What Blindeninstitut München does

Blindeninstitutsstiftung, operating institutionally as "Blindeninstitut München" at its Kirchheim bei München (Romanstraße 12, 80639 München) facility, is a Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts (foundation under public law) founded in 1853 by Moritz Graf zu Bentheim-Tecklenburg in Würzburg. The organization supports blind, visually impaired, deafblind, and hearing-impaired individuals—particularly those with complex additional disabilities—through an integrated lifecycle service portfolio spanning early intervention (Frühförderung Sehen), specialized schools, school-preparation facilities, residential living for children, youth, and adults, day facilities (Förderstätte), sheltered workshops (Bentheim Werkstatt, capacity ~180 adults), medical treatment centers (MZEB Würzburg), therapeutic services, and independent participation counseling (EUTB). Mobile outreach services extend the foundation's footprint across Bavaria and Thuringia through a network of seven regional institutes (Würzburg HQ, München, Regensburg, Rückersdorf, Thüringen, Aschaffenburg, and Oberfranken).

The technical stack centers on assistive technology and accessibility rather than proprietary platforms: Braille devices, typewriters, tactile literacy materials, mobility aids (long canes, orientation devices), sensory and communication systems, the third-party Eye-Able accessibility overlay on blindeninstitut.de, and the website/email infrastructure built on Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), HelpMundo donation processing, and Foleon publishing. The SuHB ("Sehen und Hören in Bayern") research project, run jointly with Universität Hamburg, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and Pädagogische Hochschule Heidelberg, produced unprecedented epidemiological data on vision/hearing impairment prevalence in Bavarian disability facilities and represents the foundation's primary R&D asset.

Revenue is generated through four streams: statutory health and long-term care insurance plus government social-services contracts (primary); donations from individuals, companies, foundations, and programs like Sternstunden and Aktion Mensch; workshop-related service revenue from Bentheim Werkstatt; and MZEB/therapeutic fee-for-service. Pricing is not publicly disclosed as services are publicly funded; the foundation operates as a non-profit with approximately 2,500 employees, governed by a Board of Directors (Johannes Spielmann and Dr. Marco Bambach). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via physical locations, mobile services, and digital touchpoints; clients are reached through social-service referrals, insurance authorizations, and family contact rather than commercial sales.

Name

Blindeninstitut München

Legal name

Blindeninstitutsstiftung

Website

https://blindeninstitut.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1853

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Blindeninstitutsstiftung (operating as Blindeninstitut München) is a German foundation under public law that delivers integrated education, therapy, residential, employment, and medical services for blind, visually impaired, deafblind, and hearing-impaired individuals with complex disabilities across Bavaria and Thuringia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Home Health Care Services (62161)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vision & Hearing Early Intervention Services (EDACAFAN), Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI), Transition & School-Readiness Support for Special Needs Children (HSAAAIAO), Live-In Special Needs & Inclusive Childcare (HSAAAEAJ)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Early intervention programs
• Specialized education services
• Residential care services
• Sheltered workshop employment

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirchheim Bei München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Insurance and Government Funding: Primary funding through statutory health insurance, long-term care insurance, and government social services contracts for rehabilitation, education, and care services.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Voluntary donations from individuals, companies, and foundations supporting specific projects and services.
3. Workshop and Employment Services Revenue: Revenue from Bentheim Werkstatt workshop operations employing visually impaired adults.
4. Therapy and Medical Services: MZEB (Medical Treatment Center for Adults with Disabilities) and therapeutic services billed through health insurance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Blindeninstitut München delivers direct, in-person support services for blind, visually impaired, deaf-blind, and hearing-impaired individuals with additional complex disabilities. Its portfolio spans early intervention for children, special education and school preparation, residential living for children, youth, and adults, day facilities, sheltered workshop employment, a medical treatment center for adults with disabilities (MZEB), therapeutic services, and prevention programs. Services are funded primarily through statutory health and long-term care insurance, government contracts, and donations.

Product overview

The Blindeninstitutsstiftung operates as a multi-location foundation offering a comprehensive portfolio of integrated services for blind, visually impaired, deafblind, and hearing-impaired individuals with additional complex disabilities. The organization provides life-cycle-spanning support from early intervention (Frühförderung Sehen) through schools and school preparation (Schule/SVE), residential living options for children, youth, and adults, day facilities (Förderstätte), sheltered workshops (Bentheim Werkstatt with capacity for 180 adults), medical treatment centers (MZEB), therapeutic services, and vacation accommodations. Mobile counseling services extend support throughout Bavaria and Thuringia. Core competence areas include vision, communication, deafblindness, complex disability, and healthcare. Cultural offerings include the STUDIO D music ensemble and podcasts. The foundation operates seven main locations: Würzburg (headquarters), München, Regensburg, Rückersdorf, Thüringen, Aschaffenburg, and Oberfranken.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STUDIO D: Art studio at Blindeninstitut Rückersdorf
• SuHB (Sehen und Hören in Bayern)
• Präventionsprogramm Gutes Sehen
• GaViD-Sinne

Products and services

• Frühförderung Sehen (Early Vision Support)
• Schule und Schulvorbereitende Einrichtung (SVE)
• Heilpädagogische Tagestätte
• Wohnen: Kinder und Jugendliche
• Wohnen: Erwachsene
• Förderstätte
• Bentheim Werkstatt
• MZEB Würzburg (Medizinisches Behandlungszentrum für Erwachsene mit Behinderung)
• Teilhabeberatung EUTB
• Präventionsprogramm Gutes Sehen
• Präventionsprogramm Hören und Kommunikation
• Therapeutische Angebote
• Mobile Beratungs- und Förderangebote
• Ferienhaus und Ferienwohnung in Murnau
• GaViD-Sinne

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of adults with complex disabilities at MZEB Würzburg have vision impairments
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Universität HamburgmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Research partner in the 'Sehen und Hören in Bayern' (SuHB) project, conducting prevalence study on vision and hearing impairments in disabled populations. Project initiated and led by Blindeninstitutsstiftung.
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Research partner in SuHB project studying prevalence of vision and hearing impairments in Bavarian disability facilities.
• Pädagogische Hochschule HeidelbergmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Academic research partner in SuHB project, contributing expertise in special education pedagogy.
• wildweiss GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite development and technical implementation partner for blindeninstitut.de using content management system.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Nikolausdorf Berufsförderungswerk: Vocational rehabilitation facility historically serving blind and visually impaired adults with sheltered workshop and training programs, comparable to Bentheim Werkstatt.
• Nikolauspflege: Stuttgart-based foundation offering education, residential care, and vocational services for blind and visually impaired people across the lifecycle — a structurally near-identical operating model to Blindeninstitutsstiftung, anchored in a different German region.
• Deutsches Taubblindenwerk: German national foundation dedicated to deaf-blind individuals, providing residential, educational, and counseling services — directly comparable to Blindeninstitutsstiftung's GaViD-Sinne and deaf-blind specialization.
• BFW Würzburg gGmbH: Vocational rehabilitation center for blind and visually impaired adults co-located in Würzburg, offering berufsförderung services that overlap directly with the foundation's adult education and Bentheim Werkstatt workshop model.
• Berufsförderungswerk Düren: One of Germany's leading vocational training centers for blind and visually impaired adults, comparable in scope to Blindeninstitutsstiftung's Bentheim Werkstatt and adult-services portfolio.

Others

• Aktion Mensch: Germany's largest social funding organization and a major financial partner of Blindeninstitutsstiftung — not a direct service peer but a critical ecosystem participant shaping disability-services funding across the sector.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas Deutschland: Germany's largest Catholic welfare organization operating social services, disability programs, and residential care at national scale — broader scope but overlapping service categories with Blindeninstitutsstiftung.
• Lebenshilfe: Major German disability services federation providing education, residential, and workshop services across intellectual and developmental disabilities — broader scope than Blindeninstitutsstiftung but overlapping in residential and workshop operations.
• Deutscher Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband (DBSV): National umbrella association for blind and visually impaired people in Germany; comparable in mission and population served, but operates as an advocacy body rather than direct service provider.
• Bayerischer Blinden- und Sehbehindertenbund (BBSB): Regional advocacy and self-help organization for blind and visually impaired people in Bavaria, operating alongside — rather than competing directly with — Blindeninstitutsstiftung's service-delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/blindeninstitutsstiftung
• Facebookfacebook.com/blindeninstitutsstiftung
• Instagraminstagram.com/blindeninstitutsstiftung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries9 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 Blindeninstitut München