btS
btS – Life Sciences Studierendeninitiative e.V. is a German non-profit student initiative, founded in 1996, operating across 21 university cities to provide career orientation in the life sciences through volunteer-run career fairs (ScieCon), an AI-based matching platform (ScieMatch), a research-group database (ScieGuide), and digital content (ScieCast podcast, blog), connecting ~1,100 student members with pharma, biotech, and academic partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What btS does
btS – Life Sciences Studierendeninitiative e.V. is a German non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1996 in Cologne by seven doctoral students. Its mission is to provide career orientation and bridge-building between academia and industry for life sciences students and doctoral candidates. The organization operates 21 university-based local offices across Germany (including Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Cologne, Hamburg-area and others), reaches over 1,100 active student and doctoral members, and runs more than 250 events per year. Day-to-day operations are volunteer-led by students themselves, and the great majority of student-facing activities are free of charge.
The portfolio of products and services centers on four interconnected surfaces: ScieCon, an in-person career fair held at rotating university venues (over 40 organized to date, with 500+ visitors per event); ScieMatch, an algorithm-based online matching platform that pairs students with companies by skills, interests and expectations (launched March 2021, awarded Stifterverband Hochschulperle 2021); ScieGuide, a research-group database across 25 focus fields and methods, with printed city brochures and a digital interface; and ScieCast, a Spotify-distributed career podcast, supplemented by a bi-monthly career blog. Supporting digital surfaces include Instagram (~3,000 followers), LinkedIn (~2,600 followers), a weekly newsletter (~800 readers), YouTube, and Facebook.
btS monetizes primarily through corporate relationships — paid exhibition and partnership packages at ScieCon, commissioned company-specific events at any of the 21 university locations, multi-year ScieMatch standard and premium company packages, and newsletter/social-media advertising. The association also receives member dues and donations. The organization is governed by an elected National Board (Bundesvorstand) of seven volunteer board members, and it is institutionally aligned with sector bodies including BIO Deutschland (which hosts btS's Berlin mailing address), DECHEMA, VBIO, BPI, VDGH, and VDSI.
btS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- btS
- Legal name
- btS – Life Sciences Studierendeninitiative e.V.
- Website
- https://bts-ev.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- btS – Life Sciences Studierendeninitiative e.V. is a German non-profit student initiative, founded in 1996, operating across 21 university cities to provide career orientation in the life sciences through volunteer-run career fairs (ScieCon), an AI-based matching platform (ScieMatch), a research-group database (ScieGuide), and digital content (ScieCast podcast, blog), connecting ~1,100 student members with pharma, biotech, and academic partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
btS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Life Sciences Career Orientation Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Training Course Marketplaces (B2B Content Libraries) (EDAFAIAH), Cross-Functional Onboarding (Interdepartmental Collaboration) (EDABAOAK)
Keywords
Where btS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices22 records
Markets served
btS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Sponsorship & Exhibition Fees: Companies pay to participate as exhibitors at ScieCon career fairs and to create premium/standard company profiles on ScieMatch. Premium and standard packages offer extended statistics, active sourcing features, and prioritized visibility.
- Event Partnership & Service Fees: Companies commission btS to organize and host company-specific events (presentations, workshops, excursions, case studies, speed dating) at one or more of the 21 university locations. btS handles planning, marketing, moderation, venue, catering, and participant management for a fee.
- Digital Advertising & Job Posting: Job advertisements and event promotions placed in btS weekly internal newsletter (~800 readers) and on social media channels (Instagram ~3,000 followers, LinkedIn ~2,600 followers). Regional and nationwide options available.
- Membership Dues & Donations: As a non-profit registered association (e.V.), btS relies on membership fees and voluntary donations. Corporate donors and individuals can support btS's voluntary work via bank transfer (Deutsche Bank IBAN) or PayPal.
- ScieGuide Research Group Listings: Research groups can create profiles in the ScieGuide database for free. Job advertisements (Hiwi, postdoc, doctorate positions) can be submitted as PDFs for free upload to relevant profiles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Free basic account for companies on ScieMatch |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Student membership and event participation |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
btS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
btS is a student-led non-profit organization that connects Life Sciences students and doctoral candidates in Germany with employers, research groups, and career resources through career fairs (ScieCon), an algorithm-based matching platform (ScieMatch), a research group database (ScieGuide), and content channels (career blog and podcast). Activities are organized by students for students at 21 university locations and are almost always free for participants, while companies pay for exhibition, partnership, and advertising services to access this talent pipeline.
Product overview
btS offers a platform of interconnected career services for Life Sciences students in Germany, consisting of ScieCon (career fairs at 4 university locations), ScieMatch (online career matching platform), ScieGuide (research group database), and ScieCast (podcast). The core offering centers on connecting students with employers and research opportunities through both in-person events and digital tools. The organization has over 1,100 members at 21 locations organizing more than 250 events annually.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ScieCon Career Fair The flagship in-person career fair for Life Sciences students in Germany, organized at rotating university venues in Berlin, Bochum, Frankfurt, and Munich. Companies purchase exhibition booths and presentation slots to recruit students directly; the events feature company presentations, panel discussions, and direct employer-student contact, attracting 500+ visitors per event with approximately 90% actively seeking employment.
- ScieMatch Career Matching Platform A digital career matching platform that uses an intelligent algorithm to match Life Sciences students and doctoral candidates with suitable companies based on skills, interests, job requirements, working methods, and cultural fit. Includes company matching and job profile matching components, with a free basic company profile and paid Standard and Premium packages offering extended statistics, active sourcing features, and prioritized visibility.
- ScieGuide Research Group Database A searchable database of research groups and labs across German universities, helping Life Sciences students find groups for theses, student assistant positions, doctorates, or postdoc roles. Filterable by geographical radius, subject area, research focus (25 fields including biochemistry, bioinformatics, biotechnology, oncology, pharmacology), methods (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9, fluorescence microscopy), and entry opportunities. Available as a digital platform and printed city brochures; research group profiles and job postings are free.
- Karriereblog (Career Blog) An online career blog for Life Sciences students featuring articles on career paths, industry profiles, application tips, study abroad guidance, and interview-based job profile series. Articles are written by members, alumni, and industry partners, with a permanent archive accessible online.
- ScieCast Podcast A Life Sciences career podcast featuring expert interviews on career topics, industry insights, and career paths in the life sciences. Available on Spotify.
- Local University Office Events (Company-Specific Events) A commissioned event service offered at all 21 btS university locations in Germany. Companies hire btS to plan, market, moderate, and host company-specific events including presentations, workshops, excursions, case studies, and speed dating sessions. btS handles planning, marketing, moderation, venue, catering, and participant management for a fee.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 40 career fairs (ScieCons) organized since 1999, with 500+ visitors per event
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use btS
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
btS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature4 records
btS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.coreAs a leading exhibitor and supporter of ScieCon career fairs and ScieMatch platform, Thermo Fisher Scientific uses btS to connect with highly motivated life sciences students. The company values btS's ability to broaden students' awareness of employment opportunities outside academia, including both scientific roles in labs and commercial positions.
- Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co. KGcoreVetter is a pharmaceutical company that partners with btS for career fair exhibitions and company presentations, targeting life sciences students for recruitment and employer branding.
- A.S.I. Wirtschaftsberatung AG (ASI)coreASI has been advising academics on career and financial planning since 1969, partnering with over 150 financial product providers. ASI cooperates with btS to reach life sciences students early in their career planning process.
- jobvector GmbHcoreLeading job board for qualified applicants from all industries including engineering, technology, IT, healthcare, natural sciences, and more. jobvector cooperates with btS as a career fair co-organizer and advertising partner, hosting 'jobvector career days' events.
- Boehringer IngelheimcorePremium sponsor of ScieCon Berlin 2026, showcasing the company's commitment to attracting life sciences talent through btS career fairs.
- SanoficorePremium sponsor of ScieCon Berlin 2026, supporting btS's mission to connect life sciences students with leading pharmaceutical employers.
- BIO Deutschland e. V.coreBIO Deutschland is the German biotechnology industry association. btS's registered address is c/o BIO Deutschland e.V. in Berlin. The two organizations cooperate closely to bridge academia and industry in the life sciences sector.
- DECHEMA e.V.coreDECHEMA brings together professionals from different disciplines to promote scientific exchange in chemical technology and biotechnology. It is the co-organizer (with DECHEMA Ausstellungs-GmbH) of ACHEMA. ScieCon Frankfurt is held at the DECHEMA venue. DECHEMA supports btS's mission to connect students with industry.
- BIOCOM AGmajorLeading specialized information company for biotechnology and life sciences in Europe. BIOCOM is a media partner of ScieCon and publishes |transkript magazine. Cooperates with btS for content marketing and career fair media coverage.
- |transkriptmajorQuarterly magazine covering life sciences in German-speaking Europe for 30 years, focusing on biotechnology and biopharma in business, research, and politics. Media partner of ScieCon and cooperating with btS on content and career guidance.
- Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin (VBIO e. V.)majorLargest German association for biological sciences, bringing together over 5,000 individual members, 26 institutional members (with 25,000+ members), and 79 cooperating members (companies, faculties, institutes). VBIO supports btS as a platform bridging academic education and professional practice in the life sciences.
- Verband Deutscher Studierendeninitiativen (VDSI) e. V.majorAssociation of the largest student initiatives in Germany. btS has been a member since 2010. Through VDSI, btS members access a nationwide trainer network for soft skills workshops and professional development.
- Junge Gesellschaft für Virologie (Junge GfV)minorYoung virology society that cooperates with btS on scientific events and career guidance for life sciences students.
- Life Science Zurich Young Scientist Network (LSZYSN)minorNon-profit organization of PhD students and postdocs at ETH and University of Zurich. Supports ScieMatch as a network partner to help students discover career opportunities beyond academia.
- BioRiver - Life Science im Rheinland e.V.minorAssociation of the life science and biotech industry in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region in North Rhine-Westphalia. Represents 100+ member organizations, primarily biotech companies. Supports ScieMatch to connect students with biotech and life science companies, especially startups and founding projects.
- Bundesverband der Pharmazeutischen Industrie e.V. (BPI)minorRepresents the interests of the pharmaceutical industry, bundling nearly 270 companies for 70 years. Supports ScieMatch as a platform that revolutionizes career entry and employer search for life sciences students.
- German Scholars Organization e.V. (GSO)minorIndependent association supporting and accompanying scientists on their career paths — in research, industry, non-profit, or public sector — for over 20 years. Supports ScieMatch as a tool for career orientation.
- Bundesverband der Pharmaziestudierenden e.V. (BPhD)minorNationwide umbrella organization of 22 pharmacy student councils, representing nearly 13,000 pharmacy students in Germany. Supports ScieMatch to help pharmacy students find suitable career paths.
- BioContact e.V.minorFounded by doctoral candidates to link science and academia. Organizes the CONTACT job fair where life sciences companies participate. Supports ScieMatch as a platform simplifying career entry for students.
- Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM e.V.)minorLargest biochemical and molecular biology scientific society in Germany, with approximately 5,000 members, of which about one-third are young members. Supports ScieMatch as a great tool for young members to gain insights into possible career fields and contributes to sharpening career profile descriptions.
- T5 Interface GmbHminorCareer portal partner cooperating with btS for career fair and recruitment services.
- Verband der Diagnostica-Industrie (VDGH e.V.)minorRepresents the diagnostics industry in Germany. Cooperation with btS enables member companies to connect with life sciences students and graduates through ScieCon and ScieMatch.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
btS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- DECHEMA e.V. Society for chemical technology and biotechnology that co-organizes ACHEMA and hosts ScieCon Frankfurt. Comparable as an institutional enabler of Life Sciences industry-academia exchange rather than a direct competitor.
- BIOCOM AG: Leading specialized information company for biotechnology and life sciences in Europe and media partner of ScieCon. Comparable as an adjacent Life Sciences information and media platform, though not a student-led initiative.
- BIO Deutschland e.V. Germany's biotechnology industry association and btS's registered-address host. Closely allied institution bridging academia and industry; relevant as the sector umbrella rather than a direct competitor.
- VBIO – Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin: Largest German association for the biological sciences with 5,000+ individual members and 25,000+ members via institutional members. Supports btS as a complementary bridge between academic training and professional practice.
Broad incumbents
- jobvector GmbH: Leading specialized job board for engineering, IT, healthcare, and natural sciences that co-organizes 'jobvector career days' with btS. Comparable as a Life Sciences-relevant talent-matching channel with broader scope.
- Verband Deutscher Studierendeninitiativen (VDSI): Umbrella association of Germany's largest student initiatives. btS has been a member since 2010; VDSI provides the broader peer context for btS's operating model and inter-initiative programming.
- AIESEC: The world's largest youth-led volunteer organization focused on leadership development and internship/career matching. Operates a comparable volunteer-student-led GTM model across many disciplines, though not Life Sciences-specific.
Regional players
- Life Science Zurich Young Scientist Network (LSZYSN): PhD and postdoc network at ETH Zurich and University of Zurich focused on career orientation for Life Sciences students. Directly comparable in mission but operates in Switzerland rather than Germany.
Emerging players
- T5 Interface GmbH (T5 Karriereportal): Career portal partner cooperating with btS for career fair and recruitment services. Comparable as an adjacent career-matching platform with partial overlap on employer branding and student recruitment.
Direct peers
- BioContact e.V. A German student-run nonprofit founded by doctoral candidates that organizes the CONTACT life sciences job fair. Most directly comparable to btS in mission, structure, and audience, and is itself a ScieMatch partner.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
btS social profiles
Digital presencebtS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
btS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
btS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
btS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
btS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about btS
What does btS do?
btS is a student-led non-profit organization that connects Life Sciences students and doctoral candidates in Germany with employers, research groups, and career resources through career fairs (ScieCon), an algorithm-based matching platform (ScieMatch), a research group database (ScieGuide), and content channels (career blog and podcast). Activities are organized by students for students at 21 university locations and are almost always free for participants, while companies pay for exhibition, partnership, and advertising services to access this talent pipeline.
Is btS a public or private company?
btS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was btS founded?
btS was founded in 1996. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is btS based?
btS is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does btS make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Corporate Sponsorship & Exhibition Fees are the primary driver. The others are event Partnership & Service Fees, digital Advertising & Job Posting, membership Dues & Donations and scieGuide Research Group Listings.
Who are btS's main competitors?
Others on record are DECHEMA e.V., BIOCOM AG, BIO Deutschland e.V. and VBIO – Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin. Broad incumbents are jobvector GmbH, Verband Deutscher Studierendeninitiativen (VDSI) and AIESEC. Life Science Zurich Young Scientist Network (LSZYSN) is listed as a regional player. T5 Interface GmbH (T5 Karriereportal) is listed as an emerging player. BioContact e.V. is listed as a direct peer.
Does btS have an API?
No public API is recorded for btS.
What industry is btS in?
btS's product category is Life Sciences Career Orientation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAG, STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAFAIAH, Corporate Training Course Marketplaces (B2B Content Libraries). Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8200.