Stichting Milo | Wegbereiders in communicatie

What Stichting Milo | Wegbereiders in communicatie does

Stichting Milo is a Dutch non-profit foundation (Stichting) headquartered in Schijndel, Netherlands, that delivers supported communication (Ondersteunde Communicatie, OC) services for children and young people who cannot or barely speak. The organization is built on four integrated pillars: treatment (Behandeling) via the trademarked KLIN© program, education (Opleiding) through Milo Academy, scientific research (Wetenschap) anchored by an endowed chair at Radboud University Nijmegen, and innovation (Innovatie). Treatment cohorts start each school year in specific regions including Schijndel and Susteren. Milo Academy trains speech therapists, special education teachers, caregivers, and parents to become OC specialists, offering standard training programs, Maatwerktrainingen (custom trainings), and the Milo & Lana picture book series as educational materials.

Milo has been formally recognized by ZonMw, on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, as an expertise organization in Sensory Disability Care (Zintuiglijke Gehandicaptenzorg), making it a designated expertise center for supported communication. The organization funds the chair in Supported Communication for Children with Multiple Disabilities at Radboud University Nijmegen, currently held by Prof. dr. Mathijs Vervloed, whose inaugural lecture took place on June 26, 2024.

The business model is a hybrid of public-sector expertise-center funding (ZonMw, likely Dutch healthcare insurance reimbursements for sensory disability care) and earned revenue from Milo Academy training programs and customized Maatwerktrainingen for professionals. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, consistent with a reimbursement-driven model. Go-to-market is community-led: awareness is built through social media (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn), a newsletter, in-person information evenings in regional locations, and experiential family stories such as the published case of "Lex" (Angelman syndrome). Two primary customer segments are served in parallel: parents and families of non-speaking children, and professionals (speech therapists, special education teachers, caregivers) in healthcare and education. The organization is currently hiring Operations Managers for Regio Noord and Regio Zuid, and is approaching a planned leadership transition as co-founders Hans van Balkom and Arjen Beekman retire at the end of 2026.

Name

Stichting Milo | Wegbereiders in communicatie

Legal name

Stichting Milo

Website

https://stichtingmilo.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Stichting Milo is a Dutch non-profit foundation that provides supported communication treatment (KLIN© program), professional training (Milo Academy), and research for children who cannot speak, recognized as an expertise center by ZonMw and partnered with Radboud University Nijmegen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supported Communication Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Related Therapy Services (Speech, Occupational, Physical, Feeding) (EDAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language) (EDAKAKAG), SLP Consultation, Teacher/Parent Coaching & Home Program Support (EDAKAEAN), Group Therapy and Peer-Mediated Communication Programs (School-Age) (EDAKAEAO), Autism Behavioral Support (School-Based ABA/PBIS) (EDAKAKAE)

Keywords

• Supported communication services
• Augmentative communication therapy
• Sensory disability care
• Special education training
• Assistive communication methods

Headquarters

HQ city

Schijndel

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Treatment Services: Milo provides treatment programs for children with communication disabilities. As a recognized expertise organization funded by ZonMw on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, revenue likely derives from government healthcare funding and possibly parent/family contributions.
2. Education and Training (Milo Academy): Milo Academy offers training programs for professionals, parents, and other stakeholders to become OC specialists. Training includes standard programs, custom trainings (maatwerktrainingen), and Milo & Lana picture books for educational purposes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stichting Milo delivers supported communication (OC) treatment, training, scientific research, and innovation for children and young people who cannot or barely speak. The KLIN© treatment program helps non-speaking children and their communication partners (parents, family, teachers, caregivers) communicate using OC methods. The Milo Academy trains professionals, parents, and stakeholders as OC specialists through standard and custom training programs, supplemented by Milo & Lana picture books.

Product overview

Stichting Milo operates as a multi-disciplinary organization offering a unified platform of services for supported communication (Ondersteunde Communicatie/OC). The core offerings include the KLIN© treatment program for children who cannot speak, combined with the Milo Academy for professional and parent training (including standard and custom Maatwerktrainingen), supported by scientific research (Wetenschap) funding the Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen chair, and an Innovation division for continuous improvement. Additional offerings include Prentenboeken Milo & Lana picture books as educational materials. All four pillars—Behandeling (treatment), Opleiding (education), Wetenschap (science), and Innovatie (innovation)—work hand-in-hand, with practice informing science and vice versa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Milo Academy: The training and education division of Milo that trains professionals, parents, and other stakeholders to become OC specialists.
• KLIN©
• Milo & Lana Prentenboeken

Products and services

• KLIN© Behandelprogramma (KLIN© Treatment Program)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Radboud Universiteit NijmegencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilo funds the chair in Supported Communication for Children with Multiple Disabilities at Radboud University Nijmegen. Prof. dr. Mathijs Vervloed holds this position and gave his inaugural lecture on June 26, 2024 titled 'Communication for Everyone.' This partnership integrates scientific research with practical treatment and education.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• ISAAC-NF (Dutch chapter of ISAAC): Dutch chapter of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, focused on AAC advocacy and knowledge sharing. Comparable to Milo as a Netherlands-based organization advancing the AAC field in which Milo delivers clinical services.

Direct peers

• Bartiméus: Dutch expertise organization for people with visual impairments, also recognized within ZonMw's sensory disability framework. Comparable to Milo as a fellow expertise center under the same Dutch regulatory designation, serving similar pediatric disability populations.
• NSDSK (Nederlandse Stichting voor het Dove en Slechthorende Kind): Dutch foundation supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families, with treatment and educational services. Comparable to Milo in serving non-speaking/hearing-impaired children requiring alternative communication support and family-centered intervention.
• Kentalis: Dutch expertise organization for people with hearing and communication disabilities, providing diagnostics, treatment, and education. Directly comparable to Milo as a Dutch sensory-disability expertise center with overlapping speech/AAC service lines.
• Stichting Angelman Syndroom Nederland: Dutch patient organization for Angelman syndrome, the same population for which Milo's KLIN© treatment was originally developed. Comparable as a Netherlands-based non-profit addressing the same family and clinical constituency.
• Auris: Dutch organization supporting people with hearing and language disabilities, including speech-language development. Comparable to Milo as a Dutch provider of speech, language, and communication treatment for children, with overlapping professional and family audiences.

Broad incumbents

• AssistiveWare: Developer of AAC apps such as Proloquo and Proloquo4Text used by non-speaking children and adults. Comparable to Milo in serving the same end-user population through AAC, though via consumer software rather than clinical treatment.
• Smartbox Assistive Technology: AAC technology company producing communication devices and software for non-speaking individuals. Comparable to Milo as part of the AAC value chain, supplying the assistive technology Milo may recommend or train families to use.
• Tobii Dynavox: Global leader in AAC hardware and software, including eye-control and speech-generating devices used in supported communication. Comparable to Milo as a provider in the broader AAC ecosystem, though operating as a technology vendor rather than a clinical treatment provider.

Regional players

• CENMAC (City Education Centre for Communication Aids): UK-based centre providing AAC assessment, training, and resources for children with communication difficulties. Comparable to Milo in delivering specialized AAC clinical and educational services to non-speaking children, but operating in the UK rather than the Netherlands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wijzijnmilo
• Facebookfacebook.com/wijzijnmilo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichting-milo
• Instagraminstagram.com/wijzijnmilo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Stichting Milo | Wegbereiders in communicatie