CyberForum

What CyberForum does

CyberForum e.V. is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1997 and headquartered at Haid-und-Neu-Straße 18 in Karlsruhe, Germany. It operates as the "Hightech.Unternehmer.Netzwerk" (High-Tech Entrepreneur Network) for the TechnologyRegion Karlsruhe in Baden-Württemberg, and is described as the largest regional IT and Hightech network in Europe with over 1,200 member companies. The organization functions as a community-led intermediary connecting IT companies, startups, and professionals across all phases of business development.

CyberForum delivers a portfolio of interconnected services rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include: HR services (Fachkräftevermittlung skilled worker recruitment spanning Werkstudierende to C-level placements, Auszubildende-Vermittlung apprentice placement, Verbundausbildung joint vocational training currently covering 20 apprentices, and the federally funded bits@work/JOBvision program); professional development through the CyberForum Akademie and customized Inhouse Workshops; startup acceleration via CyberLab Karlsruhe and TeamUp co-founder matching; the KI-Innovation Lab for AI and digitalization enablement; the Open IT 5.0 job exchange platform; the Finish IT program for university dropouts; and event venue rentals with Event-as-a-Service support. The underlying technology is a digital member management, job board, and event registration platform, not a proprietary product platform.

The business model is subscription-based membership fees supplemented by professional services revenue (event rentals, training, recruitment) and federal/state project grants (BMFSFJ, BMBF, BIBB, Baden-Württemberg Wirtschaftsministerium, Stadt Karlsruhe). The go-to-market is community-led: companies join via the website and are retained through network value, events (Gründergrillen, CyberSession, TeamUp, MINT-Festival), and ongoing service touchpoints. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Matthias Hornberger with David Hermanns as CEO (Geschäftsführer), and has a staff in the 11–50 range. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

CyberForum

Legal name

Cyberforum e.V.

Website

https://cyberforum.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CyberForum e.V. is a non-profit networking association in Karlsruhe, Germany, serving as the largest regional IT and Hightech network in Europe with 1,200+ member companies through HR services, training, startup acceleration, and event programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Industry Association & Business Network Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Business Networking Communities (MPACAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications (EDAAANAA), Cybersecurity (EDAAAPAC), IT, Software & Cybersecurity Training (EDAGANAF)

Keywords

• IT industry networking
• Talent recruitment services
• Startup accelerator programs
• Vocational IT training
• Continuing professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: CyberForum generates revenue through membership fees from IT companies and startups in the TechnologyRegion Karlsruhe. Members pay for access to networking opportunities, HR services, training, and events.
2. Event Services and Room Rental: Revenue from renting out event spaces and providing event-as-a-service offerings.
3. HR Services and Training: Services include Fachkräftevermittlung (specialist recruitment), Auszubildende-Vermittlung (apprentice placement), bits@work project (free for KMU, funded by BMBFSFJ), and CyberForum Akademie (continuing education workshops).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CyberForum is a non-profit entrepreneur network for the IT and Hightech sector in the TechnologyRegion Karlsruhe that sells annual memberships to 1,200+ member companies. Its core deliverables are HR services (skilled-worker recruitment, apprenticeship placement, employer branding), vocational and continuing-education programs (Verbundausbildung, bits@work, Akademie workshops, KI-Innovation Lab), startup acceleration via CyberLab, regional job exchange (Open IT 5.0), event venues, and event-as-a-service offerings.

Product overview

CyberForum is the Hightech.Unternehmer.Netzwerk (High-Tech Entrepreneur Network) for the Karlsruhe technology region in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Rather than a unified software platform, it operates as a comprehensive member network offering interconnected services: HR services including skilled worker recruitment (Fachkräftevermittlung), vocational training programs (bits@work, Verbundausbildung), and employer branding; professional development via the CyberForum Akademie with inhouse workshops and continuing education; startup support through CyberLab accelerator; AI innovation support via the KI-Innovation Lab; and event venue services. The services are primarily for IT companies, startups, and professionals in the regional digital economy, with over 1,200 member companies. The network also facilitates job exchanges (Open IT 5.0) and supports career transitions for university dropouts (Finish IT).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fachkräftevermittlung (Skilled Worker Recruitment) IT talent recruitment service matching qualified IT professionals — from Werkstudierende (working students) to C-Level — with IT companies in the TechnologyRegion Karlsruhe. Operating continuously since 2015 for IT SMEs.
• bits@work (Auszubildende-Vermittlung / JOBvision) BMFSFJ-funded JOBvision project, implemented by CyberForum as regional partner, that provides free apprenticeship-placement support to KMU in the Karlsruhe technology region, adapting training content to digital transformation.
• Verbundausbildung (Combined Vocational Training) Joint training program that allows member SMEs without in-house training authorization to train apprentices with CyberForum handling contract management and IHK coordination while companies focus on professional training. Currently supports 20 apprentices.
• CyberForum Akademie Continuing-education program for member companies and professionals, offering open-enrollment workshops on topics including Leadership and Artificial Intelligence.
• Inhouse Workshops Customized in-house training delivered by practitioners from the CyberForum network, with flexible formats (half-day, full-day, multi-stage) and topics including digitalization and AI projects.
• KI-Innovation Lab AI innovation laboratory launched in 2025 to help member companies introduce or implement digitalization or AI projects, including AI training aligned with EU AI Act requirements.
• CyberLab (Startup Accelerator) Startup accelerator program that supports founders and prospective founders with resources, TeamUp co-founder matching events, and community access via CyberLab Karlsruhe.
• Open IT 5.0 Regional job exchange platform providing skilled-worker job listings, further training opportunities, professional contacts, and job-market information for the IT industry in the Karlsruhe region.
• Finish IT (Studienabbrecher-Programm) Program for university dropouts to pursue shortened IT apprenticeships with career counseling, eligibility assessment, and continuing-education support.
• Event Spaces and Event as a Service Rental of event rooms at the CyberForum Karlsruhe headquarters, plus comprehensive event-management services (Event as a Service) for congresses and conferences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 years of successful HR services for IT region Karlsruhe (2015-2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered platinum, health partner, gold, media, core and minor.

• TelemaxxplatinumOthersTelemaxx is a Platinum sponsor, providing support for CyberForum events and activities.
• Die Technikerhealth partnerOthersDie Techniker (TK) is a health insurance provider serving as a Gesundheitspartner (health partner) of CyberForum, supporting employee wellbeing initiatives for member companies.
• AppSphere AGgoldOthersAppSphere AG is a Gold sponsor of CyberForum, participating in joint training programs and member activities.
• Chrono24goldOthersChrono24 is a Gold sponsor supporting CyberForum activities.
• OninogoldOthersOnino is a Gold sponsor of CyberForum.
• RaumFabrik DurlachgoldOthersRaumFabrik Durlach is a co-working space provider and Gold sponsor of CyberForum.
• explainmediaOthersExplain is a media partner of CyberForum.
• StarfacemediaOthersStarface is a media partner of CyberForum.
• werkraum digitalmanufakturmediaOthersWerkraum digitalmanufaktur is a media partner of CyberForum.
• Stadt KarlsruhecoreOthersThe city of Karlsruhe is a supporting municipality (Förderer) of CyberForum, promoting the local IT ecosystem.
• IHK KarlsruhecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) collaborates on vocational training, providing authorization for joint apprenticeship programs and supporting administrative processes.
• Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) and Regional UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCyberForum maintains close ties with KIT and other regional universities for student recruitment and research collaboration.
• KSC TUT GUTminorOthersKSC (Karlsruher SC football club) supports the MINT-Festival through their TUT GUT social initiative, promoting technology and diversity.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Silicon Saxony: Silicon Saxony is the largest high-tech network in Saxony (Dresden), connecting semiconductor, software, and IT companies. It is the closest German analogue to CyberForum in terms of regional IT business association with networking, events, and project-based funding.
• TechQuartier: TechQuartier is a Frankfurt-based innovation and startup hub offering networking, events, and programs for fintech and broader tech companies. Comparable regional ecosystem player in the German startup landscape.
• Munich Startup: Munich Startup is the regional ecosystem platform for the Munich tech scene, providing networking, events, and founder resources. Comparable to CyberForum's startup-facing services (CyberLab, TeamUp) in a different German region.
• SIBB (Software Internet Business Berlin): SIBB is a Berlin-based digital industry association for IT companies, offering networking, events, and HR services. Closely comparable structure as a regional IT business network with member-driven services.

Broad incumbents

• Station F: Station F is Europe's largest startup campus in Paris, offering accelerator programs, events, and corporate partnerships. Comparable as a comprehensive startup ecosystem platform but at much larger scale and privately funded.
• Bitkom: Bitkom is Germany's national digital industry association representing thousands of IT companies. It is a broader incumbent offering overlapping policy advocacy, events, and networking, but at a national rather than regional level.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play is a global startup accelerator and innovation platform with corporate partnerships. Comparable in its accelerator and corporate matching services, though vastly larger and commercial rather than nonprofit.
• IHK Karlsruhe: The Karlsruhe Chamber of Industry and Commerce is a statutory regional business membership organization providing training authorization, networking, and advocacy. Comparable membership-driven, region-bound model for businesses.

Regional players

• Hamburg@work: Hamburg@work (now Hamburg Media Net) is a regional digital and media economy network in Hamburg, providing networking and innovation services for IT/digital companies. Operates in a comparable role to CyberForum but in northern Germany.
• Heilbronn SLK (Startup Lounge Kohn): SLK is a regional startup and innovation hub in Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, providing networking and acceleration services. Geographically proximate peer within the same German state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cyberforum-e-v-
• Xx.com/cyberforum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 CyberForum