What IBB does

IBB Institut für Berufliche Bildung AG is a Germany-based, AZAV-certified vocational education and training provider founded in 1985 and headquartered in Buxtehude. The company delivers publicly funded retraining (Umschulung), professional development (Weiterbildung), and coaching programs to job seekers, employed professionals, enterprises, migrants and refugees, rehabilitands, single parents, and career changers over 50. IBB operates 1,000+ training locations across all 16 German federal states, supports 850+ courses, and employs 700+ people, ranking among the top-3 German providers of publicly funded vocational training and occupational retraining.

The core technology stack centers on the proprietary Online-Akademie virtual classroom (Viona), built on Microsoft Teams with ILIAS as the learning management system for self-paced learning. The platform supports live online instruction with interactive whiteboarding, screen sharing, and adaptive personal learning paths, and integrates Microsoft Copilot for AI-assisted sessions. IBB also uses an AI-assisted Virtual Course Advisor (Kursberater) on the website for self-service lead conversion. Course content increasingly incorporates generative AI tools (Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, Midjourney, Canva AI) across graphic design, video, and marketing curricula.

IBB's business model is anchored in government-funded vocational training: the majority of revenue derives from publicly issued Bildungsgutschein and AVGS vouchers administered by the Agentur für Arbeit and Jobcenters, which cover course fees for eligible participants. This is effectively a recurring, budget-cycle-driven revenue model tied to federal employment policy. A secondary revenue stream is corporate/B2B in-house training (Inhouse-Angebote) sold directly to enterprises. Following a May 2026 acquisition by NORD Holding, a German private equity firm managing €4.0 billion in assets, IBB is privately held and positioned for potential expansion. Customer-funded price points are not publicly disclosed because most courses are 100% subsidized.

Name

IBB

Legal name

IBB Institut für Berufliche Bildung AG

Website

https://ibb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

IBB is a German vocational education and training provider operating 1,000+ locations and 850+ AZAV-certified courses, delivering publicly funded retraining, professional development, and coaching primarily via Bildungsgutschein vouchers to job seekers, employed professionals, and enterprises across all 16 federal states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Finance, Banking & Capital Markets (EDAAAPAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Banking, Credit & Lending (Underwriting, Credit Risk) (EDABAJAH)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Professional continuing education
• Career retraining programs
• Government-funded training
• Corporate workforce upskilling

Headquarters

HQ city

Buxtehude

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Publicly Funded Vocational Training and Retraining: IBB generates the majority of its revenue from government-funded vocational training programs, where course fees are covered by public vouchers (Bildungsgutschein, AVGS) issued by the Agentur für Arbeit, Jobcenters, and other public funding bodies. This is a recurring, subscription-like model tied to government budget cycles and individual eligibility.
2. Corporate / Enterprise Training: IBB offers customized in-house seminars (Inhouse-Angebote) for companies seeking to upskill employees. These are B2B contracts, typically one-time or annual engagements, with pricing negotiated per company.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IBB provides vocational retraining (Umschulungen) and continuing professional education (Weiterbildungen) across 850+ certified courses spanning IT, business administration, healthcare, technical trades, design/multimedia, and management, delivered via 1,000+ training locations nationwide and a proprietary virtual classroom (Viona). The company also offers individual and group coaching (AVGS), funded up to 100% through government Bildungsgutschein vouchers issued by the Agentur für Arbeit and Jobcenters, and delivers customized corporate in-house training to enterprises.

Product overview

IBB (Institut für Berufliche Bildung) is a vocational education and training provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of retraining (Umschulungen), professional development courses (Weiterbildungen), and coaching programs. The company operates the proprietary Online-Akademie virtual classroom platform for live online training delivery. Course offerings span diverse professional domains including IT, graphic design/multimedia (Adobe Creative Suite with AI tools), business administration, healthcare, and technical trades. The product architecture combines core educational services (retraining, courses, coaching) with supporting platforms (Online-Akademie, Virtual Course Advisor) and funding advisory services. The company serves job seekers, employed professionals, and businesses across all German federal states through 1,000+ training locations and online delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Umschulungen (Vocational Retraining Programs) Full-time and part-time vocational retraining programs leading to IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) recognized certifications across diverse occupational fields including IT, business administration, healthcare, technical trades, marketing/media, and tourism. Targeted at job seekers and employed professionals seeking career change, typically fully funded via Bildungsgutschein.
• Weiterbildungen (Continuing Professional Development Courses) Over 850 certified course modules across IT, artificial intelligence, graphic design, energy/environment, business, healthcare, technical trades, and management. Available in full-time and part-time formats with individual customization; AZAV-certified and eligible for government funding. Includes certified SAP, DATEV, Adobe, Microsoft Office, and TÜV Rheinland-aligned programs.
• Coachings / AVGS-Angebote (Coaching Programs) Individual and group coaching services for job seekers, professionals, academics, single parents, entrepreneurs, women, men, and mature workers aged 50+. Includes AVGS (Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein) funded programs supporting career integration, job application support, and re-entry into the workforce.
• Online-Akademie (Virtual Classroom Platform) Proprietary virtual learning platform enabling live online training delivered via Microsoft Teams. Combines real-time instructor-led sessions with self-paced ILIAS LMS modules, personal learning paths, virtual whiteboard, screen sharing, AI-assisted learning (Microsoft Copilot), and in-person support at 1,000+ locations. Achieves 94% completion rate and 90% recommendation rate.
• Corporate Inhouse Training (Inhouse-Angebote) Customized in-house seminars and corporate training packages delivered to companies seeking to upskill their workforce. Content is tailored to each client's industry and topical needs, with pricing negotiated per engagement. Includes qualifying programs under the Qualifizierungschancengesetz for employer-funded training.
• Funding Advisory Services (Förderung und Finanzierung) Advisory service guiding participants through access to publicly funded training programs including Bildungsgutschein (education voucher), AVGS vouchers, Weiterbildungsgeld (training bonus), Weiterbildungsprämie, Qualifizierungsgeld, and programs under the Qualifizierungschancengesetz. Helps individuals and employers identify and apply for applicable subsidies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% course completion rate across all continuing education programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) is the primary referral and funding channel for IBB participants. Job seekers receive Bildungsgutscheins from the Agency to fund their training at IBB.
• JobcentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJobcenters (operated jointly by federal and local government) are the primary funding and referral channel for Bürgergeld recipients seeking IBB training. They issue AVGS and Bildungsgutscheins to eligible participants.
• DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung)minorOthersIBB is a member of DIN (German Institute for Standardization), signaling quality standards in education delivery.
• iMove (Quality Label for Vocational Training Export)minorOthersIBB holds the iMove quality seal for vocational training, supporting the export of German vocational education programs internationally.
• Certnet (Certification Partner)minorOthersCertnet certification partner — IBB offers certified training programs leading to external certification through Certnet.
• Senat der WirtschaftminorOthersIBB is a member of the Senat der Wirtschaft (Senate of the Economy), a network of companies committed to sustainable and socially responsible business practices.
• Deutscher WeiterbildungstagminorOthersIBB supports the Deutscher Weiterbildungstag (German Continuing Education Day), a national awareness initiative for lifelong learning.
• Erfolgsfaktor Familie (Family-Friendly Employer)minorOthersIBB is a member of Erfolgsfaktor Familie, a German initiative promoting family-friendly workplace policies, signaling commitment to work-life balance.
• Zertpunkt (Quality Certification)minorOthersZertpunkt quality certification — IBB holds Zertpunkt quality certification for its educational offerings.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DEKRA Akademie: DEKRA's vocational training division is one of Germany's largest privately-owned providers of AZAV-certified retraining, continuing education, and corporate upskilling. Directly comparable to IBB across customer segments (job seekers via vouchers, employed professionals, enterprises), course portfolio, and reliance on publicly funded programs.
• alfatraining Bildungszentrum GmbH: AZAV-certified vocational training provider offering retraining and continuing education with a strong IT and commercial focus. Directly comparable to IBB in voucher-funded delivery model, target audience (job seekers and employed professionals), and nationwide live-online classroom approach.
• WBS Training AG: National German vocational training provider with AZAV-certified retraining, professional development, and corporate training offerings. Comparable to IBB in target customers (job seekers, career changers, enterprises), funding reliance on publicly funded vouchers, and course breadth across IT, business, and commercial fields.
• BBQ Berufliche Bildung GmbH: German vocational education provider focused on retraining, continuing education, and corporate training across multiple Berufsfelder. Comparable to IBB in target audience (job seekers, employed, enterprises), funding mix (Bildungsgutschein/AVGS), and delivery model (classroom + live online).
• DAA Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie: One of Germany's largest adult education and vocational training providers with nationwide presence, offering AZAV-certified retraining, continuing education, and coaching. Overlaps directly with IBB in Bildungsgutschein-funded retraining, employed-professional upskilling, and integration courses for migrants.
• COMCAVE.COLLEGE GmbH: German vocational training provider specializing in IT, business, and commercial retraining funded by Bildungsgutschein and AVGS vouchers. Highly comparable to IBB in business model (voucher-funded retraining), customer segments (job seekers, career changers), and AZAV-certified delivery.
• Euro Schulen / ESO Group: Vocational training and language education provider operating across Germany with AZAV-certified retraining, language courses, and integration programs. Comparable to IBB in migrant/refugee integration courses, government voucher funding reliance, and Berufsfelder breadth.
• TÜV SÜD Akademie: Vocational training arm of TÜV SÜD offering certified continuing education, quality management, and technical training. Comparable to IBB in AZAV-certified offerings, TÜV-recognized credentials, and corporate B2B training focus (TÜV Rheinland is a current IBB partner, so TÜV SÜD is a close adjacent peer).
• GFN GmbH: IT-focused vocational training and reskilling provider in Germany offering AZAV-certified programs funded by Agentur für Arbeit and Jobcenter. Overlaps with IBB's IT retraining segment and live-online delivery model, with comparable B2B corporate training offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Klett Group: Major German education and media group with significant vocational, school, and adult education holdings. Operates as a broad incumbent across multiple education segments including some vocational training, providing scale and content depth that IBB competes against at the corporate training and curriculum level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IBB_AG
• Facebookfacebook.com/ibb.social
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibb-ag

Compliance5 records

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 IBB