What SIBB does

SIBB is the non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein, e.V.) for the software, information, and communication technology industry in Berlin-Brandenburg, founded in 1993 and headquartered at Friedrichstraße 68 in Berlin with a secondary office in Potsdam. The association represents approximately 200 member companies and over 10,500 employees, providing collective political advocacy at regional, national, and EU levels, networking platforms, knowledge exchange, and industry standardization support. Its member base is concentrated in the Berlin-Brandenburg region and spans digital platforms, software, IT services, telecommunications, AI, cybersecurity, Industry 4.0, and IoT, with supporting members including law firms, consultancies, and financial institutions that service the digital economy.

SIBB's service portfolio centers on an annual membership subscription priced on a per-employee tier scale (€250/year for a single-employee firm to €4,000/year for 1,000+ employees, plus a one-time admission fee equal to half the annual fee). Beyond membership, SIBB delivers over 80 events annually — workshops, webinars, social gatherings, and specialist presentations — reaching 5,000+ participants, and publishes a weekly newsletter to 12,000 subscribers. The association operates twelve topical expert forums covering AI & Quantum Computing, Digital Transformation, Health-IT, Cybersecurity, and Industrie 4.0. In March 2025 SIBB launched a structured Incubator program for startups in cybersecurity and trustworthy AI; in April 2025 it was designated as a European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), unlocking EU funding to provide digital transformation services to regional SMEs. Revenue is generated from membership dues, EU program funding (notably EDIH), event and workshop fees, and incubator-related services. Day-to-day operations are led by Managing Director Sinan Arslan, supported by a core team of approximately 15–17 staff including program managers, startup coaches, and innovation managers, under an Executive Board chaired by Thomas Schröter.

The association is not a technology company and holds no patents or proprietary software products; its underlying infrastructure relies on standard SaaS tooling (Eventbrite, Mailchimp, WordPress) and an active LinkedIn presence. Its differentiation rests on three decades of institutional credibility — reinforced by consecutive "Innovative durch Forschung" awards from the German Federal Ministry for Research — deep relationships with Berlin Senate (SenWEB), Brandenburg's economic development agency (WFBB), and a network of 27+ partner organizations including Berlin Partner, IBB, IHK Berlin, Fraunhofer FOKUS, and business angels. In 2026 SIBB announced its first international expansion ("SIBB goes India") and published a Charter for a Livable Digital Future, signaling intent to extend beyond regional convening toward cross-border member services and thought leadership on responsible digitalization.

Name

SIBB

Legal name

SIBB - Association of the Software, Information and Communication Industry in Berlin and Brandenburg e.V.

Website

https://sibb.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SIBB is a non-profit digital business association founded in 1993 for the Berlin-Brandenburg ICT sector, serving approximately 200 member companies and 10,500+ employees through membership subscriptions, advocacy, events, a cybersecurity/AI startup incubator, and EU-funded SME digitalization programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association Services

NAICS

Other Computer Related Services (541519)

SIC

Services-Services, Nec (8900)

akta.pro primary industry

Policy Management, Training & Ethics/Whistleblowing (BPAEAPAI)

Keywords

• Digital business association
• ICT industry network
• Startup incubator programs
• Digital innovation hub
• Industry advocacy association

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees charged based on company size (number of employees in Germany). Fees range from €250/year for 1 employee to €4,000/year for companies with 1000+ employees. One-time admission fee of half the annual membership fee is also charged.
2. Events & Workshops: SIBB organizes over 80 events per year including workshops, webinars, social events, and specialist presentations on current topics, trends and challenges in the digital economy.
3. Incubator Programs: SIBB runs an incubator program for startups in cybersecurity and trustworthy AI. The incubator supports company formation and provides startup coaching services.
4. European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH): EU-funded project providing digital transformation support to SMEs in Berlin-Brandenburg, funded through the EU.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SIBB is a non-profit registered association (e.V.) representing the software, information and communications industry in Berlin-Brandenburg. It offers tiered annual memberships to ICT companies, runs an incubator program for cybersecurity and trustworthy AI startups, organizes 80+ events annually, delivers EU-funded digital transformation support to SMEs through the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), publishes a weekly newsletter, and operates 12 topic-specific expert forums covering AI, cybersecurity, Health-IT, and digital transformation.

Product overview

SIBB is the digital business association of Berlin-Brandenburg, offering a portfolio of membership-based services rather than a software product. The core offerings include membership with networking access, the SIBB Incubator program for startup acceleration, over 80 annual events and webinars, and the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) for SME digital transformation support. Additional services include a weekly newsletter reaching 12,000 subscribers and 12 topic-specific expert forums covering AI, cybersecurity, digital transformation, health IT, and other digital economy areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SIBB Membership Annual membership program for ICT companies in Berlin-Brandenburg, providing access to 200+ member companies with over 10,500 employees, networking events, political representation, press work, cooperation platforms, and industry information.
• SIBB Incubator for Cybersecurity and Trustworthy AI Structured startup incubation program for early-stage digital companies in cybersecurity and trustworthy AI, providing mentorship, jury evaluation, alumni network, startup coaching, and connections to funding sources in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.
• SIBB Events Program Over 80 annual events including workshops, webinars, social events, and specialist presentations on current digital topics, trends, and challenges, reaching 5,000+ participants yearly and targeting decision-makers in the digital economy.
• European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) EU-funded program providing digital transformation support to SMEs in Berlin-Brandenburg, focusing on AI, cybersecurity, and process digitization through skills training, innovation networking, and expert advisory services.
• SIBB Topic Forums Expert working groups covering 12 topic areas including AI & Quantum Computing, Digital Transformation, Health-IT, Cybersecurity, Industrie 4.0, and more, enabling knowledge sharing and networking among member companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches 12,000 newsletter recipients and over 5,000 event participants annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 28DigitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital services partner organization listed on SIBB's partner page.
• ASQF e.V. – Arbeitskreis für SoftwareQualität und FortbildungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking group for software quality and training, partner organization providing member benefits for SIBB members.
• BACB – Business Angels Club Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness angels network providing funding connections for startups in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey economic development partner for Berlin providing business support and investment facilitation.
• BHT – Berliner Hochschule für TechnikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of applied sciences partnership for talent development and research collaboration.
• BITMi – Bundesverband IT-Mittelstand e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal association for IT SMEs. BITMi members can obtain dual memberships with SIBB and receive partner discounts on membership fees.
• DIGITALAGENTUR BERLIN GMBHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital agency partner for Berlin-based digital initiatives.
• eco – Verband der Internetwirtschaft e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternet industry association. eco members can obtain dual memberships with SIBB and receive partner discounts.
• Fraunhofer FOKUS – Institut für Offene KommunikationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute partnership for open communication technologies and joint R&D projects.
• Handwerkskammer BerlinminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChamber of trades partnership for digitalization support in the skilled crafts sector.
• HTW – Hochschule für Technik und WirtschaftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for research collaboration and talent pipeline.
• IDZ – Internationales Design Zentrum Berlin e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational design center partnership for design thinking and innovation.
• IHK Berlin – Industrie- und Handelskammer BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of industry and commerce partnership for business development and regulatory representation.
• Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik und Digitale Gesellschaft e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute for business informatics and digital society.
• It's.BB e.V. – IT-Sicherheitsnetzwerk Berlin-BrandenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIT security network for Berlin-Brandenburg, aligned with SIBB's cybersecurity incubator focus.
• ITS Germany – Bundesverband für Verkehrstechnologien e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal association for transport technologies, relevant for mobility and logistics digitalization.
• LNBB – LogistikNetz Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics network for Berlin-Brandenburg supporting digitalization in logistics.
• Low-Code Association e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLow-code software association. Members can obtain dual memberships with SIBB and receive partner discounts.
• media:net berlinbrandenburg e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia network association for Berlin-Brandenburg covering digital media.
• MotionLab BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub and startup incubator partnership.
• OpTecBB e.V. – Optec-Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOptical technologies cluster for Berlin-Brandenburg.
• Pro Agro e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for the promotion of the Brandenburg-Berlin region, relevant for FoodTech initiatives.
• SenWEB – Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Energie und BetriebecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenate administration for economic affairs, energy and businesses - key government partner for policy advocacy.
• TeleTrusT – Bundesverband IT-Sicherheit e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal IT security association. TeleTrusT members can obtain dual memberships with SIBB and receive partner discounts on membership fees.
• UnternehmerTUM GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading startup and innovation platform, providing startup support and scaleup programs.
• WFBB – Wirtschaftsförderung Land Brandenburg GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development agency for Brandenburg providing business support and investment facilitation in the region.
• Innovationscluster 5G Berlin e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit association that networks partners from business and research around 5G key technologies. With an open 5G test field at TU Berlin campus and Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institut, provides environment for developing and testing 5G/6G applications under real conditions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• eco – Verband der Internetwirtschaft: German internet industry association offering networking, policy advocacy and events for digital economy companies. Directly comparable to SIBB in mission and member services; SIBB has a formal dual-membership partnership with eco, confirming overlapping value propositions.
• TeleTrusT – Bundesverband IT-Sicherheit: Federal IT security industry association providing policy advocacy, working groups, and events around cybersecurity. Directly comparable to SIBB's cybersecurity incubator and EDIH cybersecurity agenda; formal dual-membership partner.
• media:net berlinbrandenburg: Regional media and digital media industry network for Berlin-Brandenburg, focused on connecting media, tech, and policy stakeholders. Closely comparable to SIBB as another regional digital cluster network in the same geography, with overlap in member base and events.
• BITMi – Bundesverband IT-Mittelstand: Federal association for IT SMEs in Germany, focused on policy representation and member services for small and medium digital companies. Directly comparable to SIBB's SME and policy-advocacy focus; SIBB has a core dual-membership partnership with BITMi.

Regional players

• Munich Startup: Munich-based startup and digital economy platform providing news, events, and networking for the Bavarian tech ecosystem. Comparable to SIBB's startup-community-building role, but operates in a different German region without direct member overlap.
• Silicon Saxony: Saxony-based industry network for microelectronics, smart systems, and digitalization, operating a cluster with member companies, events, and policy advocacy. Comparable to SIBB as a regional German digital cluster network, but with a stronger hardware/semiconductor focus and different geography.

Others

• IHK Berlin – Industrie- und Handelskammer Berlin: Berlin's chamber of industry and commerce providing regulatory representation, business services, and advocacy for the broader Berlin business community. Comparable to SIBB's political-representation function for digital companies and a core partner; differs in statutory membership and broader industry scope.
• WFBB Wirtschaftsförderung Land Brandenburg: Brandenburg's economic development agency supporting investment, innovation, and SME growth. Comparable to SIBB's role supporting Brandenburg-based digital SMEs; a core partner, differs as a state-owned agency.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie: Berlin's economic development agency supporting business location, investment, and cluster development. Comparable to SIBB's economic-development role for the Berlin tech ecosystem and a core partner; differs as a state-owned entity rather than member-driven association.

Broad incumbents

• Bitkom: Germany's largest digital industry association representing 2,000+ member companies across ICT and digital economy. Directly comparable to SIBB as a trade body for digital businesses, but operates nationally rather than regionally and offers a much broader policy and event portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/810712
• Xx.com/sibbev
• Facebookfacebook.com/sibbev

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 SIBB