The Hand Project
The Hand Project is a German non-profit that runs corporate team-building workshops in which employee teams assemble mechanical prosthetic hands, which are then delivered free of charge to upper-limb amputees in low-income countries through a network of local NGO partners across Africa and South Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersGarmisch-partenkirchen, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
The Hand Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Hand Project
- Legal name
- The Hand Project
- Website
- https://handproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Hand Project is a German non-profit that runs corporate team-building workshops in which employee teams assemble mechanical prosthetic hands, which are then delivered free of charge to upper-limb amputees in low-income countries through a network of local NGO partners across Africa and South Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Hand Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate Team Building Events
- NAICS
- Industrial Design Services (54142)
- SIC
- Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Limb Prosthetics (Upper/Lower Extremity Prosthetic Systems) (HLAHAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Prosthetic Components & Rehabilitation Accessories (Liners, Feet, Knees, Sockets) (HLAHAMAD), Prosthetics/Orthotics Rehab & Amputee Rehabilitation (HSADAIAN)
Keywords
Where The Hand Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Garmisch-partenkirchen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Hand Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Team Building Events: Corporate team building events where companies pay to have their teams build prosthetic hands. Events run approximately 2 hours with teams of 3-4 participants. Funding from these events covers all operations including manufacturing, shipping, fitting, and training. No pricing is publicly disclosed - companies enquire for quotes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Onsite Fully Facilitated - Full-service event at client location |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Self-Guided Event - Up to 40 people |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Online Event with Facilitator - Up to 60 people |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Hand Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Hand Project delivers 2-hour corporate team building events in three formats (Onsite Fully Facilitated, Self-Guided up to 40 people, and Online with Facilitator up to 60 people) during which teams assemble mechanical prosthetic hands, KamTools, and other devices. The assembled prosthetics are then shipped free of charge to upper-limb amputees in low-income countries across Africa and South Asia, where partner NGOs organize fitting camps. Revenue from corporate events covers manufacturing, shipping, fitting, and training of all prosthetic devices.
Product overview
The Hand Project operates as a charitable organization offering two interconnected offerings: (1) Corporate team building events and (2) Free prosthetic solutions for upper-limb amputees in low-income countries. The product portfolio includes prosthetic devices — Mechanical Hand, KamTool, Cosmetic Hand, and Mechanical Elbow — all fitted with custom thermoplastic sockets. Prosthetic components come in adult and children sizes. Team building events are delivered through three formats: Onsite Fully Facilitated, Self-Guided, and Online with Facilitator. All prosthetic products are provided 100% free of charge to beneficiaries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Onsite Fully Facilitated Event A 2-hour corporate team building event where The Hand Project team travels to the client location worldwide and facilitates groups assembling functional prosthetic hands and devices. Suitable for teams of any size. Engaging facilitators have first-hand prosthetic fitting experience.
- Self-Guided Event A team building event format where The Hand Project sends all necessary materials and resources to clients, who organize the event independently using included intro videos and instructions. Suitable for teams up to 40 people.
- Online Event with Facilitator A virtual team building event led by remote facilitators; materials are shipped to participants and facilitators provide introduction and guidance throughout. Suitable for distributed teams up to 60 people across different locations.
- Mechanical Hand A purely mechanical prosthetic device operated using the remaining hand or other body parts (chin, thigh, stump). Enables beneficiaries to hold items such as spoons, cups, pens, broom handles, and bicycle handlebars for everyday tasks. Provided free to upper-limb amputees in low-income countries.
- KamTool A heavy-duty mechanical attachment designed for work activities including digging, painting, bicycle riding, cutting, and lifting heavy objects. Developed by Uganda Hand Project's Kamanzi. Provided free to amputees in low-income countries.
- Cosmetic Hand A 3D-printed, non-functional static cosmetic hand worn in public to address stigma associated with disability. Lightweight, easy to wear, designed to closely match the size of the beneficiary's remaining hand. Provided free to upper-limb amputees.
- Mechanical Elbow A mechanical elbow that is lockable in all positions, paired with individualized thermoplastic sockets for upper-limb amputees. Provided free to beneficiaries.
- Custom Thermoplastic Socket Custom-made sockets fabricated from thermoplastic material heated and molded to fit each beneficiary's residual limb, supporting wrist-to-shoulder amputations. Provided free to beneficiaries.
- Children's Prosthetic Components Child-sized prosthetic forearms, elbows, and hands along with prosthetic 'toys' designed to help children accept and develop fine motor skills with their prosthesis. Provided free to child amputees.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,000+ prosthetic hands and devices delivered to beneficiaries
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Hand Project
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Hand Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
The Hand Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Give Dignity gGmbHcoreThe charity arm of The Hand Project that accepts donations to cover essential costs such as transportation, accommodation, and meals for children and adults receiving prosthetic hands. Donations go directly to people supported by the project. Issues donation receipts upon request.
- Able Life Charity FoundationcorePartner in Ghana that mobilizes beneficiaries and organizes fitting camps for prosthetic hand recipients.
- Voice of Women AfricacorePartner in Tanzania founded by ambassador Veronica Kidemi, a survivor of domestic violence. Mobilizes beneficiaries and organizes fitting camps.
- ARMOCKcorePartner in Kenya that mobilizes beneficiaries and organizes fitting camps. Led by Alex Juma.
- First StepcorePartner in South Sudan that organizes fitting camps for prosthetic hand recipients.
- Haddis Agape FoundationcorePartner in Ethiopia that organizes fitting camps and beneficiary mobilization.
- TREVESOMcorePartner in Somalia led by Abdullahi Hasson that organizes fitting camps and beneficiary mobilization.
- Rotary Club of MangaligiriminorPartner in India that works with The Hand Project to reach beneficiaries.
- Karuna FoundationminorPartner in Nepal that organizes fitting camps and beneficiary mobilization.
- Able Life AfricacorePartner in Uganda that organizes fitting camps for prosthetic hand recipients.
- Hands of GratitudecoreUS-based organization led by Matt Campana that has partnered with The Hand Project to reach more beneficiaries in America.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Hand Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Unlimited Tomorrow: Unlimited Tomorrow is a U.S.-based company using 3D printing and AI to produce affordable, lightweight prosthetic arms including a flagship bionic arm. Comparable upper-limb product category with a humanitarian and accessibility focus, but commercial rather than nonprofit and focused on bionic/electronic capability.
- Open Bionics: Open Bionics is a UK-based bionic prosthetics company producing 3D-printed multi-grip myoelectric arms. Comparable upper-limb prosthetic product category and 3D-printed design approach, but operates as a commercial venture targeting higher-income markets rather than low-income humanitarian distribution.
Direct peers
- e-NABLE: e-NABLE is a global volunteer community that designs and 3D-prints free prosthetic hands for upper-limb amputees, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. Directly comparable on product (upper-limb prosthetics), beneficiary base, and volunteer/NGO-driven distribution model.
- TeamBonding: TeamBonding is a U.S.-based corporate team-building events provider offering charitable and purpose-driven event formats (e.g., bike-building for charity, similar assembly-for-impact concepts). Closest peer on the team-building-services side of The Hand Project's hybrid model — competes for the same corporate L&D/CSR budget line.
- Hands of Gratitude: Hands of Gratitude is the U.S.-based partner organization of The Hand Project (run by Matt Campana), delivering prosthetic hands to amputees in the Americas. Direct affiliate with the same mission and product family, focused on expanding reach outside of Africa and the sub-continent.
- LIMBS International: LIMBS International is a U.S.-based nonprofit that designs and delivers affordable prosthetic legs and orthotic devices to amputees in low-income countries. Closest direct peer: same nonprofit humanitarian-prosthetics mission with a different limb focus (lower extremity), and similar model of building distribution through partner NGOs.
- Range of Motion Project (ROMP): ROMP is a nonprofit providing prosthetic and orthotic care to amputees in low-income countries across the Americas. Directly comparable humanitarian-prosthetics nonprofit model with similar NGO-partner-based distribution, though focused on lower-limb prosthetics in Latin America rather than upper-limb in Africa.
Broad incumbents
- Ottobock: Ottobock is the world's largest commercial prosthetics manufacturer, offering a full range of upper- and lower-limb prosthetic devices including mechanical and myoelectric hands. Same product category (upper-limb prosthetics) but a global commercial incumbent rather than a humanitarian nonprofit; useful as a benchmark for prosthetic industry scale.
- Össur: Össur is a global leader in non-invasive orthopedics including upper- and lower-limb prosthetics and bionic solutions. Comparable product category with overlapping upper-limb prosthetic offerings, but serves primarily insured commercial markets rather than humanitarian distribution.
- BMVSS (Jaipur Foot): Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) is the world's largest nonprofit provider of assistive devices — primarily the iconic Jaipur Foot lower-limb prosthesis — fitting over 1.7 million amputees across India and beyond. Comparable in nonprofit humanitarian-prosthetics mission and free-distribution model, but operates at substantially larger scale with lower-limb focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Hand Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Hand Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Hand Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The Hand Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Hand Project 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 The Hand Project
What does The Hand Project do?
The Hand Project delivers 2-hour corporate team building events in three formats (Onsite Fully Facilitated, Self-Guided up to 40 people, and Online with Facilitator up to 60 people) during which teams assemble mechanical prosthetic hands, KamTools, and other devices. The assembled prosthetics are then shipped free of charge to upper-limb amputees in low-income countries across Africa and South Asia, where partner NGOs organize fitting camps. Revenue from corporate events covers manufacturing, shipping, fitting, and training of all prosthetic devices.
Is The Hand Project a public or private company?
The Hand Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Hand Project founded?
The Hand Project was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Hand Project based?
The Hand Project is headquartered in Garmisch-partenkirchen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does The Hand Project make money?
One revenue line is on record: corporate Team Building Events.
Who are The Hand Project's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Unlimited Tomorrow and Open Bionics. Direct peers are e-NABLE, TeamBonding, Hands of Gratitude, LIMBS International and Range of Motion Project (ROMP). Broad incumbents are Ottobock, Össur and BMVSS (Jaipur Foot).
Does The Hand Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Hand Project.
What industry is The Hand Project in?
The Hand Project's product category is Corporate Team Building Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAEAH, Limb Prosthetics (Upper/Lower Extremity Prosthetic Systems), with a secondary code of HLAHAMAD, Prosthetic Components & Rehabilitation Accessories (Liners, Feet, Knees, Sockets). Its NAICS code is 54142 and its SIC code is 3842.