Region of Lifesavers
Region der Lebensretter e.V. is a German non-profit association that operates a smartphone-based first responder alerting system for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, connecting 54,685 registered medically trained volunteers across 105 counties to emergency control centres via its intelligent dispatch app.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersFreiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Region of Lifesavers does
Region der Lebensretter e.V. (Region of Lifesavers), founded in 2017 and headquartered in Freiburg, Germany, is a non-profit registered association that operates a smartphone-based first responder alerting system for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The core product is the Region of Lifesavers App 3.0 (iOS/Android), developed by Denmark-based FirstAED ApS, which integrates with German emergency control centres (Integrierte Leitstellen) to automatically alert medically qualified volunteer first responders within the immediate vicinity of a suspected cardiac arrest. The intelligent dispatch algorithm selects four responders, routes them via Google Maps, and assigns specific roles — CPR provider, CPR compressor, AED fetcher, or emergency services guide — based on real-time GPS, transport mode, and traffic-conditional travel time. The app also integrates the DEFI-map AED registry (15,500 defibrillators, 8,331 available 24/7), enabling automatic routing to the nearest publicly accessible AED capable of arriving before the ambulance.
The system is ISO 27001 certified, GDPR-compliant, and approved by the Baden-Württemberg Data Protection Commissioner. As of 2026 it covers 105 counties across 7 federal states and 22.22 million people, with 54,685 registered responders and a median arrival time of 3:05 minutes. The technology platform is reinforced by a bidirectional control centre interface, cross-regional alerting across redundant server infrastructure, and the FreiburgRESIST extension for crisis management situations.
The organisation is funded entirely through donations and public research grants — there are no fees charged to responders, control centres, or patients. Revenue streams include general donations, designated donations for responder equipment (PAX backpacks, RollBAGs from rettungszeug.com), AED site funding, and regional earmarked donations. Major institutional funding includes over €6.6 million from BMBF for the FreiburgRESIST project (four-year second phase of SIFOLife) and nearly €4 million from BMDV for the Rettungskette 5G project. The association operates through a wholly-owned non-profit subsidiary, lifesavers.digital gGmbH, and is managed by Managing Director Dr. Judith Joos under Chairman Prof. Dr. med. Michael Müller. Customer segments effectively include Integrierte Leitstellen (government control centres), founding partner NGOs (DRK, Malteser), fire brigades, and the co-founding hospital St. Josefskrankenhaus Freiburg.
Region of Lifesavers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Region of Lifesavers
- Legal name
- Region der Lebensretter e.V.
- Website
- https://regionderlebensretter.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Region der Lebensretter e.V. is a German non-profit association that operates a smartphone-based first responder alerting system for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, connecting 54,685 registered medically trained volunteers across 105 counties to emergency control centres via its intelligent dispatch app.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Region of Lifesavers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- First Responder Alerting Software
- NAICS
- Telephone Answering Services (561421)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emergency Communications, Alerting & Public Warning Systems (HLAJAGAF)
Keywords
Where Region of Lifesavers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Freiburg im Breisgau
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Region of Lifesavers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations (General): The non-profit association (gemeinnützig) accepts general donations without designated purpose. These support the ongoing development and operation of the lifesaving system across all regions in Germany.
- Donations for Responder Equipment: Targeted donations to equip first responders with specialist resuscitation backpacks (PAX), RollBAGs, high-visibility vests, and personal protective equipment. Donors can sponsor a complete responder kit.
- Donations for AED Sites: Designated donations to finance publicly accessible AED installations, including 5 years of operational responsibility taken on by the association as a non-profit entity.
- Donations for Regional Projects: Region-specific donations that are earmarked for use in a particular lifesavers region, supporting the continuation of operations in donor-funded regions.
- FreiburgRESIST Project Funding (BMBF): The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) funds the FreiburgRESIST project with over €6.6 million over four years (second phase of SIFOLife programme). This supports the extension of the lifesavers app into crisis management use cases.
- Rettungskette 5G Project Funding (BMDV): The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) funds the Rettungskette 5G project with nearly €4 million as part of the government's 5x5G strategy. Total project volume exceeds €5 million.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels13 records
Region of Lifesavers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Region of Lifesavers operates a smartphone-based first responder alerting system that connects emergency control centres with registered, medically qualified volunteer first responders to deliver CPR and defibrillation within 3-5 minutes of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The core offering is the Region of Lifesavers App 3.0 (iOS/Android) — powered by an intelligent dispatch algorithm and integrated with the DEFI-map AED location registry — which selects and tasks four responders per incident, routes one to the nearest available AED, and coordinates with incoming ambulance services. The service is delivered free of charge to responders, control centres, and patients, funded by donations and public research grants.
Product overview
Region of Lifesavers (Region der Lebensretter e.V.) is a non-profit association offering a smartphone-based first responder alerting system for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The core product is the Region of Lifesavers App 3.0 — developed by FirstAED ApS (Denmark) — which integrates an intelligent dispatch algorithm, GPS-based routing (Google Maps), and the DEFImap AED registry to alert, route, and task four selected responders per incident before EMS arrives. The DEFImap AED location registry is embedded in the app and used to direct a responder to the nearest publicly available AED. The system connects to emergency dispatch centres via a bidirectional interface and includes a backend dashboard for administrators and dispatch centres. The portfolio extends to first responder equipment (PAX emergency backpack, RollBAG from rettungszeug.com), supplementary insurance (Allianz), and psychosocial aftercare (PFA). The system is backed by an interdisciplinary research group (AG Forschung) and ISO 27001-certified, GDPR-compliant infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Region of Lifesavers App 3.0 Third-generation smartphone alerting app (iOS/Android) developed with FirstAED ApS (Denmark) that alerts registered medically trained first responders to nearby cardiac arrests, routes them via Google Maps, and assigns one of four tasks (CPR, CPR compressor, AED retrieval, EMS guidance) using the intelligent 3.0 dispatch algorithm. Integrated with the DEFI-map AED registry and connected bidirectionally to emergency control centres (Integrierte Leitstellen) for semi-automatic activation, live position tracking, and S3/S4 status reporting. Free for qualified first responders aged 18+ with BLS certification.
- DEFI-map AED Location Registry Integrated AED location cadastre (AED Standort-Kataster) embedded in the Region of Lifesavers app. Provides digital capture and management of AED locations including real-time availability, opening hours, access descriptions, and photographs. Used for routing first responders to the nearest publicly available AED during an emergency, and supports dispatch-centre-led telephone CPR by making AED locations available to callers. Contains 15,500 registered AEDs of which 8,331 are available 24/7.
- First Responder Equipment (PAX Emergency Backpack and RollBAG) Specially configured emergency equipment developed in partnership with PAX (PAX emergency backpack) and rettungszeug.com (RollBAG compact roll-top bag). Both include BLS equipment such as respirator mask, PPE, gloves, FFP2 masks, knee pad, and identification vest. Available for purchase or as a sponsored donation to equip registered first responders.
- Psychological First Aid (PFA) Post-Mission Support Post-mission psychosocial support offered to first responders after an emergency call-out. Access is provided directly through the app, and the association coordinates with existing regional PFA and psychosocial care structures.
- Supplementary First Responder Liability Insurance (Allianz) Nationwide supplementary personal liability insurance policy arranged by Region der Lebensretter e.V. with Allianz Versicherungs AG, covering all first responders alerted through the app including those without organisational affiliation. Applied subsidiarily to existing coverage.
Quantifiable outcome
- Median first responder arrival time of 3:05 minutes (2026), down from 3:15 in 2025 — the shortest published response times for smartphone-based alerting systems.
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Region of Lifesavers
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Region of Lifesavers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
Region of Lifesavers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, significant and minor.
- FirstAED ApScoreDanish technology company that developed the Region of Lifesavers 3.0 smartphone alerting app (iOS/Android) and provides ongoing software development. The intelligent alerting algorithm, GPS routing, and cross-regional alerting infrastructure are powered by FirstAED technology. Partner in the Rettungskette 5G project.
- PAX (Pax-Bags)corePAX developed the official 'Region der Lebensretter' emergency backpack in collaboration with the association. The backpack is specifically configured for resuscitation deployments, including storage for AED devices, protective equipment, and high-visibility vests. Sold through PAX's online shop.
- rettungszeug.com (simul8 GmbH & Co. KG)corerettungszeug.com (simul8 GmbH) developed the RollBAG compact resuscitation bag and high-visibility vest for lifesavers. Products are sold through the rettungszeug.com online shop. Alex Kraus represents rettungszeug.com within the lifesavers team.
- Allianz Versicherungs AGcoreAllianz provides a nationwide supplementary first responder liability insurance policy arranged by Region of Lifesavers e.V. Covers personal legal liability of all app-alerted first responders, including those without organisational affiliation. Applied subsidiarily to existing coverage.
- Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung (DGUV)coreStatutory accident insurance for first responders during voluntary activities and travel to/from emergency sites. Covers personal injury and property damage, including legal matters related to third-party damage during first aid provision.
- University Medical Centre Freiburg (Zentrum für Notfall- und Rettungsmedizin)coreThe university's Centre for Emergency and Rescue Medicine provides data management support for the HEROES clinical study. Provides scientific credibility and access to academic research infrastructure for the association's evidence base.
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) — Institut für Operations ResearchsignificantOngoing cooperation since winter semester 2023/24 with KIT's Faculty of Economics, Institute for Operations Research, Discrete Optimisation and Logistics (Prof. Dr. Stefan Nickel). Supervises Master's student research projects. Resulting research on GPS-based departure time measurement published in Resuscitation Plus 2024.
- Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics (Ernst-Mach-Institut EMI)significantResearch partner in the FreiburgRESIST project, contributing expertise in short-time dynamics for the integrated resilience management system.
- Centre for Security and Society (CSS)minorAcademic partner in the FreiburgRESIST project, contributing security and society research expertise to the resilience management system development.
- City of Freiburg (Stadtverwaltung Freiburg)significantCo-initiator of the FreiburgRESIST project. Hosts through its DIGIT, fire protection, and public order offices. Also a founding member of the association itself.
- Freiburg Wirtschaft Tourismus Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM)minorPartner in the FreiburgRESIST project, contributing economic and event management expertise.
- Polizeipräsidium Freiburg (Freiburg Police Headquarters)minorAssociated partner in the FreiburgRESIST project.
- DRK Kreisverband AalensignificantConsortium partner in the Rettungskette 5G project, contributing emergency service operations expertise for the Aalen region pilot.
- Ostalb-Klinikum AalenminorClinical consortium partner in the Rettungskette 5G project.
- Hochschule AalensignificantAcademic consortium partner in the Rettungskette 5G project. Responsible for scientific monitoring and evaluation through the Digital Health Management programme.
- Zentrum für Telemedizin Bad KissingenminorTelemedicine expertise partner in the Rettungskette 5G consortium.
- o2/Telefónica Deutschlandsignificant5G network technology partner in the Rettungskette 5G project, providing the mobile network infrastructure for high-bandwidth, low-latency data transmission.
- DRF Luftrettung (Air Rescue)minorAssociated partner in the Rettungskette 5G project, contributing air rescue expertise.
- Deutsche Gesellschaft Interdisziplinäre Notfall- und Akutmedizin (DGINA)minorAssociated partner in the Rettungskette 5G project, contributing emergency medicine society expertise.
- German Resuscitation Council (GRC)coreRegion of Lifesavers is actively involved in the GRC's 'Smartphone Saves Lives' working group. Contributed to the 2021 and 2025 international resuscitation guidelines that recommend smartphone-based first responder systems. Co-developed the reporting standard for first responder systems and AED networks.
- German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive and Emergency Medicine (DIVI)significantContributing to the Resuscitation and Post-Resuscitation Care section of DIVI. Actively involved in scientific working groups.
- German Society for Internal Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DGIIN)significantContributing to the Resuscitation and Post-Resuscitation Care section of DGIIN.
- European Resuscitation Council (ERC)significantRegion of Lifesavers participates in the ERC's annual congress and contributes to guideline development. International guidelines from 2021 and 2025 recommend smartphone-based first responder systems.
- Landratsamt OstalbkreissignificantLead consortium coordinator for the Rettungskette 5G project. Manages the multi-partner project and its integration into the Aalen region's emergency services.
- PAX (donation campaigns)minorThe association runs donation campaigns to equip first responders with PAX backpacks. Donors can sponsor a responder's equipment via the PAX shop, with the association coordinating fulfilment.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Region of Lifesavers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GoodSAM: UK-based platform that alerts nearby registered responders (medical professionals and trained first aiders) to cardiac arrests and other emergencies via a smartphone app; directly comparable in functionality and operating model.
- MobileRescuers: Netherlands-headquartered first-responder alert platform deployed across multiple European countries; directly competes in the same smartphone-alerting category.
- PulsePoint: US-based non-profit operating a smartphone app that alerts nearby trained civilians and off-duty professionals to cardiac arrests and other medical emergencies; closest international analogue to Region der Lebensretter's first-responder alerting model.
- HartslagNu: Netherlands-based smartphone alert system that mobilises volunteer citizen responders for cardiac arrest; very similar operating model and integration with Dutch dispatch centres.
- Staying Alive: French-developed smartphone app that crowdsources citizen responders and AED locations for cardiac arrest; directly comparable functionality with global deployment footprint.
- Heartrunner (SMSlivräddare): Swedish SMS-based first responder alert system for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, integrated with Swedish dispatch centres; comparable use case and clinical evidence base to Region der Lebensretter.
Broad incumbents
- ZOLL Medical Corporation: Major global manufacturer of AEDs, defibrillators, and resuscitation technology with broader portfolios in EMS and connected resuscitation programmes; broad incumbent in the same clinical space.
- Philips HeartStart (Royal Philips): Large incumbent AED and resuscitation programme provider with established first-responder and public-access defibrillation programmes; overlaps in the cardiac-arrest response ecosystem but as part of a much wider healthcare portfolio.
Emerging players
- Everdrone: Sweden-based company operating AED-delivery drones integrated with dispatch systems; adjacent/compelling use case for reducing time-to-defibrillation that complements first-responter alerting.
- AEDmap (Defibrillator data registry): European AED location registry platform operating in multiple countries; partial overlap with Region der Lebensretter's DEFI-map AED cadastre functionality.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Region of Lifesavers social profiles
Digital presenceRegion of Lifesavers compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Region of Lifesavers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Region of Lifesavers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Region of Lifesavers subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Region of Lifesavers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Region of Lifesavers 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 Region of Lifesavers
What does Region of Lifesavers do?
Region of Lifesavers operates a smartphone-based first responder alerting system that connects emergency control centres with registered, medically qualified volunteer first responders to deliver CPR and defibrillation within 3-5 minutes of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The core offering is the Region of Lifesavers App 3.0 (iOS/Android) — powered by an intelligent dispatch algorithm and integrated with the DEFI-map AED location registry — which selects and tasks four responders per incident, routes one to the nearest available AED, and coordinates with incoming ambulance services. The service is delivered free of charge to responders, control centres, and patients, funded by donations and public research grants.
Is Region of Lifesavers a public or private company?
Region of Lifesavers is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Region of Lifesavers founded?
Region of Lifesavers was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Region of Lifesavers based?
Region of Lifesavers is headquartered in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Region of Lifesavers make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Donations (General) is the primary driver. The others are donations for Responder Equipment, donations for AED Sites, donations for Regional Projects, freiburgRESIST Project Funding (BMBF) and rettungskette 5G Project Funding (BMDV).
Who are Region of Lifesavers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GoodSAM, MobileRescuers, PulsePoint, HartslagNu, Staying Alive and Heartrunner (SMSlivräddare). Broad incumbents are ZOLL Medical Corporation and Philips HeartStart (Royal Philips). Emerging players are Everdrone and AEDmap (Defibrillator data registry).
Does Region of Lifesavers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Region of Lifesavers.
What industry is Region of Lifesavers in?
Region of Lifesavers's product category is First Responder Alerting Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAGAF, Emergency Communications, Alerting & Public Warning Systems. Its NAICS code is 561421 and its SIC code is 8000.