Silbernetz

What Silbernetz does

Silbernetz e.V. is a Berlin-registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2014 and formally incorporated in 2016, operating a nationwide telephone-based support network for people aged 60 and over in Germany who experience loneliness or social isolation. The organization runs three core services — the Silbertelefon, a free anonymous hotline reachable daily 8am-10pm at 0800 4 70 80 90; Silbernetz-Freundschaft, a program that matches elderly users with trained volunteers for recurring weekly phone calls; and Silberinfo, a national referral service for local elderly-care providers. The technology layer is conventional telephony plus volunteer-management and newsletter tooling (Sendinblue); no AI/ML components, APIs, or proprietary software products are disclosed.

Beyond the core three, Silbernetz operates several add-on programs: the Berlin-specific Infotelefon (rebranded "Lücken schließen – Brücken bauen" in 2026) covering digital, financial, bureaucratic, and weather-alert support; the Parkinson-Hilfetelefon launched nationwide in September 2025 with Jens Hibbe Stiftung funding; the GenerationenTandem inter-generational project connecting younger volunteers with seniors in care homes; the Hitzetelefon heat-protection pilot in Berlin-Neukölln; and the seasonal Feiertagstelefon holiday hotline. The organization is staffed by approximately 40 employees and relies on roughly 300 trained active volunteers across Germany, with a cumulative milestone of one million hotline calls reached in January 2026.

Silbernetz is funded through a diversified mix of public grants (German federal family ministry BMFSFJ, the states of Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia, and five Berlin jobcenters via SGB II), foundation grants (Beisheim Stiftung, Jens Hibbe Stiftung, LOTTO-Stiftung Berlin, Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, Stiftung Berliner Sparkasse), corporate sponsors (Berliner Sparkasse, Dejak, wirDesign), and individual donations processed through GLS Bank, PayPal, and Betterplace.org. All services are provided free of charge to end users. The go-to-market is community-led: earned media, partnerships with senior organizations (AWO Seniorennetz, BAGSO, Paritätischer Landesverband), high-profile political endorsements (German ministers and state ministers periodically taking hotline shifts), and inclusion in the federal "Allianz gegen Einsamkeit" strategy drive user acquisition.

Name

Silbernetz

Legal name

Silbernetz e.V.

Website

https://silbernetz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Silbernetz e.V. is a Berlin-based non-profit operating a nationwide free telephone support network for elderly Germans (60+) experiencing loneliness, including the Silbertelefon hotline, weekly phone-friendship matching, and specialized programs covering Parkinson's, digital inclusion, and weather alerts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Elderly loneliness support services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Companion Care & Social Support (non-clinical) (HLADAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safety Check-Ins, Wellness Calls & Monitoring (Non-Clinical) (HSABAAAG), Technology Assistance & Digital Support for Seniors (HSABAAAH), Community Resources, Social Services & Transportation Coordination (HLADALAK)

Keywords

• Elderly loneliness support
• Senior helpline services
• Community telephone befriending
• Nonprofit social support
• Care hotline Germany

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Grants: Silbernetz receives funding from German federal and state governments (particularly Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia), five Berlin jobcenters (SGB II funding), and various foundations.
2. Foundation and Corporate Donations: Support from foundations (Beisheim Stiftung, Jens Hibbe Stiftung, LOTTO-Stiftung Berlin, Deutsche Postcode Lotterie), companies (Berliner Sparkasse), and individual donors. Donations are accepted via PayPal, bank transfer, and platforms like Betterplace.org.
3. Project-specific Funding: Special projects receive dedicated funding, such as the Parkinson's helpline (funded by Jens Hibbe Stiftung), the heat telephone project (funded by Berlin district office and Senate), and the Infotelefon (funded by LOTTO-Stiftung Berlin).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Silbernetz e.V. operates a network of free, anonymous telephone-based support services targeting elderly people (60+) in Germany who experience loneliness. The core offering consists of three integrated services: the Silbertelefon hotline for one-off confidential conversations (daily 8am-10pm), the Silbernetz-Freundschaft program pairing elderly users with trained volunteers for weekly scheduled calls, and the Silberinfo service providing nationwide referrals to local elderly care providers. Extended offerings include the Berlin Infotelefon with weather alerts, the Parkinson-Hilfetelefon, the GenerationenTandem intergenerational program, the seasonal Feiertagstelefon, and the Hitzetelefon heat-protection pilot.

Product overview

Silbernetz is a non-profit organization (Silbernetz e.V.) offering a multi-component telephone-based support network for older adults experiencing loneliness in Germany. The core offering consists of three interconnected services: the Silbertelefon (free anonymous hotline), Silbernetz-Freundschaft (weekly telephone friendships with volunteers), and Silberinfo (national referral service for local elderly care). Extended modules include the Infotelefon for Berliners (with weather alerts and practical support), a dedicated Parkinson-Hilfetelefon, the GenerationenTandem inter-generational project, and seasonal Feiertagstelefon holiday coverage. All services are free, confidential, and anonymous for callers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Silbertelefon: Free anonymous hotline (0800 4 70 80 90) for people aged 60+ experiencing loneliness. Available daily 8am-10pm. Callers can talk about anything — from loneliness to everyday concerns.
• Silbernetz-Freundschaften (Silbernetz-Friends)
• Silberinfo
• Infotelefon – Lücken schließen – Brücken bauen
• GenerationenTandem
• Parkinson-Hilfetelefon

Products and services

• Silbertelefon Free anonymous telephone hotline (0800 4 70 80 90) for people aged 60 and over in Germany, available daily from 8am to 10pm. Trained staff provide emotional support, a listening ear, and can share initial information about local services.
• Silbernetz-Freundschaft Weekly telephone friendship service connecting older people with trained volunteers for regular hour-long conversations, providing consistent, confidential support. Available also in Japanese.
• Silberinfo National information service providing details about basic elderly care services in German federal states and municipalities to callers of the Silbertelefon. Provides referrals to local support organizations and services.
• Infotelefon – Lücken schließen – Brücken bauen Information and advisory telephone service for older Berliners (030 544 533 0 533) providing support with digital, financial, bureaucratic, and social challenges. Available Monday-Friday 9am-4pm and Saturday 9am-1pm. Includes weather alert notifications, digital skills support, and practical assistance referrals.
• Parkinson-Hilfetelefon Dedicated nationwide helpline for adults with Parkinson's disease and their families in Germany, providing empathetic conversations and information on topics including work, relationships, bureaucracy, and mobility. Available Monday-Friday 10am-2pm at 030 544 533 0 600.
• GenerationenTandem Project connecting volunteers aged 20-35 with isolated older people in senior care facilities through weekly telephone conversations, with the possibility of in-person meetings after an initial acquaintance phase.
• Feiertagstelefon Special 24-hour hotline service operating from Christmas Eve (Dec 24, 8am) through New Year's Day (Jan 1, 10pm) providing continuous support for lonely older people during the holiday season.
• Wetter-Service am Infotelefon Weather alert service integrated with the Infotelefon. Older people can register to receive automated phone notifications when extreme weather events (heat, storms, ice) occur, based on German Weather Service warnings.
• Hitzetelefon Neukölln Heat protection telephone service for older people in Berlin-Neukölln, providing warnings, behavioral tips, and practical support during extreme heat events, including volunteer heat helpers for errands and assistance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches elderly people with loneliness levels higher than 95% of their peer population, demonstrating effective outreach to the most isolated individuals
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, partner and supporting.

• Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Ministry supporting Silbernetz through the government's strategy against loneliness. Includes participation in the 'Allianz gegen Einsamkeit' (Alliance Against Loneliness) and the 'Gemeinsam aus der Einsamkeit' action week.
• AWO Seniorennetz BerlinpartnerTechnology or IntegrationCooperation partner for the Infotelefon project, providing access to their database of senior services and support network.
• Digital-Zebra (VÖBB)partnerTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Berlin's public library system's digital inclusion initiative, referring elderly people with digital questions to approximately 20 library locations.
• Paritätischer Landesverband BerlinpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization and partner for the GenerationenTandem project.
• BAGSO (Bundesseniorenkonferenz)partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Federal Senior Citizens' Conference, Germany's largest advocacy organization for older people.
• GAROP (Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People)partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational alliance working on a UN Convention for the Rights of Older People. Silbernetz board member Hans Carl von Werthern serves on the editorial group.
• GLS BanksupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides the donation processing infrastructure for Silbernetz, enabling bank transfers and direct donations.
• Betterplace.orgsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline donation platform enabling charitable donations to Silbernetz.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Diakonie Deutschland: Germany's largest Protestant social-services federation providing elderly care, counseling, and social support. Broad incumbent in the same non-profit social-services space that could absorb or replicate loneliness programming.
• Caritas Deutschland: One of Germany's largest social-services confederations, offering elderly care, counseling, and family support across inpatient and outpatient channels. A potential systemic partner or competitor for loneliness-related programming at scale.
• Malteser Hilfsdienst: German aid organization with nationwide volunteer infrastructure that has expanded into elderly companionship and loneliness services. Comparable in structure (volunteer + public funding) and in serving the elderly population.
• Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO): Major German welfare association already collaborating with Silbernetz (AWO Seniorennetz) on the Infotelefon. Large incumbent with direct senior-services infrastructure that overlaps with Silbernetz's target population.

Direct peers

• TelefonSeelsorge Deutschland: Germany's national crisis and emotional-support hotline (0800-1110111 / 0800-1110222). Operates the same anonymous, free, volunteer-staffed telephone model for people in distress, making it the closest direct peer to Silbernetz's Silbertelefon, though without the explicit elderly-focus.
• The Silver Line UK: UK-based free, confidential helpline specifically for older people (60+), offering information, friendship, and referral. Materially comparable in target demographic (lonely elderly), service model (phone-based anonymous support), and volunteer-staffed delivery.
• Samaritans UK: UK-wide 24/7 emotional support hotline staffed by trained volunteers. Comparable in the volunteer-staffed, anonymous-call, telephone-first model, though serving a broader age range and crisis profile.
• Nummer gegen Kummer: German national helpline network for children, youth, and parents. Comparable in the anonymous, free, volunteer-staffed telephone model for vulnerable populations, but addresses a different demographic segment.
• FriendLine Australia: Australian telephone support line specifically targeting loneliness and social isolation, including older adults. Closely mirrors Silbernetz's narrow focus on loneliness (not crisis) and its volunteer-driven phone-call model.

Others

• BAGSO (Bundesseniorenkonferenz): Germany's largest advocacy organization for older people, of which Silbernetz is a member. Not a direct service provider but a peer in the senior-empowerment ecosystem and potential referral channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/silbernetz
• Instagraminstagram.com/silbernetz
• Xtwitter.com/silbernetz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxVrL6_7-3q05WSVo-7dHPg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silbernetz

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 Silbernetz