Bultersmekke

What Bultersmekke does

Bultersmekke Assistancedogs (BMA) is a Netherlands-based non-profit founded in 2008 by Erika Bulters and Joop Mekke, headquartered in Assendelft with operations in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium). Its core product is the Teamcoaching Programma, an approximately 2-year individualized coaching program in which participants train their own dog in their home environment under a BMA-certified instructor to become an internationally certified assistance dog. BMA delivers five dog categories — ADL (physical disabilities), Signal (hearing), Seizure (epilepsy), Autism, and Psychiatric (including PTSD) — supported by online consultations, information sessions, multidisciplinary advisory pre-screening, and educational materials.

BMA operates as a service organization without proprietary technology systems; its competitive backbone is a nationwide Dutch network of 44 instructors plus ~11 internal staff, ADI (Assistance Dogs International) accreditation, and the Flemish government's "Cel machtiging" authorization. The organization has accumulated 713 active human-dog teams trained or in training and serves clients across Belgium via a dedicated information point and instructor.

Revenue is generated through the Teamcoaching program and funded via multiple channels: Dutch health insurance for qualifying conditions, municipalities under Wmo2015 and the Youth Act, VAPH in Flanders (up to 28,000 euros reference amount for ADL and signal dogs), private payment, crowdfunding, and foundation support including a parallel ANBI-certified foundation and partnerships such as the Nationale Doppenactie community fundraiser. A flagship 11-year partnership with Nationale Politie, launched in 2023, trains PTSD assistance dogs for police officers alongside KNGF and Hulphond Nederland.

Name

Bultersmekke

Legal name

Bultersmekke Assistancedogs bv

Website

https://bultersmekke.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bultersmekke Assistancedogs (BMA) is a Dutch non-profit founded in 2008 that coaches people with physical, auditory, neurological, developmental, or psychiatric disabilities to train their own dog at home into an internationally ADI-certified assistance dog, serving clients across the Netherlands and Flanders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Assistance Dog Training Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Service & Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Accommodations Management (EDALAGAK)

Keywords

• Assistance dog training
• Disability support services
• Home-based dog coaching
• ADI accredited programs
• Therapeutic assistance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Assendelft

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Teamcoaching Program: Revenue is generated through the Teamcoaching program which trains assistance dogs. Funding comes from multiple sources: health insurance (for ADL and signal dogs for those 100% blind, deaf, or physically limited), municipalities via Wmo2015 or Youth Act, VAPH in Flanders (Belgium) with 28,000 euro reference amount for ADL and signal dogs, private payment, crowdfunding, and foundation support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bultersmekke Assistancedogs (BMA) delivers a Teamcoaching Programma in which participants with physical, hearing, seizure, autism, or psychiatric disabilities train their own dog in their home environment with a BMA-certified instructor to become an internationally certified assistance dog. The program runs approximately two years under ADI international standards and is complemented by personal consultations, online introduction sessions, expert-led education, multidisciplinary pre-screening advisory, and information/indication days.

Product overview

Bultersmekke Assistancedogs (BMA) operates as a service organization offering the Teamcoaching Programma as its core offering. This individualized coaching program enables participants to train their own dogs in their home environment under BMA-certified instructors to become internationally certified assistance dogs. BMA specializes in five types of assistance dogs: ADL-assistentiehond for physical disabilities, Signaal-assistentiehond for hearing impairments, Seizure-assistentiehond for epilepsy, Autisme-assistentiehond for autism, and Psychiatrie-assistentiehond for psychiatric conditions including PTSS. Supporting services include Persoonlijk Gesprek (personal consultations), Online Kennismakingsbijeenkomsten (online introduction sessions), Voorlichting door Ervaringsdeskundigen (expert education sessions), Multidisciplinair Advies (multidisciplinary advisory pre-screening), Informatie- en Indicatiedagen (information days), and educational materials like the Kleurplaat (coloring page). The organization is accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and holds Belgian government authorization (Cel machtiging) for operations in Flanders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Teamcoaching Programma An individualized, custom-made coaching program where participants train their own dog in their home environment with a BMA-certified instructor to become an internationally certified assistance dog. The program runs approximately two years and follows ADI international standards.
• ADL-assistentiehond (Activities of Daily Living Assistance Dog) Assistance dog that helps people with physical disabilities perform daily activities such as opening and closing doors, operating elevator buttons, pulling off clothing, and picking up objects from the floor.
• Signaal-assistentiehond (Signal Assistance Dog) Assistance dog that helps people with hearing impairments by alerting them to various sounds including alarms, doorbells, alarms, microwaves, or baby crying.
• Seizure-assistentiehond (Seizure Assistance Dog) Assistance dog trained to respond during epileptic seizures, help during and after the seizure, and can sense when an owner is about to have a seizure to prevent injury.
• Autisme-assistentiehond (Autism Assistance Dog) Assistance dog trained to focus entirely on the child or adult with autism, providing safety and actively seeking out the owner for support during moments of stress, anger, or fear. Helps build self-esteem and facilitates social connections.
• Psychiatrie-assistentiehond (Psychiatric Assistance Dog) Assistance dog for people with psychiatric conditions or psychiatric disabilities, including PTSS-specific dogs. Recognizes and helps reduce stress, mirrors owners to warn them, and buffers stressful situations. Provides structure, movement, combats loneliness, and promotes social contact.

Quantifiable outcome

• 713 active teams of human and assistance dog trained or in training
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nationale Politie (Dutch Police)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with Dutch Police for training assistance dogs for police officers with PTSD. Started as pilot with approximately 30 teams in first year, now expanded to an 11-year collaboration. BMA works alongside KNGF and Hulphond Nederland in this initiative.
• Assistance Dogs International (ADI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMA is a member and accredited by ADI, the global authority for assistance dog training. ADI accreditation confirms BMA's team coaching program meets international standards. Joop Mekke, Head of Training at BMA, serves as an assessor for accrediting assistance dog organizations in Europe.
• KNGF GeleidehondenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch guide dog organization with which BMA collaborates as one of three organizations partnered with the Dutch Police for PTSD assistance dog training.
• Hulphond NederlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch assistance dog organization collaborating with BMA and KNGF in the Dutch Police partnership for PTSD assistance dog training.
• Dutch Municipalities (various)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBMA works with a large number of municipalities for Wmo2015 and Youth Act funding to make certified assistance dogs available to municipal residents. Individual residents must apply directly.

Scale indicators7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KNGF Geleidehonden: Dutch guide dog foundation and one of the largest assistance dog organizations in the Netherlands, training and placing guide and assistance dogs for people with visual, physical, and other disabilities. Co-partners with BMA on the Dutch Police PTSD initiative and represents BMA's closest direct Dutch peer.
• Hulphond Nederland: Major Dutch assistance dog organization training and placing dogs across physical, hearing, autism, and PTSD disability types. Co-partners with BMA on the Dutch Police PTSD program and is an established competitor in the same niche.
• Canine Partners: UK-based ADI-aligned charity training assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities, with a partnership training approach where clients participate in training. Closely comparable to BMA's team coaching methodology and ADI-aligned certification.
• Dogs for Good: UK charity training assistance dogs for adults with physical disabilities, children with autism, and adults affected by dementia. ADI-accredited with a community-based training approach overlapping BMA's mission and methodology.
• 4 Paws for Ability: US-based ADI-accredited nonprofit training service dogs for children and veterans with disabilities including autism, PTSD, and mobility needs. Comparable in mission scope across multiple disability types and in offering client-engaged training programs.
• Paws With A Cause: US nonprofit ADI-accredited organization training service, hearing, and seizure response dogs, including custom-trained dogs for veterans with PTSD. Direct functional peer to BMA's service mix.
• NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services): US nonprofit ADI-accredited organization training service and hearing dogs for adults and children with disabilities, including programs for veterans. Mission-aligned peer with a similar multiple-disability focus.

Broad incumbents

• Canine Companions for Independence: Largest US nonprofit provider of trained assistance dogs, with multiple regional training centers and programs spanning service, hearing, facility, and skilled companion dogs. A broader-scale incumbent with overlapping service categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/bultersmekke
• Facebookfacebook.com/bultersmekke
• Instagraminstagram.com/bultersmekke/?hl=nl

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 Bultersmekke