BDÜ e. V.
BDÜ e. V. is Germany's largest professional association for interpreters and translators, representing approximately 7,000 members (around 80% of organized language professionals) through membership services, an 80+ language online directory, continuing education, publishing, and regulatory advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1955
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BDÜ e. V. does
BDÜ e. V. (Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer e.V.) is a registered non-profit professional association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1955 and headquartered at Uhlandstraße 4-5 in Berlin. As Germany's largest professional association for interpreters and translators, it represents approximately 7,000 members organized through a federation of 9 regional state associations plus the VKD (specialized association for conference interpreters), and claims roughly 80% of all organized language professionals in Germany. The association serves two primary customer segments: individual interpreters and translators seeking professional development, quality recognition, and advocacy, and clients (courts, government agencies, enterprises) seeking qualified language professionals.
The association's product portfolio centers on an online searchable database covering more than 80 languages and numerous subject areas for finding qualified interpreters and translators, a professional journal (MDÜ) delivered in three formats (direct, audio, online), a seminar program offered both in-person and online across Germany through seminare.bdue.de, a member-only platform (MeinBDÜ) using phpBB forum software, a job marketplace (BDÜ-Stellenmarkt), and a specialized publishing subsidiary (BDÜ Fachverlag / BDÜ Weiterbildungs- und Fachverlagsgesellschaft mbH) producing handbooks such as Handbuch Dolmetschen and the Honorar- und Gehaltsspiegel. The association also administers two annual awards: the Hieronymuspreis for exemplary multilingual communication and the Dr.-Stanislaw-Gierlicki-Preis for voluntary service.
Revenue is generated through three primary streams: recurring membership dues from approximately 7,000 members across the federation (pricing not publicly disclosed), publication sales through BDÜ Fachverlag (one-time purchases), and seminar/continuing education fees (professional services pricing). The association maintains Germany's membership in FIT (Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs) and engages actively in regulatory advocacy on legislation including the JVEG court remuneration schedule and the Gerichtsdolmetschergesetz (GDolmG). Current leadership is President Cornelia Rösel, supported by Vice Presidents Isabelle Hofmann and Uta Stareprawo. The organization is member-funded with no external equity backing.
BDÜ e. V. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BDÜ e. V.
- Legal name
- Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer e.V.
- Website
- https://bdue.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1955
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- BDÜ e. V. is Germany's largest professional association for interpreters and translators, representing approximately 7,000 members (around 80% of organized language professionals) through membership services, an 80+ language online directory, continuing education, publishing, and regulatory advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where BDÜ e. V. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
BDÜ e. V. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: The association generates revenue through membership fees from its approximately 7,000 members across 10 member associations.
- BDÜ Fachverlag Publications: The BDÜ Fachverlag publishes professional books, handbooks, and guides for interpreters and translators including topics such as technical translation, legal translation, conference interpreting, and career development.
- Seminar and Continuing Education: The association offers seminars and continuing education programs for professional development, available both in-person and online.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | BDÜ membership pricing is not publicly disclosed on the website. |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
BDÜ e. V. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BDÜ e. V. is a non-profit professional association that represents approximately 7,000 interpreters and translators in Germany, comprising roughly 80% of all organized language professionals nationally. The association provides an online database connecting clients with qualified language professionals across more than 80 languages, operates a publishing house (BDÜ Fachverlag) for professional literature, delivers continuing education seminars, and advocates for the profession in legislative and regulatory matters.
Product overview
BDÜ e.V. (Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer e.V.) is Germany's largest professional association for interpreters and translators, serving approximately 7,000 members and representing about 80% of all organized language professionals in Germany. Rather than offering a unified software platform, BDÜ provides a portfolio of member services including an online database for finding qualified interpreters and translators (Online-Datenbank), a specialized publishing house (BDÜ Fachverlag) producing professional handbooks and guides, the MDÜ professional journal available in multiple formats (direct, audio, online), continuing education seminars offered in-person and online through seminare.bdue.de, a member-only platform (MeinBDÜ) for discussion and information sharing, a job marketplace, and annual awards recognizing excellence in multilingual communication (Hieronymuspreis) and voluntary service (Dr.-Stanislaw-Gierlicki-Preis). The association operates as a professional body and service organization rather than a technology product company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MeinBDÜ: Internal discussion and information platform for BDÜ members
- BDÜ Fachverlag
- MDÜ
- BDÜ Hieronymuspreis
- Dr.-Stanislaw-Gierlicki-Preis
Products and services
- Online-Datenbank Dolmetscher / Übersetzer
- MDÜ (Fachzeitschrift)
- BDÜ Fachverlag Publications
- BDÜ-Seminare (Präsenz-/Online-Seminare)
- BDÜ-Stellenmarkt
- BDÜ-Weihnachtsdatenbank
Quantifiable outcome
- BDÜ represents approximately 80% of all organized interpreters and translators in Germany
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use BDÜ e. V.
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
BDÜ e. V. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
BDÜ e. V. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- VKD - Verband der Konferenzdolmetscher im BDÜ e.V.coreThe VKD is a specialized association within the BDÜ federation, focused specifically on conference interpreters. It operates at the federal level and represents interpreters working in conference and diplomatic settings.
- 9 Regional State Associations (Landesverbände)coreBDÜ operates as a federal association (Dachverband) with 9 regional member associations covering different German states: Nord, Berlin-Brandenburg, Bayern, Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hessen, and one additional association.
- FIT (Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs/International Federation of Translators)majorBDÜ is the German national member of FIT, the International Federation of Translators. BDÜ hosted the FIT World Congress 2014 in Berlin.
- VFLL e.V. (Verband der Freien Lektorinnen und Lektoren)minorCooperation with VFLL in producing the 'Handbuch Übersetzungslektorat' (Handbook of Translation Editing), a standard work in the translation editing field.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
BDÜ e. V. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- American Translators Association (ATA): The ATA is the largest professional association for translators and interpreters in the United States, with a comparable membership-based structure, certification programs, and advocacy mission. It is the most direct international analogue to BDÜ.
- Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL): CIoL is the UK-based chartered professional body for linguists, offering membership, qualification (Chartered Linguist), and industry representation. Its mission and member-services portfolio closely mirror BDÜ's in another major European market.
- Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI): ITI is the UK's independent professional membership body for translators and interpreters, providing CPD, a member directory, and advocacy. It operates the same kind of membership-based service model as BDÜ.
- AUSIT (Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators): AUSIT is Australia's national professional association for interpreters and translators, offering accreditation, professional development, and advocacy - a structurally identical peer in another major market.
Others
- Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs (FIT): FIT is the international umbrella federation of translator and interpreter associations, of which BDÜ is the German national member. It is the parent-level organization in the same professional ecosystem.
- European Union of Associations of Translation Companies (EUATC): EUATC represents translation companies (rather than individual freelancers) in Europe and operates in the same language services ecosystem as BDÜ, with overlapping policy advocacy interests.
Regional players
- ITI Bulletin / Society of Authors (SoA) Linguists Group: The Society of Authors in the UK includes a Translators Group offering representation and professional support to translators, representing an adjacent membership model in a different linguistic market.
Emerging players
- ProZ.com: ProZ.com is the largest global online community and marketplace for freelance translators, with directory, job posting, and certification features that overlap with BDÜ's database and Stellenmarkt offerings.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BDÜ e. V. social profiles
Digital presenceBDÜ e. V. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BDÜ e. V. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
BDÜ e. V. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
BDÜ e. V. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BDÜ e. V. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BDÜ e. V.
What does BDÜ e. V. do?
BDÜ e. V. is a non-profit professional association that represents approximately 7,000 interpreters and translators in Germany, comprising roughly 80% of all organized language professionals nationally. The association provides an online database connecting clients with qualified language professionals across more than 80 languages, operates a publishing house (BDÜ Fachverlag) for professional literature, delivers continuing education seminars, and advocates for the profession in legislative and regulatory matters.
Is BDÜ e. V. a public or private company?
BDÜ e. V. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BDÜ e. V. founded?
BDÜ e. V. was founded in 1955. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is BDÜ e. V. based?
BDÜ e. V. is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does BDÜ e. V. make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are BDÜ Fachverlag Publications and seminar and Continuing Education.
Who are BDÜ e. V.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are American Translators Association (ATA), Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL), Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and AUSIT (Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators). Others are Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs (FIT) and European Union of Associations of Translation Companies (EUATC). ITI Bulletin / Society of Authors (SoA) Linguists Group is listed as a regional player. ProZ.com is listed as an emerging player.
Does BDÜ e. V. have an API?
No public API is recorded for BDÜ e. V..