Society for social business consulting

What Society for social business consulting does

Gesellschaft für soziale Unternehmensberatung mbH (trading as gsub) is a Berlin-based, privately held social business consultancy founded in 1991 by the State of Berlin to implement labor-market policy programs. The company operates as a Dienstleister im öffentlichen Auftrag (service provider under public mandate), delivering consulting, program management, and grants management for federal ministries (notably BMAS and BMFSFJ), the Berlin Senate, the Brandenburg regional government, and European Social Fund programs. Its portfolio spans four policy areas — employment and labor-market policy, inclusion and participation policy, children and youth policy, and education policy — and includes large coordination roles across the MY TURN networking hub (60+ projects supporting ~28,000 women with migration experience), the Akti(F) Plus network (54 family-support projects), and the Fachstelle Teilhabeberatung (supporting ~500 EUTB disability counseling centers). The company is governed by Managing Directors Gabriele Fellermayer and Andrea Keppke.

gsub's core technology asset is ProDaBa (gsub-Projektdatenbank), a proprietary web-based database that covers the full lifecycle of grants management from application to final utilization report and is sold as an integrated module suite. The company also operates the gsub-Akademie, which delivers the Job Broker qualification certified to ISO 17024 (Personenzertifizierung) at EQF Level 6 — priced at €2,850 per company participant and €2,250 per private individual — plus Funding Advisor seminars. A barrier-free Teilhabeberatung mobile application supports the EUTB program, and three on-site conference rooms (12-120 persons) at Kronenstraße 6, Berlin are rented for events. The company is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001 on IT-Grundschutz, holds the audit berufundfamilie work-life balance mark, and is a signatory of the Charta der Vielfalt.

Revenue is generated primarily through government contracts (managed services for federal ministries, regional governments, and ESF/ESF Plus programs), supplemented by training and certification fees from the gsub-Akademie and venue-rental income from the in-house event facilities. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct procurement by federal and state contracting authorities, layered with community-led engagement through MetropolisNet (a 1998-founded European network of seven cities including Berlin, Budapest, Dublin, Hamburg, Rome, Tampere, and Vienna), the OECD LEED Forum (board representation), and Eurocities collaboration. Customer concentration is high, with virtually all revenue tied to public-sector counterparties in Germany.

Name

Society for social business consulting

Legal name

Gesellschaft für soziale Unternehmensberatung mbH

Website

https://gsub.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

gsub is a Berlin-based social business consultancy, founded in 1991, that delivers consulting, grants management, and program coordination services to German federal ministries, the Berlin Senate, and European Social Fund programs, with proprietary ProDaBa grants software and the ISO-certified Job Broker training academy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Sector Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Intergovernmental Affairs & Federal Grants Administration (BPAIAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO), Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory (BPAHAFAO)

Keywords

• Social business consulting
• Grants management services
• Public sector program management
• Labor market integration consulting
• Certified job broker training

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Mandate Services: As a Dienstleister im öffentlichen Auftrag (service provider in public mandate), gsub generates revenue through government contracts for implementing labor market policies, employment policy, inclusion policy, children and youth policy, and education policy programs.
2. Training and Certification Programs: Revenue from certified training programs including Job Broker qualification (certified according to ISO 17024) at €2,850 for companies and €2,250 for private individuals.
3. Event Management and Venue Rental: Revenue from renting conference facilities and event management services. gsub offers three conference rooms (12-120 persons) and seminar rooms in Berlin headquarters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Society for social business consulting (gsub) is a Berlin-based consultancy delivering process and organizational consulting, full-cycle grants management (Fördermanagement), event management, and certified professional training for public institutions, companies, and non-profit organizations. Its proprietary ProDaBa software underpins the grants management service, while the gsub-Akademie delivers certified Job Broker training (ISO 17024, EQF Level 6) and Funding Advisor seminars. The firm also operates multiple networking hubs and specialized counseling centers such as MY TURN, Akti(F) Plus, Fachstelle Teilhabeberatung, and Fachstelle Qualität.

Product overview

gsub - Gesellschaft für soziale Unternehmensberatung is a social business consultancy offering consulting, program management, and grants management services with a portfolio of specialized products and projects. The core offering includes consulting services (process and organizational consulting, moderation, project support) and grants management. Their main software product is ProDaBa (Fördermitteldatenbank), a proprietary project database for grant management from application to utilization reporting. The company operates the gsub-Akademie offering certified training programs including the Job Broker qualification (ISO 17024 certified) and Funding Advisor seminars. gsub manages multiple networking hubs (Vernetzungsstellen) including MY TURN, Akti(F) Plus, and others, as well as specialized centers like Fachstelle Qualität and Fachstelle Teilhabeberatung. Event management services with barrier-free conference facilities in Berlin are also provided. The portfolio spans public institutions, companies, and non-profit organizations at European, national, regional, and local levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Job Broker: Certified professional development program for job brokers, ISO 17024 certified, aligned with EQF Level 6
• ProDaBa
• Teilhabeberatung App
• gsub-Akademie
• Europaagentur

Products and services

• ProDaBa - Fördermitteldatenbank Proprietary software solution (gsub project database) offering customized modules for all aspects of grant management, from application to utilization report. Accessed via prodaba.gsub-intern.de and used for efficient grants management across public mandate programs.
• Qualifizierung zum Job Broker Certified professional development training program of the gsub Academy based on a new European professional profile for holistic counseling and placement of job seekers. Six modules, blended learning concept, certification exam. Priced at €2,850 net per company participant and €2,250 per private individual. Limited to 15 participants per course.
• Beratung (Consulting Services) Consulting services covering process and organizational consulting, moderation, grant management, and project support, focusing on integrating people into the workforce and creating or preserving jobs. Targeted at public institutions, companies, and non-profit organizations.
• Fördermanagement (Grants Management) Efficient solutions for implementing grant funding and all individual steps of grants management, covering project management as project sponsor and consulting services in grant funding.
• Event Management - Conference Rooms Modern, barrier-free event spaces in the heart of Berlin with three conference rooms: large conference room (163 m², up to 120 persons), two seminar rooms (38 m² for 12 persons; 58 m², combined 96 m² for 35 persons), with technical equipment including video projectors, sound systems, and facilitation tools.
• cabi Vergabepilot A procurement consulting tool and service for managing public procurement processes.
• Fachberatung § 16h SGB II Expert counseling services under § 16h SGB II, supporting individuals with specialized consulting needs.
• Internationale Zusammenarbeit (International Cooperation) European and international network cooperation, including the Europe Agency supporting Berlin Senate administration in European exchange, and participation in MetropolisNet and EUROCITIES networks.
• App Teilhabeberatung Mobile application for the Complementary Independent Participation Counseling (EUTB), providing counseling finder, support information, and current news about participation counseling.
• gsub-Akademie Academy offering professional development programs including Job Broker qualification and Funding Advisor seminars, plus advanced programs.
• Fördermittelberater*in Seminar program for becoming a funding advisor, offered by the gsub Academy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 50% placement rate for women supported through MY TURN program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 core, major and minor.

• MetropolisNet EWIVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Founding member since 1998 (operates as EEIG since 2009). European network of organizations supporting local employment, education and social inclusion strategies in major European cities. Members located in Berlin, Budapest, Dublin, Hamburg, Rome, Tampere, and Vienna. Network headquartered in Berlin at gsub offices.
• OECD LEED ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member with representation on the Forum Board. Participation in international knowledge exchange on local economic development and employment.
• Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey contracting authority for major programs including MY TURN, Akti(F) Plus, EUTB, and INQA Experimentierräume. gsub supports BMAS in program implementation and management.
• European Commission / European Social Fund (ESF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funding source for ESF and ESF Plus programs implemented by gsub including MY TURN, Akti(F) Plus, and various employment initiatives.
• Senatsverwaltung für Integration, Arbeit und Soziales BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin state government department. gsub supports through Europaagentur, event organization, and program implementation including Social Affairs Forum hosting.
• EurocitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of major European cities. gsub collaborates through Europaagentur in working groups and events on topics including Work 4.0 and inclusive society.
• Jobcenter BerlinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin job center for basic benefits (SGB II). Partner for employment integration programs and labor market initiatives.
• Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracting authority for family and youth policy programs including Demokratie leben! and related initiatives.
• SÖSTRAmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementation partner for MY TURN networking site, cooperating with gsub in program delivery.
• Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for NEARVET project - applied research in vocational education. Collaboration on online seminars and E-learning platform development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PD - Berater der öffentlichen Hand GmbH: Germany-based public sector management consultancy that advises federal, state, and local governments on strategy, organization, and project implementation. Highly comparable to gsub because both serve as fee-for-service implementers of public mandates, including federal program management and grants administration.
• Bundesakademie für öffentliche Verwaltung (BAköV): German federal academy providing training and certification for public administration professionals. Comparable to gsub in its delivery of certified training programs (such as gsub's ISO 17024 Job Broker qualification) for the public-sector workforce, though government-owned rather than private.
• ZGS Consult GmbH: German consultancy that acts as a project management agency for federal and EU-funded programs in urban development, social cohesion, and labor-market contexts. Directly comparable to gsub because it administers ESF and federal grant programs as a public-mandate service provider.

Broad incumbents

• Prognos AG: European research and consulting firm advising governments on labor market, education, and social policy. Comparable to gsub because it produces program evaluations and policy studies used by the same federal ministries gsub serves, though without the program-implementation business.
• GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit: Federal enterprise supporting German government goals in international cooperation, including employment and social inclusion programs funded by BMZ and other ministries. Comparable to gsub as a public-mandate implementing organization, but at a much larger scale and with a primarily international rather than domestic focus.
• Deloitte Public Sector (Germany): Public-sector practice of a Big Four firm advising German federal and state governments on labor-market and social programs. Comparable to gsub on the procurement and program management side of public mandates, but operating at significantly greater scale and with a much broader service portfolio.
• Rambøll Management Consulting: Global consultancy with a public sector practice advising European governments on labor market, inclusion, and social policy programs. Comparable to gsub because it competes for public-sector tenders and supports EU funding program design and implementation, though at significantly broader scale.

Others

• SÖSTRA - Sozialwissenschaftliche Studien und Forschung: Berlin-based social science research institute that implements and evaluates public labor-market and inclusion programs. Comparable to gsub as a partner ecosystem participant and potential competitor on ESF Plus tenders, with a research-heavy rather than grants-management focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gesellschaft-f%C3%BCr-soziale-unternehmensberatung
• Facebookfacebook.com/155029501690509

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Society for social business consulting