AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team
AC.E Aachener Entrepreneurship Team e.V. is a registered non-profit association in Aachen, Germany that supports young aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups through free membership, idea generation programs, networking, and partner benefits within the regional startup ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersAachen, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team does
AC.E Aachener Entrepreneurship Team (legal name: AC.E Aachener Entrepreneurship Team e.V.) is a registered German non-profit association (eingetragener Verein, registration VR 4395, Amtsgericht Aachen) headquartered at Jülicher Str. 72a, c/o digitalHub Aachen, 52070 Aachen, Germany. The organization exists to lower barriers to entry for young people wanting to participate in the Aachen startup ecosystem, providing free individual membership, structured idea generation and entrepreneurship basics programs, networking services, partner discounts, and community events. It is run by a small voluntary board of three directors: Chairman Kai Hermanns (Events & Partner Management), Deputy Chairwoman Sahra Haji Ahmad, and Board Member/Treasurer Henrik Jörg Steffens (Community, Finance & Legal).
The core products are non-technological membership tiers and programs: Individual Membership (free, with access to programs, partner offers, and events), Startup Membership (targeting existing startups with HubSpot for Startups discounts, portfolio inclusion, and discounted partner events across Germany), and Supporting Membership (sponsorship by individuals and legal entities via financial, knowledge, or in-kind contributions). Idea Generation and Entrepreneurship Basics programs are delivered in cooperation with partners such as RWTH Innovation GmbH, FH Aachen Gründungszentrum, Collective Incubator e.V., Startup Teens GmbH, and Future Founders Initiative. AC.E operates no proprietary technology platform; member sign-up runs through Google Forms on ac-e.org, and engagement occurs via Instagram (@aachen.ace), LinkedIn, and a WhatsApp community group.
The business model is freemium and community-led. Individual membership generates no fee revenue; the only monetary inflows come from supporting members and partner in-kind contributions. Go-to-market relies on word-of-mouth within the Aachen startup community, partner referrals from digitalHub Aachen, RWTH Innovation, FH Aachen, and other regional ecosystem players, plus organic social. Acquisition channels include the website, Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp Community, and partner referrals. AC.E serves aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, and supporting organizations in the Aachen region and broader Euregio (cross-border into Maastricht via Business Club Aachen Maastricht), with the explicit goal of making the local startup scene accessible without hurdles.
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team
- Legal name
- AC.E Aachener Entrepreneurship Team e.V.
- Website
- https://ac-e.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- AC.E Aachener Entrepreneurship Team e.V. is a registered non-profit association in Aachen, Germany that supports young aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups through free membership, idea generation programs, networking, and partner benefits within the regional startup ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entrepreneurship Community Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH)
Keywords
Where AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aachen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership fees: Individual membership is free of charge. Sponsoring/supporting members (individuals and legal entities) provide financial support, knowledge sharing, or exclusive offers. No formal revenue model with paid products/services is disclosed.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free individual membership with access to programs, partner offers, and community events |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AC.E is a non-profit student and community association that connects young, aspiring entrepreneurs with the Aachen startup scene through tiered memberships (individual, startup, supporting) and programs covering idea generation, entrepreneurship basics, networking, and partner benefits. Founded in 2006 and based in Aachen, Germany, the organization operates as a volunteer-led e.V. (registered association) without physical retail, selling membership and community participation rather than physical goods or proprietary technology.
Product overview
AC.E Aachener Entrepreneurship Team is a startup initiative and community organization (eV/association) that supports young entrepreneurs in entering the Aachen startup scene. Rather than a unified software product, AC.E offers a portfolio of membership-based programs and services: Individual Membership provides free access to idea generation programs, entrepreneurship basics training, and community networking; Startup Membership targets existing startups with partner discounts (including HubSpot for Startups), event access, and portfolio inclusion; Supporting Membership enables individuals and companies to sponsor the organization. These offerings are delivered through AC.E's voluntary team organizing events, managing partner relationships, and facilitating connections among founders.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Individual Membership
Companies that use AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- digitalHub Aachen e.V.coreCo-location partner hosting AC.E at their facilities (Jülicher Str. 72a). Major regional startup hub providing infrastructure and ecosystem connections. Primary venue partner for AC.E operations.
- Collective Incubator e.V.minorIncubator organization in the Aachen ecosystem. Partner providing startup support resources and potential program collaboration.
- RWTH Innovation GmbHcoreTechnology transfer and innovation company of RWTH Aachen University. Key partner connecting AC.E to academic entrepreneurship, research spin-offs, and university talent.
- Gründungszentrum FH AachencoreFounding/incubation center at FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences. Partner for entrepreneurship education and student startup pipeline.
- Startup Teens GmbHminorNational startup program for teenagers. Partner for outreach and youth entrepreneurship programs.
- Business Club Aachen Maastricht e.V.minorCross-border business network connecting Aachen and Maastricht. Partner for international networking and cross-border entrepreneurship opportunities.
- neulandx ATEC KonferenzminorTechnology and entrepreneurship conference. Partner for event collaboration and visibility.
- GründungsmagnetminorStartup support initiative in the region. Partner for cross-promotion and ecosystem connections.
- HubSpot for StartupsminorCRM and marketing software program offering discounts to startup members. Provides discounted access to HubSpot tools for AC.E startup members as an exclusive member benefit.
- Future Founders InitiativeminorEntrepreneurship initiative supporting future founders. Partner for program collaboration and founder development.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Startup Verband: German startup association representing founders and startups. Comparable as a membership-based organization representing German entrepreneur interests, though at a national scale versus AC.E's regional focus.
- Enactus Germany: Large national/international student entrepreneurship nonprofit. Comparable as a nonprofit organization developing young entrepreneurs through programs, community, and partner networks — a broader incumbent in the same category.
Direct peers
- Gründungsmagnet: Regional startup support initiative partnering with AC.E for cross-promotion. Comparable as a community-based, regional German founder-support organization serving early-stage entrepreneurs.
- RWTH Innovation GmbH: Technology transfer and startup creation arm of RWTH Aachen University. Comparable as a regional entrepreneurship support organization targeting the same Aachen student and researcher founder base.
- digitalHub Aachen e.V. The regional innovation hub that hosts AC.E and runs its own founder programs, events, and startup support. Most direct comparable as both serve aspiring entrepreneurs in Aachen and overlap in target audience and programming.
- Startup Teens GmbH: National youth entrepreneurship program partnered with AC.E. Comparable as it targets young aspiring entrepreneurs with educational content, mentorships, and community support.
- Future Founders Initiative: Initiative supporting future founders. Directly comparable in mission (founder development) and program structure, partnering with AC.E for collaboration.
- Gründungszentrum FH Aachen: Founding center at FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences. Directly comparable as a university-affiliated entrepreneurship support organization serving aspiring student founders in the same geography.
- Collective Incubator e.V. Incubator organization in the Aachen startup ecosystem. Comparable as a not-for-profit, community-driven entrepreneurship support entity operating in the same regional ecosystem and serving similar early-stage founders.
Regional players
- Business Club Aachen Maastricht e.V. Cross-border business network in Aachen-Maastricht. Comparable as a membership-based business organization serving entrepreneurs in overlapping geography, though focused on established business rather than early-stage founders.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team social profiles
Digital presenceAC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team 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 AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team
What does AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team do?
AC.E is a non-profit student and community association that connects young, aspiring entrepreneurs with the Aachen startup scene through tiered memberships (individual, startup, supporting) and programs covering idea generation, entrepreneurship basics, networking, and partner benefits. Founded in 2006 and based in Aachen, Germany, the organization operates as a volunteer-led e.V. (registered association) without physical retail, selling membership and community participation rather than physical goods or proprietary technology.
Is AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team a public or private company?
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team founded?
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team based?
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team is headquartered in Aachen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership fees.
Who are AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Startup Verband and Enactus Germany. Direct peers are Gründungsmagnet, RWTH Innovation GmbH, digitalHub Aachen e.V., Startup Teens GmbH, Future Founders Initiative, Gründungszentrum FH Aachen and Collective Incubator e.V.. Business Club Aachen Maastricht e.V. is listed as a regional player.
Does AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team have an API?
No public API is recorded for AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team.
What industry is AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team in?
AC.E Aachener Entrepeneurship Team's product category is Entrepreneurship Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAH, Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms). Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.