What Rotenburger Werke does

Rotenburger Werke is a German diakonische (Protestant church-affiliated charitable) institution headquartered in Rotenburg (Wümme), Lower Saxony, that delivers the full continuum of disability and youth welfare services. Its offerings span residential housing for adults with intellectual, physical, and mental health disabilities and acquired brain injuries; children and youth welfare services under Jugendamt frameworks; vocational workshops (WfbM); day care facilities (Tagesförderstätten); and professional education (Berufliche Bildung). The organization also operates a Therapeutisches Reiten (therapeutic riding) program and broader "Lebensqualität" (quality of life) services.

The organization runs nine commercial product and service lines designed both to generate outside revenue and to provide sheltered employment pathways for workshop participants: catering and event gastronomy (lecker), garden and floristry, an art gallery showcasing works by people with disabilities, carpentry (Die Tischlerei), a bicycle retail and repair shop (RadKontor), gift items and textile work, health and education programs, a commercial laundry (Die Wäscherei) for business customers, and industrial assembly and packaging services (Industrieaufträge). No proprietary technology platform underpins these operations; the technology footprint is limited to a content website (rotenburger-werke.de), a TikTok account, and a donation infrastructure via Stiftung mittendabei and Sparkasse Rotenburg Osterholz.

Revenue derives from three streams: (1) statutory reimbursements under SGB IX and SGB VIII via Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Krankenversicherung, Jugendamt, and disability service offices; (2) commercial sales of products and services to private and business customers; and (3) donations and foundation income. The organization employs over 2,200 staff from 51 countries and operates multiple facilities across the Rotenburg region. It is currently piloting a 4-day work week as an HR innovation, has secured 2025 BAFA, Aktion Mensch, and EU/BMUV grants to electrify and expand its vehicle fleet (including specialized bicycles), and participates in the Innovationsquartier ecosystem initiative for social innovation in the region.

Name

Rotenburger Werke

Legal name

Rotenburger Werke

Website

https://rotenburgerwerke.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rotenburger Werke is a German diaconal non-profit in Rotenburg (Wümme) providing residential care, vocational workshops, day care, and youth welfare for people with disabilities and youth in special life situations, alongside commercial catering, laundry, carpentry, floristry, bicycle, and industrial assembly services, employing 2,200+ staff from 51 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Welfare and Disability Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential & Small Business Uniform Rental Service (HSAJAMAA)

Keywords

• Disability care services
• Youth welfare services
• Vocational rehabilitation workshops
• Social welfare organization
• Assisted living facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotenburg (Wümme)

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Welfare Funding: Primary revenue derived from public social insurance providers (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Krankenversicherung), youth welfare offices (Jugendamt), and disability services funding under German social law (SGB IX, SGB VIII). These statutory funding mechanisms cover residential care, vocational workshops (WfbM), day care, and educational services.
2. Product and Service Sales: Commercial revenue from sale of products and services including catering and event management, laundry services for corporate customers, carpentry/furniture making, garden and floristry products, industrial assembly and packaging services, textile crafts and gifts, and bicycle services. Targets both private individuals and business customers.
3. Donations and Foundation: Donations collected through Stiftung mittendabei foundation, supporting the organization's mission and special projects. Donation account provided via Sparkasse Rotenburg Osterholz.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rotenburger Werke is a German diakonische (diaconal) social welfare organization providing disability assistance and youth welfare services. Its core offerings include residential care, vocational workshops (Werkstatt für behinderte Menschen, WfbM), day-care, professional education, and therapeutic services. The organization supplements its mission with commercial workshops delivering catering, laundry, carpentry, floristry, industrial assembly, and bicycle services.

Product overview

Rotenburger Werke operates as a diversified service provider within the social welfare sector, offering a portfolio of nine distinct product and service lines. The portfolio spans catering and gastronomy (lecker), garden and floristry services, an art gallery featuring works by people with disabilities, carpentry workshop services, bicycle retail and repair (RadKontor), gift items and textile work, health and education services, professional laundry services for business customers, and industrial assembly and packaging services. These products and services are designed both to provide meaningful employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities and to serve external private and business customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stiftung mittendabei: A foundation associated with Rotenburger Werke for donations and support.

Products and services

• Residential housing and assisted living for people with disabilities Long-term residential care and assisted-living services for people with disabilities, delivered within the organization's diakonische care framework and financed under SGB IX.
• Vocational workshops (WfbM) Werkstatt für behinderte Menschen (WfbM) providing vocational rehabilitation, training, and sheltered employment for people with disabilities, integrated with commercial workshop operations such as catering, laundry, carpentry, floristry, industrial assembly, and bicycle services.
• Day care services for people with disabilities Daytime care, activity programs, and support services for people with disabilities who do not require full-time residential care.
• Youth welfare services Residential, educational, and pedagogical support services for at-risk youth and families, commissioned by Jugendamt and other youth welfare authorities under SGB VIII.
• Professional education and training Vocational training and continuing-education programs for staff and beneficiaries in the social care sector.
• Therapeutic services Therapeutic, medical, and psychological support services for beneficiaries of the organization's disability and youth programs.
• Commercial catering services Catering services supplied to external business and public-sector clients, produced within the organization's commercial workshop operations.
• Commercial laundry services Laundry services for external clients, produced within the organization's commercial workshop operations.
• Carpentry workshop Carpentry products and services for external clients, produced within the organization's commercial workshop operations.
• Floristry workshop Floral arrangements and floristry services for external clients, produced within the organization's commercial workshop operations.
• Industrial assembly services Industrial assembly, packaging, and related light-manufacturing services for external business clients, produced within the organization's commercial workshop operations.
• Bicycle services Bicycle repair and related services for external clients, produced within the organization's commercial workshop operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 2,200 employees serving a large population of people with disabilities and youth in special circumstances
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• LindenschuleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated educational institution in Rotenburg; mutual collaboration on educational matters and community integration for children and youth with disabilities.
• Bildnerische Werkstatt (Art Workshop)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated creative workshop offering artistic education and creative development opportunities for people with disabilities, complementary to the organization's vocational training programs.
• HartmannshofminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity venue and social enterprise partner hosting events and community gatherings; the organization holds events at this location and maintains collaborative community ties.
• InnovationsquartierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation district project partner exploring new approaches to social innovation, disability services, and community development in the Rotenburg region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wichern Diakonie: Diakonische provider of disability services, youth welfare, and care for the elderly across multiple German states. Closely comparable diakonische institution with WfbM workshops and statutory funding base.
• Stiftung Liebenau: Catholic-affiliated social services foundation in southern Germany providing residential care, workshops, and education for people with disabilities. Operates a similar integrated care-plus-workshop model with commercial revenue diversification.
• Stiftung ICP München: Foundation operating specialized residential care, schools, and vocational services for people with cerebral palsy and disabilities in Bavaria. Comparable in specialized disability residential and educational offering.
• Graf Recke Stiftung: Diakonische foundation in North Rhine-Westphalia providing residential, vocational, and educational services for people with disabilities and youth in special life situations. Comparable in service scope and statutory funding model.
• Von Bodelschwinghsche Stiftungen Bethel: Largest diakonische institution in Germany, operating comprehensive disability, youth, and social services across multiple federal states. Directly comparable to Rotenburger Werke in mission, scope, and statutory funding model under SGB IX/VIII.
• Hephata: Diakonische institution in Mönchengladbach offering residential care, vocational workshops, and youth services for people with disabilities. Comparable in service mix, regional scope, and workshop-based vocational training.
• Evangelische Stiftung Volmarstein: Protestant social services foundation in North Rhine-Westphalia with disability care, vocational training, and rehabilitation services. Comparable diakonische institution operating WfbM and residential facilities.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas: Largest Catholic social welfare organization in Germany, providing comparable disability, youth, and elderly care services under SGB IX/VIII. Competes for the same statutory funding as Rotenburger Werke but operates across all caritative care segments.
• Lebenshilfe: Germany's largest federation of disability services, operating across federal states with residential, workshop, and family support services. A broader umbrella incumbent with overlapping service categories.
• Diakonie Deutschland: Umbrella organization of Protestant welfare services in Germany, of which Rotenburger Werke is a member. Provides political representation, advocacy, and framework agreements that shape the operating environment for diakonische institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@rotenburgerwerke
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rotenburger-werke

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Rotenburger Werke