wirtschaftsbildung.ch

What wirtschaftsbildung.ch does

wirtschaftsbildung.ch is a Swiss non-profit association (Verein) headquartered in Zürich that delivers web-based business simulations to teach economics, sustainability, and entrepreneurship to Swiss youth. The organisation was established in 2019 as a spin-off from the Ernst Schmidheiny Stiftung, inheriting the Wirtschaftswochen programme launched in 1974 and continuing a 50+ year programme of economic education. It operates four simulation products — WIWAG (5-year company management for Sekundarstufe II), EcoStartup (startup founding and early-stage operation), Ecoland (macroeconomics and sustainability in a fictional state, also used at tertiary level), and Eco4Schools / Wirtschaft entdecken (sawmill management for Sekundarstufe I WAH classes). All simulations were developed in cooperation with the Institut für Wirtschaftspädagogik (IWP) at the University of St.Gallen, and learning effectiveness has been scientifically validated through a PH Luzern study.

The business model combines tiered per-class software licenses (CHF 300 for a single class up to CHF 3,150 for 20 classes, plus CHF 145 per teacher for a 3-year Eco4Schools licence), fee-based teacher professional development courses (e.g. ZHAW compact course at CHF 930), and a substantial sponsorship and foundation-funding base that underpins non-commercial programme delivery. Tiered corporate sponsorship (UBS Platinum, Holcim Main, Coop and Migros Gold, Novartis and Roche Silver/Bronze, plus AXA, Helvetia and ZKB as patrons) and strategic foundation partners (Stiftung Mercator Schweiz, Beisheim Stiftung, Joachim Herz Stiftung, Jacques und Gloria Gossweiler-Stiftung) provide the majority of operating support. Distribution is structurally indirect: 17+ cantonal Industry and Commerce Chambers (IHK/IHV) organise Wirtschaftswochen at Kantonsschulen and recruit volunteer Spielleiter:innen from member companies; a network of pedagogical universities (PH Luzern is the Eco4Schools Hub since January 2026, alongside PH Zürich, PH Bern, FHNW, PH St.Gallen, PH Thurgau, NORI, HEP Fribourg) train teachers and serve as regional distribution anchors; educationsuisse extends reach to Swiss schools abroad.

In 2025 the organisation reports reaching over 20,000 youth at Swiss schools in Switzerland and abroad, with approximately 2,000 volunteer facilitators and over 400 supporting companies. Geographic scope covers Switzerland (DACH market) and Liechtenstein, with extension to Swiss schools abroad through the educationsuisse partnership. The organisation is governed by a board chaired by former Thurgau Regierungsrätin Monika Knill and includes senior figures from UBS, Holcim, the ETH-Rat, the LCH teachers' association, and the IHK Zentralschweiz and Thurgau chambers. Operations are led by Direktorin Dr. Petronella Vervoort with a core team of 11 covering programme management, communications, simulation leadership, IT, course administration, and the Eco4Schools hub.

Name

wirtschaftsbildung.ch

Legal name

Verein wirtschaftsbildung.ch – education-et-economie.ch

Website

https://wirtschaftsbildung.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Swiss non-profit association (Verein) in Zürich delivering four web-based business simulations (WIWAG, EcoStartup, Ecoland, Eco4Schools) to teach economics, sustainability, and entrepreneurship to over 20,000 youth annually at secondary schools and vocational institutions across Switzerland and Liechtenstein, distributed through cantonal chambers and pedagogical universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Simulations for Economic Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Simulation, Scenario & Serious Games Design (EDAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Learning Strategy, Instructional Design & Content Development (BPACANAG)

Keywords

• Business simulations
• Economic education
• Vocational training
• Sustainability learning
• Teacher training

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. School Licenses: The organization sells class licenses for simulation access to public educational institutions in Switzerland. Licenses are tiered by quantity (1-20+ classes), priced in CHF, and are tied to specific trained Spielleiter:innen. The pricing page explicitly states it applies to public educational institutions, with private schools directed to contact the organization separately. No annual licenses are issued; licenses are valid for one school year per class (max 30 students).
2. Teacher License (Eco4Schools): Individual teacher licenses for the Eco4Schools/Wirtschaft entdecken simulation, valid for 3 school years per license at CHF 145 per teacher. Acquired after completing a training module at a pedagogical university.
3. Teacher Training Courses: Revenue from fee-based teacher training and professional development courses, such as the ZHAW compact course 'Lernprozesse wirksam gestalten: Kompaktkurs Didaktik für die Praxis' at CHF 930 per person. Some volunteer training courses are fully funded by wirtschaftsbildung.ch.
4. Sponsorship and Funding: As a non-profit organization, wirtschaftsbildung.ch receives financial support from corporate sponsors at various tiers (main sponsor, platinum, gold, silver, bronze, patron/gönner) and project-based partners. Major sponsors include Holcim, Lotex, NZZ, UBS, Coop, Migros, Novartis, Roche, AXA, Helvetia, and ZKB.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

wirtschaftsbildung.ch is a Swiss non-profit association that develops and licenses web-based business simulations (WIWAG, EcoStartup, Ecoland, Eco4Schools/Wirtschaft entdecken) for use in secondary schools, vocational schools, and tertiary institutions in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Each program combines a simulation platform with didactic teaching materials, course-leader guides, and aligned lesson plans, and is delivered via trained facilitators (Spielleiter:innen) coordinated through cantonal chambers of commerce and pedagogical universities. The organization also runs teacher training courses and corporate volunteer coaching programs to support the simulations.

Product overview

wirtschaftsbildung.ch offers a portfolio of four web-based business simulations for Swiss schools: WIWAG for managing a company through 5 business years at secondary level II, EcoStartup for startup founding and early-stage management, Ecoland for macroeconomics and sustainability in a fictional small state, and Eco4Schools for economics education at secondary level I. Each program combines simulation software with teaching materials, course leader guides, and didactically prepared instructional content, forming complete teaching concepts (Lehrkonzepte) rather than standalone software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WIWAG (Wirtschaftswochen) Web-based business simulation for Sekundarstufe II (Gymnasiums, Kantonsschulen, Berufsschulen) and vocational basic training. Students act as management boards of competing production companies (SMEs) and make operational decisions over 5 simulated business years, with attention to strategy, sustainability (Triple Bottom Line), labor conditions, and ethical dilemmas. Includes didactic course-leader materials.
• EcoStartup Web-based startup simulation for Sekundarstufe II and practice-oriented projects. Students found and operate a startup through its early-stage phase, developing a business plan and testing strategy. Sustainability across the entire value chain significantly influences simulated success.
• Ecoland
• Eco4Schools (Wirtschaft entdecken)
• Teacher Training and Professional Development Courses Fee-based professional development courses for teachers and prospective Spielleiter:innen, such as the ZHAW compact course 'Lernprozesse wirksam gestalten: Kompaktkurs Didaktik für die Praxis' (CHF 930 per person). Some volunteer training courses are fully funded by wirtschaftsbildung.ch.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 youth reached annually in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Cantonal Industry and Commerce Chambers (17+ cantons)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020The backbone of the Wirtschaftswochen program, these 17+ cantonal chambers (including Aargau, Bern, Basel, Zürich, St.Gallen-Appenzell, Thurgau, Zentralschweiz, Valais, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Freiburg, Solothurn, Schaffhausen, Winterthur, Glarus, Liechtenstein) organize Wirtschaftswochen at Kantonsschulen, recruit volunteer Spielleiter:innen from member companies, and serve as the primary regional distribution and coordination partners.
• Institut für Wirtschaftspädagogik (IWP HSG) - University of St.GallencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing academic partner. All simulations were developed in cooperation with the Institute for Business Education at the University of St.Gallen and other business simulation experts. The institute provides ongoing pedagogical expertise and validation.
• educationsuisse (Dachverband der Schweizerschulen im Ausland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnereducationsuisse is the umbrella organization for Swiss schools abroad. As a partner, it supports the organization of Wirtschaftswochen at Swiss schools abroad that have a gymnasial upper level. The partnership extends the reach of wirtschaftsbildung.ch programs to Swiss expatriate communities.
• Pädagogische Hochschule Luzern (PH Luzern)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince January 2026, PH Luzern serves as the Hub ('Anlaufstelle') for all questions related to the 'Wirtschaft entdecken' learning environment (Eco4Schools). PH Luzern was commissioned due to its subject-didactic expertise and conducts ongoing research including learning effectiveness studies.
• HSG SQUARE (University of St.Gallen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSG SQUARE is the center for innovative knowledge transfer at the University of St.Gallen. It partners with wirtschaftsbildung.ch for programs like the Summer Camp 'Let's Startup!' which takes place at the HSG SQUARE venue in St.Gallen.
• Swiss Venture Club (SVC)strategicGTM or Marketing Partnerwirtschaftsbildung.ch is a member and Charity Partner of SVC, which awards successful Swiss companies with the Prix SVC. At Prix SVC events, wirtschaftsbildung.ch maintains a stand to inform attendees and recruit volunteer coaches.
• YES (Young Enterprise Switzerland)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerYES runs economic and opinion-forming programs for students. wirtschaftsbildung.ch collaborates with YES on projects such as the Girls Entrepreneurship Camp and the Future Entrepreneur Event.
• ImpactHub ZürichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ImpactHub curates the largest network of creatives, startups, and techies in Switzerland. Collaboration includes projects such as the Nationaler Zukunftstag (Zukunftstag 2025) where EcoStartup was run with young children.
• SGAB (Schweizerische Gesellschaft für angewandte Berufsbildungsforschung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSGAB organized its 2025 spring conference on entrepreneurship in vocational education. wirtschaftsbildung.ch demonstrated how EcoStartup fosters entrepreneurial skills in vocational training through the 'Ecostartup@SGAB' project.
• Green City Days Rapperswil-JonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen City Days provides a response to future changes by hosting youth from SBW Haus des Lernens for project days on sustainable business management, using the EcoStartup simulation.
• proEduminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerproEdu connects schools to make inspiring practice visible and shape the future of education. wirtschaftsbildung.ch is co-signatory of the LCH Ethics Charter for Education Sponsoring. proEdu also facilitates the Schulvisite program where teachers can observe 'Wirtschaft entdecken' in practice.
• Iconomix (Swiss National Bank SNB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIconomix is an economic and financial education offering from the Swiss National Bank. Listed as a partner organization with shared goals in economic education for youth.
• NZZ (Neue Zürcher Zeitung)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner of wirtschaftsbildung.ch. The NZZ and wirtschaftsbildung.ch jointly spark interest in economic topics among youth. The NZZ publishes a dedicated topic dossier on wirtschaftsbildung.ch.
• foraus (Swiss Forum for Foreign Policy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA participatory Swiss think tank on foreign policy. Listed as a partner organization with shared goals in civic and economic education.
• OST (Ostschweizer Fachhochschule)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOST is listed as a Bildungspartner (education partner) of wirtschaftsbildung.ch, representing a strategic partnership with the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences.
• IWP (Institut für Wirtschaftspolitik, Universität Luzern)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Institute for Swiss Economic Policy at the University of Lucerne is a partner organization. IWP also collaborated with evulpo to produce educational videos on economic foundations.
• SAGSAGA (Fachverband Planspielmethode)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe specialist association for the business simulation method (Planspielmethode) is a partner. SAGSAGA promotes the use of simulation-based learning in education and business training.
• Schweizer Jugend forschtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation that brings the joy of science to young people. Listed as a partner with shared mission in youth education and skills development.
• SEF.NextGenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes young entrepreneurship. Listed as a partner organization supporting youth entrepreneurial skills development.
• Startup NightsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe largest startup event in Switzerland. Future Entrepreneur Event winners receive tickets to Startup Nights, providing access to the Swiss startup ecosystem.
• StudyondminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform connecting students and researchers with companies for joint thesis and innovation projects. Listed as a partner organization.
• SVWR (Schweizerischer Verband der Lehrkräfte für Wirtschaft und Recht)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss association of teachers for Economics and Law. Listed as a partner organization representing the teacher community served by wirtschaftsbildung.ch.
• UMushroomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss fintech startup and financial platform listed as a partner organization of wirtschaftsbildung.ch.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Junior Achievement Switzerland: Swiss non-profit delivering entrepreneurship and economic education programs for youth. Directly comparable as a non-profit providing structured economics and entrepreneurship curricula to Swiss schools, with similar volunteer-driven delivery model.
• YES (Young Enterprise Switzerland): Swiss non-profit running economic and opinion-forming programs for students, including the Girls Entrepreneurship Camp and Future Entrepreneur Event. A current wirtschaftsbildung.ch partner that operates in the same youth economic-education space with overlapping school and corporate audiences.
• Iconomix (Swiss National Bank): Economic and financial education program from the Swiss National Bank offering free teaching materials for Swiss schools. A current wirtschaftsbildung.ch partner that competes on curriculum-aligned content but as a free public alternative with significant institutional backing.

Broad incumbents

• Junior Achievement Worldwide (JA Worldwide): Global non-profit delivering entrepreneurship, work-readiness, and financial literacy programs to K-12 students across 100+ countries. Broader portfolio than wirtschaftsbildung.ch but overlaps on the core mission of youth economic education and similar volunteer/corporate-partner delivery model.

Emerging players

• BizWorld Foundation: US-based non-profit providing entrepreneurship simulations and programs for children aged 7-11. Comparable niche focus on simulation-based entrepreneurship education for youth, but operating in a different geography and targeting younger age groups than wirtschaftsbildung.ch.
• TOPSIM: German provider of business simulations (Planspiele) for management education, corporate training, and universities. Comparable simulation-based learning technology and target use case (business decision-making), though focused on university/corporate training rather than K-12 schools.
• Cesim: Finnish provider of business simulation games used by universities and business schools globally. Comparable web-based business simulation technology and pedagogical approach, though primarily targeting higher education and corporate training rather than Swiss secondary schools.

Regional players

• Topo e.V. German non-profit promoting economic and financial education for youth through curriculum materials and teacher training. Comparable mission and methodology to wirtschaftsbildung.ch, but operating primarily in Germany with a different national curriculum context.

Others

• SAGSAGA (Fachverband Planspielmethode): Swiss/DACH specialist association for the business simulation method (Planspielmethode). Acts as an industry body and knowledge network for simulation-based learning; a current wirtschaftsbildung.ch partner and adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.
• educationsuisse: Umbrella organization for Swiss schools abroad, already a wirtschaftsbildung.ch partner. Comparable mission of supporting Swiss educational reach internationally and the channel through which Wirtschaftswochen are delivered to Swiss schools abroad—not a competitor but a complementary ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wirtschaftsbildung-ch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 wirtschaftsbildung.ch