OpenRheinRuhr

What OpenRheinRuhr does

OpenRheinRuhr e.V. is a German non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein) that organizes an annual (more recently intermittent) conference and trade show dedicated to Free Software (Freie Software). The event is held at the Rheinisches Industriemuseum / E-Zentrale in Oberhausen—directly at the city's main railway station—and serves the established German Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) community, including open source developers, IT professionals and system administrators, IT decision-makers evaluating open source for enterprise use, privacy and digital-rights advocates, and—through the FrogLabs program—children aged 10 to 16. The core product is the multi-track conference itself, combining an exhibition floor (historically up to 850 m² with 60 exhibitors and 1,000+ visitors in 2011), a parallel lecture and workshop program (e.g., 51 sessions in 2011, 46 in 2016), on-site LPI certification exams, community activities such as Keysigning Parties, and a Social Event. Supplementary offerings include the FrogLabs youth workshop program (run with Teckids e.V.), the ORR Tassen commemorative mugs (including a 'Flatrate-Tasse' bundle combining a mug with a hot-beverice flatrate for conference days), and the vol.openrheinruhr.de online shop for tickets and merchandise.

After the inaugural 2009 edition, the event ran annually through 2018, attracting major keynote speakers such as Werner Koch (GnuPG) and sustaining multi-year sponsor relationships. The 2019 edition was cancelled due to renovation of the Rheinische Industriemuseum, the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and the 2021 edition was held as a smaller "Meeting Edition" (ORR 2021 ME). The organization is volunteer-led, with no disclosed employees beyond the 1-10 headcount band, and is supported by regional Linux User Groups (FSFE Düsseldorf Fellowship, DLUG, LUGOR) and a long tail of technology and financial sponsors (Linux-Schmie.de, hostsharing eG, PING-Stiftung, GONICUS, Babiel, NetKnights, openSUSE, and others).

The business model is a non-profit community-event model rather than a commercial revenue engine. Income is generated from (i) conference tickets and admission (with free giveaways in some years), (ii) sponsor contributions across Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers typically provided by SMB IT vendors and IT-security firms, (iii) merchandise sales including the ~12.50 EUR ORR Tassen mugs and accessory items, and (iv) donations supporting OpenRheinRuhr e.V. The organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no disclosed funding rounds, no patents or trademarks, and no monetization of attendee data. Distribution is predominantly event-based with a regional footprint limited to the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia, supplemented by E-commerce through shop.openrheinruhr.de and email-based merchandise ordering.

Name

OpenRheinRuhr

Legal name

OpenRheinRuhr e. V.

Website

https://openrheinruhr.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OpenRheinRuhr e.V. is a German non-profit association that organizes a regional Free Software conference and trade show in Oberhausen, serving the German FOSS community with exhibitions, lectures, workshops, LPI certification, and a youth program called FrogLabs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Open Source Conference and Trade Show

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAFAA

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Exhibitions, Fairs & Expos (Consumer/Public)

SECONDARYTHAHACAF

Exhibition & Trade Show Management (Conference-Adjacent)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYMPAGAGAJ

Training, Workshops & Certification Events

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

Keywords

• Free software conference
• Open source events
• Foss trade show
• Community tech conferences
• Software exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Oberhausen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Conference tickets and admission: Revenue from selling admission tickets to the annual conference. Free tickets were offered in some years through giveaways.
2. Merchandise sales (mugs, accessories): Sale of branded merchandise including collector's mugs ('Flatrate-Tassen') with hot beverage flatrate for conference days, and other items like scarves. Mugs priced at 12.50 EUR including packaging and shipping.
3. Sponsorship: Financial and in-kind support from corporate sponsors at various tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) and technology partners.
4. Donations: Supporting the OpenRheinRuhr e.V. through merchandise purchases and direct donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

OpenRheinRuhr organizes an annual trade show and congress focused on Free Software (Freie Software) held in Oberhausen, Germany. The event features exhibition space for FOSS projects and companies, multi-track lectures covering technical, legal, and societal aspects of open source, hands-on workshops, certification exams (LPI), and a children's programming program (FrogLabs). The event is supplemented by merchandise sales (commemorative mugs) and operates through an online shop and a volunteer management system.

Product overview

OpenRheinRuhr is a free software conference and trade show held at the Rheinisches Industriemuseum in Oberhausen, Germany. The event features exhibitions, multi-track lectures, and workshops spanning topics from free software for end-users and business customers to network policy. The core offering is the annual conference itself, supplemented by the FrogLabs youth education program, commemorative merchandise (ORR Tassen mugs), and an online shop for tickets. A volunteer management tool (Helfertool) supports conference organization. The event also hosts LPI certification exams and features various community activities like Keysigning Parties and Social Events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OpenRheinRuhr Conference An annual trade show and congress focused on Free Software held at the Rheinisches Industriemuseum in Oberhausen, Germany. Features exhibitions, multi-track lectures, and workshops covering topics from beginner to professional levels in open source technologies, licensing, and digital rights. Open to general visitors, enthusiasts, and IT professionals.
• FrogLabs Youth Workshop Program A hands-on workshop program for children and youth aged 10-16, organized by Teckids e.V. during the OpenRheinRuhr conference. Features introductory projects in computer science and technology. Free admission is provided to participants.
• ORR Commemorative Mugs (ORR Tassen) Commemorative branded mugs sold annually to attendees and supporters, including special editions such as the 'Meeting Edition' and 'Flatrate-Tassen' that bundle a hot beverage flatrate during conference days. Priced at 12.50-13 EUR including packaging and shipping.
• OpenRheinRuhr Online Shop An online shop hosted at shop.openrheinruhr.de where customers can purchase event tickets, commemorative mugs, and other OpenRheinRuhr merchandise.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• hostsharing eGcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Technology partner (Technik-Partner) providing hosting and technical infrastructure support.
• ruhrbarone.deminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Media partner in 2017. Journalistic blog from the Ruhr area providing coverage.
• foss.eventscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Collaboration with other FOSS events for cross-promotion. OpenRheinRuhr team members participate under the foss.events umbrella at events like FrOSCon and Chemnitzer Linux-Tage.
• Teckids e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Organizes FrogLabs, a workshop program for children and youth aged 10-16 during the OpenRheinRuhr conference. OpenRheinRuhr supports with free admission tickets.
• Linux Professional Institute (LPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Provides discounted certification exams (LPIC-1, LPIC-2, LPIC-3, Linux Essentials) during the OpenRheinRuhr event. Long-standing partnership since at least 2013.
• Linux-Schmie.decoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2009Technology partner (Technik-Partner) providing technical support and sponsorship since the beginning in 2009. Participates as Bronze sponsor and technical sponsor.
• FSFE (Free Software Foundation Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009The Düsseldorf Fellowship of FSFE participates in organizing OpenRheinRuhr. FSFE is a key partner in promoting Free Software philosophy.
• DLUG (Düsseldorf Linux User Group)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Regional Linux user group participating in the organization of OpenRheinRuhr.
• LUGOR (Linux User Group OWL)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Regional Linux user group participating in the organization of OpenRheinRuhr.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FOSDEM: The largest annual free and open source software event in Europe, held in Brussels. OpenRheinRuhr actually uses the FOSDEM-developed Helfertool volunteer management platform, indicating a tight operational and community link between the two events.
• FrOSCon: Annual Free Software conference in Sankt Augustin, Germany, organized by a similar volunteer community. OpenRheinRuhr explicitly cross-promotes with FrOSCon via the foss.events collaboration, making it the closest comparable event in scope, audience, and operating model.
• Chemnitzer Linux-Tage: Major German Linux and open source community event held annually in Chemnitz. OpenRheinRuhr's organizers explicitly cross-promote with this event, share the same volunteer community, and target the same enthusiast and professional audiences.

Emerging players

• DebConf: Annual conference of the Debian Project, focused on a major FOSS distribution. Targets a similar technical audience of contributors, developers, and IT professionals; uses a volunteer-driven, low-cost event model comparable to OpenRheinRuhr.
• LibreOffice Conference: Annual community conference for the LibreOffice ecosystem. Comparable in being a volunteer-organized, single-topic FOSS event with sponsorship, lectures, and workshops; overlaps with OpenRheinRuhr's audience of end users, IT decision makers, and contributors.
• openSUSE Conference (openSUSE Summit): Community-organized conference for the openSUSE distribution. openSUSE is a documented Silver sponsor of OpenRheinRuhr, reflecting direct overlap in target audience (Linux users, contributors, and IT professionals) and shared volunteer-driven operating model.

Others

• Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE): European non-profit promoting Free Software whose Düsseldorf Fellowship is one of OpenRheinRuhr's core organizing partners. Not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem ally that co-organizes the event and shares the same ideological and community base.

Regional players

• FOSSASIA: Large Asia-based open source community organization running conferences, hackathons, and developer events. While geographically distant, it targets the same FOSS developer and contributor demographic and operates on a volunteer-driven model with similar sponsorship and community programming structure.

Broad incumbents

• Linux Foundation Events (e.g., KubeCon, Open Source Summit Europe): Industry-leading open source conferences run by The Linux Foundation. While vastly larger and commercially organized, they compete for the same enterprise open source sponsor pool and IT professional audience, and OpenRheinRuhr's LPI certification offering positions it as a community-level feeder into this ecosystem.
• LinuxTag / Berlin Linux Week: Historically the largest Linux and open source trade show in Germany, organized with more commercial infrastructure than community events. It competes for the same enterprise and SMB sponsor base as OpenRheinRuhr but operates at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/jrial/fosdem-volunteers
• Facebookfacebook.com/events/489993714508310
• Xx.com/openrheinruhr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/openrheinruhr-e.-v.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 OpenRheinRuhr