VIA gGmbH - Du bist. Wir sind.

What VIA gGmbH - Du bist. Wir sind. does

VIA gGmbH - Du bist. Wir sind. is a Berlin-based non-profit social enterprise group (gemeinnützige GmbH) founded in 1991, restructured into its current holding form in 2022, and operating approximately 72 employees as of 31 December 2025. The organization delivers integrated social services across four verticals: (1) social-psychiatric assistance for people with mental illness and addiction (VIA Perspektiven, ~450 residential units across Berlin); (2) disability employment and inclusion enterprises (VIA Blumenfisch workshops, plus Pfefferbett Hostel, Schankhalle Pfefferberg, Blockhaus Nikolskoe, Futomania, Zweigstelle); (3) ambulatory nursing and elderly care (VIA Pflege); and (4) vocational education and continuing training (VIA Bildungszentrum für Pflegeberufe, Weiterdenker Fachschule, Weiterdenker Akademie, VIA Qualifizierungszentrum). The verbund is supplemented by cultural programs including the annual Pariet€ gala and the Rollenfang media-visibility initiative for actors with disabilities.

The group is owned by two founding associations (VIA Förderverein e.V. at 94% and Förderverein für Kultur in Berlin e.V. at 6%) and is recognized as gemeinnützig under §44a EStG by the Berlin tax authority. VIA Bildungszentrum is AZAV-certified by ZertSozial GmbH until 3 April 2027. The organization discloses no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-centric and facility-based across eight Berlin locations.

Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) public social welfare and healthcare reimbursement (Eingliederungshilfe for psychiatric assistance, Krankenversicherung for nursing, §101 Schulgesetz Berlin funding for the nursing school — the latter representing more than 10% of annual income from the Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie Berlin); (2) commercial hospitality and retail operations from the inclusion enterprises (hostel, brewpub, restaurant, mattress and futon manufacturing, garden/landscape services, and the e-commerce Greenery Living line acquired in 2020); and (3) tuition and training fees from vocational education programs. Go-to-market is community-led, dependent on referrals from Berlin's social welfare authorities, health insurance providers, and integration-assistance agencies. Geographic reach is exclusively Berlin across nine districts.

Name

VIA gGmbH - Du bist. Wir sind.

Legal name

VIA gGmbH - Du bist. Wir sind.

Website

https://via-berlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VIA gGmbH is a Berlin-based non-profit social enterprise providing social-psychiatric assistance, disability employment, nursing care, and vocational education through a network of subsidiaries and inclusion enterprises, funded primarily by public welfare and healthcare reimbursement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services and Care

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Social psychiatric assistance
• Elderly nursing care
• Disability employment services
• Vocational nursing education
• Inclusive hospitality enterprises

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Services Funding (集成Hilfe and Healthcare Insurance): Primary revenue from public social welfare funding (集成Gliederungshilfe) for psychiatric assistance, addiction support, and disability services; reimbursement from health insurance (Krankenkassen) for nursing care services; and Berlin Senate funding for educational programs (VIA Bildungszentrum für Pflegeberufe under §101 Schulgesetz Berlin). Services funded through §44a EStG recognized charitable status.
2. Hospitality Operations: Revenue from inclusive hospitality enterprises including Pfefferbett Hostel, Schankhalle Pfefferberg (brewpub), Blockhaus Nikolskoe restaurant, and Futomania mattress/manufacturing shop. These are integration businesses where people with and without disabilities work together.
3. Vocational Training and Education Services: Revenue from VIA Bildungszentrum für Pflegeberufe (nursing education), VIA Qualifizierungszentrum (continuing education for social workers), and Weiterdenker Fachschule/Akademie (social pedagogy school).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VIA gGmbH is a non-profit social enterprise Verbund headquartered in Berlin-Schöneberg that delivers social-psychiatric assistance, ambulatory nursing and elderly care, sheltered workshops and integration employment for people with disabilities, vocational training in nursing and social pedagogy, and inclusive hospitality businesses (hostel, restaurants, brewery, mattress shop, gardening). Services are funded primarily through public welfare contracts (Eingliederungshilfe, health insurance, Berlin Senate) and supplemented by commercial revenue from its inclusion enterprises.

Product overview

VIA gGmbH is a social enterprise group headquartered in Berlin-Schöneberg, comprising multiple subsidiaries that provide social services, care, education, and inclusive employment. The organization operates through its core subsidiaries: VIA Perspektiven (social-psychiatric assistance for people with mental illness and addiction), VIA Pflege (elderly and nursing care), VIA Blumenfisch (workshops and employment for people with disabilities), and various inclusion enterprises including Schankhalle Pfefferberg, Pfefferbett Hostel, Blockhaus Nikolskoe, Futomania, and Zweigstelle. Education is provided through VIA Bildungszentrum für Pflegeberufe, VIA Qualifizierungszentrum, and Weiterdenker (Fachschule and Akademie). Cultural programs include the annual Parieté gala and the Rollenfang advocacy initiative for actors with disabilities. The company operates approximately 69 full-time employees across its group structure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VIA Perspektiven: Flexible psychiatric assistance services for people with mental illness, alcohol or medication addiction, promoting social participation
• Blumenfisch
• VIA Pflege
• VIA Bildungszentrum für Pflegeberufe
• Weiterdenker – Fachschule für Sozialpädagogik
• Weiterdenker – Akademie
• VIA Qualifizierungszentrum
• Parieté
• Rollenfang
• Pfefferbett Hostel
• Schankhalle Pfefferberg
• Blockhaus Nikolskoe
• Futomania
• Zweigstelle

Products and services

• VIA Perspektiven gGmbH Flexible socio-psychiatric assistance and supported living for people with mental illness, alcohol dependency, or medication dependency, promoting social participation across approximately 450 assisted-living apartments in Berlin.
• VIA Pflege Ambulatory nursing care, day care centers, and shared living arrangements for elderly people and those requiring support due to illness or disability in Berlin.
• VIA Blumenfisch gGmbH (Blumenfisch) Sheltered workshops and vocational integration services for people with disabilities, offering workplaces in floristry, gardening, ceramics, metalwork, packaging, and retail across multiple Berlin locations.
• VIA Bildungszentrum für Pflegeberufe Vocational training center offering a generalized nursing education program with long-term career prospects in all nursing professions. AZAV-certified for employment promotion.
• VIA Qualifizierungszentrum Provides high-quality, current training programs for social-economy employees through in-person and online formats.
• Weiterdenker – Fachschule für Sozialpädagogik Vocational school qualifying students for work in kindergartens, youth and parent facilities, primary and special needs schools, and ambulatory psychiatry.
• Weiterdenker – Akademie Academy focused on contemporary and future-oriented pedagogy, supporting personal and professional goals in pedagogical fields.
• Pfefferbett Hostel (Pfefferbett gemeinnützige GmbH) Hostel accommodation serving Berlin travelers, operated as an inclusion enterprise where people with and without disabilities work together.
• Schankhalle Pfefferberg Restaurant and craft-brewery gastropub on the Pfefferberg site, also housing the Pfefferberg Theater, operated as an inclusion enterprise.
• Blockhaus Nikolskoe Traditional restaurant with terrace and views of Havel and Peacock Island, operated as an inclusion enterprise.
• Futomania Specialty store and workshop producing handcrafted natural mattresses, futons, and sleep accessories, with a showroom in Berlin-Charlottenburg and an online shop.
• Zweigstelle (Garten- und Landschaftsbau) Full-service garden and landscaping company providing planting, grounds maintenance, pond and pergola construction services, operated as an inclusion enterprise.
• Pariet\u00e9 Annual gala event featuring international artists with and without disabilities under the direction of award-winning choreographer Giorgio Madia, combining dance, acrobatics, theater, and music.
• Rollenfang Initiative working to increase visibility of actors with disabilities in film and television.
• Blumenfisch Beschäftigungs- und Förderbereich Tagesstruktur (BFBTS) Employment and support program offering diverse activities including felt, fabric, and ceramics projects, paper and decoration work, packaging and sorting tasks for people with disabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• AZAV certification valid until 03.04.2027 confirms quality standards for employment promotion services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funding partner for VIA Bildungszentrum für Pflegeberufe under §101 Schulgesetz Berlin. This is the single largest revenue source (>10% of annual income), providing funding for accredited nursing education programs. AZAV certification from ZertSozial GmbH enables participation in government employment promotion programs.
• Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Landesverband Berlin e.V.coreOthersOrganizational membership in one of Germany's largest welfare associations. VIA operates under the umbrella of this recognized social welfare organization, which provides industry representation, best practice exchange, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Management und Controlling in der Sozialwirtschaft e.V.minorOthersProfessional membership for management and controlling expertise in the social economy sector.
• Der Mittelstand BVMW e.V.minorOthersMembership in Mittelstand (SME) business association representing small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Stiftung Unionhilfswerk BerlinminorOthersFoundation membership supporting social welfare initiatives in Berlin.
• Gesundheitsstadt Berlin e.V.minorOthersHealth city initiative membership promoting healthcare development in Berlin.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lebenshilfe Berlin: Berlin state association of Lebenshilfe, the largest German non-profit network for people with intellectual disabilities. Direct peer because both deliver disability workshops, supported employment, and assisted-living services in Berlin to overlapping client populations under the same Eingliederungshilfe framework.
• Stiftung Unionhilfswerk Berlin: Major Berlin-based welfare foundation providing social-psychiatric assistance, elderly care, and disability services. Direct peer because both organizations operate overlapping psychiatric, elderly care, and disability-services programs in Berlin under the same Eingliederungshilfe/Krankenkassen funding regime; Unionhilfswerk is also named as a VIA foundation-membership partner.
• Sozialwerk Berlin: Berlin-based non-profit providing assisted living, social-psychiatric support, and integration services for vulnerable populations. Direct peer because Sozialwerk's service mix and target clients (mental health, addiction, disability) in Berlin overlap directly with VIA Perspektiven and Blumenfisch.
• AWO Berlin: Berlin state association of Arbeiterwohlfahrt, providing elderly care, social-psychiatric services, and disability programs across Berlin. Direct peer because AWO operates overlapping ambulatory nursing, assisted-living, and integration services in the same funding and regulatory environment.
• Caritas Berlin: Berlin regional arm of Germany's largest Catholic welfare association. Direct peer because Caritas Berlin delivers psychiatric care, disability services, elderly nursing, and vocational training in the same Berlin districts, drawing on identical Eingliederungshilfe and Krankenkassen reimbursement streams.
• Diakonie Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz: Regional Protestant welfare association operating psychiatric assistance, addiction support, elderly care, and vocational training across Berlin-Brandenburg. Direct peer because the service-line portfolio (psychiatric, nursing, education, integration enterprises) and public-funding model closely mirror VIA's verbund structure.

Broad incumbents

• Malteser Berlin: Berlin/Brandenburg operations of the national Malteser Hilfsdienst welfare organization. Broad incumbent because Malteser provides elderly care, social-psychiatric support, and vocational training nationally, with Berlin operations overlapping VIA's nursing and assisted-living services.
• Lebenshilfe (Bundesvereinigung): National federation of Lebenshilfe associations, the dominant German non-profit provider of disability services, workshops, and supported employment. Broad incumbent because the federal umbrella sets standards and competes for Eingliederungshilfe contracts at scale well beyond VIA's single-city footprint.
• Johanniter Berlin: Berlin/Brandenburg branch of Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, providing elderly care, social services, and vocational training nationally. Broad incumbent because Johanniter's Berlin nursing and assisted-living offerings overlap with VIA Pflege while operating a broader national portfolio.

Others

• Pfefferberg Brauerei: Operator of the historic Pfefferberg brewery grounds in Prenzlauer Berg, co-located with VIA's Schankhalle Pfefferberg and Pfefferbett Hostel. Included as an ecosystem/real-estate partner rather than a service peer, since VIA holds a minority land-ownership stake in the site and runs inclusion enterprises within the broader Pfefferberg development.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/via.unternehmensverbund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/viaberlin
• Instagraminstagram.com/via_berlin_de

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries6 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 VIA gGmbH - Du bist. Wir sind.