Zirkus Zambaioni

What Zirkus Zambaioni does

Zirkus Zambaioni is a registered nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein / e.V.) operating as a children's and youth circus (Kinder- und Jugendzirkus) in Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded approximately 1995–1997, the organization delivers weekly circus-arts training to 260+ children and teenagers across tiered programs — Zambambini (ages 6+), Zambarino (ages 8+), ZIP intensive (ages 11–18), Ensemble (ages 11–18), and MOPS open training (ages 15+) — supplemented by summer vacation camps, annual tent performances at the Derendinger Festwiese drawing 4,000–5,000 spectators, and a 30-year-old circus orchestra. The organization has no proprietary technology product; delivery is fully physical, conducted in municipal sports halls and its own circus tent.

The business model blends recurring course/membership fees, unit-priced summer camp fees (€160/€130/€100 by sibling order, free for KreisBonusCard holders), ticket sales for tent and youth-project performances (€15 adult / €9 child), bookable external performances (Zirkus buchen), and donations/membership dues. Public funding flows from Stadt Tübingen, WLSB, Landkreis Tübingen, BMBF, and private foundations (Reinhold-Beitlich, Beisheim); corporate sponsors include Ritter Sport and Stadtwerke Tübingen. An inclusion-first positioning is operationalized through TAPs-network membership and the Lebenshilfe INKLUSION icon, with subsidized or free participation for low-income families.

The organization's most significant strategic initiative is the €2.4M 'Projekt Zirkushaus' — a permanent circus facility co-developed with GWG Tübingen and the City of Tübingen, financed approximately 15% via public subsidies, 40% via direct loans (Direktkredite) from community members, and 45% via private donations, with ground preparation underway from October 2025 and construction planned for Spring 2026. Demand materially exceeds supply (e.g., 138 registrations for 15 Zambambini spots in 2026/27; 134 registrations for 60 summer-camp spots), indicating structural capacity constraint that the new facility is designed to relieve.

Name

Zirkus Zambaioni

Legal name

Zirkus Zambaioni, Tübinger Kinder- und Jugendzirkus e.V.

Website

https://zambaioni.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zirkus Zambaioni is a Tübingen-based nonprofit children's and youth circus (e.V.) serving 260+ weekly participants aged 6–18 with tiered training programs, summer camps, and sold-out tent performances reaching 4,000–5,000 spectators annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children and Youth Circus Education

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

Keywords

• Circus arts education
• Youth circus training
• Children's extracurricular programs
• Youth development programs
• Circus performance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tübingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Course and Training Fees: Weekly circus course fees charged to families for children and youth enrollment. Fees are charged per child, with sibling discounts. Financial support is available for families with KreisBonusCard (reduced/free participation).
2. Ticket Sales for Performances: Revenue from ticket sales for tent performances (Zeltaufführungen), youth project performances, and public orchestra concerts. Ticket pricing includes adult and child/student categories with discounts for KreisBonusCard holders.
3. Summer Camp Fees: Fees charged for circus vacation camps during the first two weeks of summer holidays. Pricing: €160/first child, €130/sibling, €100/third child and beyond. Free for KreisBonusCard holders.
4. Membership Dues: Revenue from members who join the association (Verein) through an annual membership fee.
5. Donations and Sponsorships: The organization relies on private donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships. Major projects like the Zirkushaus are funded through a combination of donations, direct loans (Direktkredite), public subsidies, and private support. Ritter Sport, Stadtwerke Tübingen, and others provide financial sponsorship.
6. Public Funding and Grants: Zirkus Zambaioni receives public funding from the Stadt Tübingen, Württembergischer Landessportbund (WLSB), and Landkreis Tübingen. School circus projects are funded by BMBF, Reinhold-Beitlich-Stiftung, and Beisheim Stiftung.
7. Circus Booking Services: The organization offers circus booking services (Zirkus buchen) for events, generating service revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zirkus Zambaioni is a nonprofit children's and youth circus organization offering weekly circus arts training courses for children and youth aged 6-18, covering disciplines such as acrobatics, juggling, trapeze, cloth, diabolo, balance ball, unicycle, rope skipping, trampoline, and clowning. The organization runs school programs, summer vacation camps, open training sessions for older teens and adults, and produces annual public tent performances as well as youth-led theater projects, with bookable circus performances available for external events.

Product overview

Zirkus Zambaioni is a children's and youth circus organization (Kinder- und Jugendzirkus) operating as a single unified educational and cultural program rather than a platform-based product. The organization offers a structured portfolio of circus arts programs: Zambambini and Zambarino courses for younger children (ages 6+ and 8+) introducing basic circus disciplines; the Zamba-Intensiv-Projekt (ZIP) and Zirkus-Ensemble for older youth (ages 11-18) providing intensive training and public performances; MOPS open training for adults ages 15+; seasonal Zirkusfreizeiten summer camps; and tent performances (Zeltaufführungen) showcasing ensemble productions. Supporting services include the TAPs network for family support and the Zirkusorchester. A major development initiative (Projekt Zirkushaus) aims to construct a dedicated circus facility. The organization reaches over 260 children and youth weekly, with annual audiences of 4,000-5,000 spectators at tent performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zambambini Weekly circus courses for children ages 6 and up, introducing basic circus arts skills like acrobatics, balance ball, diabolo, trapeze, and more through playful learning. Enrollment is via an annual lottery system held in June.
• Zambarino Weekly circus courses for children ages 8 and up, teaching advanced skills in trapeze, cloth, acrobatics, balance ball, juggling, rope skipping, trampoline, diabolo, and clowning.
• Zamba-Intensiv-Projekt (ZIP) Intensive circus training program for children and youth ages 11-18, developing a circus program performed in spring over one weekend in the circus tent.
• Zirkus-Ensemble Advanced circus ensemble for youth ages 11-18, training twice weekly and developing a circus program performed over two weekends in spring in the circus tent.
• MOPS (Monday Open Space) Open training sessions for circus enthusiasts ages 15 and up, providing space for individual and group training, encounter, and exchange via a 10-visit punch card.
• Zirkusfreizeiten (Summer Camps) Circus vacation camps for children ages 8-12 during the first two weeks of summer holidays, with small training groups learning various circus disciplines and presenting a show on the last day. Priced €160 first child, €130 sibling, €100 third and beyond, free for KreisBonusCard holders.
• Zeltaufführungen (Tent Performances) Circus tent performances held annually in April and May featuring ensemble and ZIP programs, with family-friendly shows suitable for children ages 4 and up. Performed at the organization's own circus tent on the Derendinger Festwiese in Tübingen.
• Jugendprojekt (Youth Project) Final circus project where youth (ages 16-19) take responsibility for producing their own circus show, from concept to performance, exploring themes like growing up, society, and relationships. Ticketed event with €15 adult and €9 child/student pricing.
• Schulprojekte (School Circus Projects) Circus projects conducted at schools in cooperation with educational institutions in Tübingen and Rottenburg, including weekly Zirkuswerkstatt, Zirkusprojektwoche, and circus AGs. Funded by BMBF, Reinhold-Beitlich-Stiftung, and Beisheim Stiftung.
• Zirkus buchen (Circus Booking Service) Bookable circus performances by the Zirkus Zambaioni ensemble for external events, including private celebrations, corporate functions, and community festivals.
• Zirkusorchester (Circus Orchestra) Circus orchestra active for over 30 years, accompanying Zirkus Zambaioni's performances with energetic live music and performing at external community venues such as the Sudhaus-Lagerfeuerabend.

Quantifiable outcome

• 260+ children and teenagers trained weekly across multiple programs, with annual reach of 4,000-5,000 audience members at tent performances.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Paritätischer Baden-WürttembergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZirkus Zambaioni is a member of the Paritätischer Baden-Württemberg (the Paritarian Association of Baden-Württemberg), one of the largest welfare organizations in Germany. Membership provides organizational support, advocacy, and network access.
• GWG Tübingen (Gesellschaft für Wohnungs- und Gewerbebau)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWG Tübingen is the housing and commercial construction company partnering with Zirkus Zambaioni for the Zirkushaus building project. GWG will construct new residential housing at the site, while Zirkus Zambaioni will have its own circus-appropriate sports hall and movement spaces adjacent to the housing development.
• Lebenshilfe (ICON INKLUSION)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZirkus Zambaioni displays the INKLUSION icon (Icon für Inklusion) from Lebenshilfe on its website, indicating its commitment to and recognition as an inclusive organization. Lebenshilfe supports organizations promoting inclusion for people with disabilities.
• Bündnis für Familie Tübingen (Netzwerk TAPs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZirkus Zambaioni is an active member of the TAPs network (Tübinger Ansprechpersonen für Kinderarmut und Kinderchancen), coordinated by the Bündnis für Familie Tübingen. The network connects families with limited income to available support services and helps reduce child poverty through accessible offerings.
• Stützpunktgrundschule Kreuzerfeld (Rottenburg)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing circus workshop partnership started March 2025. Weekly Zirkuswerkstatt with approximately 10 students led by Zirkuspädagogin Johanna Faust, culminating in a school performance.
• Grundschule Rottenburg-HailfingensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool partnership for a circus project week (Zirkusprojektwoche), enabling students to experience circus arts as part of their school activities.
• Grundschule Hechinger EcksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly circus AG (working group) with 40 students, led by Übungsleiterin Marie Clauss, providing regular circus education integrated into the school schedule.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Württembergischer Landessportbund (WLSB): State sports federation of Württemberg that directly funds Zirkus Zambaioni as a sports/youth-education organization. Comparable as a regional funding and policy actor for amateur sports and recreational youth programs in Baden-Württemberg.
• Lebenshilfe Tübingen: Local chapter of the Lebenshilfe federation for people with disabilities; Zirkus Zambaioni displays the ICON INKLUSION awarded by Lebenshilfe. A strategic inclusion partner that mirrors and reinforces Zirkus Zambaioni's inclusive pedagogy positioning.
• Paritätischer Baden-Württemberg: One of the largest welfare umbrella organizations in Germany; Zirkus Zambaioni is an active member. Provides organizational support, advocacy, and network access to member nonprofits in the social, educational, and cultural sectors.

Regional players

• Kinderschutzbund Tübingen: Regional chapter of the German Child Protection Association, operating in the same Tübingen nonprofit ecosystem focused on child welfare. Comparable as a community-based organization addressing similar themes of child poverty and access to extracurricular opportunities.
• Stadtjugendring Tübingen: Umbrella association of Tübingen's youth organizations, coordinating extracurricular youth programs and representing member organizations in municipal youth-policy matters. Provides Zirkus Zambaioni's regional peer ecosystem for nonprofit youth services.

Direct peers

• Zirkus Lollipop: German youth circus organization offering weekly training, school workshops, and public performances for children and young people. Operates a comparable association-based, social-pedagogical circus model focused on amateur youth participation rather than professional entertainment.
• Zirkus Cabuwazi: One of Germany's largest and most established children's and youth circuses, based in Berlin with multiple locations. Comparable to Zirkus Zambaioni in mission (social-pedagogical circus for children/youth), curriculum structure (weekly courses, performances, school programs), and inclusive funding model.
• Zirkus Tausendtraum: German social-pedagogical children's and youth circus providing similar weekly training courses, school workshops, and public performances. Operates the same Verein (registered association) model with a focus on inclusion and youth development.
• Zirkus Giovanni: Stuttgart-based children's and youth circus with a similar pedagogical approach to Zirkus Zambaioni, serving comparable age groups across multiple circus disciplines and producing annual public performances. Most direct regional competitor in Baden-Württemberg.

Broad incumbents

• Volkshochschule Tübingen: Tübingen municipal adult and community education center offering a broad portfolio of recreational courses including movement, dance, and arts. Comparable to Zirkus Zambaioni as a Tübingen-based community education provider but operating at significantly larger scale across many disciplines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zirkus-zambaioni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Zirkus Zambaioni