Waff

What Waff does

Waff (Wiener Arbeitnehmer*innen Förderungsfonds) is the City of Vienna's statutory employment promotion fund, established in June 1995 as an instrument of Vienna's active labor market policy. The organization delivers a one-stop ecosystem of free career counseling, vocational training subsidies, and job placement services to Viennese employees, job seekers, and SMEs, reaching approximately 38,600 individuals per year. Beneficiaries include employed residents seeking upskilling, unemployed residents needing retraining, women re-entering the workforce (especially over 45), youth aged 18–24, workers aged 50+, immigrants needing qualification recognition, and Viennese SMEs seeking apprenticeship and innovation support. Over 30 years, waff has supported roughly 700,000 people and disbursed approximately €1.4 billion.

The product portfolio combines individual grants (Bildungskonto up to €500, Chancen-Scheck up to €5,000, Wiener Pflegeausbildungsprämie of €658.40/month, Fachkräfte-Stipendium up to €12,000), structured employment programs (Jobs PLUS Ausbildung, Joboffensive 50plus, Arbeitsstiftungen, Frauenstiftung Wien, Joboffensive für Jugendliche), enterprise instruments (Innovation and Employment grant up to €47,000 for SMEs, apprenticeship trainer and first-time-employer support, Klimaschutz-Lehrausbildungsprämie), digital self-service (an Online-Antragsportal, a course database indexing 25,479 offerings, and a job-search integration with AMS Wien), and flagship public events (Future Fit Festival, described as Europe's largest education festival, with 280+ events and 31,000 visitors in 2026). Underlying technology is a standard public-sector stack: Salesforce Sales Cloud for CRM and campaign reporting, Microsoft 365 (Forms, Bookings) for scheduling and surveys, Emarsys for newsletters, plus Siteimprove and Matomo for web analytics. No proprietary AI/ML systems are disclosed.

Waff is funded almost entirely by the City of Vienna (Stadt Wien) with co-financing from the European Social Fund (ESF); no commercial revenue is generated and all services to eligible Viennese residents are free. Distribution is hybrid — a physical Beratungszentrum at Lassallestraße 1 (1020 Vienna), online portals, phone counseling, and a multi-channel awareness layer spanning radio, OOH, print, social, TikTok, podcasts, and award-winning social-media soap formats. Governance sits with a Vorstandsvorsitzender (Christian Meidlinger), a Geschäftsführer/MD (Marko Miloradovic), and a Vorstandmitglied (Maria In der Maur-Koenne), under City of Vienna supervision.

Name

Waff

Legal name

Wiener Arbeitnehmer*innen Förderungsfonds

Website

https://waff.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Waff (Wiener Arbeitnehmer*innen Förderungsfonds) is the City of Vienna's statutory employment promotion fund, providing free career counseling, training subsidies, and job-placement services to Viennese residents and SMEs through grant programs and workforce-development partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Employment Services

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Vocational training grants
• Career counseling services
• Apprenticeship support programs
• Job placement programs
• Workforce development funds

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding - City of Vienna: Core funding from the City of Vienna (Stadt Wien) to operate as the Wiener Arbeitnehmer*innen Förderungsfonds, an active labor market policy instrument
2. European Social Fund (ESF): EU funding through ESF for Vienna programs supporting workforce development and employment initiatives
3. Training Cost Subsidies: Distributes public funds to individuals and companies for education and training programs, including Bildungskonto, Chancen-Scheck, and apprenticeship support

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Waff is the Wiener Arbeitnehmer*innen Förderungsfonds, Vienna's municipal employment promotion fund, which administers free career counseling, vocational training grants (Bildungskonto, Chancen-Scheck), job placement programs (Jobs PLUS Ausbildung), and SME innovation subsidies. It serves as a one-stop shop providing information, counseling, and financial support for professional education, retraining, and labor market reintegration across Vienna.

Product overview

Waff (Wiener Arbeitnehmer*innen Förderungsfonds) is Vienna's active labor market policy and adult vocational education institution, providing a comprehensive ecosystem of advisory services, financial grants, and employment programs. The core service is the Beratungszentrum für Beruf und Weiterbildung (Advisory Center for Career and Continuing Education), supported by a portfolio of financial instruments including the Bildungskonto (up to 500 Euro training subsidy), Chancen-Scheck (up to 5,000 Euro for vocational qualifications), and specialized scholarships such as the Pflege-Stipendium and the Frauen, Beruf und Studium program (up to 12,000 Euro). Employment programs include Jobs PLUS Ausbildung (combined training and job placement), Arbeitsstiftungen (labor foundations for restructuring situations), Joboffensive 50plus, and Joboffensive für Jugendliche. For companies, Waff offers Innovation and Employment grants (up to 47,000 Euro for SMEs), trainer course funding, and first-apprentice employer support. Digital services include the Online-Antrag portal, a course database with 25,479 offerings, and job search integration with AMS. Waff also conducts public communication campaigns including the annual Future Fit Festival, the social media soap opera 'Nicht wieder Mary', and the 'Dein Traum. Unser Job.' campaign series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bildungskonto (Training Account) Subsidy program funding 50% of education costs up to a maximum of 500 euros per Viennese resident, without income limits, for continuing education and training courses.
• Chancen-Scheck (Opportunities Cheque) Grant program providing up to 90% of course costs (maximum 5,000 euros) plus exam fees for vocational qualifications, including apprenticeship completion. The remaining 10% is refunded upon course completion with certificate presentation.
• Fachkräfte-Stipendium & Pflege-Stipendium Scholarship program supporting skilled workers and nursing care professionals pursuing vocational education and training in Vienna.
• Wiener Pflegeausbildungsprämie Monthly payment of 658.40 euros for participants in nursing training programs in Vienna, supporting them throughout their nursing education.
• Jobs PLUS Ausbildung Combined training and job placement program offering unemployed Viennese residents free vocational education with guaranteed job placement across sectors including Social/Care, Pedagogy, IT, Hospitality, Retail, and Technical trades.
• Arbeitsstiftungen (Labour Foundations) Support programs for employees affected by company bankruptcies or site closures, providing up to three years of training and education to enable them to return strengthened to the labor market.
• Förderung Innovation und Beschäftigung (Innovation and Employment Grant) Grant program supporting Viennese SMEs in implementing innovation projects, covering up to 50% of personnel costs (max 47,000 euros), training costs (max 7,300 euros), and consultancy costs (max 4,700 euros) over 12 months.
• Förderung Lehrausbilder*innen (Trainer Course Funding) Trainer course funding covering 75% of course costs up to 500 euros and examination fees up to 100 euros for companies with up to 50 employees that train apprentices in Vienna.
• Unterstützung Betriebe erstmalige Lehrlingsaufnahme (First-Time Apprentice Support) Grant covering first-year apprentice wages (collectively agreed gross apprenticeship income plus 20% lump sum) for companies training apprentices for the first time or after a five-year gap.
• Joboffensive 50plus Employment initiative for Viennese residents over 50 providing job placement support and training. Since 2019, over 2,300 long-term unemployed persons have been placed, with nearly 9 in 10 still employed one year after funding ended.
• Joboffensive für Jugendliche Support program for young adults aged 18-24 in Vienna, helping them enter the workforce, complete vocational training, and prevent long-term unemployment.
• Frauen, Beruf und Studium (Scholarship for Part-Time Studies) Scholarship program for women studying part-time in Digitalization, Sustainability, and Technology fields in Vienna, providing up to 12,000 euros in stipendium funding.
• Frauenstiftung Wien (Women's Foundation Vienna) Women's Foundation program providing targeted support for women in Vienna without professional training, implemented jointly with AMS Wien to strengthen women's workforce participation.
• Klimaschutz-Lehrausbildungsprämie (Climate Protection Apprenticeship Bonus) Apprenticeship bonus supporting Viennese companies and trainees in climate-relevant professions and green jobs.
• Future Fit Festival Annual career education festival in Vienna making future professions tangible through workshops, talks, and hands-on formats. Features over 280 events with 180+ partners, focused on Health & Social Care, Climate & Sustainability, and Technology & Digitalization.
• Beratungszentrum für Beruf und Weiterbildung (Career Advisory Center) Waff's central advisory service providing free in-person career counseling and guidance for Vienna employees and job seekers seeking professional development support. Located at Lassallestraße 1, 1020 Vienna; open Monday-Thursday 8:00-17:00, Friday 8:00-15:00.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38,600 Viennese supported annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Wiener StadtwerkemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Partnership for Gaming Challenge, an innovative recruiting format where young talents find jobs through gaming rather than traditional applications. Also partner for job guarantee programs with Wiener Netze.
• Wiener NetzemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Job guarantee program: 20-month training to become installation and building technology technician with 11 successful completions. Part of Wiener Stadtwerke group.
• AMS Wien (Arbeitsmarktservice Wien)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Long-standing strategic partnership with Vienna's Public Employment Service. Joint programs include Joboffensive 50plus, Jobs PLUS Ausbildung, and qualification support for employees. Waff and AMS work together to support unemployed Viennese and companies with staffing needs.
• Stadt Wien (City of Vienna)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaff is a fund of the City of Vienna and operates as the city's key instrument for active labor market policy. The city provides core funding and strategic direction for workforce development initiatives.
• CaritasmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to open the Ausbildungszentrum Seegasse for nursing and social care training, in cooperation with AMS Wien and Bildungsdirektion.
• VHS Wien (Volkshochschule Wien)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Future Fit Festival, bringing professional orientation and career insights directly to Vienna's districts. VHS contributes to the festival's educational programming.
• 180+ Partner OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of over 180 organizations participating in Future Fit Festival, including companies, educational institutions, and social organizations showcasing future professions and training opportunities.
• AMS Wien (Training Grant)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAMS Wien provides further education benefits during educational leave, while waff helps cover the company's training costs with grants of up to 1,700 euros (max 50% of course costs) for Vienna employees.
• Wiener WirtschaftskammercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for apprenticeship advice and training company support. The Vienna Economic Chamber provides apprenticeship advisors and administers the TOP-Lehrbetrieb quality seal program.
• Wiener RegionalstiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVienna Regional Foundation provides companies in the greater Vienna region with rapid access to labor foundation programs for employees facing redundancy.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• BFI Wien (Berufsförderungsinstitut Wien): Vienna-based vocational training institute delivering continuing education and certifications. Direct partner of waff in course delivery; provides comparable workforce-training services in the same Vienna geography.
• VHS Wien (Volkshochschule Wien): Vienna's adult education center operating a large continuing-education course catalog. Direct Future Fit Festival partner of waff; competes and cooperates in the same Vienna adult-education market.

Direct peers

• AMS Wien (Arbeitsmarktservice Wien): Austrian public employment service for the Vienna region, providing job placement, qualification support, and unemployment benefits. Closest functional peer to waff with overlapping mandate; both jointly deliver Joboffensive 50plus and Jobs PLUS Ausbildung.
• Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich (AMS Austria): The national-level Austrian public employment service, parent entity of AMS Wien. Performs the same core functions as waff (job placement, training, qualification support) at a national scale across Austria.
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Germany's federal employment agency providing job placement, vocational training subsidies, and unemployment benefits. Closest large-scale international peer to waff in terms of public labor-market intervention model.
• France Travail: France's public employment service (formerly Pôle Emploi) delivering job placement, training support, and unemployment benefits. Comparable mandate as a state-funded labor-market intermediation institution.
• Arbetsförmedlingen: Sweden's public employment service, providing job matching, qualification support, and labor-market programs. Closely comparable public-sector labor-market institution with similar scope.
• UWV (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen): Dutch agency administering employee insurance and supporting employment/reintegration. Comparable public labor-market institution operating unemployment benefits and workforce reintegration services.

Broad incumbents

• Eurofound: EU-level agency providing research and analysis on working conditions, employment, and labor-market policies. Thematically aligned with waff's mission but operating at supranational scope without direct service-delivery.

Others

• Arbeiterkammer Wien: Vienna's chamber of labor providing labor-law advice, consumer protection, and worker advocacy. Adjacent labor-market institution with related stakeholder role but different primary function (advocacy rather than training/placement).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@waffwien/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/waff
• LinkedInat.linkedin.com/company/waff---vienna-employment-promotion-fund
• Instagraminstagram.com/waff_wien/?hl=de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Waff