What BAG SELBSTHILFE does

BAG SELBSTHILFE e.V. (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Selbsthilfe von Menschen mit Behinderung, chronischer Erkrankung und ihren Angehörigen) is the German national umbrella organization founded around 2000 and headquartered in Düsseldorf, with a secondary office in Berlin. It represents approximately 120 nationwide self-help organizations and 13 state working groups that collectively organize more than 1 million physically, intellectually, mentally disabled and chronically ill people and their relatives. The organization coordinates cross-organization exchange, develops innovative work forms and project offerings, qualifies self-help activists, and conducts political advocacy at federal and European levels on disability rights, inclusion, rehabilitation, and participation.

Its core product portfolio is a digital ecosystem comprising the Selbsthilfe.app (mobile directory of self-help groups), the Selbsthilfe-Campus (e-learning portal), the Selbsthilfe Podcast (42+ episodes hosted on Spotify and podcast.de), the Digi-Guide (a glossary of healthcare digitalization terms), the Portal 'Selbsthilfe der Zukunft' (member recruitment and activation with handouts and templates), the Werte-Kompass values framework, and a members-only intranet. Supporting offerings include Praxishilfen und Broschüren (practical aids), the 'Keine PAnik' ePA awareness campaign for the electronic patient record, a YouTube channel, and the AOK-funded 'Klimawandel und Selbsthilfearbeit' project running 2022-2026.

The organization is a registered non-profit (eingetragener Verein) under German law and does not generate commercial revenue. Services are provided free of charge to members, and funding flows from membership dues, project-based grants from statutory health insurance funds (AOK Bundesverband, KKH, BKK-Dachverband), and donations. Leadership is vested in Dr. Martin Danner as Bundesgeschäftsführer, with Burga Torges heading Press and Public Relations. The organization is governed by its member associations, has no parent company, and operates as an independent civil society intermediary between disabled and chronically ill people, government bodies, and the healthcare system.

Name

BAG SELBSTHILFE

Legal name

BAG SELBSTHILFE e.V.

Website

https://bag-selbsthilfe.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

BAG SELBSTHILFE is the German national umbrella organization for approximately 120 self-help associations representing over 1 million people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. It delivers digital platforms, education, and policy advocacy to support member organizations and coordinate cross-organization self-help activity in Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BAG SELBSTHILFE is the German national umbrella organization for approximately 120 nationwide self-help associations representing over 1 million people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. It provides member organizations with digital platforms (mobile app, e-learning portal, podcast), practical aids, qualification programs, and political advocacy at federal and European levels, with services delivered free of charge and funded through membership dues, health insurer grants, and donations.

Product overview

BAG SELBSTHILFE is the German federal umbrella organization for around 120 nationwide self-help associations representing over 1 million people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Its product portfolio consists primarily of digital platforms, informational resources, and community programs. The core offerings include the Selbsthilfe.app (a directory of health-related self-help groups), the Selbsthilfe-Campus (an e-learning portal), the Selbsthilfe Podcast (an audio talk series), the Digi-Guide (a healthcare digitalization glossary), and the portal "Selbsthilfe der Zukunft" (a member recruitment and activation platform). These digital products are supplemented by the Praxishilfen und Broschüren (practical aids and brochures), the Werte-Kompass (values framework), the "Keine PAnik" ePA awareness campaign, a YouTube channel with explanatory videos, and the "Klimawandel und Selbsthilfearbeit" climate change project. The organization also maintains an Intranet for member associations. The offerings form a cohesive ecosystem of information, education, networking, and advocacy tools for the German self-help community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Selbsthilfe.app: Mobile application providing overview of health-related self-help in Germany
• Selbsthilfe-Campus
• Selbsthilfe Podcast
• Digi-Guide
• Selbsthilfe der Zukunft
• Konflikt-Kompass Selbsthilfe (KoKoS)
• Lernort Selbsthilfe
• Selbsthilfe bewegen

Products and services

• Selbsthilfe.app Mobile application providing an overview of health-related self-help groups in Germany, helping interested individuals find and connect with relevant self-help organizations.
• Selbsthilfe-Campus Digital learning portal offering courses on a wide range of self-help topics, free of charge and with low-barrier access.
• Selbsthilfe Podcast Podcast series featuring conversations with people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, self-help activists, and other guests on personal stories and current self-help-related topics.
• Digi-Guide Lexicon providing explanations of the most important terms related to the digitalization of the healthcare system.
• Portal "Selbsthilfe der Zukunft" Portal for member recruitment and activation offering a wide range of handouts, sample presentations, and practical work aids for self-help organizations.
• Praxishilfen und Broschüren Practical aids and brochures covering a wide range of topics related to self-help work for member organizations and self-help activists.
• "Keine PAnik" ePA Awareness Campaign Awareness campaign accompanying the introduction of the electronic patient record (ePA) for all, providing information, answering questions, and raising awareness among self-help activists and patients.
• Selbsthilfe-YouTube-Kanal YouTube channel featuring explanatory videos about health-related self-help and the work of BAG SELBSTHILFE, including playlists on climate change and health topics.
• Klimawandel und Selbsthilfearbeit project Project creating educational materials on climate change impacts on health for people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, covering topics including heat, nutrition, and mental health.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Culinary Medicine Deutschland e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaborated with BAG SELBSTHILFE on cooking events related to healthy and climate-friendly nutrition. The first cooking event was conducted together with the Culinary Medicine Deutschland team.
• Was hab' ich?minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023BAG SELBSTHILFE partnered with Was hab' ich? to create selbst-verstehen.de, a platform helping patients, relatives, and self-help representatives understand medical records and diagnoses.
• BundesärztekammerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Bundesärztekammer co-initiated the first nationwide Hitzeaktionstag (Heat Action Day) in June 2023 under the motto 'Mit Hitze keine Witze' to raise awareness about heat protection.
• KLUG - Deutsche Allianz Klimawandel und Gesundheit e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022KLUG collaborated with BAG SELBSTHILFE on the climate change project, providing expertise on climate and health. Dorothea Baltruks from KLUG supported the project team with climate change knowledge and participated in workshops and podcasts.
• Green Forest FundminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022BAG SELBSTHILFE symbolically donated one square meter of rainforest for each member organization to Green Forest Fund, a non-profit organization based in Heidelberg that acquires areas in Germany and returns them to nature as permanently protected habitats.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Broad incumbents

• Deutscher Caritasverband: One of Germany's largest welfare associations, providing social services and advocacy across disability, healthcare, and family services. Comparable as a major German non-profit federation engaged in disability/chronic illness service provision and political advocacy, though broader in scope.
• European Disability Forum (EDF): European-level umbrella of disability organizations representing ~100 million disabled people across Europe. Comparable as a higher-geography umbrella doing disability advocacy and policy representation; broader in scope than BAG SELBSTHILFE but overlapping in function and constituency.

Direct peers

• Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen (DHS): German head office for addiction issues, an umbrella of addiction self-help and professional organizations. Highly comparable structurally as a German federal umbrella combining self-help member organizations with political advocacy and project funding in a specific health constituency.
• Aktion Mensch: Germany's largest private disability inclusion non-profit, funding inclusion projects and running the well-known lottery. Comparable as a Germany-based non-profit working on disability inclusion, awareness, and advocacy with substantial funding capacity.
• Deutscher Behindertenrat (DBR): German Council of People with Disabilities, the parallel umbrella organization representing disability organizations at federal level. Directly comparable as a membership federation providing collective advocacy for disabled and chronically ill people in Germany.
• Deutscher Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband: One of Germany's six top welfare associations, an umbrella of non-profit social and healthcare organizations. Directly comparable as a German non-profit federation providing member services, advocacy, and policy representation for socially focused organizations.
• Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv): Federation of German consumer protection organizations providing political advocacy, member services, and consumer information. Comparable as a German federal umbrella structure delivering advocacy, member support, and information resources to affiliated organizations and the broader public.
• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Seniorenorganisationen (BAGSO): Federal umbrella of senior citizens' organizations in Germany. Highly comparable structurally — umbrella of member organizations providing political advocacy, networking, and project funding for an aging-related constituency.
• Sozialverband Deutschland (SoVD): Major German social advocacy association with strong disability, pension, and healthcare policy focus, organized federally with member state chapters. Highly comparable as a large German non-profit federation engaging in political advocacy for vulnerable populations.
• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft für Rehabilitation (BAR): Federal working group on rehabilitation bringing together rehabilitation providers, payers, and advocacy groups in Germany. Directly comparable as a German umbrella organization operating at the intersection of disability/chronic illness, healthcare provision, and political advocacy.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/BAGSELBSTHILFEeV/featured
• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/BAGSELBSTHILFE
• Instagraminstagram.com/bag_selbsthilfe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bag-selbsthilfe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about BAG SELBSTHILFE