VALIDA
Valida is a St. Gallen, Switzerland non-profit social enterprise founded in 1929 that provides supported employment, vocational training, housing, and leisure services to ~350 people with disabilities, while operating commercial workshops (carpentry, metalworking, cleanroom packaging, laundry, catering, co-packing) serving regional B2B customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSt. Gallen, Switzerland
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What VALIDA does
Valida is a Swiss social enterprise (Verein/association under Swiss law) headquartered in St. Gallen, founded in 1929, that delivers individualized integration services to approximately 350 people with cognitive or physical disabilities (referred to internally as "Persönlichkeiten"). Its core mandate, financed by the Canton of St.Gallen Office for Social Affairs (Amt für Soziales) and Swiss IV disability insurance, covers four areas: supported work (Arbeiten mit IV-Rente, inklusiver Personalverleih, job coaching, integration measures), supported vocational training (Berufsfachschule, Ausbildungen mit Unterstützung, continuing education, sexual-health counseling), supported living (Betreutes Wohnen, Ferienbetreuung) and day/leisure programs (Atelier & Tagesstätte, sports and culture including Special Olympics participation).
The commercial operations arm operates roughly 16 product and service lines across three St.Gallen sites (Werk 1, Werk 2, and a Lettershop/Industriestrasse location): carpentry (custom wooden boxes, window shutters), metalworking (engraving, custom components), plastics processing, hand and electrical assembly, food and pharma cleanroom packaging, lettershop mailing, co-packing (including FC St.Gallen merchandise and Raiffeisen #TEAMSPECIAL bracelets), laundry (official laundry partner of FC St.Gallen women's team), cleaning, garden maintenance, and catering (approximately 140 meals/day to Globi Kinderkrippen). Technology is standard workshop equipment with no proprietary platforms; the business model relies on relationship-driven consultative B2B sales plus the inclusive personnel leasing channel that places workers with support needs into external partner companies. Revenue streams combine recurring government mandate funding, transaction-fee workshop sales, inclusive personnel leasing fees, and donations channeled through a sponsorship and leisure fund (Patenschafts- und Freizeitfonds).
The organization employs approximately 500 staff, is led by CEO Martin Landolt under the governance of an elected board (Vereinspräsident Willi Kleeli), and operates under the Strategy 2030 guiding principle "Innen stärken, aussen wachsen" (Strengthen internally, grow externally). It holds an EcoVadis Bronze Medal (2024, top 31% globally) and is a member of INSOS Switzerland and the St.Gallen trade association (Gewerbeverband).
VALIDA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VALIDA
- Legal name
- Valida
- Website
- https://valida.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Valida is a St. Gallen, Switzerland non-profit social enterprise founded in 1929 that provides supported employment, vocational training, housing, and leisure services to ~350 people with disabilities, while operating commercial workshops (carpentry, metalworking, cleanroom packaging, laundry, catering, co-packing) serving regional B2B customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VALIDA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social enterprise disability services & workshop production
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Facilities Support Services (561210), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability & Chronic Condition Care Coordination (EDALAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Background Screening, Credentialing & Compliance Services for Caregiver Placement (HSABAMAL), Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN)
Keywords
Where VALIDA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St. Gallen
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
VALIDA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Receives financial support from the Canton of St.Gallen Office for Social Affairs (Amt für Soziales) for the mandate to care for people with support needs.
- Workshop Product & Service Sales: Individual workshops generate revenue through product sales and services including carpentry, metalworking, industrial assembly, laundry, cleaning, kitchen/catering, gardening, lettershop, and co-packing operations.
- Inclusive Personnel Leasing: Places workers with IV benefits (disability insurance) into external partner companies, generating fees for the placement and ongoing leasing arrangement.
- Donations & Fundraising: Donations support the sponsorship and leisure fund (Patenschafts- und Freizeitfonds) for education, sports, culture, and recreation activities. Funds are used for Bildungs- und Freizeitangebote not covered by government funding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Theater course fee: 150 CHF per semester, subsidized through donations |
| Subscription | Annual | Music course fee: 150 CHF per semester, subsidized through donations |
| Subscription | Annual | Swimming course fee: 150 CHF per semester, subsidized through donations |
| Subscription | Annual | Riding course fee: 150 CHF per semester, subsidized through donations |
| Subscription | Annual | Boxing course fee: 150 CHF per semester, subsidized through donations |
| Subscription | Annual | Painting course fee: 150 CHF per semester, subsidized through donations |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sexual health counseling center: 150 CHF per session, subsidized through donations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
VALIDA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Valida is a Swiss social enterprise that delivers supported employment, vocational training, supported living, day programs, and sports/leisure services to approximately 350 individuals with disabilities in the St. Gallen region. To fund these services and provide meaningful work, Valida operates a network of commercial workshops producing and delivering carpentry, metalworking, assembly, cleanroom packaging, laundry, cleaning, catering, gardening, lettershop, and co-packing services to external business customers. The organization also runs an inclusive personnel leasing program that places workers with disabilities in partner companies.
Product overview
VALIDA is a Swiss social enterprise offering a comprehensive portfolio of supported employment, training, housing, and leisure services for approximately 350 people with support needs. The organization operates a multi-facetted business structure consisting of two main divisions: (1) Integration Services including supported employment, vocational training, supported living, day programs, and recreational activities; and (2) Business Operations providing market-competitive products and services including carpentry (Schreinerei), metalworking, assembly services, cleanroom packaging for food/pharma, lettershop/mailing services, co-packing, laundry, cleaning, garden maintenance, and catering. The portfolio also includes inclusive staffing services that place people with support needs in external partner companies. VALIDA serves both people with disabilities seeking self-determined lives and external business customers requiring production and service solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Schreinerei (Carpentry Workshop)
Quantifiable outcome
- 500 employees supported year-round across multiple operational units
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use VALIDA
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
VALIDA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
VALIDA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FC St.Gallen 1879coreValida serves as official laundry partner for FC St.Gallen women's team and provides merchandise co-packing services. Participated in FC St.Gallen partner day event with personalized engraving services. Captain Lukas Görtler collaborated on fundraising (5,000 CHF donation for sports groups). Ongoing B2B relationship for laundry services and event collaboration.
- Globi KinderkrippencoreDaily meal delivery partnership for 5 kindergartens and 1 day care facility. Valida kitchen team prepares approximately 140 meals daily, delivered to locations in Gossau, St.Gallen, and Oberbüren. Also supports existing personnel leasing arrangement with workers placed at the facilities.
- Gottlieber Spezialitäten AGminorValida carpentry workshop produces custom wooden gift boxes for Gottlieber confectionery products. Production includes cutting, assembling, screen printing, and hardware installation for Christmas gift boxes sold through Gottlieber online shop.
- Raiffeisen SchweizcoreCo-packaging partnership for #TEAMSPECIAL bracelets supporting Special Olympics Switzerland inclusion in sports initiative. Valida employees assemble and package the bracelets designed by Julian Zigerlig. Revenue supports Special Olympics Switzerland sports programs.
- BTV St.Gallen (Bürgerturnverein)minorSports sponsorship and fundraising partnership. BTV organized sales of Christmas cards and handmade products with proceeds supporting Valida sports groups. Contributed 57,000 CHF over 3 years for sports equipment, bare foot path, winter sports clothing, cycling gear, and exercise equipment.
- Special Olympics SwitzerlandcoreValida participates in Special Olympics sports programs with athletes competing in cycling, basketball, and winter sports. Athletes train and compete nationally and internationally. Valida hosted National Summer Games 2026 send-off event and participated in Special Olympics sponsorship activities.
- Max Müller AGminorInclusive personnel leasing partner where Valida places workers with support needs in partner companies for employment integration.
- INSOS (Swiss industry association for disability services)minorValida is a member of INSOS SG AI and INSOS CH, participating in committees and working groups. Also member of IHK and Gewerbeverband (trade association).
- OST (Ostschweizer Fachhochschule)minorResearch partnership with SEGEL team conducting participatory research on UN Disability Rights Convention topics (housing, work, education). Alumni organization alumniOST organized company visit event at Valida with CEO Martin Landolt speaking.
- Migros LachenminorMigros Ostschweiz provided 2,500 CHF donation from Kulturprozent for theater group support, recognizing Valida's regional engagement during 100-year anniversary celebrations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
VALIDA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
VALIDA social profiles
Digital presenceVALIDA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
VALIDA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VALIDA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
VALIDA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VALIDA 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 VALIDA
What does VALIDA do?
Valida is a Swiss social enterprise that delivers supported employment, vocational training, supported living, day programs, and sports/leisure services to approximately 350 individuals with disabilities in the St. Gallen region. To fund these services and provide meaningful work, Valida operates a network of commercial workshops producing and delivering carpentry, metalworking, assembly, cleanroom packaging, laundry, cleaning, catering, gardening, lettershop, and co-packing services to external business customers. The organization also runs an inclusive personnel leasing program that places workers with disabilities in partner companies.
Is VALIDA a public or private company?
VALIDA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was VALIDA founded?
VALIDA was founded in -1. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is VALIDA based?
VALIDA is headquartered in St. Gallen, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does VALIDA make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are workshop Product & Service Sales, inclusive Personnel Leasing and donations & Fundraising.
Does VALIDA have an API?
No public API is recorded for VALIDA.
What industry is VALIDA in?
VALIDA's product category is Social enterprise disability services & workshop production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAFAI, Disability & Chronic Condition Care Coordination, with a secondary code of HSABAMAL, Background Screening, Credentialing & Compliance Services for Caregiver Placement. Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 7361.