ICWE

What ICWE does

ICWE GmbH is a privately held Berlin-based international events and communications company, founded in 1995 by Rebecca Stromeyer, who continues as Managing Director. The firm operates from Leibnizstrasse 32, 10625 Berlin, with 11-50 employees supported by a network of freelance consultants across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean and the Pacific. ICWE generates revenue entirely through professional-services engagements: it does not sell software, an API, or a digital platform; its commercial offering is the design, production and execution of physical, hybrid and virtual events and the communications programmes built around them.

ICWE organises conferences, exhibitions, leadership forums, ministerial round tables, seminars and trade exhibitions on topics spanning education and training, ICT4D, gender, eGovernment, agriculture, health, business and language/media localisation. It owns and operates the eLearning Africa conference — described as Africa's largest ICT-for-education, training and skills-development event — running annually in rotating African host cities (recent editions: Kigali 2024, planned Dar es Salaam 2025). Beyond owned brands, ICWE delivers bespoke event management, programme development, exhibition sales, PR and communications, professional training and research/publication services to international organisations, governments, NGOs and large corporates. Documented clients include GIZ, British Council, DAAD, EAIE, European Commission (multiple DGs), EUIPO, UNESCO, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, CTA, EdTech Hub, EIT Health, Coursera and Microsoft. Notable programmes include the Gavi Pledging Conference (US$7.5 billion raised) and fin4ag (800+ delegates from 80 ACP countries).

ICWE monetises through custom-quoted, project-based service contracts rather than listed pricing; revenue is not publicly disclosed. The marketing function relies on ICWE's owned event brands and websites (eLearning Africa, Languages & the Media, OEB global, plus icwe.net), supplemented by YouTube and a dedicated news portal. The technology stack is conventional web infrastructure plus Google Analytics — there is no proprietary platform, API, mobile app, or AI/ML capability disclosed. Between 2017 and 2018, ICWE divested four legacy conference brands (Online Educa Berlin to CloserStill Media, Languages & the Media brand to E-Cubed Communications, STUDYWORLD to SCOPE Messestrategie, and InDialog to ENPSIT), concentrating operations on eLearning Africa and ongoing client-services work. The company is GDPR-compliant, holds no patents or external funding, and operates without a parent company or institutional investor.

Name

ICWE

Legal name

ICWE GmbH

Website

https://icwe.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ICWE GmbH is a Berlin-based international events and communications company that organises large-scale conferences, exhibitions, PR campaigns and research programmes for governments, multilateral organisations, NGOs and corporates in sectors including education, ICT4D, health and agriculture across 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Management Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual Recruitment Events, Fairs & Webinar Platforms (EDAIACAF), Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

Keywords

• Event management services
• Conference organization
• Exhibition management
• Communication campaigns
• International conferences

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Event Management Services: Full-service event management for large-scale conferences, exhibitions, seminars, workshops and trade exhibitions. Services include overall concept and planning, technical production, participant management, branding, on-site organization and support.
2. PR & Communications Campaigns: Comprehensive international media campaigns including strategic consultancy, writing and editing, media monitoring, press conference coordination, social media management, and crisis communications.
3. Programme Development: Development of educational programmes on topics including education & training, ICT4D, gender, eGovernment, agriculture, health, and business. Includes research, programme design and production.
4. Exhibition Management & Sales: Exhibition sales bringing in exhibitors, sponsors and advertisers, along with expert exhibition management and customer service.
5. Research & Publications: Research activities including market analysis, surveys, benchmarking reports, database management, copywriting, editing, design and publishing services.
6. Training Services: Professional management and training services for associations, think tanks and trade organisations, including day-to-day management, administration, strategic planning and financial management.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ICWE provides full-service event management, conference and exhibition organization, and international communication/PR campaigns for clients worldwide. Services include concept and planning, technical production, participant management, branding, on-site organization, exhibition sales, programme development, and research/publications, with sector specializations in education, ICT4D, health, agriculture, and eGovernment.

Product overview

ICWE offers a comprehensive portfolio of event management and communication services organized around six core service areas: Event Management, Programme Development, Exhibition Management & Sales, PR & Communications, Training Services, and Research & Publications. The company also founded and developed several leading conference and exhibition brands in the fields of education, technology, e-learning, student mobility, language learning, audiovisual language transfer and localisation, ICT4D, international cooperation and development, eGov, investment, and business. These brands include eLearning Africa (Africa's largest digital education conference), Languages & the Media (audiovisual media localisation), Online Educa Berlin (technology supported learning), EXPOLINGUA (languages and cultures), and STUDYWORLD (higher education fair). Several of these brands have been acquired by other organizations over time (OEB acquired by CloserStill Media, Languages & the Media by E-Cubed Communications, STUDYWORLD by SCOPE Messestrategie, InDialog by ENPSIT). ICWE also manages specific programmes and campaigns including the Beyond Access Initiative and fin4ag agricultural financing conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• eLearning Africa: Africa's largest conference and exhibition on ICT for education, training, and skills development.
• Languages & the Media
• EXPOLINGUA
• STUDYWORLD

Products and services

• Event Management Full-service event management for large-scale conferences, high-level forums, public exhibitions, training workshops, seminars, online and hybrid events, including concept and planning, technical production, participant management, branding, contract management, on-site organization, risk management, travel management, and budgeting.
• Programme Development Development of programmes for events and clients on topics including education and training, ICT4D, gender, eGovernment, agriculture, interpretation/translation/localisation, health, and business and investment, including research, call for proposals administration, speaker management, and programme design and production.
• Exhibition Management & Sales Sales of exhibition space to world-class exhibitors, sponsors and advertisers combined with expert exhibition management, including research and lead management, contract negotiation, exhibition planning, shipping and customs support, onsite coordination, financial management, and post-event evaluation.
• PR & Communications Comprehensive international media campaigns for clients, including strategic consultancy, writing and editing, media monitoring and evaluation, press conference coordination, social media and community management, media and blogger relations, risk management and crisis communications, partner and stakeholder engagement, newsletter development, direct marketing campaigns, and portal development and management.
• Training Services Professional management and training services for associations, think tanks and trade organisations, including day-to-day management, administration, membership recruitment and communication, website and database development, strategic planning, financial management, fundraising, and internal communication.
• Research & Publications Research and publication activities in international education, ICT-enhanced learning and training, and ICT4D, including database setup and management, thematic research, survey design and analysis, copywriting and editing, design and publishing, market analyses, and benchmarking reports.
• eLearning Africa
• Languages & the Media
• Online Educa Berlin (OEB)
• EXPOLINGUA
• fin4ag Conference
• Beyond Access Initiative Events

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,200 participants from 72+ countries at major events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ is Germany's leading provider of international cooperation services. ICWE has collaborated with GIZ on development projects and events.
• EAIE (European Association for International Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICWE provides exhibition management services for the annual EAIE conference, Europe's largest higher education event with 5000+ professionals.
• British CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICWE supports the British Council's Going Global conference series for international education policy makers and practitioners.
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICWE has organized multiple projects for DAAD including the Go-Out! Studieren Weltweit rally and symposiums on international student mobility.
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICWE has provided communication campaigns for various DG units including DG Communication, DG Employment, DG MARKT, and DG MARE.
• EdTech HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership between eLearning Africa and EdTech Hub on research including COVID-19 surveys on African education.
• European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICWE designed and implemented PR campaigns for EUIPO including DesignEuropa Awards, studies on counterfeiting, and IP rights campaigns.
• EPICAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPICA is a strategic partnership co-funded by Horizon 2020, working with businesses, organisations and universities to design an innovative ePortfolio ecosystem.
• International Training Centre of the ILOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on training programmes and learning initiatives related to labour and development.
• EIT HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEIT Health Matchmaking event hosted by German EIT Health partner Fraunhofer for innovation and business creation.
• AU-EU Business ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-level platform for economic dialogue between Europe and Africa, fostering strategic partnerships and sustainable investment.
• E-Cubed CommunicationsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational company devoted to helping clients develop effective content and communications on an international scale.
• IREXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeyond Access Initiative focused on libraries in communities and developing services to address community needs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MCI Group: Swiss-headquartered global events, association management, and communications agency serving associations, NGOs, and corporations — a near direct functional analogue to ICWE's full-service model across events, PR, and training.
• Kenes Group: Specialist in organizing international association conferences across science, education, and development sectors; closely comparable on technical conference management, association clients, and global multi-city delivery.
• Hyve Group: International events and exhibitions company running sector-focused trade shows and conferences; structurally comparable mid-sized events operator competing in the same international B2B/B2G convening space.
• CloserStill Media: Global B2B events organizer that acquired ICWE's flagship Online Educa Berlin brand in 2017; operates many of the same international education/training conference portfolios and competes head-to-head for sponsorships and exhibitors.

Broad incumbents

• dmg events: International events business operating large-scale conferences and exhibitions across multiple sectors; comparable in business model and global footprint, though covering a broader industry range than ICWE.
• Reed Exhibitions (RELX): Global exhibition and conference organizer (part of RELX) with broad portfolio across education, technology, and trade shows; overlaps with ICWE on international conference operations and large-scale production.
• Ascential plc: Events-focused information services company running major international B2B events; comparable on global conference operations and high-end convening for enterprise/government audiences.
• Informa plc: One of the world's largest events and B2B information services groups operating thousands of conferences and exhibitions; competes for the same international and government-sector clients as ICWE but at vastly greater scale across many verticals.

Emerging players

• E-Cubed Communications: International content and communications firm that acquired ICWE's Languages & the Media brand; directly comparable as a niche events + communications agency targeting language, media, and audiovisual localization markets.

Regional players

• SCOPE Messestrategie GmbH: Germany-based exhibition and trade fair strategy firm that acquired ICWE's STUDYWORLD brand; direct functional peer in German/European education-trade-show operations and event strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAvShD8MwRcZ4yyuVGiEwXA
• Facebookfacebook.com/163977717108659
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/574943

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 ICWE