Intermundo

What Intermundo does

Intermundo is the Swiss national umbrella association (Dachverband) for youth exchange, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Bern. It operates as an independent, non-partisan, non-denominational Verein (association) recognized as a public utility and tax-exempt since January 1, 2011. Its core function is to certify, aggregate, and advocate on behalf of 9 full member organizations plus 1 light member — including AFS Interkulturelle Programme Schweiz, International Experience, Rotary Switzerland, YFU Switzerland, and Let's go abroad — that deliver youth exchange programs directly to participants across Switzerland.

The organization does not deliver exchange programs itself; instead it provides quality certification for member organizations, advocacy for youth mobility in political and societal forums, and informational resources for schools, families, and youth. Its product portfolio includes a marketplace/referral layer for exchange forms (au-pair, school exchanges, vocational programs, holiday camps, volunteer placements, host family arrangements, language courses), the Boostbox interactive platform for assessing intercultural competencies (currently under reconstruction), the Impact Compendium synthesizing 232 scientific studies, school exchange documentation in German and French, voluntourism guidelines, and international training courses. There is no proprietary technology stack of note; the digital surface is informational websites, newsletters, and a basic platform.

The revenue model is non-profit and project-based: membership dues from member organizations, a framework contract with the Federal Social Insurance Office (OFAS) under the Child and Youth Promotion Act, project-specific foundation grants (e.g., Mercator Foundation Switzerland for the Impact Compendium), and cantonal donations from Ticino, Fribourg, and Basel-Stadt. Intermundo does not charge end consumers directly; pricing of exchange programs is set by member organizations. The secretariat operates with 4 paid staff and a 6-person voluntary board.

Name

Intermundo

Legal name

Intermundo

Website

https://intermundo.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Intermundo is a Bern-based Swiss national umbrella association founded in 1987 that certifies and advocates for its 9 member organizations delivering youth exchange programs across Switzerland, funded by membership dues, federal OFAS framework contracts, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth exchange umbrella association services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (813910), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAAAK

Study Abroad Provider Networks, Consortia & Membership Organizations

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

SECONDARYEDAIABAJ

Erasmus+ and Government-Sponsored Exchange Partnerships

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/University/College Exchange Programs & Partnerships

Keywords

• Youth exchange coordination
• Umbrella association membership
• Quality certification services
• Intercultural training courses
• School exchange advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Intermundo is financed through membership fees paid by its 9 member organizations and 1 light member organization.
2. Federal government support: Financial support through framework agreements for financial assistance from the Federal Social Insurance Office (OFAS), which promotes national umbrella organizations in youth welfare pursuant to the Child and Youth Promotion Act (art. 7 para. 1 LEYJ).
3. Donations and grants: Additional revenue from donor contributions and service fee reimbursements. Intermundo has benefactors including cantons (Ticino, Fribourg, Basel-Stadt) and the Mercator Foundation Switzerland supported the Impact Compendium project.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Intermundo is the Swiss non-profit umbrella association (Verein) coordinating and supporting member organizations in the youth and school exchange sector. It provides umbrella coordination, an Intermundo Certification program ensuring quality standards across members, school exchange information and support documentation, international training courses for staff and volunteers, advocacy with federal authorities, and publishes the annual Impact Compendium on Youth Exchange.

Product overview

Intermundo operates as a single, unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Their portfolio centers on youth exchange program coordination and quality assurance. The core offering consists of an exchange program marketplace connecting youth with various exchange types (Au-pair, school exchanges, vocational programs, holiday camps, volunteer placements, language courses abroad, and host family living arrangements). Adjacent offerings include the Boostbox interactive platform (currently under reconstruction) for identifying and assessing intercultural competencies, quality certification for member organizations, and informational publications including the Impact Compendium on Youth Exchange that synthesizes research findings on the effects of intercultural youth exchange. The organization also provides school exchange support materials, international training courses, and maintains a network of 9 member organizations plus 1 light member. The Boostbox platform and certification system are the only distinct named digital products within their broader service portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Intermundo Certification Program A quality certification offered to youth exchange member organizations that signals adherence to Intermundo's standards and confers recognition by federal authorities, schools, and partner organizations.
• Impact Compendium on Youth Exchange Annual publication produced by Intermundo documenting the impact, outcomes, and reach of youth exchange programs across the Swiss sector, used for advocacy, reporting, and thought leadership with funders and authorities.
• International Training Courses Structured training courses delivered internationally for staff and volunteers of member organizations and the broader youth exchange sector, supporting professional development and quality assurance.
• Boostbox Interactive Platform An interactive digital platform used by Intermundo and member organizations to support youth exchange program operations, currently being rebuilt.
• School Exchange Documentation and Support Documentation and support services provided to Swiss schools and educational institutions regarding youth exchange programs operated by Intermundo's member organizations.
• Voluntourism Ethical Guidelines Ethical guidelines and framework on voluntourism produced by Intermundo to guide member organizations, schools, and youth participants in ethical engagement with volunteer travel and exchanges.

Quantifiable outcome

• 232 scientific studies analyzed in the Impact Compendium on Youth Exchange, demonstrating positive effects on personal development, intercultural competence, and employability

Named customers6 records

Segments3 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 minor.

• SAJV (Swiss National Council of Youth Organizations)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2022Partner in international training course 'Strengthen European Chances for Young People' organized in Switzerland.
• VSS (Swiss National Umbrella of Students Organisations)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2022Co-organizer of international training course for youth organizations from multiple countries.
• Elev SuisseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner shown as benefactor on the Intermundo website.
• Austrian National Union of StudentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner in training course supporting political campaign building for Erasmus+ access.
• European Students UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner representing students from Belgium, Faroe Islands and other countries in training course.
• Northern Ireland Youth CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner in training course for youth umbrella organizations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rotary Youth Exchange: Rotary's youth exchange program is a member of Intermundo and provides long-term student exchange placements worldwide. Comparable in target audience and exchange offerings, it competes with other Intermundo members for the same Swiss students and host families.
• VSS (Swiss National Umbrella of Student Organizations): VSS is the Swiss national umbrella of student organizations, a strategic partner of Intermundo and co-organizer of the Erasmus+ advocacy training. It is a directly comparable Swiss national-level association coordinating youth/student interests in mobility, though focused on higher education rather than secondary/exchange.
• YFU (Youth For Understanding): YFU is one of the largest dedicated youth exchange organizations worldwide and a member of Intermundo. It offers school exchange programs for Swiss students and inbound hosting — directly comparable to Intermundo's core member offerings and the population Intermundo serves.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is a global intercultural exchange organization that operates directly as both a member of Intermundo and a parallel provider of school and youth exchange programs in Switzerland. It is the most directly comparable peer since it shares the same target audience, exchange categories, and school network.
• IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience): IAESTE is a global non-profit facilitating international traineeships and technical/vocational student exchanges. It is directly comparable to Intermundo's "Lernendenmobilität" (apprentice mobility) focus, addressing a similar segment of students seeking international work-based learning.
• SAJV (Swiss National Council of Youth Organizations): SAJV is the Swiss national umbrella of youth organizations, a strategic partner of Intermundo and co-organizer of the Erasmus+ advocacy training course. It is comparable as a Swiss national-level youth advocacy and coordination body, though its membership is broader (general youth organizations, not just exchange).

Regional players

• Eurodesk: Eurodesk is a European information network for youth mobility and European opportunities, with a Swiss national partner. It is comparable to Intermundo as an information and awareness provider on youth mobility, but operates at the pan-European level rather than the national umbrella level.
• Movetia: Movetia is the Swiss national agency for exchange and mobility, mandated to promote and fund international youth and education mobility in Switzerland. It is the closest functional peer to Intermundo as both are Swiss national-level coordinators of youth mobility, though Movetia is government-mandated while Intermundo is an independent association.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: EF is a global incumbent in language travel, study abroad, and cultural exchange with significant Swiss marketing presence. It overlaps with Intermundo's domain (language courses abroad, au-pair placements) but operates as a broad commercial provider rather than a non-profit umbrella.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is a large US-rooted non-profit that runs study abroad and intercultural programs globally. It is comparable as a non-profit coordinator of international educational experiences but operates at much larger scale and primarily US-to-world flows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaVWeBWZMvzi-exg4ekviyQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/intermundo.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/intermundo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Intermundo