Stichting Sexmatters

What Stichting Sexmatters does

Stichting Sexmatters is a Dutch non-profit foundation (stichting) founded in 2013 and headquartered at Overhoeksplein 2, Amsterdam. The organization designs and delivers educational workshops and training programs on sexuality, gender, consent, relationships, online identity, discrimination prevention, and social safety. It serves primary-school pupils (groups 7-8), secondary-school students (VO), MBO students, youth-work participants in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Den Haag, and youth professionals including teachers and youth workers. A peer-education methodology is central to delivery, with two-person facilitator teams delivering on-site workshops ranging from 90 minutes to multi-session training trajectories, and a separate Sexmatters Academy pipeline (ages 16-30) developing the next cohort of workshop leaders.

The product portfolio comprises age-segmented workshop lines for primary, secondary, and MBO education; customized youth-work offerings; professional development tracks such as 'Sociaal Veilig in de Klas'; the Vragenvuur video content series; and the IVY sub-brand (IVY Foundation) extending social-safety training to adult corporate, government, nightlife, and cultural-sector clients. Core technology is human-led, evidence-based curriculum drawing on research from national knowledge institutes Movisie and Rutgers; there are no disclosed software platforms, APIs, or AI/ML components. All workshop content is customized through intake conversations with the client institution.

The business model combines workshop fees (a fully customized workshop is priced at approximately €1,800 per session), multi-year institutional contracts, and a diversified funding base. The foundation holds ANBI status enabling tax-deductible donations via Geef.nl, and receives grants from OranjeFonds, VSBfonds, Fonds 21, and Wilde Ganzen. Municipalities (Amsterdam, Den Haag, Arnhem, Maastricht) act as both funders and channel partners, often underwriting free or subsidized workshops through schemes such as Gezonde School, CJP budget, and Expertisepunt Burgerschap. Go-to-market is event-driven and institution-driven via direct outreach, sector networks, and referrals, with no traditional sales motion.

Name

Stichting Sexmatters

Legal name

Stichting Sexmatters

Website

https://sexmatters.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stichting Sexmatters is an Amsterdam-based Dutch non-profit foundation, founded in 2013, that delivers peer-led educational workshops and training on sexuality, gender, consent, and social safety to primary, secondary, and MBO students, youth organizations, and professionals across the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education and Social Safety Training

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Sexual Health & Relationship Wellness Education (EDAAAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sexual & Reproductive Health Services (EDALAFAG), Sexual Health & STI/HIV Prevention Health Departments (HLAJAAAL), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth education workshops
• Social safety training
• Sexuality education programs
• Consent awareness training
• Discrimination prevention services

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Workshop Fees: Sexmatters charges institutions for customized workshops and training programs. Pricing is around €1800 for fully customized workshops, though subsidies and municipality partnerships can reduce or eliminate costs for qualifying institutions.
2. Government/ Municipality Funding: The organization receives funding and subsidies from Dutch municipalities including Amsterdam, Den Haag, Arnhem, and Maastricht, as well as through Gezonde School stimulation schemes. This enables free or reduced-cost workshops in certain regions.
3. Donations: Sexmatters accepts donations through Geef.nl platform, indicated by ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status which enables tax-deductible donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stichting Sexmatters delivers in-person educational workshops and training programs on sexuality, gender, consent, relationships, social safety, and discrimination prevention for youth aged 10-25 across primary, secondary, and vocational (MBO) schools, as well as youth work organizations in the Netherlands. The organization also trains youth professionals (teachers and youth workers) and offers adult social safety training through its IVY sub-brand, supplementing workshops with the Vragenvuur educational video series and the Sexmatters Academy peer-educator program.

Product overview

Stichting Sexmatters is a foundation offering a portfolio of workshop and training programs focused on sexuality, gender, consent, relationships, social safety, and discrimination prevention. The organization serves youth (ages 10-25) through school-based workshops (VO, MBO, Primair Onderwijs), youth work organizations, and the Sexmatters Academy program. For professionals, they offer training packages including Sociaal Veilig in de Klas, workshops on positive sexuality conversations, and Speaking Up programs. The Vragenvuur video series provides accessible content on sensitive topics. Through the IVY sub-brand, they deliver social safety training to adult audiences in corporate and institutional settings. All offerings are customized to target audience age, developmental stage, and specific needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IVY: Social safety training program for adults, companies, government institutions, entertainment venues, educational institutions, and cultural organizations. Part of IVY Foundation.

Products and services

• Workshops Primair Onderwijs (Groep 7 & 8) Age-appropriate workshops for primary school students in groups 7 and 8 covering being yourself, falling in love, relationships, wishes and boundaries, puberty, and diversity. Modules include Iedereen Is Anders, Vriendschap Liefde & Consent, and Zelfbeeld & het Lichaam.
• Workshops VO (Voortgezet Onderwijs) Workshops for secondary school students (from praktijkonderwijs to vwo, including ISK, EOA, and special education clusters 3 and 4) covering love and relationships, consent, gender and identity, sexuality, online identity, online love, positive sex education, and discrimination prevention.
• Workshops MBO (Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs) Customizable workshops for MBO students at all levels from entry to level 4, including NT2 and culturally diverse classrooms, covering love and relationships, consent, sexuality, gender and self, positive sex education, discrimination prevention, online love, and online identity.
• Workshops Jongerenwerk Customized workshops delivered in partnership with youth work organizations in Amsterdam, Den Haag, and Rotterdam, addressing consent, love and relationships, friendship, sexuality, gender, discrimination, social media, and self-image. Configurable at 1 to 3 workshops per group based on need.
• Trainingen voor Jeugdprofessionals Professional development workshops for teachers and youth workers including Positief in gesprek over seksualiteit, Sociale Veiligheid, Speaking Up, and the comprehensive Sociaal Veilig in de Klas training trajectory.
• Sexmatters Academy Annual training program for young people aged 16-30 to develop as workshop facilitators and role models in sexuality, gender, relationships, consent, social safety, and discrimination, including intensive training, individual guidance, and team development.
• Vragenvuur Video Series Educational video series where Sexmatters workshop masters answer questions about gender, relationships, sexuality, bodies, and nightlife, featuring multiple seasons and Vragenvuur Shorts covering consent, contraception, online dating, sexting, and porn.
• IVY Sociale Veiligheid Trainingen Social safety training and advisory services for adults delivered through the IVY Foundation sub-brand, targeting companies, government institutions, nightlife venues, educational institutions, social organizations, and cultural institutions on social safety, social leadership, and anti-discrimination.

Quantifiable outcome

• More openness and mutual understanding among students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Gemeente AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality partnership providing funding and support for workshops targeting Amsterdam-based schools and youth organizations.
• Gemeente Den HaagcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality partnership enabling workshop delivery to schools and youth organizations in The Hague region.
• Gemeente ArnhemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality partnership that enables free workshops for Arnhem schools through Gezonde School stimulation scheme.
• Gemeente MaastrichtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality partnership enabling subsidized workshops for Maastricht educational institutions.
• KikidmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge institute for child and youth documentation collaborating on evidence-based approaches to youth education.
• MovisiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational knowledge institute for social development whose evidence-based methods Sexmatters' approach is grounded in.
• CJPcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCultural Participation Pass (CJP) enables schools to pay for Sexmatters workshops using CJP budget allocation.
• Gezonde SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDutch Healthy School program whose stimulation scheme can cover Sexmatters workshop costs for participating schools.
• Expertisepunt BurgerschapmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCitizenship expertise center enabling free 'Sociaal Veilig in de Klas' training for teachers through Schurende Gesprekken program.
• OfflimitsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpertise center on youth, alcohol, and drugs providing referral resources for Sexmatters' help websites section on online boundary-crossing behavior.
• Act4RespectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program working toward respectful relationships among youth, aligned with Sexmatters' consent and social safety themes.
• EmancipatormajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpertise center on emancipation and sexual diversity contributing to knowledge sharing in the sector.
• ROC van AmsterdammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Training Center providing workshop locations and student access for MBO education programs.
• Elance AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining provider partnership supporting professional development and education sector collaboration.
• Studio 52ndminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign studio providing visual identity and graphic design services for Sexmatters branding materials.
• Qpido LevvelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on youth development and support, contributing to the ecosystem of youth-focused organizations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sense.info: Dutch online information channel for young people on sexuality, relationships, contraception and STIs, run by Soa Aids Nederland. Comparable to Sexmatters' Vragenvuur video series as a digital touchpoint for the same youth demographic on overlapping topics, serving as a complementary rather than competing channel.
• Rutgers: Dutch national knowledge institute on sexual health whose evidence-based methods Sexmatters' curriculum explicitly builds on. Operates in the same Dutch sexuality-education ecosystem and is the closest thematic peer for content and methodology, though Rutgers focuses more on knowledge development/resources while Sexmatters delivers end-to-end workshops.
• Soa Aids Nederland: Dutch national organization for STI/HIV prevention and sexual health, running youth-facing programs and the Sense.info information channel. Directly comparable as a Dutch non-profit addressing youth sexuality, consent, and sexual health through education, awareness, and outreach in overlapping target segments.

Broad incumbents

• COC Nederland: Dutch national LGBTQ+ advocacy organization whose mission overlaps significantly with Sexmatters' gender identity, discrimination prevention, and inclusive sexuality work. Both target Dutch youth and educational settings, though COC operates more as a broader advocacy federation while Sexmatters specializes in workshop delivery.
• Movisie: Dutch national knowledge institute for social development whose evidence-based social-safety methods Sexmatters uses. Operates in the same domain of Dutch social development, discrimination prevention, and youth welfare, but functions as a broader umbrella organization rather than a direct workshop-delivery specialist.
• IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation): Global federation of sexual and reproductive health organizations providing youth-focused comprehensive sexuality education worldwide. Operates in a much broader geographic and thematic remit but is an umbrella reference point for the kind of evidence-based youth sexuality education Sexmatters performs at a Dutch national level.

Emerging players

• JINC: Dutch non-profit that delivers career and life-skills workshops to youth in primary, secondary, and MBO settings - including social-safety-adjacent topics. Operates with a similar school-based, municipality-funded workshop model to Sexmatters, addressing overlapping Dutch youth segments but focused on labor market orientation rather than sexuality.

Regional players

• Brook (UK): UK charity providing sexual health and wellbeing education for young people, including in-school workshops and online resources. Directly analogous to Sexmatters in mission and workshop-based delivery, but serving the UK rather than the Netherlands and is therefore a regional, not direct, competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sexmatters.nl
• Facebookfacebook.com/StichtingSexmatters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichting-sexmatters

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Sexmatters