Läbesruum

What Läbesruum does

Läbesruum is a Swiss non-profit association (Verein) founded in 1990 in Winterthur, operating a portfolio of social enterprises whose primary mission is the social and professional integration of unemployed individuals who face barriers to entering the regular labor market, including those with limited German proficiency, health challenges, addiction issues, or extended unemployment histories. The organization runs two operational pillars that share a common workforce of approximately 145 integrated employees: a retail and hospitality segment comprising Restaurant Eulachstrand, Spiel- & Sportbörse (consignment-based secondhand toy and sports equipment store plus seasonal ski rental), Hofladen farm shop, subscriptions (Gemüseabo, Recyclingabo), firewood, Christmas trees, and gift vouchers; and a skilled-trades services segment covering cleaning, moving and disposal, painting, garden maintenance, solar panel installation, building maintenance, and personnel placement for private households, companies, and public institutions. The methodology is the solution-oriented approach (Lösungsorientierter Ansatz, LOA), applied through formal apprenticeships (EFZ/EBA tracks in retail, painting, gardening, facility maintenance), on-the-job training, and embedded social work and job coaching. The core technology is human-led vocational integration rather than software, and there is no API, SDK, or AI system disclosed.

The organization is financed through a mix of earned revenue from its social enterprises, foundation grants (Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Dr. Hermann Schmidhauser Stiftung), cantonal funding (Kanton Zürich Gemeinnütziger Fonds, CHF 800,000 for Oberohringen), municipal contributions from Stadt Winterthur and surrounding Gemeinden (CHF 450,000 combined across two recent projects), and private donations. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Recent strategic moves include the CHF 5.2 million acquisition of Palmstrasse 26b in March 2026 for service consolidation (move-in by end of 2026), completion of the CHF 3.611 million Oberohringen facility expansion, and the launch of a solar training program in partnership with Winterthur-based Senero, validated by industry association Swissolar. The organization is governed by a board and led by Geschäftsführer Oliver Seitz, with department heads holding both technical qualifications (e.g., Koch EFZ, Detailhandelsfachmann EFZ, Maler EFZ) and social-pedagogical credentials (Arbeitsagoge FA/BP).

Name

Läbesruum

Legal name

Verein Läbesruum

Website

https://laebesruum.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Läbesruum is a Winterthur-based Swiss non-profit founded in 1990 that employs approximately 145 previously unemployed individuals across a portfolio of social enterprises — including a restaurant, secondhand sports/toy store, cleaning, moving, painting, solar, and gardening services — providing vocational integration, apprenticeships, and job coaching.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Winterthur

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Services Revenue: Läbesruum generates revenue through professional services including cleaning, moving & disposal, painting, garden maintenance, solar work, and facility management delivered to private individuals, companies, and public institutions. These services are provided by integrating employees under professional supervision.
2. Restaurant Operations: The Restaurant Eulachstrand generates revenue through lunch service (CHF 17.00 per person), seasonal buffets (CHF 55.00 per person), and venue rental for events up to 100 people. Take-away options are also available.
3. Spiel- & Sportbörse Consignment: The secondhand sports and toy store operates on a consignment model where customers bring items for sale, with the store retaining approximately 60% commission and sellers receiving 40% of sales proceeds. Items include children's clothing size 92+, sports equipment, toys, and seasonal articles.
4. Product Sales: Revenue from direct product sales including firewood (Brennholz), vegetable subscriptions (Gemüseabo from May-November), recycling subscriptions (Recyclingabo), Christmas trees (CHF 20-100), and gift items from the farm shop.
5. Gift Vouchers: Sale of gift vouchers in three categories: Läbesruum general vouchers (valid for all services), Restaurant Eulachstrand vouchers (for buffets and lunch), and Hofladen vouchers (CHF 10, 20, or 50).
6. Donations and Subsidies: As a non-profit organization, Läbesruum receives donations from foundations, private individuals, and government subsidies from municipalities and cantonal funds to support integration programs and facility expansions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Läbesruum is a Swiss non-profit association that delivers social and professional integration programs for unemployed individuals by operating a portfolio of social enterprises, including a restaurant, a consignment-based secondhand sports and toy store, and skilled trades services such as cleaning, moving and disposal, painting, gardening, solar installation, and facility management. These revenue-generating activities double as workplaces where integration participants gain meaningful employment, daily structure, language practice, and skill development under professional supervision.

Product overview

Läbesruum is a non-profit organization established in 1990 that focuses on social and professional integration of unemployed individuals. The organization operates a diversified portfolio of products and services organized into two main categories: (1) Retail and Hospitality offerings including Spiel- & Sportbörse (secondhand toys and sports equipment shop), Restaurant Eulachstrand (restaurant with lunch service and event hosting), Hofladen (farm shop), Gemüseabo (vegetable subscription), Recyclingabo (recycling pickup service), Brennholz (firewood), Weihnachtsbäume (Christmas trees), and Gutscheine (gift vouchers); and (2) Skilled Trades Services including Umzüge & Entsorgungen (moving and disposal), Reinigungen (cleaning), Hauswartungen (building maintenance), Solararbeiten (solar panel installation), Malerarbeiten (painting), Gartenbau & Unterhalt (gardening), and Personalvermittlung (staffing). All offerings serve both as commercial products and as integration workplaces for people seeking to re-enter the labor market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spiel- & Sportbörse: Second-hand and new sports equipment and toys store for children and adults, also offering rental and service for winter sports equipment.
• Restaurant Eulachstrand
• Läbesknospe

Products and services

• Restaurant Eulachstrand Restaurant offering weekday lunch service (CHF 17.00 per person including soup, salad buffet, main course and dessert), monthly seasonal all-you-can-eat buffets (CHF 55.00 per adult), and venue rental for events up to 100 guests. Open Monday-Friday 11:45-13:00 at Pflanzschulstrasse 17, Winterthur.
• Spiel- & Sportbörse Consignment-based secondhand retail store for children's clothing (size 92+), sports equipment, toys, books and seasonal items; offers BFU ski binding safety tests (CHF 15.00), ski and snowboard service packages, and winter sports rental (skis, boots, snowshoes) for children and adults. The store retains approximately 60% commission while sellers receive 40%.
• Reinigungen (Cleaning Services) Professional cleaning services including building cleaning, window cleaning and spring cleaning delivered to private households, businesses and public institutions.
• Umzüge & Entsorgungen (Moving & Disposal) Moving and disposal services for residential and commercial customers, including furniture relocation, transport and waste removal.
• Hauswartungen (Facility Management) Building maintenance and facility management services for residential properties and commercial facilities.
• Solararbeiten (Solar Installation) Solar panel installation services including planning and construction of photovoltaic systems, delivered together with an integrated training program for unemployed individuals in collaboration with Winterthur solar company Senero.
• Malerarbeiten (Painting Services) Professional interior and exterior painting services for private and commercial customers.
• Gartenbau & Unterhalt (Garden Construction & Maintenance) Landscaping and regular garden care services, including construction of garden elements and ongoing maintenance for residential and commercial properties.
• Personalvermittlung (Staffing) Staffing services connecting companies and private households with qualified personnel from the integration programs.
• Brennholz (Firewood) Firewood produced by employees in the integration program, sold directly to private customers.
• Gemüseabo (Vegetable Subscription) Seasonal vegetable subscription delivering fresh produce cultivated by the organization's gardening team from May to November.
• Recyclingabo (Recycling Pickup Subscription) Weekly or bi-weekly pickup service for recyclable waste (plastic, glass, paper, aluminum) collected directly from customers' homes. Trial subscription available for 2 months from CHF 56.00.
• Weihnachtsbäume (Christmas Trees) Seasonal direct sales of Christmas trees (Nordmann, Blue, Red, Nobilis firs) sourced locally near Winterthur; prices CHF 20-100 depending on size and species, sold December 15-23 annually.
• Gutscheine (Gift Vouchers) Gift vouchers in three variants: general Läbesruum voucher redeemable across all services, Restaurant Eulachstrand voucher for dining experiences, and Hofladen voucher for farm shop products (CHF 10/20/50).
• Hofladen (Farm Shop) Farm shop offering homemade products, regional specialties, gift baskets and artisanal goods produced within the integration program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple employees successfully transitioned to regular employment market, including Airport positions and skilled trades
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Stadt WinterthurmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026City of Winterthur explicitly recognizes Läbesruum as an important education partner for low-qualified people. The city published Bildungsstrategie identifying 11,000 residents lacking vocational training, and partners with Läbesruum for integration efforts. Stadtrat Nicolas Galladé participates in study discussions.
• SenerocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2026Winterthur-based solar company Senero collaborates with Läbesruum on the solar training program. CEO Simon Krämer supports continued investment in training despite market demand fluctuations, providing practical expertise and industry perspective.
• SwissolarminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2026Swiss industry association Swissolar positively evaluates Läbesruum's solar training program. David Stickelberger from Swissolar emphasizes the importance of practical training for the industry.
• ZHAW Departement Soziale ArbeitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2023ZHAW Department of Social Work conducted the 'Integrationsangebote der Zukunft' study in collaboration with Büro Morpho, examining future integration offerings in context of changing labor markets and needs of unemployed persons.
• Büro MorphominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2023Research consultancy Büro Morpho co-produced the study 'Integrationsangebote der Zukunft' examining future needs and evolution of integration programs.
• KulturkollerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCultural organization uses Restaurant Eulachstrand venue for concerts and cultural events, representing recurring event partner relationship.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HEKS (Hilfswerk der evangelischen Kirchen Schweiz): Swiss Protestant aid agency running integration programs, including work-place integration for asylum seekers and socially disadvantaged persons. Operates similar vocational qualification pathways and community-based employment services across Switzerland.
• Caritas Schweiz: Large national charity operating social-enterprise businesses (secondhand shops, catering, cleaning, moving services) as integration workplaces for long-term unemployed and migrants. Closest analogue to Läbesruum's combination of training, social work and commercial operations under one organizational roof.
• SAH Schweiz (Schweizerisches Arbeiterhilfswerk): Swiss employee-aid association running work-integration programs, language courses and practical job placements across multiple cantons. Shares Läbesruum's core structure of employing disadvantaged job seekers through social enterprise arms while providing coaching toward regular employment.
• Stiftung Profil – Arbeit & Qualifizierung: Swiss foundation specializing in supported employment and qualification measures, placing people with health limitations into the regular labor market. Comparable in offering individualized coaching, trade-skills training and direct employment contracts as integration platforms.
• Asyl-Organisation Zürich (AOZ): A Zürich-based non-profit operating social enterprises (language training, housing support, work placements) to integrate refugees and asylum seekers into the Swiss labor market. Operates in the same canton on a near-identical model of running commercial activities as integration workplaces for vulnerable job seekers.

Broad incumbents

• Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz (SRK): Swiss Red Cross runs nationwide social programs including migration, integration and community services with a work-integration element. Same umbrella category of large national aid organization, but broader in mission and less focused than Läbesruum on operating commercial subsidiaries.
• Heilsarmee Schweiz: Swiss arm of the Salvation Army, operating a nationwide portfolio of social enterprises (Brocki second-hand stores, restaurants, furniture workshops) for social reintegration. Overlaps directly in retail/hospitality business models but at significantly larger national scale with broader social mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Laebesruum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laebesruum
• Instagraminstagram.com/spielundsportboerse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Läbesruum