series announced in July 2026. The organization has also entered music publishing with its own record label, releasing its third title in July 2026. Revenue is generated through donations and fundraising (its original 2015 mission), merchandise sales via shop.refugeworldwide.com, and paid studio bookings handled through Cal.com, supplemented by ticketed events and festival partnerships (ChariTea/Groove For Good, XJAZZ! Festival, Module Festival, MAGMA Festival, Berliner Berg). The technology stack is built on Contentful CMS for content management, with integrations to Fathom Analytics for privacy-first measurement and Tally.so for community feedback.

Refuge Worldwide operates a community-led go-to-market model with no traditional sales motion, reaching audiences and artists through live broadcasts, events, social media, and grassroots organizing. With 36 employees and a single Berlin studio location, the organization has expanded from a local fundraising initiative into a globally recognized underground music platform with growing ambitions in education and music publishing.

Name

Refuge Worldwide

Legal name

Studio 110 UG (limited liability)

Website

https://refugeworldwide.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Refuge Worldwide is a Berlin-based non-profit community radio station (Studio 110 UG) broadcasting from Neukölln since 2021, serving underground music listeners and 500+ artists through live radio, audio archives, events, and educational workshops, funded by donations, merchandise, and studio bookings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Audio & Live Community Platforms (BPAMABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB), Live Podcast Recordings (MPAGACAJ)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Online radio streaming
• Music artist promotion
• Educational broadcasting workshops
• Social cause fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Refuge began in 2015 as a fundraising platform working in solidarity with grassroots and non-profit organizations across Berlin. Revenue is generated through donations and fundraising activities for social causes.
2. Merchandise Shop: Online shop selling merchandise (shop.refugeworldwide.com), generating revenue through product sales.
3. Studio Bookings: The station offers studio bookings through Cal.com platform for external parties to record or broadcast.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Refuge Worldwide operates a community radio station broadcasting live from Neukölln, Berlin, delivering diverse music programming across electronic, jazz, hip-hop, folk, experimental, and world music genres with resident and guest artists. The organization also runs educational workshops, fundraising events, a merchandise shop, studio bookings, and the Unity In The Community educational platform launched in June 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Refuge Worldwide Radio A community radio station broadcasting live from Neukölln, Berlin, featuring diverse music shows across genres including electronic, jazz, hip-hop, folk, and experimental music, with resident and guest artists. Accessible globally via website streaming and mobile app.
• Unity In The Community An educational platform launched in June 2026 providing learning resources, broadcasting workshops, and community education initiatives designed to bring young people into community radio.
• Refuge Worldwide Shop Online ecommerce shop selling Refuge Worldwide branded merchandise and related products, generating revenue to support the organization's non-profit mission.
• Mobile Application Native mobile application for iOS and Android providing radio streaming functionality with personalized preferences stored locally on user devices.
• Studio Bookings Studio rental service managed via Cal.com platform, allowing external artists, DJs, and guests to book recording or broadcast time at the Berlin studio facility.
• Live Events and Festival Partnerships Live in-person events in Berlin and festival partnerships including Groove For Good fundraising parties, Garden Sessions at Berliner Berg, Module Festival, XJAZZ! Festival PRE-PARTIES, and MAGMA Festival collaborations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ artists on the platform
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ChariTeacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2026ChariTea and Refuge Worldwide teamed up with Groove For Good for an open-air fundraising party in Berlin. Ron Trent, CARISTA, and Sofia Kourtesis performed at the event, combining music with social cause fundraising.
• Groove For GoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2026Groove For Good collaboration with ChariTea and Refuge Worldwide for fundraising events in Berlin, featuring international artists for social causes.
• XJAZZ! FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXJAZZ! Festival partnership with Refuge Worldwide for monthly PRE-PARTIES series leading up to the festival. The collaboration features shows at Oona Bar in Kreuzberg and showcases international jazz, soul, and funk acts.
• Minor FiguresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinor Figures is mentioned in collaboration with The Breakfast Show, specifically for the show broadcast from Weserstr. 166 in Berlin. Minor Figures is a coffee brand supporting the show.
• Berliner BergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGarden Sessions at Berliner Berg - Refuge Worldwide curated four Sunday afternoon events at Berliner Berg venue during summer.
• Module FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefuge Worldwide heads to Frankfurt for Module Festival, 13-16 August 2026, featuring shows and content from the station.
• MAGMA FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSENU's Selects featured ahead of MAGMA Festival, with SENU being a Refuge Worldwide resident artist.
• ContentfulcoreTechnology or IntegrationContent management system used by Refuge Worldwide for managing and publishing radio shows, artist profiles, news, and event content.
• MuxcoreTechnology or IntegrationLive stream delivery platform used for video broadcasting of radio content.
• Mailchimp (Intuit)coreTechnology or IntegrationNewsletter distribution platform used for email communications about programming, events, and news.
• Cal.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationStudio booking platform used for scheduling and managing studio access for artists and guests.
• Fathom AnalyticscoreTechnology or IntegrationPrivacy-first analytics tool used to understand website visitors without tracking or storing personal data.
• Tally.socoreTechnology or IntegrationCommunity feedback forms hosted by Tally.so for collecting feedback from residents and community members.
• SoundCloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationAudio streaming platform for hosting and distributing radio show archives and music content.
• MixcloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationAudio streaming platform for radio show archives, providing on-demand access to past broadcasts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cashmere Radio: Cashmere Radio is a Berlin-based community and online radio station covering experimental music, with a similarly small team, festival tie-ins, and DIY ethos. Direct local overlap in audience, scene, and operating model makes it the most geographically proximate peer.
• Threads Radio: Threads Radio is a London/online community station covering electronic and experimental music with a curated resident DJ roster and event programming. Comparable on the curated community-radio model and lean operating structure.
• Rinse FM: Rinse FM is a London-rooted community station (historically pirate-turned-licensed) covering grime, electronic, hip-hop and underground genres with a global streaming footprint. Comparable on genre breadth, artist-driven programming, and live event integration.
• NTS Radio: NTS is a London-based community radio station with a global streaming audience, resident/guest DJs across experimental genres, and a similar event/merchandise revenue mix. It is the closest international analogue to Refuge Worldwide's model, community ethos, and programming breadth.
• The Lot Radio: The Lot Radio is a NYC-based independent online radio station broadcasting from a Williamsburg café, featuring experimental, electronic and indie programming with strong festival/event tie-ins. Highly comparable on community-first DNA, live broadcasts, and physical venue overlay.
• dublab: dublab is a Los Angeles-based non-profit online radio station with a global affiliate network and a deep catalog of experimental, ambient, jazz, and electronic programming. Comparable mission (non-profit cultural radio), curator network, and archival depth.
• Radio Boiler: Radio Boiler is an independent community online radio focused on underground electronic music, with a similar small-team streaming-and-events model. Comparable on operational size and grassroots, listener-supported ethos.
• Worldwide FM: Worldwide FM, founded by Gilles Peterson, is a global online community radio station broadcasting from multiple cities with a curated mix of jazz, soul, electronic and global sounds — a strong comparator on programming philosophy, online-first distribution, and community-led curation.
• Balamii: Balamii is a London-based community online radio station broadcasting from Peckham with a focus on underground dance, electronic, and experimental music. Comparable on small-team community broadcasting, genre focus, and event-driven content.

Broad incumbents

• Boiler Room: Boiler Room is a much larger, commercially funded live music broadcasting platform covering DJ sets across genres globally. It overlaps with Refuge on live-broadcast artist content and underground electronic programming, but operates at significantly greater scale and with commercial sponsorship.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/RefugeWorldwide
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refuge-worldwide

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Refuge Worldwide