Sydänliitto

What Sydänliitto does

Sydänliitto (legal name Suomen Sydänliitto ry) is a Finnish non-profit association founded in 1955 and headquartered in Helsinki, operating as the national umbrella for cardiovascular health in Finland. The organization serves heart disease patients and their families, health-conscious consumers, member volunteers, and people with rare cardiovascular conditions, reaching approximately 60,000 members across 180+ local heart associations and three national member organizations (Karpatiat, Sydänlapset ja -aikuiset, SYKE). Its core offerings combine clinical information, peer support matching, rehabilitation courses, and advocacy delivered through a multi-site digital platform (sydan.fi) built with Evermade, the quarterly Sydän-lehti print magazine in its 66th volume, and a network of in-person local events.

The technology base is a content-and-community digital ecosystem rather than a software product: sydan.fi and its subsites (Neuvokasperhe, Sydänkauppa, Defi, Sydänturvallinen Suomi) run on a WordPress-based multi-site architecture with GDPR compliance and WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility. Service modules include a searchable "Asiantuntija vastaa" Q&A database, an "Etsi vertaistukihenkilö" peer-supporter matcher, on-demand "Verkkoluennot" recordings, the Sydänmerkki WhatsApp recipe channel, and the Sydänturvallinen Suomi municipality heart-safety index. Reach metrics include 300,000 monthly unique visitors to sydan.fi (approximately 70% mobile, 65% female, 25+ age skew) and 150,000 readers of the 64,000-circulation quarterly magazine.

The business model is multi-stream non-profit funding: annual membership fees collected through local associations, donations (one-time, recurring "Sydänten sankarit," testamentary, memorial, party collection), the Sydän-arpajaiset charity lottery, paid and free rehabilitation courses, Sydänkauppa e-commerce sales of books and patient materials, and advertising sold through media partner Saarsalo Oy across Sydän-lehti (full 2/1 page €5,000) and sydan.fi. Distribution is omnichannel: local associations for in-person events and peer groups, sydan.fi and social channels for content and course registration, print magazine for member engagement, and healthcare facilities for clinical-stage peer support. Leadership comprises Chairperson Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki, Secretary General Marjaana Lahti-Koski, and Editor-in-Chief Eeva Hietalahti, supported by 56 employees.

Name

Sydänliitto

Legal name

Suomen Sydänliitto ry

Website

https://sydan.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sydänliitto (Suomen Sydänliitto ry) is Finland's national cardiovascular non-profit, founded 1955 and headquartered in Helsinki. It serves approximately 60,000 members across 180+ local associations through heart-health information, peer support, rehabilitation courses, and the Sydän-lehti magazine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Health Advocacy and Cardiovascular Disease Support

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Chronic Condition Lifestyle Coaching (Non-Clinical) (HSADAGAH)

Keywords

• Heart health nonprofit
• Cardiovascular patient support
• Peer support services
• Cardiac rehabilitation courses
• Heart health education

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki, Finland

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Sydänliitto derives revenue from annual membership fees collected through local heart associations and national member organizations. Members receive the Sydän-lehti (magazine), access to courses, peer support, and other member benefits.
2. Sydänkauppa (Heart Shop) E-commerce: Sale of books, guides, patient materials, and heart-health-related products through the Sydänkauppa online store.
3. Course Fees: Revenue from rehabilitation and wellness courses (kuntoutuskurssit) offered by Sydänliitto. Some courses are free for members; others may have fees.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Sydänliitto receives one-time donations, monthly recurring donations (Sydänten sankarit), testamentary bequests, memorial donations, and lottery proceeds (Sydän-arpajaiset). Donations fund peer support training, information services, and patient support programs.
5. Sydän-media Advertising and Sponsorship: Revenue from advertising sold in Sydän-lehti (print magazine, 64,000 circulation) and Sydan.fi website (300,000 monthly visitors). Media sales are handled by Saarsalo Oy. Ad formats include full-page, covers, half-page, and quarter-page placements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels15 records

Core offering

Sydänliitto (Finnish Heart Association) is a non-profit patient organization that provides heart disease information, peer support matching, rehabilitation courses, expert Q&A, and online lectures to cardiovascular patients and their families. It operates a national network of 180+ local heart associations, publishes the quarterly Sydän-lehti magazine, and runs the Sydan.fi digital platform alongside specialized sub-brands (Neuvokasperhe, Sydänmerkki, Defi.fi, Sydänkauppa). Revenue is generated through membership fees, donations, course fees, e-commerce, and advertising.

Product overview

Sydänliitto (Finnish Heart Association) operates a multi-platform health information ecosystem centered on heart disease prevention and patient support. The core offerings include Sydän.fi (main web portal) and Sydän-lehti (quarterly magazine), supplemented by specialized sub-brands: Neuvokasperhe for family wellness, Sydänmerkki for heart-healthy food certification, Defi.fi for defibrillator information, and Sydänkauppa for educational materials. Service modules include Verkkoluennot (web lectures), Vertaistuki (peer support with matching services), Sydänliiton kurssit (rehabilitation courses), Sydänturvallinen Suomi (municipality heart safety assessment), and Asiantuntija vastaa (expert Q&A). The organization reaches approximately 300,000 monthly website visitors and 150,000 magazine readers, primarily serving Finnish adults interested in heart health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Defi: Defibrillator (AED) locator service helping users find nearby defibrillators in emergency situations
• Neuvokasperhe
• Sydänmerkki
• Sydänkauppa
• Sydänturvallinen Suomi
• Sydän-media

Products and services

• Sydän.fi-verkkopalvelu The main Finnish-language web portal providing comprehensive information about heart health, cardiovascular diseases, nutrition, and general wellness. Serves as the primary digital platform for Sydänliitto's public-facing content and services, with ~300,000 monthly unique visitors.
• Sydän-lehti (Member Magazine) Quarterly membership magazine published four times per year with 68 pages per issue. Reaches approximately 150,000 readers with a circulation of 64,000 copies. Provides health information, expert content, and personal stories related to heart health.
• Sydänkauppa (Heart Shop) An online store selling educational guides, books, and materials about heart health and healthy lifestyle habits for patients and their families.
• Vertaistuki (Peer Support) Peer support services connecting heart disease patients and their families with trained peer supporters. Includes one-on-one matching service, support groups, and online communities.
• Sydänliiton kurssit (Rehabilitation Courses) Group-based rehabilitation courses for heart patients and their loved ones, covering topics related to living with heart disease and wellness. Includes courses like 'Rohkeutta liikkumiseen' (Courage to Move).
• Verkkoluennot (Online Lectures) Free monthly web lectures by Sydänliitto's own experts and guest speakers on current heart health topics. Recordings available on-demand for registered participants.
• Asiantuntija vastaa (Expert Q&A) A Q&A service where Sydänliitto members can ask health experts questions about heart disease. Contains thousands of previously answered questions.
• Sydänmerkki (Heart Mark Certification) A heart-healthy food certification program and brand that identifies nutritious food choices. Includes a WhatsApp channel providing 1-3 weekly recipe ideas and access to certified heart-healthy recipes.
• Neuvokasperhe (Family Wellness) A family wellness website providing tips and ideas for family well-being, covering parenting, screen time, eating, physical activity, sleep, and healthy body image for children aged 0-12 years.
• Defi.fi (AED Locator Service) A defibrillator information and location service website focused on cardiac arrest preparedness and public access defibrillator (AED) awareness.
• Sydänturvallinen Suomi (Heart-Safe Finland) A municipality assessment tool that evaluates local heart safety preparedness and compares heart safety levels across Finnish municipalities.
• Donation and Fundraising Programs Donation programs supporting Sydänliitto's work, including one-time donations, monthly recurring donations (Sydänten sankarit), testamentary bequests, memorial donations, and charity lottery (Sydän-arpajaiset).

Quantifiable outcome

• Sydänliitto's peer support service has thousands of trained peer supporters nationwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Saarsalo OycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSaarsalo Oy handles media sales for Sydän-media, including advertising in Sydän-lehti (print magazine) and Sydan.fi (website). The partnership covers ad placements, sponsorships, and media kits. Contact: Maria Ahoranta (044 243 3519) and Erika Iijanen (044 246 456).
• LAB-ammattikorkeakoulu (LAB University of Applied Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhysiotherapy students at LAB University of Applied Sciences conducted a thesis in collaboration with Etelä-Karjalan Sydänalue ry, investigating cardiac rehabilitation experiences and needs in the South Karelia region.
• Etelä-Karjalan Sydänalue ry (South Karelia Heart District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal heart district organization collaborating with Sydänliitto on regional peer support groups, rehabilitation activities, and cardiac patient support. Partnered with LAB University of Applied Sciences on cardiac rehabilitation research.
• Kymenlaakson Sydänpiiri (Kymenlaakso Heart District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional heart district in the Kymenlaakso area, collaborating on volunteer responder programs and public access defibrillator (PAD) location services before EMS arrival.
• Karpatiat rycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational member organization providing support and activities for people with rare heart diseases and their families, affiliated with Sydänliitto.
• Sydänlapset ja -aikuiset rycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational member organization for children and adults born with heart defects, affiliated with Sydänliitto.
• Sydän- ja keuhkosiirrokkaat SYKE rycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational member organization for heart and lung transplant recipients, affiliated with Sydänliitto.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Heart Association: The largest US heart-health nonprofit, operating research, advocacy, CPR training, and patient information at far greater scale; comparable mission and revenue diversification but with substantially larger budget and brand reach.
• Mayo Clinic: Major US non-profit academic medical center offering authoritative patient health information online; a comparable large-scale content and patient-education platform competing for top-of-funnel heart-health search traffic that Sydänliitto captures domestically.

Direct peers

• British Heart Foundation: UK national heart health charity providing research funding, patient information, peer support, and advocacy — directly comparable to Sydänliitto's mission, multi-revenue model (donations, retail, legacies), and national association footprint.
• Hartstichting (Dutch Heart Foundation): Netherlands' national heart health foundation running awareness campaigns, patient information, AED initiatives (HartslagNu), and rehabilitation support — strongly analogous in mission, AED-locator service, and lifestyle certification work.
• Hjerteforeningen (Danish Heart Association): Denmark's national heart patient organization offering research funding, patient support, rehabilitation, and lifestyle education; closest geographic and operational peer given similar Nordic healthcare context.
• Hjärt-Lungfonden (Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation): Sweden's primary heart and lung research/patient charity funded by donations and lotteries; comparable Nordic peer with similar advocacy, content publishing, and member/donor engagement model.
• Deutsche Herzstiftung (German Heart Foundation): Germany's leading patient-oriented heart foundation providing information, peer support, and rehabilitation resources; mirrors Sydänliitto's combined focus on patient education, magazine publishing, and nationwide local chapters.
• LHL (Landsforeningen for hjerte- og lungesyke): Norway's national heart and lung patient association providing peer support, rehabilitation courses, and lifestyle programs; comparable Nordic patient-organization structure with similar revenue mix of membership, donations, and course fees.
• Heart Foundation of Australia: Australia's national heart health charity funding research and delivering patient information, walking programs, and heart-healthy food endorsement (Tick program); comparable mission and lifestyle certification moat.

Emerging players

• Diabetesförbundet (Swedish Diabetes Association): Nordic patient organization for chronic-condition lifestyle coaching, peer support, and member-driven content; demonstrates the model Sydänliitto could productize if extending its peer-support infrastructure to adjacent chronic conditions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Sydanliitto
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Sydanliitto
• Facebookfacebook.com/sydanliitto
• Instagraminstagram.com/sydanliitto
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/suomen-syd-nliitto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

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 Sydänliitto