BvD e.V. Germany

What BvD e.V. Germany does

BvD e.V. Germany (Berufsverband der Datenschutzbeauftragten Deutschlands e.V.) is Germany's oldest professional association for data protection officers, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Berlin. It connects approximately 2,000 data protection professionals from companies and public authorities, organized into 13 regional groups and 13 sector-specific working groups covering healthcare, finance, municipalities, transport, utilities, online retail, psychotherapy, schools, and other verticals. The association also operates a wholly-owned non-profit subsidiary, privacy4people gGmbH (established 2020), which channels tax-deductible donations into educational initiatives such as the 'Datenschutz geht zur Schule' (DSgzS) school program and the annual Datenschutz Medienpreis (DAME) media award.

BvD's core offerings are membership services rather than a software product. It runs an annual cycle of conferences (BvD-Herbstkonferenz, Mitteldeutscher Datenschutztag, BvD-Verbandstage, Datenschutztag Rhein-Main-Saar), a job board (Stellenbörse), an internship exchange (Praktikumsbörse), a publishing arm (BvD-News, Politikbrief), a DPO directory, and a software marketplace. The technology stack is conventional association infrastructure: WordPress on bvdnet.de with Matomo analytics, rapidmail for newsletters, and edudip/Veeting for online events. Continuous policy engagement is delivered through the EU Tasks Committee, Legal & Policy Committee, and Job Profile Committee, and BvD is a founding member of the European Federation of Data Protection Officers (EFDPO).

Revenue is generated through annual membership fees, event and seminar fees (subject to 19% VAT), in-house training, and premium services such as the legal advisory hotline (0800-CALLBVD) and software marketplace listings. Membership tiers span ordinary, supporting (Fördermitglieder), and honorary categories, with specific fee levels undisclosed. The association is governed by a member-elected Executive Board led by Chairman Thomas Spaeing, Deputy Chairman Christoph Bausewein, and Finance Director Regina Mühlich, with no parent company and no outside funding rounds.

Name

BvD e.V. Germany

Legal name

Berufsverband der Datenschutzbeauftragten Deutschlands (BvD) e.V.

Website

https://bvdnet.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BvD e.V. Germany is Germany's oldest professional association for data protection officers, connecting approximately 2,000 DPOs across 13 regional groups and 13 sector working groups through membership services, conferences, training, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Data Protection, Privacy & Cybersecurity Regulators (BPAIAOAH)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Data protection training
• Privacy law education
• Compliance conferences
• Membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: BvD generates revenue through annual membership fees. The association has ordinary members, supporting members (Fördermitglieder), and honorary members. Membership includes access to member services, legal advisory hotline, and exclusive content.
2. Event and Seminar Fees: Revenue from organizing fee-based events including seminars, webinars, conferences, and workshops. Events are offered both in-person and online. Prices include working documents, certificates, lunch/snacks, and drinks, plus 19% VAT.
3. Premium Member Services: Additional services including legal advice hotline (0800-CALLBVD), software marketplace listings, and premium directory placements for data protection officers.
4. Inhouse Training: Customized in-house training programs for organizations on data protection topics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BvD (Berufsverband der Datenschutzbeauftragten Deutschlands e.V.) is Germany's oldest professional association for data protection officers, connecting approximately 2,000 data protection professionals from companies and public authorities. The organization offers membership services including annual conferences (BvD-Herbstkonferenz, Mitteldeutscher Datenschutztag, BvD-Verbandstage, Datenschutztag Rhein-Main-Saar), seminars, webinars, a legal advisory hotline, a job board (BvD-Stellenbörse), an internship exchange, a data protection software marketplace directory, publications (BvD-News magazine, Politikbrief newsletter), 13 regional groups, and 13 specialized working groups.

Product overview

BvD (Berufsverband der Datenschutzbeauftragten Deutschlands e.V.) is Germany's oldest professional association for data protection officers, representing approximately 2,000 data protection professionals from companies and authorities. The organization operates as a professional association rather than a technology product company, offering a portfolio of member services, conferences, educational initiatives, publications, and job/learning marketplaces. Core offerings include annual conferences (BvD-Herbstkonferenz, Mitteldeutscher Datenschutztag, BvD-Verbandstage, Datenschutztag Rhein-Main-Saar), the BvD-Stellenbörse job exchange, Datenschutz Software marketplace covering tools like website audits and data protection management systems, the BvD-News member magazine, and the Politikbrief newsletter. Major initiatives include the "Datenschutz geht zur Schule" (DSgzS) education program reaching approximately 100,000 students and the annual Datenschutz Medienpreis (DAME) media award worth €3,000. The subsidiary privacy4people gGmbH manages charitable educational projects. Members receive benefits including a legal advice hotline and exclusive member area access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• privacy4people gGmbH: BvD's own non-profit gGmbH for charitable data protection projects including the 'Data protection goes to school' (DSgzS) initiative and the Data Protection Media Award (DAME). Donations are tax-deductible through this entity.
• Data protection goes to school (DSgzS)
• DAME - Datenschutz Medienpreis

Products and services

• BvD-Herbstkonferenz und Behördentag Annual flagship conference organized jointly with state data protection authorities of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, featuring a dedicated third day focused on official/public sector data protection. Alternates between Munich and Stuttgart.
• Mitteldeutscher Datenschutztag Conference organized jointly with the state data protection commissioners of Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Thuringia, including information booths of supervisory authorities and direct networking opportunities.
• BvD-Verbandstage Association conference featuring practical examples across five program tracks with interactive formats, including a networking evening with award ceremony and dinner.
• Datenschutztag Rhein-Main-Saar Conference covering major data protection developments, co-organized with the Unabhängiges Datenschutzzentrum Saarland, providing overview of key regulatory developments.
• BvD-Stellenbörse (Job Board) Online job exchange platform for data protection professionals and organizations to post and search for positions in the data protection field.
• Datenschutz-Praktikumsbörse (Internship Exchange) Internship exchange platform for data protection internships, managed through booking forms for administration and placement of internship offers.
• Datenschutz Software Marktübersicht (Software Directory) Software marketplace directory providing overview of data protection tools including categories for website audits, generators, eLearning solutions, and data protection management systems (DSMS).
• BvD Membership Annual membership subscription offering access to the member area, free initial legal consultation hotline, professional network, regional groups, specialized working groups, member magazine, and political newsletter.
• Inhouse Schulungen (In-house Training) Customized in-house training programs for organizations on data protection topics delivered at the customer's premises.
• Rechtsberatungs-Hotline (Legal Advisory Hotline) Free initial legal consultation service for members providing data protection legal advice, available Tuesday-Thursday 10-12 and 15-17 hours via 0800-CALLBVD.
• Datenschutzbeauftragten finden (DPO Directory) Public directory listing BvD members who have committed to the professional mission statement of data protection officers, enabling contact and networking for organizations seeking DPO services.
• Datenschutz geht zur Schule (DSgzS) Initiative Education initiative raising awareness among pupils nationwide about safe and conscious use of the internet and social media. Developed for lower and upper secondary schools and vocational schools, covering topics such as secure passwords, encryption, privacy protection, and recognizing legal boundaries online.
• Datenschutz Medienpreis (DAME) Annual data protection media award honoring creative and media professionals who communicate data protection topics clearly and understandably. Award worth 3,000 euros for contributions including films, reportages, podcasts, songs, and media platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• BvD has reached approximately 100,000 students through its 'Data protection goes to school' initiative as of March 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Federation of Data Protection Officers (EFDPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBvD is an initiator and founding member of the EFDPO, established in July 2019. The EU Tasks Committee was created to support EFDPO work, developing positions on GDPR evaluation, producing content for the EFDPO website, and contributing to position papers. The committee facilitates cross-border cooperation between BvD committees and EFDPO partner associations.
• klicksafeGTM or Marketing Partnerklicksafe is an EU initiative for online safety and serves as a cooperation partner for the DAME award. They provide youth jurors for the award jury and support data protection awareness initiatives.
• German Donations Council (Deutscher Spendenrat)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe German Donations Council donates a special prize for the DAME award and provides support for the data protection media prize initiative.
• CaralegalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCaralegal is listed as a Silver Partner of BvD, providing legal technology solutions that complement BvD member services.
• PrivacyPilotminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrivacyPilot is listed as a Corporate Partner of BvD, providing data protection management solutions to BvD members.
• BFB (Freie Berufe)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBFB (Bundesverband der Freien Berufe / Federal Association of Liberal Professions) is listed as a participation partner in BvD's committee work.
• DSZ (Datenschutz Zertifizierung)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDSZ provides data protection certification services and participates in BvD's committee and partnership network.
• Privacyofficers.atminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian counterpart organization for privacy officers, working with BvD on cross-border data protection matters.
• privacy4people gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBvD's wholly-owned non-profit subsidiary (gGmbH) established to receive tax-deductible donations for educational data protection projects. It operates the 'Data protection goes to school' initiative and the DAME award. BvD is the sole shareholder and has appointed an honorary managing director from the Board. Regina Mühlich serves as Managing Director.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bitkom: Bitkom is Germany's digital industry association, with a sizable data protection and GDPR working group serving corporate members across the German economy. While not a DPO-only body, it overlaps with BvD in addressing corporate data protection compliance, events and policy advocacy.
• International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP): IAPP is the largest global privacy professional association, offering CIPP/E, CIPP/US and CIPM certifications, conferences and policy engagement across more than 100 countries. It competes with BvD for German and European DPO members seeking internationally portable credentials.

Direct peers

• Gesellschaft für Datenschutz und Datensicherheit (GDD): GDD is the other major Germany-based professional association for data protection and security practitioners, offering events, certifications and publications to a comparable DPO and data security audience. It is the closest direct national peer to BvD.
• privacyofficers.at: privacyofficers.at is the Austrian professional association for data protection officers, already partnered with BvD for cross-border matters. It is a direct national peer operating in an adjacent jurisdiction with similar membership, events and policy services.

Regional players

• AFCDP – Association Française des Correspondants à la protection des données: AFCDP is France's professional association for data protection officers (CNIL correspondants), providing training, events and publications to French DPOs. It is a regional peer with a similar mandate serving a neighboring jurisdiction.
• ADPO – Association of Data Protection Officers (UK): ADPO is the UK-based professional body for DPOs offering networking, training and policy engagement to practitioners serving UK and international organizations. It is a regional peer with a comparable membership-driven value proposition.
• ASSO DPO: ASSO DPO is the Italian association of data protection officers, providing training, certification and community for the Italian DPO market. It is a regional peer mirroring BvD's role at the national level in another major EU economy.

Others

• European Federation of Data Protection Officers (EFDPO): EFDPO is the EU-level federation co-founded by BvD in 2019 that brings together national DPO associations across Europe. It is comparable as a higher-tier umbrella body and as the channel through which BvD's policy work scales beyond Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bvd_datenschutz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berufsverband-der-datenschutzbeauftragten

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 BvD e.V. Germany