Essl Foundation
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersVienna, Austria
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Essl Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Essl Foundation
- Legal name
- Essl Foundation MGE gemeinnützige Privatstiftung
- Website
- https://zeroproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Essl Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Inclusion Advocacy
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)
Keywords
Where Essl Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vienna
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Essl Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Funding: The Essl Foundation is a non-profit foundation (MGE gemeinnützige Privatstiftung) according to Austrian law. Funding comes from private donors and foundation endowment.
- Publications and Research: Annual reports and almanacs published in multiple languages including English, Spanish, and German, available as accessible PDFs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Essl Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Essl Foundation operates the Zero Project, a global initiative that identifies, evaluates, and disseminates innovative solutions for disability inclusion through a searchable international database, an annual awards and nominations program, and annual conferences held at the United Nations Office at Vienna. It also runs regional chapters (Austria, Ibero-America, Asia Pacific), publishes annual research reports in multiple languages, and supports thematic initiatives including assistive technology, equitable AI, inclusive arts, and inclusive employment.
Product overview
The Essl Foundation operates the Zero Project as its primary initiative — a global platform and network for finding and sharing innovative solutions that improve the daily lives and legal rights of persons with disabilities. The core offering is the Zero Project Database, a searchable repository of proven inclusion solutions. This platform is complemented by annual Zero Project Awards (fed by the ZeroCall nominations programme), annual Zero Project Conferences held at the UN Office at Vienna, regional chapters in Asia Pacific, Ibero-America, and Austria, and thematic initiatives including the Zero Project Scaling Solutions Programme, the Zero Project Technology Forum, the Equitable AI Alliance, and Inclusive Arts. The Zero Project also publishes annual research reports and almanacs, and produces the Pathways to Zero Barriers podcast series. The portfolio does not include AI-powered products or developer APIs; it functions as a discovery, recognition, and networking platform rather than a technology product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zero Project Database Searchable online repository that indexes and surfaces innovative solutions for disability inclusion and accessibility worldwide. Users can filter solutions by topic, region, and disability type. Built for governments, disability organizations, businesses, researchers, and persons with disabilities.
- Zero Project Conference (ZeroCon) Annual international conference series held at the United Nations Office at Vienna, bringing together innovators, policymakers, and disability advocates to share good practices and solutions for barrier-free living.
- Zero Project Awards Annual award programme that identifies and celebrates innovative solutions and policies that improve the daily lives and legal rights of persons with disabilities. Awardees are featured in the Zero Project Database.
- Zero Project Reports & Almanac Annual research publications documenting solutions, trends, and good practices in disability inclusion, covering topics such as employment, education, accessibility, and independent living. Available in accessible PDF format in multiple languages including English, Spanish, and German.
- Pathways to Zero Barriers (Podcast) Podcast series featuring interviews with innovators, experts, and members of the Zero Project Network, with a recent season dedicated to Assistive Technology (AT) innovation.
- Zero Project Scaling Solutions Programme Structured programme that helps Zero Project Awardees scale their proven disability inclusion solutions to new regions and markets, providing support for replication and growth.
- Zero Project Technology Forum Technology-focused forum convening innovators, investors, and disability advocates to showcase and advance assistive and inclusive technologies.
- Equitable AI Alliance Coalition and knowledge hub focused on ensuring artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are designed and deployed in ways that are inclusive and accessible for persons with disabilities.
- Zero Project Inclusive Arts Creative initiative that promotes disability culture and artistic expression as tools for inclusion and advocacy.
- ZeroCall (Call for Nominations) Annual open call inviting organisations worldwide to submit innovative disability inclusion solutions for evaluation, with each cycle focused on a thematic area (e.g., Employment, Education, Accessibility).
Quantifiable outcome
- Reached 615 nominations from 94 countries in 2027
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Essl Foundation
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Essl Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Essl Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- UnExcluded (Asia) Ltd.coreUnExcluded partnered with Zero Project to host the inaugural Inclusive Tech Forum Southeast Asia 2025 at Microsoft Singapore and future Zero Project Technology Forum events in Nairobi, Mumbai, and Singapore. The partnership advances disability inclusion through sustainable and innovative solutions across Asia.
- AT4D (Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust)coreAT4D is a strategic partner in the Zero Project Technology Forum, hosting regional editions of the forum to advance assistive technologies for disability.
- Tech Mahindra FoundationcoreTech Mahindra Foundation is a strategic partner in the Zero Project Technology Forum, hosting regional editions of the forum to advance disability inclusion through technology.
- AIM GlobalcoreThe Zero Project joined AIM Global (Artificial Intelligence for Impact) in shaping the future of AI in industry, announced April 2024.
- Austrian Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer ProtectioncoreThe Zero Project Unternehmensdialoge are funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (Bundesministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz).
- SG EnableflagshipSG Enable is Singapore's focal agency for disability and inclusion. They partnered with Zero Project to host the Asia Pacific Symposium and host regional events including the Enabling Mark Business Conference and Zero Project Asia Pacific Symposium. The partnership includes an MoU signed in November 2023 to advance disability inclusion and enable innovation in Singapore and beyond.
- Fundación DescúbremeflagshipFundación Descúbreme is a Chilean foundation that partners with Zero Project on the Zero Project Ibero-America initiative. Since 2020, they have hosted the annual Zero Project Ibero-America Conference (formerly Zero Project Latin America Conference). They also distribute Spanish-language publications including the Zero Project Almanac and annual reports.
- Austrian ParliamentflagshipSince 2020, Zero Project has organized an annual event together with the Austrian Parliament to promote dialogue with key decision-makers and opinion leaders in politics, civil society, businesses, media, and academia. Since 2023, the event has been held in the historic parliament building on Vienna's Ringstrasse.
- Die Presse (Austrian newspaper)coreZero Project Austria publishes annual magazines on accessibility and inclusive employment with the daily newspaper Die Presse. The magazines feature Austrian companies demonstrating exemplary inclusive employment and are released annually on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
- KSV1870minorKSV1870 co-initiated the Austrian Leading Company Inclusion Award (ALC Inklusionspreis) alongside Die Presse and PwC, with support from the Essl Foundation.
- PwC AustriaminorPwC co-initiated the Austrian Leading Company Inclusion Award (ALC Inklusionspreis) alongside Die Presse and KSV1870, with support from the Essl Foundation.
- NEBA BetriebsserviceminorNEBA (Netzwerk berufliche Assistenz) Betriebsservice is an Austrian partner supporting Zero Project Austria's initiatives for inclusive employment.
- autArkminorAustrian partner organization supporting Zero Project Austria's initiatives for inclusive employment.
- CaritasminorAustrian partner organization (Caritas OÖ) supporting Zero Project Austria's initiatives for inclusive employment.
- Chance BminorAustrian partner organization supporting Zero Project Austria's initiatives for inclusive employment.
- dafürminorAustrian partner organization supporting Zero Project Austria's initiatives for inclusive employment.
- InnoviaminorAustrian partner organization supporting Zero Project Austria's initiatives for inclusive employment.
- Menschen und ArbeitminorAustrian partner organization supporting Zero Project Austria's initiatives for inclusive employment.
- Business Upper AustriaminorAustrian partner organization supporting Zero Project Austria's initiatives for inclusive employment.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Essl Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Leonard Cheshire Disability: A UK-headquartered global NGO supporting disability inclusion through education, employment, and advocacy programs across 30+ countries. Comparable as a global disability-focused organization delivering programs internationally and engaging policymakers and employers.
- Disability Rights Fund: A grantmaking collaborative supporting disability rights movements in the Global South. Comparable to the Essl Foundation as a mission-driven grantmaking and advocacy entity focused on advancing disability rights through funding, convening, and capacity building.
- Inclusion International: A global federation advocating for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities, operating across more than 100 countries. Comparable to Zero Project's mission of advancing disability rights and inclusion through international networks and policy engagement.
- ATscale (Global Partnership for Assistive Technology): ATscale is a global cross-sector partnership hosted by UNICEF focused on increasing access to assistive technology. It shares the Zero Project's emphasis on scaling disability inclusion solutions and convening global stakeholders, including through technology-focused forums.
- G3ict (Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs): G3ict is a global initiative advocating for ICT accessibility for persons with disabilities, operating through UN partnerships and policy research. It is highly comparable to the Zero Project's focus on identifying and sharing accessibility and inclusion solutions globally.
- Light for the World: An international disability and development NGO working on inclusive education, eye health, and economic empowerment, with regional programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable to the Essl Foundation's international development orientation and solution-sharing model.
- CBM International (Christoffel-Blindenmission): CBM is a major international development organization working on disability inclusion in low- and middle-income countries, with programs in advocacy, health, and inclusive employment. Comparable to the Essl Foundation's global disability inclusion scope and partner-driven regional delivery.
- World Blind Union: A global umbrella organization representing 253 million blind and partially sighted people, working on accessibility, rights, and inclusion. Comparable as a globally organized disability advocacy network that convenes members across regions and engages with the UN system.
Broad incumbents
- Special Olympics: A large global organization using sport to advance inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, operating in 200+ countries. Comparable as a globally recognized disability inclusion organization with national chapters, but operates at significantly greater scale and through a single-issue lens.
Others
- Enable (Microsoft Accessibility): Microsoft's accessibility initiative develops assistive technologies and partners with disability organizations globally. It is comparable to the Zero Project's Technology Forum and Equitable AI Alliance as an ecosystem player advancing inclusive technology, though as a corporate program rather than a non-profit.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Essl Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceEssl Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Essl Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Essl Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Essl Foundation 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 Essl Foundation
What does Essl Foundation do?
The Essl Foundation operates the Zero Project, a global initiative that identifies, evaluates, and disseminates innovative solutions for disability inclusion through a searchable international database, an annual awards and nominations program, and annual conferences held at the United Nations Office at Vienna. It also runs regional chapters (Austria, Ibero-America, Asia Pacific), publishes annual research reports in multiple languages, and supports thematic initiatives including assistive technology, equitable AI, inclusive arts, and inclusive employment.
Is Essl Foundation a public or private company?
Essl Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Essl Foundation founded?
Essl Foundation was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Essl Foundation based?
Essl Foundation is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does Essl Foundation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Foundation Funding is the primary driver. The others are publications and Research.
Who are Essl Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Leonard Cheshire Disability, Disability Rights Fund, Inclusion International, ATscale (Global Partnership for Assistive Technology), G3ict (Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs), Light for the World, CBM International (Christoffel-Blindenmission) and World Blind Union. Special Olympics is listed as a broad incumbent. Enable (Microsoft Accessibility) is listed as an others.
Does Essl Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Essl Foundation.
What industry is Essl Foundation in?
Essl Foundation's product category is Disability Inclusion Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAEAK, Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming, with a secondary code of HLAJAKAN, Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations. Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8600.