Vates-säätiö

What Vates-säätiö does

Vates-säätiö sr is a Finnish non-profit foundation headquartered in Helsinki that operates as a national expert organization advancing equal employment for persons with disabilities, long-term illnesses, and partial work capacity. Its core offerings are knowledge products rather than software: the vates.fi website serves as a content hub, the Kyvyt käyttöön online magazine (published since 2005) delivers success stories and expert articles, and curated Tietopaketit (information packages) cover topics such as employment subsidies, accessibility, and transition pathways.

The foundation monetizes exclusively through public and philanthropic grants rather than commercial sales. Its three confirmed revenue streams are ESR+ (European Social Fund Plus) project funding as a sub-implementer in large coordination consortia (notably YYO 2023-2027 and Ketjut kuntoon 2025-2027), core STEA (Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health) grants for its expert and advocacy activities, and project-specific funding from foundations such as AMI-säätiö (Konkarit töihin!, 2024-2026) and historical seed funding from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. All services to end beneficiaries (persons with partial work capacity, employers, employment-service professionals) are provided free of charge; the foundation does not operate any disclosed pricing model.

Strategically, Vates functions as a community-led, expert-organization GTM rather than a sales motion. It convenes government ministries, wellbeing services counties, universities of applied sciences, social enterprises, and disability-sector NGOs through multi-year EU-funded consortium projects, and engages at the European level through board membership in EUSE and the ILMA alliance. Its distribution channels are content-driven (website, multiple newsletters, podcast series, webinars, blog) and its public profile increasingly includes policy advocacy, including 2026 criticism of STEA grant criteria changes and published election themes for the 2027 Finnish parliamentary elections.

Name

Vates-säätiö

Legal name

Vates-säätiö sr

Website

https://vates.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vates-säätiö sr is a Finnish non-profit foundation that serves as a national expert organization promoting equal employment for persons with disabilities, long-term illnesses, and partial work capacity, delivering free publications, information packages, and project-based expertise across employers, professionals, and government stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supported Employment and Disability Advocacy Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education Staffing & Contracted Providers (Paras, Therapists, Specialists) (EDAJAKAL)

Keywords

• Supported employment services
• Disability employment advocacy
• Social enterprise development
• Workplace accessibility consulting
• Inclusive employment research

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. ESR+ (European Social Fund Plus) project funding: Vates-säätiö participates as a co-implementer in large ESR+ funded coordination projects. The organization receives EU and national co-funding allocated through project consortia, covering operational costs of its specialized expertise activities in supported employment and social enterprise development.
2. STEA (Funding and Development Centre for Social Welfare and Health) grants: The foundation receives STEA grants as a social welfare and health organization, funding its core expert and advocacy activities related to disability and employment policy.
3. Ministry of Employment and the Economy (TEM) funding: Vates-säätiö received initial funding from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy for its role in the Yhteiskunnallisten yritysten osaamiskeskus (YYO) Knowledge Centre, which was later continued under ESR+ funding (2023-2027).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vates-säätiö sr is a Finnish non-profit foundation established in 1969 that operates as a national expert organization promoting the equal employment of persons with disabilities, long-term illnesses and partial work capacity. The foundation produces and disseminates free informational content through its website, online magazine "Kyvyt käyttöön", information packages and webinars aimed at professionals, employers and persons with partial work capacity. It also coordinates and participates in EU-funded (ESR+) and nationally-funded (STEA) projects focused on supported employment, social enterprise development and inclusive labor market policies.

Product overview

Vates-säätiö sr is a Finnish non-profit foundation serving as an expert organization for equal employment of persons with disabilities, long-term illnesses, and partially capable persons. The organization operates primarily as a content and expertise hub rather than a software product company. Its core offering is the vates.fi website, which aggregates publications, project information, and the Kyvyt käyttöön online magazine featuring success stories, expert articles, and practical guidance. The organization manages several EU-funded projects including YYO (Centre of Expertise for Social Enterprises, 2023-2027), Konkarit töihin (Seniors to Work, 2024-2026), and Ketjut kuntoon (Chains in Order, 2025-2027). Information packages provide curated content on employment support, workplace accessibility, and career development. All offerings are public service content focused on advocacy, research, and knowledge sharing rather than commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kyvyt käyttöön: Online magazine published by Vates-säätiö focusing on employment of persons with partial work capacity and workplace diversity

Products and services

• Vates-säätiö foundation website Finnish-language website serving as the foundation's main information hub, providing guidance, news, publications and resources on supported employment and disability inclusion for employers, professionals and persons with partial work capacity.
• Kyvyt käyttöön online magazine Free Finnish-language online magazine publishing articles, interviews and thematic features on the abilities and employment of persons with disabilities and partial work capacity, targeted at professionals, employers and the wider public.
• Tietopaketit (Information Packages) Free downloadable information packages (tietopaketit) covering topics related to disability, employment, supported employment, social enterprises and inclusive working life, intended for professionals and employers.
• YYO project (Nuoret vammaiset ja osatyökykyiset työelämään) Multi-stakeholder project coordinated by Vates-säätiö focused on improving pathways into working life for young people with disabilities and partial work capacity, bringing together ministries, municipalities, employers and service providers.
• Konkarit töihin project Project in which Vates-säätiö participates as a partner, aimed at supporting older jobseekers and career-changers returning to or entering working life through training, guidance and employer engagement.
• Ketjut kuntoon project Project in which Vates-säätiö participates as a partner, focused on strengthening service chains and coordination supporting the employment of persons with partial work capacity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300,000 persons with partial work capacity in Finland who could participate in the labor market given appropriate support (cited from a Vates project article)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Silta-Valmennusyhdistys rycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Silta-Valmennusyhdistys ry is the main implementer (päähankkeen toteuttaja) of the Yhteiskunnallisten yritysten osaamiskeskus ESR+ coordination project (2023–2027). Vates-säätiö participates as one of several sub-implementers (osahankkeiden toteuttajat) in this consortium, focusing on expertise related to persons with partial work capacity.
• Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (THL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHL is a sub-implementer in the YYO ESR+ coordination project (2023–2027), bringing expertise in health and welfare research. Vates collaborates with THL on topics including the IPS (Individual Placement and Support) supported employment model coordination and social welfare policy.
• Lappeenrannan-Lahden teknillinen yliopisto (LUT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLUT University is a sub-implementer in the YYO ESR+ project, contributing research and development expertise to social enterprise and circular economy knowledge development.
• Live-säätiö srminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLive-säätiö sr is a sub-implementer in the YYO ESR+ project, contributing expertise in supported employment and social inclusion.
• Yhteiskunnallisten yritysten liitto Arvo rycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArvo ry (Association of Social Enterprises Finland) is a sub-implementer in the YYO project. As a key national advocacy body for social enterprises, Arvo and Vates share complementary roles in advancing social enterprise growth and employment of persons with partial work capacity.
• Hämeen Ammattikorkeakoulu (HAMK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAMK is the main implementer (päähankkeen toteuttaja) of the Ketjut kuntoon ESR+ project (2025–2027). Vates-säätiö participates as a sub-implementer, focusing on workplace diversity (action 2) and transition-phase service pathway development for hard-to-employ persons (action 4).
• KiipulasäätiöcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiipulasäätiö is a sub-implementer in the Ketjut kuntoon project, contributing expertise in vocational rehabilitation and special needs education.
• Ammattiopisto SpesiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmmattiopisto Spesia is a sub-implementer in the Ketjut kuntoon project, providing expertise in special vocational education and its transition pathways to employment.
• Haaga-Helia AmmattikorkeakouluminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHaaga-Helia is a sub-implementer in the Ketjut kuntoon project, contributing expertise in vocational teacher education and special pedagogy (e.g., co-author Leena Nuutila).
• Kirkkopalvelut ry (STEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKirkkopalvelut ry (STEP) is a sub-implementer in the Ketjut kuntoon project, bringing expertise in youth employment services and vocational guidance.
• Miina Sillanpään SäätiöcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiina Sillanpään Säätiö is the co-implementer (kumppanina toteuttamisessa) of the 'Konkarit töihin!' project (2024–2026). The project is a qualitative study on enablers of employment for Finnish-speaking men aged 55+ in the Helsinki metropolitan area. AMI-säätiö funds the project.
• EUSE (European Union of Supported Employment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUSE is the European umbrella organization focused on the development of supported employment. Vates-säätiö is an active member, with its representative serving on the board with responsibilities for member cooperation and transitions from education to work. EUSE coordinates international project collaboration, quality standards (toolkits), and policy advocacy on disability employment.
• ILMA (Inclusive Labour Market Alliance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerILMA brings together six European organizations focused on the position of persons with disabilities and their employment. Vates-säätiö has been actively involved in developing social enterprise operations through this international collaboration.
• Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu OycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiakonia University of Applied Sciences is a sub-implementer in the YYO ESR+ project (2023–2027), contributing expertise in social pedagogy and community-based employment support.
• Kuntoutussäätiö srcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKuntoutussäätiö (The Foundation for Rehabilitation) is a sub-implementer in the YYO ESR+ project, contributing expertise in vocational rehabilitation and employment support for persons with partial work capacity.
• Osuuskuntien keskusjärjestö Pellervo ryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPellervo is a sub-implementer in the YYO ESR+ project, representing cooperative enterprises and contributing to the social enterprise knowledge base.
• Pääkaupunkiseudun Kierrätyskeskus OyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPääkaupunkiseudun Kierrätyskeskus Oy (Helsinki Metropolitan Area Recycling Centre) is a sub-implementer in the YYO ESR+ project, representing social enterprises in the circular economy.
• Valo-Valmennusyhdistys rcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValo-Valmennusyhdistys r is a sub-implementer in the YYO ESR+ project, contributing expertise in sports-based employment coaching and social inclusion methods.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kuntoutussäätiö sr (Finnish Rehabilitation Foundation): Finnish non-profit foundation focused on vocational rehabilitation and employment support for persons with partial work capacity. Direct comparable as a co-implementer alongside Vates in the YYO ESR+ project, sharing similar supported employment expertise and grant-funded operating model.
• Kiipulasäätiö: Finnish foundation providing vocational rehabilitation and special needs education expertise, and a co-implementer with Vates in the Ketjut kuntoon project. Comparable as a Finnish non-profit foundation serving persons with disabilities in employment pathways.
• Ammattiopisto Spesia: Finnish special vocational education institution providing expertise in education-to-employment transitions for persons with special needs, and a co-implementer with Vates in the Ketjut kuntoon project. Directly comparable in the special-needs-to-work transition space.
• Valo-Valmennusyhdistys r: Finnish association using sports-based coaching methods for employment support and social inclusion, and a co-implementer with Vates in the YYO project. Comparable mission in supporting persons facing barriers into employment.
• Silta-Valmennusyhdistys ry: Finnish supported employment association acting as the main implementer of the YYO ESR+ coordination project in which Vates is a sub-implementer. Closely comparable in supported employment services, training, and policy advocacy.
• Live-säätiö sr: Finnish foundation providing expertise in supported employment and social inclusion, and a co-implementer with Vates in the YYO ESR+ project. Highly comparable in mission, structure, and funding model.
• Arvo ry (Yhteiskunnallisten yritysten liitto): Finnish national association for social enterprises and a co-implementer with Vates in the YYO project. Comparable as a Finnish expert and advocacy body advancing social enterprise development, with overlapping audience of employers and policymakers.

Broad incumbents

• Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (THL): Finnish government research institute providing health and welfare expertise, including the IPS (Individual Placement and Support) supported employment model, and a co-implementer with Vates in YYO. Comparable in policy-relevant research on employment of persons with partial work capacity, but operating as a state agency rather than an NGO foundation.
• EUSE (European Union of Supported Employment): Pan-European umbrella organization for supported employment of which Vates is an active board member. Comparable as a higher-level advocacy and standards-setting body in Vates' same niche; Vates participates in EUSE-led international project collaboration.

Emerging players

• ILMA (Inclusive Labour Market Alliance): Alliance of six European organizations focused on the position and employment of persons with disabilities, in which Vates actively participates. Comparable as a small, mission-aligned coalition advancing inclusive employment policy across borders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kyvytkayttoon
• Facebookfacebook.com/vatessaatio

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 Vates-säätiö