KIZ

What KIZ does

KIZ (Kommunikations- und Innovations-Zentrum) is a German career coaching and business consulting organization founded in 1997 and headquartered in Offenbach am Main. Operating through a group structure led by KIZ Management GmbH with subsidiaries including KIZ SINNOVA, KIZ PROWINA, KIZ Cosmos, KIZ Finanzkontor, and others, the company delivers individualized coaching, job placement support, and startup consulting from over 40 physical locations across Germany supplemented by the nationwide KIZ Online digital platform. Its primary customers are job seekers and career changers receiving German unemployment benefits (SGB II/SGB III), entrepreneurs launching or growing businesses, women with migration or refugee backgrounds, and existing SMEs requiring BAFA-accredited consulting support.

KIZ's core service lines are Job & Karriere Coaching (career reorientation, application preparation, competency profiling), My Business (360° startup and SME consulting with more than 5,000 entrepreneurs supported into self-employment), and KIZ Online (a digital program portfolio including Comeback online, Linguo-Job, EXAKT, Spurwechsel Online, Step Up, and JOB SPRINT). Its principal proprietary asset is the Inverse Arbeitsvermittlung® methodology, a trademarked placement approach that identifies open positions before qualifying candidates. The technology backbone is the KIZ Online platform, which delivers video-based coaching at scale and is used by participants from 30+ Jobcenters and Employment Agencies across at least eight federal states.

The business model is overwhelmingly publicly funded: KIZ holds AZAV certification as an authorized education provider (Bildungsträger) and delivers AVGS-funded activation/placement coaching (up to 24 units per voucher, 45 minutes each), Bildungsgutschein-funded training programs, and BAFA-accredited SME consulting. A smaller direct fee-based stream (e.g., a €390 coaching package priced at €78-95 per session) supplements voucher revenue. Distribution is sales-led through long-standing partnerships with regional Jobcenters, Agentur für Arbeit offices, the Handwerkskammer, and Grenke Bank. The organization employs over 200 permanent and freelance consultants and has served more than 30,000 customers cumulatively.

Name

KIZ

Legal name

KIZ Management GmbH

Website

https://kiz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

KIZ is a German career coaching and business consulting organization operating from 40+ locations nationwide, delivering AVGS-funded job coaching, startup consulting, and migrant integration programs through certified coaching methodology and a nationwide online platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career Coaching and Vocational Training Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

One-on-One ESL Tutoring & Coaching (EDAAACAL)

Keywords

• Career coaching services
• Business startup consulting
• Employment integration programs
• Vocational training services
• Government-funded coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Offenbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded coaching and consulting (AVGS/Bildungsgutschein): KIZ's primary revenue derives from publicly funded placement and activation vouchers (AVGS) issued by the Agentur für Arbeit and Jobcenters under SGB II and SGB III regulations. Additional revenue comes from education vouchers (Bildungsgutschein) for training programs such as Schulbegleiter/in certification, driving school (Kurierfahrer), and other professional qualifications. Services are delivered to individuals at no direct cost to participants, with KIZ billing the government agencies.
2. Fee-for-service consulting for businesses and entrepreneurs: Business and startup consulting services provided directly to entrepreneurs and SMBs, including BAFA-funded advisory programs (BAFA-accredited consulting). Revenue is generated through direct fee arrangements with clients and public subsidy programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KIZ is a career coaching and business consulting organization that helps individuals prepare for job re-entry, navigate career changes, and start businesses. It delivers individualized coaching, supported by the proprietary Inverse Arbeitsvermittlung® methodology, both in-person at 40+ locations across Germany and online via the KIZ Online platform. Services are primarily funded through government-issued AVGS and Bildungsgutschein vouchers, with supplemental fee-for-service and BAFA-funded consulting for entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Product overview

KIZ (Kommunikations- und Innovations-Zentrum) operates as a coaching and consulting service organization rather than a software product company. The portfolio consists of three main service lines: Job & Karriere Coaching for professional development and career reorientation; My Business for startup and business consulting; and KIZ Online as the digital platform delivering online coaching programs. KIZ Online includes specialized programs such as Comeback online (28-week career re-entry coaching), Linguo-Job (vocational language coaching for women with migration backgrounds), EXAKT (entrepreneurship coaching), and Spurwechsel Online (mid-career professional support). Additional AVGS-funded services cover job coaching and business start-up consultation. The organization also runs project-based initiatives including RIAC (refugee labor market integration) and Re-Start (support for self-employed individuals). AZAV certification confirms educational institution status for public funding eligibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Comeback online: Online coaching program for women and men returning to work after a family or employment break, lasting 28 weeks.
• Linguo-Job
• EXAKT
• Spurwechsel Online
• AVGS
• Inverse Arbeitsvermittlung

Products and services

• Job & Karriere Coaching Career coaching program for professional development, including profiling, goal identification, strategy development, and implementation support. Designed for individuals seeking job re-entry, career change, or professional reorientation.
• My Business 360-degree business consulting and startup support covering business planning, market entry, financing, marketing, and company development across four phases: inform, prepare, start, and grow. Available in person at regional offices or online, with BAFA-accredited funding options.
• KIZ Online Online coaching platform offering programs for professional reorientation and reintegration, including services for people returning from career breaks, refugees, and job seekers. Enables nationwide service delivery through video conferencing.
• Comeback online 28-week online coaching program for women and men returning to work after a family or employment break, supporting career re-entry through strength, confidence, and competence development.
• Linguo-Job 28-week vocational online coaching program for women with refugee or migration backgrounds, focusing on German language learning and labor market integration.
• EXAKT (EXistenzgründung AKTiv) Online coaching program supporting individuals exploring self-employment, providing guidance on the requirements and framework conditions for entrepreneurship.
• Spurwechsel Online Three-month program helping mid-career professionals regain footing in the job market through strength and competency development.
• Linguo-Job Onboarding Onboarding program for women from other countries living in Germany, providing language support while waiting for integration courses.
• AVGS Jobcoaching Individual coaching funded by activation and placement vouchers (AVGS) for career orientation, application support, and job market integration. Up to 24 coaching units (45 minutes each) funded 100% via AVGS from Jobcenter/Agentur für Arbeit.
• AVGS Gründungsberatung Business start-up consultation funded by AVGS, helping entrepreneurs develop viable business concepts through orientation, concept, and implementation modules.
• Re-Start Three-module program for self-employed individuals receiving supplementary benefits from Jobcenter Munich, including business analysis, optimization, and career reorientation.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 5,000 entrepreneurs accompanied into successful self-employment through KIZ My Business
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ruhr-Universität BochumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Ruhr-Universität Bochum served as the academic evaluator for the RIAC (Regional Integration Accelerator) project, assessing the effectiveness and impact of the accelerated integration methodology for refugees. The project ran from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020.
• Pro Arbeit, Kommunales Jobcenter des Kreises Offenbach (Lead Partner, RIAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The Kommunales Jobcenter des Kreises Offenbach served as the lead coordinating partner for the RIAC project, with KIZ SINNOVA gGmbH acting as the German implementation partner and initiator of the project.
• Alisei Società Cooperative Sociale (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Italian project partner in the transnational RIAC project, contributing to the development of a standardized and scalable RIAC product.
• Habitat Association (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Turkish project partner in the RIAC project, collaborating on the accelerated integration of refugees.
• Municipality of Esbjerg (Denmark)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Danish municipality partner in the RIAC project, contributing to the transnational exchange on refugee integration methodologies.
• C.I.D.I.S. Onlus (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Italian non-profit partner in the RIAC project.
• IGAM - Iltica ve Göç Arastirmalari Merkezi (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Turkish research institute partner in the RIAC project, focusing on migration and integration research.
• EXZET e.V. (Stuttgart)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995EXZET e.V. was founded in 1995 by the Breuninger Stiftung and is a leading provider of consulting services around self-employment in the Stuttgart metropolitan area. KIZ and EXZET have maintained a successful partnership for over 20 years, with EXZET referring to KIZ as 'a strong partnership.' After key individuals from EXZET transitioned to retirement, KIZ took over the Stuttgart location independently.
• Grenke BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKIZ is a cooperation partner of Grenke Bank, enabling KIZ to directly process loan applications for entrepreneurs and SMBs seeking startup financing or working capital. Grenke Bank provides leasing and lending products facilitated through KIZ's consulting process.
• Handwerkskammer (Chamber of Crafts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIZ cooperates with the Handwerkskammer to place and support young migrants in crafts-sector apprenticeships. This partnership enables KIZ to provide integrated vocational training pathways combining German language support, professional preparation, and direct apprenticeship placement.
• MainArbeit — Kommunales Jobcenter OffenbachcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMainArbeit is a long-standing commissioning partner of KIZ for startup promotion and youth programs. The cooperation is described as ongoing, high-quality, and characterized by collaborative problem-solving.
• ProArbeit Kreis OffenbachcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKommunales Jobcenter serving the Kreis Offenbach, commissioning KIZ services for employment integration programs.
• Jobcenter DachaucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJobcenter Dachau commissions KIZ for individualized and innovative program planning in the area of employment activation.
• Jobcenter LimburgcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJobcenter Limburg has a positive and trustworthy working relationship with KIZ, commissioning professional startup and self-employment consulting.
• Jobcenter Rhein-BergcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJobcenter Rhein-Berg commissions KIZ for consulting services for entrepreneurs and solo self-employed individuals receiving SGB II benefits. Positive outcomes reported, including customers exiting benefit dependency.
• Employment Agencies (Agentur für Arbeit) and Jobcenters across GermanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKIZ Online serves participants from more than 30 Jobcenters and Employment Agencies across German states including Lower Saxony, NRW, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen, Saxony-Anhalt, and Bavaria. KIZ Berlin also cooperates with BA (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) offices in Bergisch Gladbach and Brühl.
• Jobcenter Stuttgart and Jobcenter Landkreis LudwigsburgcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKIZ Stuttgart cooperates with Jobcenter Stuttgart and Jobcenter Landkreis Ludwigsburg for CoWiS (Coaching und Wirtschaftlichkeitsprüfung für Selbstständige) and other programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ManpowerGroup Germany: German operations of global staffing leader ManpowerGroup, offering career services, outplacement and integration support. Comparable in target customers (job seekers, career changers) but operates globally with a broader staffing business model.
• DIS AG: Major German staffing and recruitment firm (Hays/Dis AG group) providing career services, outplacement, and workforce integration. Adjacent in target market (job seekers) but operates primarily in staffing/placement rather than AVGS-funded coaching.
• DEKRA Akademie GmbH: Subsidiary of DEKRA Group, one of Germany's largest private education and certification providers. Competes in AZAV-funded vocational training and career coaching but operates as part of a broader testing/certification portfolio.
• TÜV Rheinland Akademie: Training arm of TÜV Rheinland, delivering professional development and certification programs. Comparable in AZAV-certified offerings and SME/business training, but part of a much larger testing and certification conglomerate.
• Adecco Germany: German arm of global staffing leader Adecco, offering placement, career coaching and workforce solutions. Comparable in career-coaching services for job seekers and career changers, but as part of a global staffing portfolio.

Direct peers

• WBS TRAINING AG: National German vocational training provider offering AZAV-certified courses, career coaching, and Bildungsgutschein-funded qualifications. Comparable in funding structure, online delivery model, and broad target population of job seekers and career changers.
• DAA Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie: One of Germany's largest AZAV-certified adult education and vocational training providers, offering AVGS-funded career coaching, retraining and integration programs nationwide. Closest comparable to KIZ by service mix, funding model, and target customer base (Jobcenter recipients).
• BBQ Bildung und Berufliche Qualifizierung gGmbH: German vocational training and labor-market integration provider delivering AVGS coaching, retraining and migration programs. Directly comparable in target segments (SGB II/III recipients), AZAV-certified delivery, and government voucher revenue model.
• bfz Berufliche Fortbildungszentren der Bayerischen Wirtschaft: Bavarian vocational training and labor-market integration provider offering AVGS coaching and retraining. Directly comparable in mission, AZAV-certification, and target beneficiary population.

Regional players

• Bildungswerk der Hessischen Wirtschaft (BWHW): Hesse-region vocational training and labor-market integration provider affiliated with regional employer associations. Comparable in AVGS-funded coaching and target population, but primarily regional rather than national in footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kiz-prowina-pro-wirtschaft-und-neue-arbeit-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries10 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 KIZ