kiks up e. v.

What kiks up e. v. does

KIKS UP e.V. is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Bad Nauheim, Germany, founded in 2004 to develop and deliver evidence-based prevention programs for children in early childhood and primary-school settings. Its portfolio comprises three program lines — KLASSE KLASSE (primary schools), KLASSE KITA (kindergartens), and KLASSE LERNORT (after-school care) — each addressing psychosocial health, physical activity, and nutrition education through structured curricula delivered by trained educators and evaluated longitudinally in cooperation with the University of Gießen.

The organization's core deliverable is its curriculum and training methodology, codified through the KIKS UP-Akademie (established 2012) and disseminated via in-person and online Fachtage (professional training days) as well as a direct-to-customer online shop for educational materials. Independent quality validation is anchored by inclusion in the Grüne Liste Prävention since 2017, a registry of evidence-based prevention programs maintained by German prevention stakeholders and frequently a precondition for statutory health insurer funding under §20 SGB V.

The business model blends three revenue streams: (1) direct income from educator training and online material sales, (2) subsidized program delivery co-funded by statutory health insurers (AOK Hessen, AOK Rheinland-Pfalz/Saarland, IKK Südwest), and (3) project and program grants from foundations including Bertelsmann Stiftung and Dirk Nowitzki Stiftung. The 2024 establishment of an Expertenbeirat (expert advisory board) marks an organizational maturation step coinciding with KIKS UP's 20th anniversary, formalizing external scientific and practitioner governance.

Name

kiks up e. v.

Legal name

KIKS UP e. V.

Website

https://kiksup.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

KIKS UP e.V. is a German non-profit founded in 2004 that develops and delivers evidence-based psychosocial, physical-activity, and nutrition prevention programs for children in Kitas, primary schools, and after-school care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childhood Health Prevention Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (61171), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Special Education & Related Services (IEP Delivery Online) (EDAJADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG), Behavioral Intervention & PBIS Supports (Tiered, Gen Ed) (EDAJAGAL)

Keywords

• Childhood health prevention
• School nutrition programs
• Educator training academy
• Psychosocial health education
• Early childhood wellness

Headquarters

HQ city

Bad Nauheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training and Continuing Education: KIKS UP Academy provides certified training programs for educators and teachers. These professional development courses generate revenue while building the network of qualified trainers who implement the programs in schools and kindergartens.
2. Prevention Materials and Merchandise: The organization operates an online shop selling prevention materials, manuals, and related educational resources. Standard shipping is 4.90 EUR within Germany.
3. Founding and Public Funding: KIKS UP e.V. receives support from public institutions, health insurers, and foundations including AOK, state governments, and charitable foundations like the Dirk Nowitzki Stiftung and Bertelsmann Stiftung.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KIKS UP e.V. is a German registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) that develops and delivers prevention programs for children in kindergartens, primary schools, and after-school care settings. Its programs address three integrated pillars — psychosocial health, physical activity, and nutrition — delivered through structured curricula. The organization also operates a training academy for educators and a family network to extend the prevention work to parents and caregivers.

Product overview

KIKS UP is a prevention program (Präventionsprogramm) from Bad Nauheim, Germany, operating as a holistic health promotion initiative for children since 2004. The organization offers a coordinated portfolio of prevention programs across different educational settings: KLASSE KLASSE for primary schools (listed in the Grüne Liste Prävention since 2017), KLASSE KITA for daycare facilities, and KLASSE LERNORT for school-based childcare. Supporting programs include KIKS UP-Akademie for educator training, KIKS UP-familie.net for family resources, and specialized components such as KIKS UP Genuss (nutrition education), KIKS UP Fit (physical activity), and KIKS UP Leben with PAPILIO (social-emotional development). The organization also operates KIKS UP Camp, a forest playground (Waldspielplatz), and publishes educational materials including the Wilde Herde cookbook. The three KLASSE programs can be used independently or together as a prevention chain (Präventionskette).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KLASSE KLASSE: Prevention game program for elementary schools focusing on addiction and violence prevention, physical activity, and nutrition education.
• KLASSE KITA
• KLASSE LERNORT
• KIKS UP-familie.net
• KIKS UP-Akademie
• KIKS UP Camp
• KIKS UP Genuss
• KIKS UP Fit

Products and services

• KLASSE KLASSE A structured prevention program designed for primary schools that combines psychosocial health, physical activity/motor skills development, and nutrition education for school-aged children. Delivered by trained educators within the school setting.
• KLASSE KITA A prevention program for kindergartens (Kitas) addressing psychosocial health, physical activity, and nutrition for children in early childhood (pre-primary age group). Delivered in daycare and pre-school settings.
• KLASSE LERNORT A prevention program delivered in after-school care centers and learning locations (Lernorte), extending the psychosocial, physical activity, and nutrition curriculum to children outside regular school hours.
• KIKS UP Academy A training and continuing education program for teachers, educators, and other multipliers (multiplikatoren) that prepares them to deliver KIKS UP prevention modules in schools, kindergartens, and after-school facilities.
• KIKS UP Family Network A family-oriented program that engages parents and families to reinforce the prevention themes (psychosocial health, exercise, nutrition) addressed in KIKS UP's institutional programs, extending learning into the home environment.
• KIKS UP Online Shop An online retail channel selling KIKS UP prevention materials, workbooks, and educational resources to schools, educators, and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• KLASSE KLASSE admitted to Grüne Liste Prävention (2017)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• IKK SüdwestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2025IKK Südwest started a new cooperation with KIKS UP in Hessen from January 2025, providing additional health insurer support for prevention program expansion.
• AOK Rheinland-Pfalz/SaarlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Long-standing cooperation with AOK Rheinland-Pfalz/Saarland has been expanded. The health insurer supports program distribution and trainer training in the region, with AOK specialists qualifying as KLASSE trainers.
• HAGE (Netzwerk für Gesundheitsförderung)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2021KIKS UP is a member of HAGE, the network for health promotion. The membership connects KIKS UP with other prevention organizations and facilitates knowledge exchange and collaboration.
• PapiliocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2017Papilio is an evidence-based prevention program for kindergartens developed by the beta Institut. KIKS UP integrates Papilio as a core component of its KIKS UP Leben module, focusing on emotional competence development for children ages 3-6.
• AOK HessencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015AOK Hessen has been a key strategic partner since 2015, providing funding support and material cost subsidies for KLASSE KLASSE programs. The partnership enables free access to prevention materials for teachers in Hessen. AOK specialists have also been trained as KLASSE trainers.
• Justus-Liebig-Universität GießencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2014University of Gießen has been conducting longitudinal evaluations of KLASSE KLASSE since 2014 to assess the program's sustainable impact on children's development.
• Max-Rubner-InstitutsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2013The Max Rubner Institute presented evaluation results related to KIKS UP programs, contributing scientific validation to the prevention approach.
• plattform ernährung und bewegung e.V. (peb)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012KIKS UP co-hosted an Aktivtag (activity day) with peb, bringing together over 120 participants from regional initiatives, institutions, and clubs focused on health promotion.
• Stadt Bad NauheimcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010The city of Bad Nauheim is a founding municipal partner and initiator of KIKS UP. The city provides ongoing support including the provision of facilities like the KIKS UP Academy location and Waldspielplatz (forest playground).
• Sportklinik Bad NauheimsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010The sports clinic in Bad Nauheim supports KIKS UP as a local partner, contributing expertise in sports medicine and physical activity promotion.
• Hessische Landesstelle für Suchtfragen e.V. (HLS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2006HLS is a key state-level partner for addiction prevention, co-organizing the Papilio Hessenstart with AOK Hessen and providing expertise for the integration of prevention programs in Hesse.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Klasse2000: Germany's largest and longest-running school-based health-prevention program for primary-school children, addressing addiction prevention, nutrition, and physical activity. Directly comparable to KIKS UP's KLASSE KLASSE in target customer (German Grundschulen) and curriculum pillars.
• Papilio (beta Institut): Evidence-based kindergarten prevention program (emotional competence, prosocial behavior) that KIKS UP itself integrates as its KIKS UP Leben component. Directly comparable in delivery setting (Kitas), target population (ages 3-6), and prevention methodology.
• plattform ernährung und bewegung e.V. (peb): German non-profit promoting healthy nutrition and physical activity in childhood and adolescence. KIKS UP is an existing cooperation partner; both address overlapping prevention pillars (Ernährungsbildung, Bewegungsförderung) for children in German institutional settings.

Emerging players

• Freche Freunde: German children's nutrition brand delivering educational content and food products aimed at healthy eating habits in Kitas and schools. Comparable to KIKS UP's KIKS UP Genuss nutrition education pillar but delivered via a for-profit consumer-brand model rather than institutional training.
• Deutsche Sportjugend: Youth organization of the German Olympic Sports Confederation promoting physical activity among children and adolescents. Comparable to KIKS UP's KIKS UP Fit / Bewegungsförderung pillar and overlaps in target beneficiaries and school-based delivery.

Broad incumbents

• BZgA (Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung): Federal agency for health education in Germany, funding and curating nationwide prevention programs including addiction-prevention and child-health initiatives. Operates broadly in the same prevention space as KIKS UP but as a public-sector incumbent rather than a delivery organization.
• Bundesvereinigung Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung (BVPG): National umbrella organization coordinating German prevention and health-promotion actors across sectors. KIKS UP's HAGE membership places it within the same institutional ecosystem; BVPG shapes funding frameworks that materially affect KIKS UP's operating environment.
• Stiftung Kindergesundheit: German child-health foundation funding and promoting prevention initiatives for children. Operates in the same thematic space as KIKS UP's holistic child-prevention approach but as a grant-making body rather than a program deliverer.

Regional players

• Hessische Landesstelle für Suchtfragen e.V. (HLS): Hesse-state coordination office for addiction prevention; an existing strategic partner of KIKS UP (co-organizing Papilio Hessenstart with AOK Hessen). Directly comparable in the addiction-prevention pillar and a key state-level intermediary in the same Hesse ecosystem.
• Landessportbund Hessen: Hesse state sports federation coordinating sport and physical-activity programs for children in schools and clubs. Comparable to KIKS UP's movement-promotion focus within the same Hessen geography where KIKS UP is anchored.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KIKSUPeV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kiksup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about kiks up e. v.