What AFCEA Bonn does

AFCEA Bonn e.V. is a German non-profit professional association (eingetragener Verein, registered at Amtsgericht Bonn under VR 5105) founded in 1983, operating as a neutral Anwenderforum (user forum) for knowledge exchange in telecommunications, information technology, electronics, and automation with a focus on defense and public security applications. The organization serves as the Bonn chapter of AFCEA International (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association), headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, and has been recognized as AFCEA International's 'Model Chapter of the Year' every consecutive year since 2008. Its core offerings include the annual AFCEA Fachausstellung trade exhibition (the 39th edition in 2026 attracted 8,800+ participants and 325 exhibitors and was sold out), the Bonner IT-Dialog conference, the ZuT-Forum co-organized with Fraunhofer FKIE, the Koblenzer IT-Tagung, and Emerging Leaders, Mentoring, and Studienpreis talent-development programs (the 17th Studienpreis in 2025 awarded €21,000).

The association's business model combines four recurring revenue streams: age-tiered annual membership dues from approximately 1,000+ personal members and corporate members, exhibition booth fees (Standgebühren) governed by published Special Business Conditions, corporate sponsorship, and event registration fees processed through the pretix ticketing platform. GTM motion is community-led: membership and exhibition sales are driven through the association's flagship events and its role as the preeminent neutral forum connecting the German Bundeswehr, security authorities (BOS), defense industry primes (Airbus, Bechtle, CGI, secunet), research institutions (Fraunhofer FKIE), and emerging DefTech startups. Operational technology is entirely third-party (pretix, PayPal, VR Pay, Profairs, Typo3), with the only internally branded digital tool being the CGI-built e-Kompetenzmatrix exhibitor-search database. Leadership is provided by Chairman Generalmajor Armin Fleischmann (elected 2018), Deputy Chairmen Ron Simon and Marc Akkermann, and Managing Director Thomas Wirsching, supported by a small Bonn-headquartered Geschäftsstelle.

Name

AFCEA Bonn

Legal name

AFCEA Bonn e.V.

Website

https://afcea.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

AFCEA Bonn e.V. is a German non-profit professional association founded in 1983 that operates as a neutral forum connecting the Bundeswehr, security authorities, defense industry, and research institutions through events, exhibitions, and talent programs in defense and public security IT.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees structured by age groups and chosen duration, as determined by the membership assembly in the Beitragsordnung (membership fee schedule). Both personal and corporate (korporative) membership options exist with different fee structures.
2. Trade Exhibition Revenue: Revenue generated from exhibitor booth fees (Standgebühren) at the annual AFCEA Fachausstellung. The 2026 exhibition was sold out with approximately 250 exhibiting companies. Pricing follows published Special Business Terms (Besondere Geschäftsbedingungen).
3. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship opportunities for events and activities, with sponsorship flyer and options published on the website.
4. Event Fees: Registration fees for various professional events including Fachveranstaltungen (specialist events), the Bonner IT-Dialog, and other conferences. Ticketing is handled through pretix system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFCEA Bonn e.V. is a registered non-profit professional association (eingetragener Verein / Anwenderforum) that operates a neutral platform for information exchange in telecommunications, IT, electronics, and automation for the German defense and public security community. It sells annual membership subscriptions (personal and corporate) and operates paid events including its flagship trade exhibition (AFCEA Fachausstellung), specialist conferences (Bonner IT-Dialog, ZuT-Forum, Koblenzer IT-Tagung), and professional development programs for young leaders, alongside award and scholarship programs.

Product overview

AFCEA Bonn e.V. is a non-profit professional association (Anwenderforum) serving as a neutral platform for information exchange in telecommunications, IT, electronics, and automation, particularly for defense and public security. The organization is a chapter of AFCEA International and is registered as a charitable association at the Bonn District Court (VR 5105). Its portfolio consists of recurring events (AFCEA Fachausstellung, Bonner IT-Dialog, ZuT-Forum, Koblenzer IT-Tagung), professional development programs (Emerging Leaders, Mentoring, Studienpreis, CCG Stipendium), and membership services (newsletter, networking). The e-Kompetenzmatrix is a proprietary web tool for matching exhibitor capabilities. The organization does not develop or sell commercial software products. All technical operations (ticketing, payments, exhibitor management) rely on third-party platforms including pretix, PayPal/VR Pay, and Profairs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AFCEA Fachausstellung (Trade Exhibition) Annual two-day trade exhibition for defense and public security IT held at the World Conference Center Bonn, featuring approximately 250–325 exhibiting companies, industry presentations, symposiums, startup pitches, and recruiting events; the 39th edition (2026) attracted 8,800+ participants.
• Bonner IT-Dialog Annual high-level conference focused on national security and defense technology topics, featuring presentations, panels, and expert discussions on Germany's security ecosystem and digital sovereignty; scheduled for October 7–8, 2026 at Maritim Hotel Bonn under the theme 'Die Resilienz Deutschlands auf dem Prüfstand'.
• AFCEA Zukunfts- und Technologieforum (ZuT-Forum) Annual technology forum organized jointly with Fraunhofer FKIE featuring expert presentations on emerging defense and security technologies such as drone swarms and generative AI; 2026 edition scheduled for November 5 with a Call for Presentations.
• Koblenzer IT-Tagung Annual IT conference co-organized with the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), focusing on technology deployment in armed forces; site of the 1,000th member milestone celebration in August 2018.
• Emerging Leaders Program Professional development program for young soldiers, civilian employees, students, and young professionals up to approximately 40 years old, providing networking events, workshops, mentoring, and international exchange opportunities; successor to the Young AFCEANs program which won the 2019 Model Young AFCEAN Chapter Award.
• AFCEA Studienpreis (Study Prize) Annual award program recognizing outstanding academic Bachelor's and Master's theses in informatics, communications engineering, radar technology, automation engineering, and robotics, with total prize money of approximately €21,000 across seven winners; the 2025 edition was the 17th edition.
• AFCEA Mentoring Program Mentorship program connecting young professionals with experienced experts from defense, industry, and government for career guidance and knowledge transfer.
• AFCEA CCG Stipendium (Defense Stipend) Defense scholarship program jointly offered with Carl-Cranz-Gesellschaft (CCG), deepened in 2025 to jointly award three Defense Stipends for the first time; provides financial support for professional development in defense technology.
• e-Kompetenzmatrix Database Application Database-driven web application developed and provided free of charge by CGI Deutschland that allows Fachausstellung visitors to search exhibitor competencies by entering specific capabilities, listing which exhibitors and booths offer relevant expertise.
• AFCEA Newsletter (incl. SIGNAL Magazine Subscription) Regular electronic newsletter for members and subscribers delivering association and event updates; SIGNAL magazine subscription is included free of charge with personal and corporate AFCEA Bonn membership.
• AFCEA Bonn Membership (Personal and Corporate) Annual membership program offering personal and corporate (korporative) membership options with fees structured by age group and duration, granting free participation in specialist events, SIGNAL magazine subscription, access to AFCEA events abroad at favorable travel rates, and participation in professional development programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,800+ participants at 2026 Fachausstellung
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

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

• Fraunhofer FKIE (Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partnership where Fraunhofer FKIE serves as the primary venue for AFCEA specialist events (Fachveranstaltungen). The organizations co-organize the annual Zukunfts- und Technologieforum (ZuT-Forum), addressing topics like drone swarms, AI in crisis management, and cyber defense. Fraunhofer FKIE provides research expertise and venue access while AFCEA provides industry access and networking platform.
• Carl-Cranz-Gesellschaft (CCG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCEA Bonn and Carl-Cranz-Gesellschaft deepened their long-standing partnership in 2025 to jointly award three Defense Stipends (Defense-Stipendien) for the first time. This partnership combines AFCEA's network in the defense community with CCG's expertise in technical education and training.
• BDSV e.V. (Bundesverband der Deutschen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungsindustrie)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing cooperation for the annual 'Konvent zur Digitalen Konvergenz in der SVI' (Convention on Digital Convergence in the Security and Defense Industry). BDSV and AFCEA Bonn co-host this event, which brings together industry and association perspectives on digital transformation in defense. The 8th edition is scheduled for September 8, 2026 in Berlin.
• Cyber Innovation Hub der BundeswehrcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the Bundeswehr's Cyber Innovation Hub for startup engagement at the AFCEA Fachausstellung. The partnership scouts DefTech startups and integrates them into the exhibition. The Cyber Innovation Hub supports innovation in Bundeswehr through startup collaboration.
• UniBw München / PalladionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of the Bundeswehr Munich and Palladion work with AFCEA Bonn's Emerging Leaders to scout and integrate DefTech startups into the annual Fachausstellung.
• Strategic Partners for 'Gesamtstaatliches Sicherheitsökosystem 2030' Study: Arvato Systems, Google GermanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Partners supporting AFCEA Bonn's flagship study on Germany's holistic security ecosystem 2030. The study examines crisis capability and system integration across government, military, and industry.
• Solution Partners for Study: Airbus, AWS, Bechtle, CGI Deutschland, secunetmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolution Partners contributing to the 'Gesamtstaatliches Sicherheitsökosystem 2030' study. These major defense and IT companies provide expertise and resources for the research on Germany's security capabilities.
• Supporting Partners for Study: CONET, INFODAS, roda computerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting Partners in the 'Gesamtstaatliches Sicherheitsökosystem 2030' study. These specialized IT and defense companies contribute to the research initiative.
• CYBERWOMEN InitiativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAFCEA Bonn supports the CYBERWOMEN initiative as a partner, contributing to the association's educational mission. CYBERWOMEN focuses on supporting women in cybersecurity.
• AFCEA International (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCEA Bonn e.V. is an autonomous member of the international AFCEA organization headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, USA. Members of AFCEA Bonn simultaneously become members of AFCEA International. Data is shared (without account details) for membership administration. AFCEA International is listed in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bitkom: Bitkom is Germany's largest digital industry association with over 2,000 member companies. It covers digital economy, cybersecurity, and IT broadly. While broader than AFCEA Bonn, Bitkom is a peer in the German association model for technology and security advocacy, hosting events and policy dialogue.
• AFCEA International: AFCEA International is the parent umbrella organization of AFCEA Bonn, headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia. It operates as a broader membership association across the global defense, intelligence, and homeland security community with broader geographic scope and multiple verticals beyond Bonn's German defense IT focus.
• IEEE Computer Society: IEEE Computer Society is a major global professional association for computing professionals. While globally focused and broader than AFCEA Bonn, it offers an analogous membership association model for IT professionals with conferences, publications, and member services.

Emerging players

• Messe Berlin (ILA Berlin): ILA Berlin is a major aerospace and defense trade fair held biennially in Berlin, comparable to AFCEA Fachausstellung as a defense industry trade event in Germany. While larger in aerospace scope, ILA competes for the same exhibitor and attendee pool in the German defense ecosystem.
• IT-SA (NürnbergMesse): IT-SA is Europe's largest trade fair for IT security, held annually in Nuremberg. It is a peer in the German cybersecurity trade exhibition space, overlapping with the Fachausstellung's cybersecurity exhibitor base, though broader across non-defense commercial sectors.

Direct peers

• Carl-Cranz-Gesellschaft (CCG): CCG is a German scientific society for technical education and research in defense and security, with which AFCEA Bonn jointly launched Defense Stipends in 2025. CCG is a direct peer offering specialist defense technical education and conferences, with a complementary rather than overlapping mission.
• DWT - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Wehrtechnik: DWT is the leading German professional association for defense technology, headquartered in Bonn. It is the closest direct peer to AFCEA Bonn, serving a similar German defense constituency with networking events, working groups, and conferences, though its focus is broader defense technology rather than specifically IT/communications.
• Association of Old Crows (AOC): AOC is the global professional association for electronic warfare, information operations, and spectrum management. The Red Baron Roost (German chapter) has a documented relationship with AFCEA Bonn (recognized them in 2021). AOC is a direct peer offering specialist defense membership and events with similar B2G networking function.
• BDSV - Bundesverband der Deutschen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungsindustrie: BDSV is the German defense and security industry trade association. AFCEA Bonn co-hosts the 'Konvent zur Digitalen Konvergenz in der SVI' with BDSV. As a defense industry association serving a similar German constituency, BDSV is a direct peer with the differentiator of representing industry rather than the cross-section of users and industry.

Regional players

• Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI): GI is the largest German-language professional society for computer science with focus on academic and research communities. It is a regional peer in terms of association model for IT professionals in Germany, but focused on academia rather than the defense/security industry intersection that AFCEA Bonn services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/afcea-bonn
• Xx.com/AFCEABonn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 AFCEA Bonn