RKW Thüringen

Name

RKW Thüringen

Legal name

RKW Thüringen GmbH

Website

https://rkw-thueringen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Erfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Consulting Services: RKW Thüringen operates as a non-profit-oriented government-funded organization (ESF+ funded). Revenue is derived from quality assurance fees (RKW Honorar) charged for subsidized consulting services. The organization charges €120/day for quality assurance services, with consultant day rates of €750. The German state and EU fund the majority (approximately 79.5%) of consulting costs under the Thuringian Consulting Guidelines (Thüringer Beratungsrichtlinie) and Thuringian Founding Guidelines (Thüringer Gründungsrichtlinie).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RKW Thüringen GmbH is a government-subsidized consulting and advisory organization for small and medium enterprises (KMU) and founders in Thuringia, Germany. It administers two main subsidy programs — the Thüringer Beratungsrichtlinie (up to 80% funded consulting for established SMEs) and the Thüringer Gründungsrichtlinie (founding support) — while serving as the official quality assurance body for ESF+ funded consulting during the 2021-2027 period. Core revenue comes from a quality assurance fee of €120 per consulting day (RKW Honorar), with the remainder covered by Thuringian state and ESF+ subsidies.

Product overview

RKW Thüringen is a consulting and support organization for SMEs and founders in Thuringia, operating a multi-component service portfolio centered on subsidized business consulting programs and entrepreneurial support services. The core offerings include the Thüringer Beratungsrichtlinie (subsidized consulting for existing businesses) and Thüringer Gründungsrichtlinie (founding subsidies), both administered through an integrated quality assurance service that accredits consultants and manages the full funding process. Supporting offerings include the RKW-Gütesiegel certification programs, specialized agencies like THAK (creative economy) and ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft (sustainability/digitalization), the Mentoring-Programm for founders, and digital tools including the Zuschussrechner calculator, Nachhaltigkeits-Check assessment, and Twin Transition Tool. The organization also provides the Mein RKW customer portal for account management. Services are predominantly funded by Thuringian state programs and ESF+, with operational focus on SME support across consulting, founding, funding, and sustainability domains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thüringer Agentur für die Kreativwirtschaft (THAK): A dedicated partner for Thuringia's creative economy, supporting freelancers and enterprises through networking events, peer-learning formats, workshops, matchmaking, and orientation consulting.
• ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft

Products and services

• Thüringer Beratungsrichtlinie State-funded business consulting subsidy program for SMEs in Thuringia, providing up to 80% funding support for consulting services with accredited consultants. Funded by the Thuringian Ministry for Economic Affairs and ESF+.
• Thüringer Gründungsrichtlinie Subsidy program for business founders in Thuringia covering business planning through market entry. As of January 2026, part-time founders are also eligible for intensive consulting support.
• RKW-Gütesiegel Quality certification awarded by RKW to businesses, with variants including the RKW-Gütesiegel Arbeitgeberattraktivität for employer attractiveness. Involves anonymous online employee surveys and provides authentic insights into employee perception and satisfaction.
• Thüringer Agentur für die Kreativwirtschaft (THAK) Specialized agency for the creative economy in Thuringia, operating as an independent partner within ThEx. Offers networking events (konTHAKt), peer-learning formats, workshops, industry days, matchmaking, public relations, and orientation counseling.
• Mentoring-Programm (ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft) Mentorship program connecting founders and young companies (up to 5 years post-founding) with experienced entrepreneurs aged 25-75. Focus areas include entrepreneurial personality development, challenge sharing, and business idea refinement.
• Nachhaltigkeits-Check Free digital self-assessment tool with approximately 30 questions evaluating ecological, social, and economic sustainability dimensions plus management practices. Includes evaluation conversation, personalized sustainability roadmap, and networking with sustainability experts.
• Zuschussrechner Online subsidy calculator enabling businesses to quickly estimate potential funding and own contribution for subsidized consulting under Thüringer Beratungsrichtlinie or Thüringer Gründungsrichtlinie programs.
• Qualitätssicherung (Quality Assurance Service) Central quality assurance for consulting services during ESF+ funding period 2021-2027. Evaluates consulting needs, assesses consultant competencies, monitors all processes, and conducts outcome control to ensure consulting value.
• Mein RKW (Customer Portal) Personal user account portal for registered users providing access to personalized functions and tools, with ability to save results permanently. Registration required for full access; limited functionality available for guest access.
• Twin Transition Tool Online tool addressing sustainability and digitalization together (Twin Transition) for SMEs, helping businesses consider both dimensions in conjunction.
• RKW Impulse 2026 Annual flagship event series, with RKW Impulse 2026 focused on 'Impulse (um)setzen' - effectively utilizing AI in SMEs. Combines events, networking formats, and funding offers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25,000 consultations conducted
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

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

• Thüringer Aufbaubank (TAB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Thüringer Aufbaubank is the funding agency responsible for disbursing subsidies under the Thuringian Consulting Guidelines and Founding Guidelines. RKW Thüringen works closely with TAB to coordinate funding applications and disbursements. After RKW prepares and submits the funding request (Abrufantrag), TAB processes the actual subsidy payment to the client company.
• Thüringer Agentur für die Kreativwirtschaft (THAK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021THAK is an independent partner within the ThEx ecosystem, focused on supporting the creative economy in Thuringia. RKW Thüringen hosts and operates THAK as a project with services including network events, peer learning, workshops, branch days, matchmaking, public relations for creative industries, and advisory consultations. THAK is funded by the Thuringian Ministry for Economics and ESF+.
• ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft (Thüringer Zentrum für Existenzgründungen und Unternehmertum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ThEx is a consortium of partners supporting entrepreneurship in Thuringia. RKW Thüringen operates multiple projects within ThEx including: ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft (sustainability and future-oriented business), mentoring programs, and Nachhaltigkeits-Check (sustainability assessment). ThEx is funded by Thuringian Ministry and ESF+.
• Wirtschaftsjunioren ThüringenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoung entrepreneurs' association in Thuringia. RKW Thüringen leverages their network for mentor matching in the ThEx Zukunftswirtschaft mentoring program, connecting experienced entrepreneurs with founders.
• RKW Bundesverband (RKW e.V.)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national RKW association represents the federal network of RKW organizations across Germany. RKW Thüringen operates under this umbrella, contributing to the 'RKW Impulse' annual theme, sharing knowledge and resources with other state organizations, and implementing nationwide programs like the RKW-Gütesiegel Arbeitgeberattraktivität.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RKW Hessen: Regional RKW entity in Hesse providing subsidized SME consulting, quality assurance, and Fördermanagement for Hessian SMEs. Same operating concept as RKW Thüringen, differing only by geography and host state ministry.
• RKW Sachsen-Anhalt: Sister state-level RKW organization in Saxony-Anhalt delivering the same subsidized SME consulting, Fördermanagement, and ESF+ quality assurance model under a different federal state. Directly comparable in business model, mandate structure, and program portfolio.
• RKW Bayern: Bavarian state RKW organization offering subsidized consulting, Gütesiegel programs, and entrepreneur support services. Closely comparable mission, service mix, and funding structure to RKW Thüringen.

Others

• Thüringer Aufbaubank (TAB): Thuringia's state development bank that processes the actual subsidy disbursement after RKW Thüringen's QA review. Adjacent public-sector actor rather than competitor; useful for understanding the funding pipeline RKW plugs into.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Thüringen (LEG Thüringen): State economic development agency investing, advising, and funding Thuringian businesses. Adjacent to RKW Thüringen in mandate and target audience, but focused on investment promotion and site development rather than subsidized consulting QA.
• Bürgschaftsbank Thüringen: Thuringian surety bank providing guarantees, equity substitutes, and financing support for SMEs and founders. Operates alongside RKW Thüringen in the same Thuringian SME-support ecosystem, addressing funding gaps from a different angle.
• Bundesverband Deutscher Innovations-, Technologie- und Gründerzentren (BVIZ): Federal association representing Germany's innovation, technology, and founder centers. Thematically adjacent ecosystem body, useful as a peer for benchmarking how state-level SME/founder intermediaries organize.
• Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Thüringen (MBG): Venture and growth capital provider for Thuringian SMEs, often working in tandem with TAB and other state instruments. Comparable ecosystem player targeting the same founder/SME base, but in equity capital rather than consulting subsidies.

Broad incumbents

• RKW Kompetenzzentrum (RKW e.V. national): National umbrella organization of the RKW network (founded 1921), coordinating nationwide programs such as RKW Impulse and the RKW-Gütesiegel. Wider remit than RKW Thüringen but materially the parent network on which RKW Thüringen depends.
• IHK Erfurt (Industrie- und Handelskammer): Regional chamber of commerce offering founder and SME advisory services in Thuringia. Competes for the same SME mindshare and public mandate around consulting, though funded via membership rather than project-based ESF+ subsidies.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rkw-thueringen

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 RKW Thüringen