What Cadiai does

Cadiai Cooperativa Sociale is an Italian social cooperative (Cooperativa Sociale) founded in 1974 in Bologna, operating as a member-owned entity providing integrated social welfare services across four primary care domains: elderly care, child and adolescent development, disability services, and support for vulnerable populations including women at risk and individuals facing socio-economic hardship. Its service portfolio spans residential care (Casa Residenza Sandro Pertini, 23 beds), day centers (Arboreto for adults with disabilities, 16 accredited places), early childhood services (Centro Senza Fili, Spazio Zenobia), women's empowerment and anti-violence services (Spazio Donna Bologna), and community well-being programs (Comunità In-Forma, Caffè Caregiver, Villa Paradiso). Cadiai employs a multidisciplinary staff of psychologists, psychomotor therapists, speech therapists, educators, and social workers, with 84% of its workforce being women.

The cooperative's revenue is generated through three channels: (1) recurring public institutional contracts with Comune di Bologna, ASL Bologna, Distretto Socio Sanitario Pianura Est, and Regione Emilia-Romagna for accredited service slots accessed via municipal social service offices (Sportello sociale); (2) private-pay services including 11 private residential beds at Sandro Pertini, Centro Senza Fili therapy services, and direct-pay caregiver support; and (3) EU and foundation grant-funded projects (Erasmus+ EACH and FACTS, Creative Europe Cùratela!, Demetra, Con i Bambini Zenobia, Regione ER Lavoriamoci). Go-to-market is primarily enterprise field sales to public institutions, supplemented by direct-to-consumer intake via phone, email, WhatsApp, and in-person contact for private and free services, plus event-driven community engagement.

Cadiai operates six offices across Bologna and Altedo, all within the Emilia-Romagna region, and participates in EU-funded multi-city initiatives that extend its reach nationally (Zenobia spans Bologna, Piombino, Cardito, Cosenza). Its proprietary technology is limited to Whistletech, a GDPR-compliant whistleblowing platform; the cooperative competes on institutional relationships, accredited status, and 50-year track record rather than technology. The company is governed cooperatively with member-worker ownership and has historically held leadership roles in Legacoopsociali, Scu.Ter, Haliéus, and co-founded the first mixed public-private social enterprise in Emilia-Romagna (Gersa, 1997).

Name

Cadiai

Legal name

Cadiai Cooperativa Sociale

Website

https://cadiai.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cadiai is an Italian social cooperative founded in 1974 in Bologna providing integrated welfare services — elderly residential/day care, disability services, early childhood development, and women's anti-violence support — funded primarily by public-sector contracts with Comune di Bologna, ASL, and Emilia-Romagna, plus private-pay and EU/foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Duty Personal Care Agencies (Non-Medical Home Care Providers) (HLADAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable / Low-Income Assisted Living (Medicaid Waiver Focused) (HLADABAE), Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI), Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC), Recreational Outings, Community Participation & Mobility Support (Non-Clinical) (HSABAAAI)

Keywords

• Social welfare services
• Elderly residential care
• Disability day services
• Early childhood education
• Gender-based violence support

Headquarters

HQ city

Bologna

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Institutional Contracts: The majority of Cadiai revenue derives from contracted public welfare services — residential care, day centers, home care, nursery and school services — funded by municipalities (Comune di Bologna), the National Health Service (ASL), and regional governments (Emilia-Romagna). Access to publicly funded beds is managed through public social service intake ('Sportello sociale').
2. Private Pay Services: Cadiai offers privately funded services at market rates, including private beds in residential facilities (e.g., 11 private beds at Sandro Pertini) and fully private access to programs such as Centro Senza Fili. These complement public-funded slots.
3. EU and Public Grant-Funded Projects: Cadiai participates in EU-funded projects (Erasmus+, Europe for Citizens, Creative Europe) and receives funding from foundations such as Con i Bambini. These grants support specific programs (Zenobia, EACH, FACTS, Demetra, Cùratela!) and represent a distinct revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cadiai is a social cooperative that delivers social welfare services across the full care lifecycle. Its core offerings include residential and day care for elderly and non-self-sufficient persons (Casa Residenza Sandro Pertini, Villa Paradiso / Bologna Serena), day centers for persons with disabilities (Arboreto), early childhood development and family services (Centro Senza Fili, Zenobia educational spaces, nursery consortia), anti-violence and women's empowerment services (Spazio Donna), and community wellness programs (Comunità In-Forma, Caffè Caregiver). Services are delivered through accredited public-sector contracts with municipalities and health authorities, supplemented by private-pay access for individual consumers.

Product overview

Cadiai is a social cooperative offering a comprehensive portfolio of care and welfare services. The portfolio includes residential and day care for elderly (Casa Residenza Sandro Pertini, Villa Paradiso), disability services (Arboreto day center, Atelier Maggiociondolo art program), childhood and family services (Centro Senza Fili, Spazio Zenobia), women's empowerment (Spazio Donna), caregiver support (Caffè Caregiver), and community wellness programs (Comunità In-Forma). Services are delivered through direct care provision by qualified professionals including educators, psychologists, psychomotor therapists, speech therapists, and social workers. The cooperative also participates in European projects such as Demetra, Cùratela!, and FACTS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spazio Donna: Service for prevention of violence against women, female empowerment, opened 2021 in Bologna
• Centro Senza Fili
• Arboreto
• Sandro Pertini
• Zenobia

Products and services

• Casa Residenza Sandro Pertini Residential care home for elderly and non-self-sufficient persons with 23 beds (12 publicly accredited via Distretto Pianura Est and 11 private-pay), located in Altedo (Malalbergo). Provides 24-hour residential care, dementia programs, and the Caffè Caregiver monthly caregiver support meetings in partnership with Comune di Malalbergo.
• Arboreto Day Center Day socio-rehabilitation center for adults with psycho-physical disabilities (medium, medium-severe, severe and very severe), specializing in post-school pathways, autism spectrum disorder programs and expressive arts. Operates 16 accredited places within the Bologna SSpD framework, plus the Atelier Maggiociondolo batik program and the Cùratela! mobile-museum initiative with TIST.
• Centro Senza Fili Center for children, adolescents and families providing psychomotor therapy, speech therapy, parenting support, art therapy and animal-assisted education. Free initial orientation interview; subsequent services accessed privately by families at market rates. Located at Via Bovi Campeggi 2/4E, Bologna.
• Spazio Donna Free anti-violence and women's empowerment service located at Via Libia 21/A, Bologna. Provides psychological support, empowerment programs, orientation to territorial services, child-mother support and prevention of gender-based violence. Open since 2021, with weekday operating hours and GDPR-compliant intake.
• Spazio Zenobia Educational space for children aged 0-6 and their families, part of the Zenobia project ('Bambini, Famiglie e Comunità Educante in nuovi Spazi di Desiderio') funded by Con i Bambini. Cadiai coordinates the Bologna node within a 4-city national program (also Piombino, Cardito, Cosenza). Served ~330 children and families in its first year at the Bologna site.
• Comunità In-Forma Community wellness and activation project offering cognitive stimulation workshops, motor reactivation sessions, cooking labs (Laboratorio di Cucina Casalinga with L'Orto cooperative), and support activities for elderly persons and persons with disabilities in the Distretto Pianura Est. Activities are free but require prior booking.
• Caffè Caregiver Free monthly psychological support meetings for caregivers of people with cognitive difficulties or dementia, inspired by the Café Alzheimer model. Held at Casa Residenza Pertini (Via Nazionale 100/C, Malalbergo) with the patronage of Comune di Malalbergo.
• Villa Paradiso Community Activities Community well-being activities for elderly persons at Villa Paradiso (Monday and Thursday afternoons) under the Bologna Serena project. Organized in partnership with Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Bologna, Chiesa di Bologna, and ASP città di Bologna. Includes creative workshops and shared wellness afternoons.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~330 children and families served by Zenobia in its first year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• TIST (This Is So Temporary) — Artistic CollectivemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 July 2026Cadiai's Arboreto day center for persons with disabilities collaborates with TIST collective on the Cùratela! project — a mobile museum co-designed with disabled artists and users. TIST was one of four winners of the CultureAndHealth Call for Artists 2026. The project creates a wheeled museum device to bring Arboreto's batik art into public spaces.
• WeWorldmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2026Cadiai, with its Spazio Donna service, participated in WeWorld's action-research project 'Abitare i margini' (Dwelling the Margins), conducted in 7 Italian cities including Bologna. The study examined structural causes of marginalization faced by women, youth, and children. Cadiai contributed its field experience from Spazio Donna to the research cohort of 330+ participants.
• Associazione Oltre APS / Camere d'AriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Organizer of the 'Call for Artists 2026 — Consolidare pratiche artistiche (r)esistenti tra cultura, salute e comunità' under the European CultureAndHealth platform. Cadiai is partner through the Cùratela! project. Co-funded by Creative Europe programme (grant number 101176227).
• CultureAndHealth PlatformminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026European platform bridging culture and health sectors. Cadiai's Cùratela! project is part of the CultureAndHealth ecosystem, which is co-funded by Creative Europe programme (grant number 101176227).
• 8cento APSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 20258cento APS is an association promoting historical dance as social expression. Cadiai's Danzability group (from SET service) performed at an 8cento-organized event at the Davia Bargellini Museum for International Disability Day 2024, part of the Bo'seum project.
• Consorzio Scu.TercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2025Cadiai is a member of Consorzio Scu.Ter, through which it participates in the CRESCO network — a system of 30 inclusive, multifunctional, free-access spaces for youth aged 6-18 across Bologna's 6 districts. Cadiai's Giulia Casarini is President of Scu.Ter.
• HaliéusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Haliéus is the Legacoop international cooperation association. Cadiai's Michela Patuzzo sits on the Haliéus Board of Directors, strengthening Cadiai's role in international cooperative development. Haliéus elected Paolo Pastore (Fairtrade Italia) as president.
• Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di BolognaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Fondazione CR Bologna co-finances the 'Bologna Serena' project alongside Comune di Bologna, Chiesa di Bologna, and ASP città di Bologna. Cadiai curates the 'Pomeriggi insieme a Villa Paradiso' community well-being program under this initiative.
• Libera BolognaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2024Cadiai and Cooperare con Libera Terra jointly support F.l.L.I. (Festival dell'informazione libera e dell'impegno), organized by Libera Bologna (Dec 2024), to raise awareness about organized crime and civic engagement.
• Synergie Italia Agenzia per il Lavoro / Risorse Italia / HS&TminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 17 October 2024Cadiai partnered with Synergie Italia and HS&T to co-promote free OSS (Socio-Sanitary Operator) training courses. Cadiai offered 450-hour internships in its facilities for course graduates, with priority hiring pathways.
• Regione Emilia-Romagna (Progetto Lavoriamoci)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Cadiai is a partner in 'Lavoriamoci,' a project funded by Regione Emilia-Romagna to promote women's qualified access to the labor market through diversity management, female empowerment services, and inclusive workplace practices. The project was presented at the WeWorld Festival.
• Fondazione ASPHI Onlus (Handimatica)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Handimatica is a national exhibition-conference on digital technologies for inclusive society, organized by Fondazione ASPHI. Cadiai operated the 'soft space' area at Handimatica 2024, featuring Snoezelen, sensomotor, and Zenobia atelier activities for families.
• AICS Bologna (Italian Association for Sports Culture)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cadiai collaborates with AICS Bologna as co-operator of the Zenobia educational space for children 0-6 at Via Gorki 10, Bologna. AICS provides sporting and cultural programming complementing Cadiai's educational services.
• Demetra (EU Project)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cadiai participates in the European Demetra project on prevention of violence and abuse against elderly women in residential settings. Stefano Grassi (Cadiai) referenced the project in his keynote at the Order of Psychologists of Emilia-Romagna conference on intimacy in elderly care. The project addresses cultural stereotypes affecting elder care quality.
• Ordine degli Psicologi dell'Emilia-RomagnaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Professional association organizing the conference 'Invecchiamento, intimità e relazioni. Prospettive cliniche, sociali e culturali' where Cadiai's Stefano Grassi presented on sexuality and rights in elderly residential care.
• Erasmus+ EACH ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cadiai participates in the Erasmus+ EACH (Early Childhood) project on integrating education and new technologies for early childhood. A meeting held in Berlin advanced the project's cross-border collaboration on 0-6 education models.
• Erasmus+ FACTS ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Erasmus+ FACTS project on sexuality, gender identity, and autism concluded with Cadiai's participation. Training videos for professionals working with autistic persons were published in 2025. Addresses sexual education and identity in disability contexts.
• Comune di MalalbergominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Caffè Caregiver at Casa Residenza Pertini (Altedo) is conducted with the patronage of Comune di Malalbergo. The municipality provides the meeting room at Via Nazionale 100/C for monthly caregiver support sessions.
• L'Orto CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024L'Orto cooperative partners with Cadiai on the Comunità In-Forma project, organizing cooking labs (Laboratorio di Cucina Casalinga) in the Distretto Pianura Est. L'Orto provides the cooking instructor for these community well-being activities.
• LegacoopsocialicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cadiai is a member of Legacoopsociali (national social cooperative association). Cadiai's employees and leadership have historically held key positions in Legacoopsociali (e.g., Paola Menetti as former president, Giulia Casarini as VP of Impronta Etica). Cadiai participates in Legacoopsociali's Glossario Fragile project and national working groups.
• Con i Bambini (Impresa Sociale)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Con i Bambini funds the Zenobia project 'Bambini, Famiglie e Comunità Educante in nuovi Spazi di Desiderio.' Cadiai is the Bologna coordinator. The project, active since 2022, aims to prevent educational poverty among children 0-6 through community educational spaces. National scope across 4 cities with 474 children and families served total.
• Progetto AxèminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner in the Zenobia project. Progetto Axè conducted training for the 4 educational teams on the 'pedagogy of desire' (pedagogia del desiderio), which continues for 2 additional years.
• Comune di BolognacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Spazio Donna was established in 2021 in partnership with Comune di Bologna. The municipality supports the service's operations and referral pathways. Cadiai provides the operational team (psychotherapist, pedagogist, educators).
• Cooperativa Terre JonicheminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Cadiai developed a structured partnership with Terre Joniche — a cooperative managing lands confiscated from the 'Ndrangheta in the Crotonese area. They realized responsible tourism projects and social agriculture activities under the Libera Terra brand.
• Cooperare con Libera TerramajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2006Cadiai participated in the founding of the agency 'Cooperare con Libera Terra' (2006) to support social cooperatives managing assets confiscated from organized crime. Cadiai subsequently developed structured partnerships with cooperatives managing confiscated lands (e.g., Terre Joniche in Calabria) and engaged in responsible tourism and social agriculture projects.
• Karabak Consortia (Karabak 1-9)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Nine Karabak consortia (2004-2009) created ~700 public-private partnership nursery places (0-3 years) across Bologna province. Cadiai was one of 6 cooperative partners (with Società Dolce, Gruppo Manutencoop, Camst, Consorzio Cipea/Unifica) alongside 5 municipalities. Cadiai managed nurseries including Balenido, Nido Gattonando, Nido Marameo, Nido Gaia, and others.
• Gersa (Gestione Residenzialità Socio Assistenziali)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Cadiai was co-founder of Gersa in 1997 — the first mixed public-private company in social-health services in Emilia-Romagna. Gersa managed residential care facilities under public-private partnership. Cadiai's former president Paola Menetti served as Gersa's CEO. Gersa ceased operations in 2010, after which Cadiai retained and acquired ownership of the Sandro Pertini facility.
• Cidas (Ferrara)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Cidas of Ferrara was one of the four cooperative shareholders in Gersa (alongside Cadiai, Gulliver, and Too Life), contributing to the first mixed public-private social enterprise model in the region.
• Gulliver (Modena)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Gulliver of Modena was one of the four cooperative shareholders in Gersa (alongside Cadiai, Cidas, and Too Life), contributing to the first mixed public-private social enterprise model in the region.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Società Dolce: Bologna-area social cooperative providing similar comprehensive welfare services across elderly care, disability, early childhood, and family support. Comparable in geography, scale, and cooperative structure to Cadiai.
• Open Group Società Cooperativa Sociale: Italian social cooperative offering elderly care, disability services, and educational/community programs across Emilia-Romagna. Directly comparable in service mix and cooperative business model.
• Consorzio Sol.co: Consortium of social cooperatives in Emilia-Romagna providing welfare services spanning elderly care, disability, and family services. Same regional footprint and multi-service welfare model as Cadiai.
• Solidea Società Cooperativa Sociale: Italian social cooperative focused on disability services, social inclusion, and elderly support. Directly comparable in mission and service categories, particularly its disability programs intersecting with Cadiai's Arboreto.
• Cooperativa Anziani e Non Solo: Italian social cooperative dedicated to elderly care, caregiver support, and active aging programs. Directly comparable to Cadiai's elderly-care, Sandro Pertini residential, and Caffè Caregiver services.

Broad incumbents

• Coopselios: Major Italian cooperative operating residential elderly care, educational, and welfare services nationally with significantly larger scale. Overlaps in service categories but serves a broader geographic footprint.
• KCS Caregiver: Italy-based operator focused on elderly residential care and home care services. Overlaps with Cadiai's residential and home-care lines but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple regions.
• Fondazione Sacra Famiglia: Italian non-profit foundation providing residential care, elderly services, and disability support across multiple regions. Overlapping service categories with Cadiai but operating larger institutional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCm5z_BxiWiZ7kEDfuHq9f8Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/Cadiai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cadiai
• Instagraminstagram.com/cadiai

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Cadiai