Transgender Network Switzerland

What Transgender Network Switzerland does

Transgender Network Switzerland (TGNS) is a non-profit association (Verein) founded in 2010 and headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, that operates as the national umbrella organization for the rights of trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people in the country. Its functional scope spans individual counseling (youth, children, family members, workplace issues), legal advice on name/gender marker changes, discrimination cases, family law, asylum, and criminal matters, hate crime reporting in partnership with the LGBT+ Helpline, and a workplace inclusion initiative called the Trans Welcome Portal. The organization also produces a Medienguide for journalists and disseminates information across medical, legal, psychological, sexual health, and youth-related domains in German, French, and Italian. All board and operational team members are trans and/or non-binary, positioning lived experience as a core operating principle.

TGNS delivers services through a community-led go-to-market model rather than a commercial one, with all offerings provided free of charge to beneficiaries. Distribution relies on direct community engagement, partnerships with Checkpoint Zürich, Checkpoint Bern, and Checkpoint Lausanne for in-person counseling, and a partner network of more than 25 LGBTQ+ organizations including HAZ queer Zürich, LOS, and Pink Cross. Revenue is generated through a combination of membership fees (~135 members as of 2020), individual donations, public fundraising campaigns, and project-based grants from government bodies — most notably the Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG) for initiatives such as Trans-Fair and a 2025 living-conditions survey conducted with Berner Fachhochschule. The organization also engages in international advocacy through membership in Transgender Europe (TGEU) and ILGA.

Operationally, TGNS is governed by a six-member board with co-presidency and runs a management team of approximately four employees supplemented by working groups. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its "products" are service lines and informational resources rather than software. Its political footprint is evidenced by concrete federal outcomes including the self-determined gender marker change law, Basel-Stadt's inclusion of LGBTIQ+ in equality law, the 2022 National Council ban on conversion practices, the 2023 NAPS recognition of trans people as a key population in HIV/STI prevention, and the January 2026 rejection of three transphobic proposals by Geneva voters.

Name

Transgender Network Switzerland

Legal name

Transgender Network Switzerland

Website

https://tgns.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Transgender Network Switzerland (TGNS) is a Bern-based non-profit founded in 2010 that serves as the national umbrella organization providing free counseling, legal advice, workplace support, and advocacy for trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people across Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership Fees: TGNS operates as a non-profit association funded through member donations, membership fees, and public donations. The organization conducts fundraising campaigns for specific initiatives.
2. Government Subsidies: Receives project-based financial support from government bodies including the Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG) for specific projects like Trans-Fair and studies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Transgender Network Switzerland (TGNS) is a national umbrella nonprofit organization that provides free counseling, legal advice, advocacy, and community-building services for trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people in Switzerland. Its core offerings include individual counseling (Beratung) for youth, children, family members, and workplace matters; legal advice (Rechtsberatung) on name/gender marker changes and discrimination cases; the Trans Welcome workplace inclusion initiative; collaborative hate crime reporting; and a media guide for journalists.

Product overview

Transgender Network Switzerland (TGNS) operates as a national umbrella organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include counseling services (Beratung) providing specialized support for youth, children, family members, and workplace issues; legal advice (Rechtsberatung) covering name/gender marker changes and discrimination cases; and the Trans Welcome Portal for workplace inclusion. TGNS also maintains collaborative programs including hate crime reporting with LGBT+ Helpline, a Media Guide for journalists, informational resources on health and rights, and a newsletter. All board and team members are trans and/or non-binary, reflecting lived experience as a core organizational principle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Counseling Services (Beratung)
• Legal Advice (Rechtsberatung)
• Trans Welcome Portal
• Hate Crime Reporting
• Medienguide (Media Guide)

Quantifiable outcome

• Trans people as key population in national HIV/STI prevention program (NAPS)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Berner Fachhochschule (BFH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2025Berner University of Applied Sciences conducted survey on living conditions of trans people in Switzerland on behalf of TGNS, focusing on work life and wellbeing. Project co-funded by Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG).
• Federal Council / Swiss Government (NAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2023Transgender people recognized as a key population in the new National HIV, Hepatitis B/C and Sexually Transmitted Infections program (NAPS), acknowledging elevated health risks and need for targeted interventions.
• Checkpoint ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership providing trans-specific counseling services and hosting monthly walk-in legal advice sessions from TGNS.
• Checkpoint BerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for trans-specific counseling services led by Raphaël Guillet since February 2022.
• Checkpoint LausannecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrans-specific services at Checkpoint Lausanne, expanding TGNS reach in French-speaking Switzerland.
• Transgender Europe (TGEU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network membership providing global advocacy coordination and participation in Transrespect vs Transphobia worldwide research project.
• ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in international LGBTQI+ organization for global advocacy and knowledge sharing.
• HAZ queer ZürichmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint petition campaign 'No Ban, No Regression' against treatment bans for trans youth, collecting over 12,000 signatures with over 25 partner organizations.
• LOS (Lesbenorganisation Schweiz)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss lesbian organization partnership for joint advocacy, Hate Crime Reports, and community initiatives.
• Pink CrossmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss pink cross federation partnership for joint advocacy, Hate Crime Reports, and community initiatives.
• Federal Office of Public Health (BAG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on LGBT Health Survey conducted by Hochschule Luzern on behalf of the federal government.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Transgender Europe (TGEU): International umbrella organization for trans rights in Europe; TGNS is a member; comparable as a trans rights advocacy organization operating at a larger geographic scope with similar advocacy, research, and policy functions.
• ILGA World: International federation of LGBTQ+ organizations; TGNS holds membership; comparable as a global advocacy and knowledge-sharing network for LGBTQ+ rights with similar mission and political advocacy functions.

Emerging players

• InterAction Suisse: Swiss LGBTQ+ youth organization providing community support and advocacy; comparable as a smaller, more focused community-led advocacy organization operating in the same Swiss political and social environment.
• Milchjugend: Swiss LGBTQ+ youth organization; collaborates with TGNS on information materials; comparable as a Swiss community-based LGBTQ+ organization focused on youth and education.
• Queer Amnesty Switzerland: Swiss arm of Amnesty International focusing on LGBTQ+ rights; comparable as a human rights advocacy organization active in Swiss policy and protection of LGBTQ+ persons.

Regional players

• Fédération Romande des Organisations LGBT+: French-speaking Swiss LGBTQ+ umbrella organization; comparable as a regional umbrella organization providing advocacy, support, and resources to LGBT+ communities in Switzerland.
• Checkpoint Zürich: Swiss health community center providing counseling and HIV/STI services; long-standing partner hosting TGNS legal advice sessions; comparable as the in-country service delivery partner on trans health.

Direct peers

• LOS (Lesbenorganisation Schweiz): Swiss lesbian organization; collaborates with TGNS on joint advocacy and Hate Crime Reports, comparable as a national community-led LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in Switzerland.
• Pink Cross: Swiss national federation of gay and bisexual men organizations; directly partners with TGNS on joint advocacy and Hate Crime Reports, comparable as a national LGBTQ+ umbrella organization in Switzerland addressing a different but adjacent community.
• HAZ queer Zürich: Queer community organization in Zürich collaborating with TGNS on petition campaigns and community initiatives; comparable as a regional LGBTQ+ advocacy and community organization in Switzerland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/infotgns
• Facebookfacebook.com/tgns.switzerland
• Instagraminstagram.com/transgendernetwork_ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transgender-network-switzerland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Transgender Network Switzerland