Wirtschaftsregion Hochfranken

What Wirtschaftsregion Hochfranken does

Wirtschaftsregion Hochfranken e.V. is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1997 and headquartered in Hof, Upper Franconia, Bavaria. It functions as the regional economic development and marketing body for the Hochfranken area, covering the city of Hof, Landkreis Hof, and Landkreis Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge — a region of roughly 45 municipalities, 214,000 residents, and approximately 550 square kilometers. The association is funded through scaled annual membership dues from 350+ member companies, municipalities, and institutions, supplemented by fees from its Karriereziel job portal, advertising in its monthly IMPULS newsletter, and multi-year grants from the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs (FöRLaIII, 2024-2027).

The core product set is structured around regional marketing and talent retention. Programs include the Jobportal Hochfranken (140+ registered employers, 200+ active listings), Hochfrankenstunden (school career orientation reaching 2,500+ students annually), Azubisäule digital apprenticeship screens installed at 10+ schools, Firmenwegweiser signage at 17 schools (recognized as INQA best practice), and the Hochfranken Kalender and Standortzeichen branding initiatives. The organization does not operate proprietary technology beyond a WordPress CMS website, Google Analytics/Tag Manager, YouTube integration, and the karriereziel.de job portal platform hosted by third-party providers.

The operating model is community-led and event-driven, with a small paid staff of 5-6 plus a volunteer board of 14+ representatives from public bodies, Sparkasse Hochfranken, IHK, Handwerkskammer, and major industrial employers (REHAU, Scherdel, Sandler, GEALAN, DACHSER, Concentric, Frankenpost). Distribution is exclusively regional and domestic, with member acquisition driven by direct outreach, regional career fair participation, school programming, and word-of-mouth within the regional business community.

Name

Wirtschaftsregion Hochfranken

Legal name

Wirtschaftsregion Hochfranken e.V.

Website

https://hochfranken.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wirtschaftsregion Hochfranken e.V. is a non-profit regional economic development association founded in 1997 in Hof, Germany, serving 350+ member companies, municipalities, and institutions across the Hochfranken region through membership dues, a regional job portal, school career-orientation programs, and Bavarian state-funded skilled-worker initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Economic Growth, Livelihoods & Private Sector Development (BPADAEAE)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Business networking
• Talent recruitment
• Regional marketing
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Hof

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Annual membership fees paid by companies, municipalities, and institutions. Fees are scaled by employee count of the member organization. This is the primary revenue stream supporting the association's general operations and regional marketing activities.
2. Job portal advertising: Companies pay annual fees to post job listings on the karriereziel.de portal. Members receive discounted rates; non-member annual fee starts at 60 euros net per year. Over 140 registered companies and 200+ job listings.
3. Newsletter (IMPULS) advertising: Members and non-members can purchase advertising space in the monthly IMPULS newsletter. Advertising prices were reduced in 2023. Members receive preferential rates.
4. State-funded project grants: The Karriereziel project (Fachkräfte, Wasser und Energie) is co-funded by the Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Landesentwicklung und Energie (Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs) and the Kompetenznetzwerk Wasser und Energie. FöRLaIII runs 2024–2027.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wirtschaftsregion Hochfranken e.V. is a registered non-profit regional economic development association that networks companies, municipalities, and institutions in the Hochfranken region of Upper Franconia, Bavaria. It offers membership-based regional marketing services, a regional job portal, career orientation programs in schools, apprenticeship recruitment tools, a monthly newsletter, and brand-building initiatives to promote the region as a business and living destination.

Product overview

Wirtschaftsregion Hochfranken e.V. operates as a regional economic development and marketing organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services focused on regional marketing, skills development, and workforce retention. The core offering includes the Jobportal Hochfranken job portal platform, the Karriereziel career portal, and the monthly IMPULS Newsletter for regional business news. These are complemented by youth engagement programs including Hochfrankenstunden (school career orientation), Azubisäule (digital apprenticeship recruitment screens), and Firmenwegweiser (company wayfinding signs). The organization also produces marketing products like the Hochfranken Kalender calendar and manages the 'Ein Unternehmen aus Hochfranken' location branding initiative. The services work together to attract talent, retain young professionals, and promote the region as an attractive business and living destination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IMPULS: Monthly newsletter of the Wirtschaftsregion Hochfranken e.V. delivering news and insights from the regional economy.
• Karriereziel
• Jobportal / jobs.karriereziel.de
• Hochfrankenstunden
• Azubisäule
• Firmenwegweiser
• Standortzeichen / Ein Unternehmen aus Hochfranken

Products and services

• Jobportal Hochfranken

Quantifiable outcome

• Job portal reaches 220,000 regional residents and connects 140+ companies with job seekers through 200+ active listings
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Einstein1 Digitales GründerzentrumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025The association moved its headquarters to Einstein1 (Digital Startup Center) in October 2025. Einstein1 and the association co-host events including the 'KI in der Produktion' seminar and 'Rooftop Community Sundowner'. Einstein1 provides the physical venue and startup ecosystem access; the association provides regional business network content.
• Kompetenznetzwerk Wasser und Energie e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Long-standing cooperation partner since 2019 for the shared regional promotion project. Together they run the 'Fachkräfte' and 'Wasser und Energie' projects under the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs funding program (FöRLaIII, 2024–2027). The network bundles expertise in water, wastewater, and renewable energy sectors, and contributes to the association's skilled worker initiatives.
• Hochschule Hof – University of Applied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional university of applied sciences is both a member and a strategic partner. Hosts Einstein1 and the StartupLab on its campus. Collaborates on career orientation (participation in Hochfrankenstunden), startup support (StartupLab), and the regional skilled worker initiative (Karriereziel).
• AGI Hochfranken plus e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of industrial companies in Hochfranken. Thomas Regnet (Scherdel GmbH) represents AGI on the association's board. AGI co-organizes events such as the 'KI in der Produktion' seminar. Deeply embedded in the regional manufacturing and industrial network.
• winFORS e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork organization for renewable energy and sustainability. Co-organizes the 'Energiewende' site visit event at the Wunsiedler Energiepark with the association and AGI. Aligned with the region's energy transition narrative and WUNsiedler Weg model.
• StartupLab der Hochschule HofmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup support unit of Hochschule Hof. Co-organizes the 'Rooftop Community Sundowner' with Einstein1 and the association. Provides startup ecosystem access and entrepreneurship programming within the regional network.
• Stadt Hof, Landkreis Hof, Landkreis Wunsiedel im FichtelgebirgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe three Gebietskörperschaften (municipal bodies) are founding sponsors and key stakeholders. Their heads (Oberbürgermeister, two Landräte) serve on the association's board. They provide co-financing, political legitimacy, and alignment of regional development goals.
• Sparkasse HochfrankencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional savings bank is a founding sponsor and board member (Andreas Pöhlmann as chairman of the board). Provides financial sponsorship and deepens ties with the regional banking and business community. Aligns with the bank's regional development mandate.
• Handwerkskammer für OberfrankenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of crafts for Upper Franconia. Christian Herpich (Metzgerei Herpich), Vice President of the chamber, serves on the association's board. Collaborates on the Betriebsnachfolge (business succession) initiative for crafts businesses.
• Industrie- und Handelskammer für Oberfranken Bayreuth (IHK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of commerce for Upper Franconia. Michael Bitzinger (bitzinger GmbH) chairs the IHK Hof committee and Dr. Roman Pausch (Rausch & Pausch SE) chairs the IHK Marktredwitz/Selb committee, both on the association's board. Represents regional industrial and commercial interests.
• Agentur für Arbeit Bayreuth-HofmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Employment Agency regional office. Listed as a friendly network and cooperating partner. Collaborates on job portal activities and career orientation initiatives for job seekers and employers in the Hochfranken region.
• PREALIZE Welcome HubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured on the Kooperationen page as a cooperation partner for international talent acquisition, seasonal workers, and apprentices. Offers sustainable recruitment services for member companies seeking foreign labor.
• AzubisäuleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a cooperation partner on the Kooperationen page. An interactive digital recruitment board system used by member companies to advertise apprenticeships directly to students in schools. The association coordinates the deployment of Azubisäule screens.
• Christian Hempfling / MachBar PodcastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast 'MachBar' by Christian Hempfling is featured on the Kooperationen page. A co-branded podcast covering regional entrepreneurship and career topics, part of the Karriereziel employer branding campaign.
• gründernet GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional startup network. Co-organized the first 'Fuck Up Night' in Hof in January 2026 alongside StartupLab, Einstein1, and the association. Supports the regional startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Kreishandwerkerschaft HochfrankenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraft trades guild for Hochfranken. Marco Kemnitzer (WEGGEL Haustechnik GmbH), Kreishandwerksmeister, serves on the association's board. Collaborated on the 'Betriebsnachfolge im Handwerk' succession event for crafts businesses (January 2026).
• bitzinger GmbHmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional IT services company (web design, hosting, digital marketing). Designed, hosts, and maintains the association's WordPress website. Listed in the Impressum as the design and hosting partner. Also a member and board participant through IHK committee chairmanship.
• Atheyna GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional company. Co-organized the 'Kaffeeküche oder Krisenzone' communication workshop (April 2026) with Karriereziel and the association. Contributed expertise on workplace communication and employee retention.
• The Ringsight GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional strategic consulting firm. Co-organized the 'Glaubwürdigkeit im Wandel' employer branding workshop (June 2026) with Karriereziel. Contributed expertise on hybrid employer branding and transparent employee communication.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmbUylDZ5bwasaBs16g_O_g
• Facebookfacebook.com/Hochfranken
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wirtschaftsregion-hochfranken
• Instagraminstagram.com/wirtschaftsregionhochfranken

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Wirtschaftsregion Hochfranken