Wirtschaftsregion Heilbronn Franken

Name

Wirtschaftsregion Heilbronn Franken

Legal name

Wirtschaftsregion Heilbronn-Franken GmbH

Website

https://heilbronn-franken.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development

NAICS

Business Service Centers (56143), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional Managing Offices (551114)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Mobility, Immigration & Relocation (BPACAPAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Mobility, Immigration & Relocation Administration Outsourcing (BPACAKAM), Export Promotion & Market Access Support (BPADAMAC)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Business consulting services
• Workforce immigration support
• Innovation consulting
• Location marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Heilbronn

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Governmental Support: WHF is funded through contributions from its public shareholders including the Stadt and Landkreis Heilbronn, Hohenlohekreis, Landkreis Schwäbisch Hall, Main-Tauber-Kreis, Regionalverband Heilbronn-Franken, and Handwerkskammer Heilbronn-Franken. The organization also serves as a funding vehicle for various EU and state-funded programs.
2. EU and State Co-Funding: Various projects receive co-funding from the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE) and from the state of Baden-Württemberg. Programs like Regionale Innovationssysteme (RIS) are EFRE-funded.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wirtschaftsregion Heilbronn-Franken (WHF) bundles regional business promotion activities and delivers free advisory programs for companies and individuals in the Heilbronn-Franken region. Its portfolio spans skilled worker attraction and immigration coordination, women's career services, mobility and digital transformation support for SMEs, energy/resource efficiency checks, film production location support, regional innovation strategy, and location marketing/networking for the region's companies and municipalities.

Product overview

Wirtschaftsregion Heilbronn-Franken (WHF) GmbH is a regional economic development and location marketing organization, not a traditional software product company. Its portfolio consists of supported programs and service offerings organized under a central umbrella structure. The core service programs include: Welcome Center Heilbronn-Franken (international talent support), Kontaktstelle Frau und Beruf (women's career services), Netzwerk TRANSFORMOTIVE (mobility/automotive transformation network), KEFF+ Kompetenzstelle Ressourceneffizienz (resource efficiency advisory), Film Commission Heilbronn-Franken/Ostalb (film production support), and the Regionale Koordinationsstelle Fachkräfteeinwanderung (skilled immigration coordination). These are supplemented by WHF Business (regional networking and marketing platform), Regionales Innovationssysteme (regional innovation strategy coordination), and campaign/event offerings such as the 'Führen mit Wirkung' leadership series and the KFB film competition. The organization operates as a funding recipient and coordinator, delivering these programs in partnership with public shareholders (municipalities and the skilled trades chamber) across the Heilbronn-Franken region in Baden-Württemberg.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Welcome Center Heilbronn-Franken: Central contact point for international skilled workers seeking to live and work in the region, also supports companies in recruiting and integrating international talent.
• Kontaktstelle Frau und Beruf Heilbronn-Franken
• Netzwerk TRANSFORMOTIVE
• KEFF+ Kompetenzstelle Ressourceneffizienz
• Film Commission Heilbronn-Franken/Ostalb
• Regionale Innovationssysteme (RIS)
• Regionale Koordinationsstelle Fachkräfteeinwanderung (RKF)
• WHF Business

Products and services

• Welcome Center Heilbronn-Franken Central point of contact for international skilled workers and companies in the Heilbronn-Franken region, offering advice on job search, credential recognition, German courses, and immigration rules, as well as integration support for employers.
• Kontaktstelle Frau und Beruf Heilbronn-Franken Advisory service for women in the region on career orientation, re-entry after family or care leave, professional development, and entrepreneurship, as well as consulting for companies on recruiting and retaining female talent.
• Netzwerk TRANSFORMOTIVE Regional network supporting companies in Heilbronn-Franken with transformation challenges in mobility, digitization, qualification, and innovation, providing workshops, analyses, and knowledge transfer.
• KEFF+ Kompetenzstelle Ressourceneffizienz Heilbronn-Franken Resource efficiency competence center offering free on-site KEFF+Checks for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies to identify energy and material savings potentials, providing neutral, independent consulting and recommendations on efficiency improvements.
• Film Commission Heilbronn-Franken/Ostalb Central contact for film and media productions in Heilbronn-Franken and Ostalbkreis, providing location scouting, network connections to local service providers, and coordination with municipalities and authorities.
• Regionale Koordinationsstelle Fachkräfteeinwanderung (RKF) Heilbronn Coordination office advising small and medium enterprises on employing international skilled workers, covering legal frameworks, visa procedures, accelerated specialist procedures, and integration support, operating as one of six advisory centers in Baden-Württemberg.
• Regionale Innovationssysteme (RIS) Regional Innovation Strategy serving as the central interface between Baden-Württemberg state policy and the Heilbronn-Franken region, coordinating innovation needs, trend scouting, network facilitation, and flagship project initiation, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
• WHF Business Networking and visibility platform connecting companies, municipalities, and partners within Heilbronn-Franken, providing event formats, shared content creation, and location marketing to strengthen the region's economic profile.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 KEFF+ energy efficiency checks conducted in 2025 identified savings potential of 15,050,000 kWh and €2.6 million in economic benefit
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Stadt HeilbronncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Heilbronn is a core shareholder of WHF, providing municipal support and funding for regional economic development initiatives.
• Landkreis HeilbronncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty of Heilbronn is a core shareholder supporting WHF's economic development mission in the greater Heilbronn area.
• HohenlohekreiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHohenlohe district is a core shareholder, contributing to regional economic development and hosting initiatives like the campus of Hochschule Heilbronn.
• Landkreis Schwäbisch HallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict of Schwäbisch Hall is a core shareholder supporting WHF initiatives including the Zukunftswiesen Summit.
• Main-Tauber-KreiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain-Tauber district is a core shareholder, contributing to regional economic development with strong focus on manufacturing, glass, and furniture industries.
• Regionalverband Heilbronn-FrankencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Association Heilbronn-Franken is a core shareholder, managing spatial planning across four districts and 110 municipalities.
• Handwerkskammer Heilbronn-FrankencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Crafts Heilbronn-Franken represents approximately 12,600 member companies and is a core shareholder providing vocational training and industry representation.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Raum Heilbronn GmbH (WFG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWFG partners with WHF on Netzwerk TRANSFORMOTIVE to support automotive and manufacturing companies in their digital and mobility transformation.
• Bündnis für TransformationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal initiative partnered with WHF to support regional businesses in transformation processes, particularly in mobility and digitalization.
• MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg mbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFilm Commission collaborates with MFG Baden-Württemberg for film funding, education, and industry networking. MFG provides the Location and Production Guide platform.
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Koordinationsstelle Fachkräfteeinwanderung works with the employment agency's Employer Service for SME support on international recruitment.
• KEFF+ Netzwerk Baden-WürttembergmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHF is the regional carrier of KEFF+ (Competence Center Resource Efficiency), part of a statewide network helping companies reduce energy and material costs.
• Tourimia GmbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSince 2026, Tourimia handles tourism marketing for Heilbronn-Franken region, working in close coordination with WHF on holistic regional development.
• Netzwerk IQ (Integration durch Qualifizierung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork providing integration and qualification support for migrants, referenced by RKF as part of their support ecosystem.
• Ausländerbehörden (Foreigners' Authorities)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal immigration authorities partner with RKF for expedited visa and work permit processes for international skilled workers.
• Anerkennungsstellen (Recognition Bodies)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional recognition bodies collaborate with RKF to streamline foreign qualification recognition processes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (WRS): Regional economic development corporation for the Stuttgart region, with an analogous mandate covering business promotion, innovation, and location marketing for a similarly industrial Baden-Württemberg region.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Raum Heilbronn GmbH (WFG): Direct regional economic development partner co-executing TRANSFORMOTIVE with WHF. Serves the same Heilbronn-area business community with location marketing and investment support, making it the closest functional peer.
• IHK Heilbronn-Franken: The local chamber of industry and commerce covering the same Heilbronn-Franken region, providing business advisory, training, and advocacy. WHF is a co-shareholder of the Handwerkskammer and routinely coordinates with IHK on regional programs.

Broad incumbents

• NRW.Global Business GmbH: State-level investment and location marketing agency for North Rhine-Westphalia, similar to WHF but operating at a much larger industrial base and budget scale.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH: State-level economic development agency for Berlin, comparable in function (business attraction, location marketing, innovation support) but serving a larger capital-city region with significantly more resources.
• Hamburg Invest Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft mbH: City-state economic development body performing investment promotion, cluster management, and SME support for Hamburg — analogous in mandate but with greater scale and international profile than WHF.
• Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH: Hesse's state economic development agency offering investment promotion, innovation funding, and cluster support, comparable in scope to WHF but serving a larger federal state.
• FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH International Marketing of the Region: Regional marketing and economic development company for the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main metropolitan region — analogous mandate to WHF around location marketing, workforce attraction, and cluster promotion.

Emerging players

• MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg mbH: State-level film and media promotion agency that WHF partners with through the Film Commission. Functions as the state-level counterpart to WHF's regional film production support, providing film funding and industry networking.

Others

• Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Regionaldirektion Baden-Württemberg: Federal employment agency partner to WHF's Regionale Koordinationsstelle Fachkräfteeinwanderung (RKF). Comparable as a workforce development institution, though operating at federal scale rather than regional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/whfheilbronn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wirtschaftsregion-heilbronn-franken
• Instagraminstagram.com/diewirtschaftsregion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries8 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 Wirtschaftsregion Heilbronn Franken