Bibian Mentel Foundation
Bibian Mentel Foundation is a Dutch non-profit that runs adaptive sports programs — including winter sports in Switzerland, a 12 hour Challenge, inclusive playgrounds, and summer water sports — for people with physical challenges, funded through donations, crowdfunding, event fees, and corporate sponsorship.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBilthoven, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bibian Mentel Foundation does
Bibian Mentel Foundation (officially Mentelity Foundation, KvK 54706491) is a Dutch non-profit stichting founded in 2018 and headquartered in Bilthoven, Netherlands. It was created to honor Paralympic gold medalist Bibian Mentel, who passed away in March 2021, and continues her mission to create equal opportunities for people with physical challenges through sports and movement. The foundation operates a portfolio of event-based programs rather than a traditional software product: the Mentelity Games (a week-long adaptive winter sports experience in Saas-Grund, Switzerland for 60-80 participants with physical disabilities), the 12 hour Challenge (a fundraising ski/snowboard relay held simultaneously in Switzerland and 15 Dutch indoor venues targeting 300+ participants in 2026), the Mentelity Summer Games (multi-day water sports in Ouddorp), Bibian Mentel Playgrounds (inclusive wheelchair-accessible pumptracks, first opened in Loosdrecht in 2022 with a second site approved for Axel in 2023), Re-abled Snowday, and Mentelity Stranddag beach events.
The foundation's technology footprint is modest and operational rather than differentiated: a WordPress CMS website with WooCommerce-powered merchandise shop, a dedicated donation page hosted via Iraiser, and the Kentaa third-party crowdfunding platform that integrates with team fundraising for the 12 hour Challenge. Communications during events rely on partner-provided hardware — AXIWI wireless communication sets for visually impaired skiers, Comfective 4G radios for staff coordination, and BigAirBag inflatable safety systems.
The business model is a diversified non-profit funding stack: individual donations (Iraiser platform), team-anchored crowdfunding on Kentaa (€1,500 minimum per team, averaging €2,300), event entry fees (€150-200 for 12 hour Challenge, €35 for Re-abled Snowday), corporate sponsorship including gondola naming at €1,000 per gondola, package travel trips to Switzerland (€390-515 per person), and merchandise sales. Revenue and customer base are highly distributed across hundreds of individual participants, ~100 volunteers per Games edition, and a portfolio of brand partners including Helly Hansen, Bergans of Norway, MK Skiservice (founding partner), Velosolutions, Yalp, AXIWI, Snowsports Zwolle, BigAirBag, Comfective, Heat Experience, Montela Hotel & Resort, and TCK/LEKI. The foundation is led by Director Edwin Spee (Bibian Mentel's former partner) and operates with a small core team of 1-10 employees supplemented by ~100 event volunteers and a student/intern pipeline via Fontys Sporthogeschool.
Bibian Mentel Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bibian Mentel Foundation
- Legal name
- Mentelity Foundation
- Website
- https://bibianmentelfoundation.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Bibian Mentel Foundation is a Dutch non-profit that runs adaptive sports programs — including winter sports in Switzerland, a 12 hour Challenge, inclusive playgrounds, and summer water sports — for people with physical challenges, funded through donations, crowdfunding, event fees, and corporate sponsorship.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bibian Mentel Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Disability Services
- NAICS
- Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Endurance Stage & Destination Challenges (Multi-day Tours, Charity Challenges) (MPAKAIAG), Amateur Event & Tournament Organizers (Meets, Invitationals, Opens) (MPAKACAL)
Keywords
Where Bibian Mentel Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bilthoven
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bibian Mentel Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Crowdfunding: Individual donors contribute via the foundation's donation platform. Teams participating in the 12 hour Challenge must raise minimum amounts (€1,500 per team of 3, €500 per individual Tour Challenge participant) through personal crowdfunding campaigns on the Kentaa platform.
- Event Participation Fees: Entry tickets sold for events: 12 hour Challenge start ticket costs €200 (€150 early bird until October 2025). Re-abled Snowday tickets cost €35 including slope access, equipment rental, and drinks.
- Shop/Merchandise: Online shop selling sports apparel and accessories. Website uses WooCommerce platform.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Companies sponsor events (headline sponsorship, gondola sponsorship at €1,000 per themed gondola), teams, or participants. Sponsorship tiers include gondola naming, logo placement on event bibs, and team donations.
- Travel Packages: Package trips to Switzerland offered: short trip from €390/person (3 nights, 1 day ski pass), long trip from €515/person (4 nights, 2 day ski passes + Mentelity Under the Stars event). Discounts for 2+ teams.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Re-abled Snowday ticket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 12 hour Challenge entry ticket |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Package trips to Switzerland |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Bibian Mentel Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Bibian Mentel Foundation (legally Mentelity Foundation) is a Dutch non-profit foundation that supports people with physical challenges through adaptive sports events, inclusive playgrounds, and activity programs. It organizes signature events including the Mentelity Games (week-long winter sports in Saas-Grund, Switzerland), the 12 hour Challenge (fundraising ski/snowboard relay), the Mentelity Summer Games, Re-abled Snowdays, and beach days, and develops inclusive Bibian Mentel Playgrounds featuring wheelchair-accessible pumptracks.
Product overview
Bibian Mentel Foundation is a Dutch non-profit organization (ANBI status) focused on creating equal opportunities for people with physical challenges through sports and movement. The foundation operates primarily through event-based programs rather than a traditional software product. Its core offerings include the Mentelity Games (winter sports week in Switzerland), the 12 Hour Challenge (fundraising ski/snowboard relay event), the Mentelity Summer Games (water sports), Bibian Mentel Playgrounds (inclusive outdoor facilities), Re-abled Snowday, and Mentelity Stranddag (beach sports). The foundation also maintains an e-commerce shop and crowdfunding platform for supporter engagement. The programs collectively embody the 'Re-abled' philosophy—transforming the perspective from 'disabled' to being able to participate fully in sports and society.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mentelity Games: Winter sports event for people with physical challenges held annually in Saas-Grund, Switzerland
- 12 hour Challenge
- Re-abled
- Bibian Mentel Playground
- Mentelity Angels
- Mentelity Stranddag
- Summer Games
- Re-abled Snowday
Products and services
- Mentelity Games
Quantifiable outcome
- 60-80 participants with physical disabilities experience life-changing week at Mentelity Games annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bibian Mentel Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bibian Mentel Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bibian Mentel Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- AXIWIcoreAXIWI provides wireless, full duplex, hands-free communication systems for blind and visually impaired participants during Mentelity Games. Enables safe skiing with guides who can provide real-time instructions. Partnership has continued for multiple years including 2026 edition in Saas-Grund, Switzerland.
- Saas-Grund BergbahnencoreThe Swiss village of Saas-Grund transforms into a Dutch community during Mentelity Games. Local ski lift company provides flexible, inclusive access to winter sports facilities. Staff is collaborative and makes adaptive winter sports possible.
- Saas-Fee TourismuscorePartner actively promotes Mentelity Games and 12 hour Challenge. Provides marketing support and tourist infrastructure for participants and volunteers.
- MK SkiservicecoreFounded in Bilthoven, MK Skiservice has been a founding partner since day one. Experts in boot fitting and winter sports equipment. Menno and Maayke and team are essential to Mentelity Games and 12 hour Challenge organization.
- Snowsports ZwollemajorPartner since 2023. Hosts Indoor 12 hour Challenge on their indoor slope. Teachers from local schools participate, and some volunteer at Mentelity Games in Switzerland.
- VelosolutionsmajorPartner in building Bibian Mentel Playgrounds. Constructs pumptracks with special wheelchair-accessible lanes. First playground opened in Loosdrecht in 2022.
- YalpmajorPartner in constructing inclusive Bibian Mentel Playgrounds with inclusive playground equipment alongside pumptracks.
- SPECO SportmarketingminorFirst-year students at Fontys Sporthogeschool sell sports socks, donating profits to foundation. Raised €20,000 in 2023 and €45,000+ in 2024. Combines commercial and societal goals while providing real-world sales experience.
- Bergans of NorwayminorNorwegian outdoor brand provides team participation in 12 hour Challenge. Technical, high-performance outdoor clothing supports activities.
- Heat ExperienceminorNorwegian company providing battery-heated clothing for crew during 12 hour Challenge. Products include gloves, jackets, sweaters, and insoles designed for outdoor sports.
- Montela Hotel & ResortmajorFour-star resort near Bergbahn Saas-Grund provides accessible accommodations. Modern apartments accommodate up to 10 persons with elevator access, suitable for wheelchair users and volunteers.
- Helly HansenminorNorwegian professional clothing brand worn by maritime, mountain, and construction professionals. Partner from the first Mentelity Games edition.
- TCK/LEKIminorBenelux importer of LEKI ski poles and gloves. TCK team participates in 12 hour Challenge since 2019. Provides prize packages for winning teams.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bibian Mentel Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Ability Center: Non-profit in Park City, Utah providing adaptive ski, snowboard and outdoor recreation. Closest parallel in terms of immersive adaptive winter-sports programming and equipment.
- Move United (Disabled Sports USA): National adaptive-sports non-profit running a network of community-based programs across skiing, snowboarding, and summer sports. Comparable as a national network hub for adaptive sports events and equipment access.
- Achieve Tahoe: Adaptive ski and sports school at Alpine Meadows. Highly comparable model for week-long adaptive winter sports residencies with volunteer ski instructors and partner resort setup.
- Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF): US-based non-profit that provides grants, equipment, and sports opportunities for people with physical challenges. Highly comparable mission, fundraising-event model (e.g., cycling/running fundraisers), and adaptive-equipment focus.
Broad incumbents
- International Paralympic Committee: Global governing body for Paralympic sports. Relevant brand and category incumbent, although it operates as a federation rather than direct service provider; informs Bibian Mentel Foundation's positioning as a Paralympic-legacy foundation.
- Special Olympics International: Global movement providing year-round sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Broader incumbent with similar event-driven fund-and-awareness model and government/corporate sponsorship structure.
- Right To Play: International non-profit using sport and play to develop children and youth globally. Comparable mission framing ("sports as inclusion/enablement") and event-based fundraising, but at much larger scale.
Regional players
- Whistler Adaptive Sports Program: Canadian adaptive ski and snowboard school in Whistler. Closely analogous destination-based adaptive winter sports program using a single resort's accessible infrastructure.
- Handisport (Fédération Française Handisport): French federation organizing adaptive sports events and championships. Regional peer with similar adaptive-sports event portfolio across winter and summer disciplines.
Others
- Keurig Dr Pepper SNAP (sports non-profit) - Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism: Celebrity-athlete-named foundation funding equipment/activities for a specific community (autism). Adjacent peer on founder-legacy fundraising and equipment-grant model for vulnerable populations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bibian Mentel Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceBibian Mentel Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bibian Mentel Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bibian Mentel Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bibian Mentel Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bibian Mentel Foundation
What does Bibian Mentel Foundation do?
The Bibian Mentel Foundation (legally Mentelity Foundation) is a Dutch non-profit foundation that supports people with physical challenges through adaptive sports events, inclusive playgrounds, and activity programs. It organizes signature events including the Mentelity Games (week-long winter sports in Saas-Grund, Switzerland), the 12 hour Challenge (fundraising ski/snowboard relay), the Mentelity Summer Games, Re-abled Snowdays, and beach days, and develops inclusive Bibian Mentel Playgrounds featuring wheelchair-accessible pumptracks.
Is Bibian Mentel Foundation a public or private company?
Bibian Mentel Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bibian Mentel Foundation founded?
Bibian Mentel Foundation was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Bibian Mentel Foundation based?
Bibian Mentel Foundation is headquartered in Bilthoven, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Bibian Mentel Foundation make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Crowdfunding is the primary driver. The others are event Participation Fees, shop/Merchandise, corporate Sponsorship and travel Packages.
Who are Bibian Mentel Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Ability Center, Move United (Disabled Sports USA), Achieve Tahoe and Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). Broad incumbents are International Paralympic Committee, Special Olympics International and Right To Play. Regional players are Whistler Adaptive Sports Program and Handisport (Fédération Française Handisport). Keurig Dr Pepper SNAP (sports non-profit) - Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism is listed as an others.
Does Bibian Mentel Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bibian Mentel Foundation.
What industry is Bibian Mentel Foundation in?
Bibian Mentel Foundation's product category is Nonprofit Disability Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAGAOAG, Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps), with a secondary code of MPAKAIAG, Endurance Stage & Destination Challenges (Multi-day Tours, Charity Challenges). Its NAICS code is 721214 and its SIC code is 7000.