Wirtschaftsregion Bergstrasse

What Wirtschaftsregion Bergstrasse does

Wirtschaftsregion Bergstraße (legal entity: Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße GmbH) is a regional economic development agency headquartered in Heppenheim, Germany, founded in 1998 and reorganized in 2004 into its current 29-shareholder public-private partnership form. It functions as the central point of contact for companies, founders, investors, municipalities, and citizens in Kreis Bergstraße, providing free advisory services across five service areas: existing-company support, founder support, investor support, municipal support, and supplementary services (energy consulting for citizens and tourism promotion within the Bergstraße-Odenwald destination).

The organization's product portfolio is service-oriented rather than technology-driven, organized around flagship programs including Gründungsoffensive Bergstraße (a startup initiative), Regionale Breitbandberatungsstelle Südhessen (a state-funded broadband advisory center), Bildungscoach (education coaching), and the Gründungswettbewerb Bergstraße (a startup competition). It has also co-launched the Anwendungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz und Quantencomputing am Bertramshof with House of Digital Transformation, which delivers biweekly AI-themed events for regional businesses. Core technology is non-proprietary: the organization leverages Microsoft Teams for virtual events, Webflow for website hosting, Google Analytics, Mailchimp, and Cloudflare for standard web operations.

The business model is a public-private funding structure rather than a commercial revenue model. Services are provided free of charge to constituents; the entity is funded through annual contributions from 29 shareholders (Kreis Bergstraße as primary shareholder, 22 municipalities, three Sparkassen, and three Volks/Raiffeisenbanken) plus project-specific public grants from federal and Hessian state sources. The organization is governed by a 9-member Supervisory Board chaired by Landrat Christian Engelhardt and a 34-member Advisory Board. As of mid-2026 the team comprises approximately 25 employees led by Geschäftsführer Dr. Matthias Zürker, with no external equity funding, no subsidiaries, and no commercial revenue disclosure.

Name

Wirtschaftsregion Bergstrasse

Legal name

Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße GmbH

Website

https://www.wirtschaftsregion-bergstrasse.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wirtschaftsregion Bergstraße (Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße GmbH) is a public-private economic development agency in Heppenheim, Germany, serving companies, founders, investors, municipalities, and citizens of Kreis Bergstraße with free advisory services, startup programs, and broadband infrastructure coordination.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (926), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Grid Interconnection, Transmission Policy & Market Rules (EUAMANAC)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Business advisory services
• Startup support programs
• Broadband infrastructure consulting
• Municipal economic promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

Heppenheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Membership Fees: Funded through contributions from 29 shareholders — Kreis Bergstraße, 22 municipalities, 3 Sparkassen, and 4 Volks/Raiffeisenbanken — as a public-private partnership. Revenue comes from annual contributions and public funding allocations.
2. Consulting and Advisory Services: Provides free-of-charge advisory services to companies, startups, municipalities, and citizens, funded through public means rather than direct client fees.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wirtschaftsregion Bergstraße is a public-private economic development agency that provides free advisory services to companies, founders, municipalities, and citizens in the Kreis Bergstraße district. It organizes its offering around four core service lines — services for existing companies, services for founders, services for investors, and services for municipalities — supplemented by programs such as the Gründungsoffensive founding initiative, the regional broadband consulting center for southern Hesse, the Bildungscoach education coaching service, energy consulting for citizens, and tourism promotion.

Product overview

Wirtschaftsregion Bergstrasse (Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße GmbH) is a regional economic development agency serving as the central point of contact for companies, investors, and founders in the Bergstraße district. Rather than offering a unified software product, the organization provides a portfolio of advisory services and programs organized around five service areas: (1) Services for existing companies (Bestandsunternehmen) covering business development, transformation, and networking; (2) Services for founders (Gründende) through the Gründungsoffensive Bergstraße program, IFB consulting days, and Gründungswettbewerb competition; (3) Services for investors including location selection and funding; (4) Services for municipalities including infrastructure development and broadband expansion support via the Breitbandberatungsstelle; and (5) Supplementary services including energy consulting for citizens, tourism promotion, and the Bildungscoach education coaching program. Additionally, the Anwendungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz und Quantencomputing am Bertramshof provides AI-related events and practical insights for businesses. The organization serves as a public-private partnership with 29 shareholders including the district, 22 municipalities, and regional banks, functioning as an intercommunal cooperation rather than a commercial product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Services for Existing Companies (Services für Bestandsunternehmen) Advisory and support services for established companies operating in Kreis Bergstraße covering business development, funding opportunities, transformation processes (digitalization, decarbonization), succession planning, networking, and innovation. Provided free of charge to regional SMEs and larger companies.
• Services for Founders (Services für Gründende) Comprehensive support for prospective and active founders, including business plan creation, IFB consulting days for founders in freelance professions, RKW consultation days, and access to the Gründungsoffensive Bergstraße program. Provided free of charge.
• Services for Investors (Services für Investoren) Support services for investors considering the Bergstraße region, including location selection, funding opportunity identification, and connection to commercial real estate and industrial sites (Gewerbeflächen).
• Services for Municipalities (Services für Kommunen) Municipal advisory and support services for the 22 shareholder municipalities and the Kreis Bergstraße district, including economic infrastructure development, broadband expansion coordination, commercial real estate development, tourism promotion, and regional cooperation.
• Gründungsoffensive Bergstraße A regional founding initiative that strengthens the startup climate in the Bergstraße region and encourages founders to implement their business ideas. Combines advisory, events, and connections to broader support programs for prospective and active entrepreneurs.
• Regionale Breitbandberatungsstelle Südhessen Regional broadband consulting service for southern Hesse that supports municipalities and citizens with gigabit expansion and digital infrastructure development, including coordination of the IKbit intercommunal fiber optic project across 10 municipalities targeting 10,000+ households and businesses by end of 2028.
• Bildungscoach Education coaching service that provides free, neutral, and confidential advice on continuing education and qualification for companies and employees in the Bergstraße region.
• Gründungswettbewerb Bergstraße Startup competition for founders, startups, and young companies in the Bergstraße region offering prizes and accompanying support services to encourage new business creation.
• Anwendungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz und Quantencomputing am Bertramshof Application center for AI and quantum computing that provides compact, practical insights into AI applications from business practice through events such as the 'Schlaue Pause – KI-Mittagssnack' online series, co-hosted with House of Digital Transformation e.V.
• Energieberatung für Bürgerinnen und Bürger Free energy consulting for citizens of Kreis Bergstraße regarding funding opportunities for energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy installations, and EV charging stations.
• Tourismusförderung Tourism promotion service supporting the tourist development of the Bergstraße district within the Bergstraße-Odenwald destination, including the operation of the Tourist-Information office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 businesses and 80,000 employees supported across the region with 274,000+ residents
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 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 and minor.

• aconium GmbHcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Federal project funding agency responsible for overseeing and administering federal broadband/subsidy programs. Works with Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße on the intercommunal broadband network (IKbit) fiber optic expansion project, administering federal funding contributions (50% of project costs).
• PEB Breitband GmbH & Co. KGcoreTechnology or IntegrationJoint venture of ENTEGA Medianet and Klenk & Sohn responsible for implementing the intercommunal broadband network (IKbit) fiber optic expansion across 9 municipalities in Kreis Bergstraße. Handles project management, construction, compliance documentation, and final billing for the subsidized fiber project targeting 10,000+ households and businesses.
• ENTEGA MedianetcoreTechnology or IntegrationPart of the ENTEGA group; co-owner of PEB Breitband GmbH & Co. KG. Responsible for implementing fiber optic network infrastructure in the Bergstraße region as part of the IKbit intercommunal broadband project.
• Klenk & Sohn GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationConstruction firm co-owning PEB Breitband GmbH & Co. KG. Responsible for physical implementation of fiber optic infrastructure in the IKbit municipalities.
• IKbit (Interkommunaler Breitbandnetz Eigenbetrieb)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint municipal broadband utility (Eigenbetrieb) of 10 municipalities in Kreis Bergstraße for fiber optic network development. Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße has accompanied the project from the beginning. Target: 10,000+ households and businesses connected by end of 2028.
• Hessisches Ministerium für Digitalisierung und Innovation (HMD)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerHessian Ministry for Digital Affairs and Innovation, led by State Secretary Dr. Nicolas Sölter. Provides political support and state funding (40% / up to €18 million) for the intercommunal fiber optic expansion. Also granted €125,000 to Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße for continued operation as the Regional Broadband Advisory Center for Southern Hesse.
• Institut für Freie Berufe (IFB) — Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and advisory institute affiliated with FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, one of Germany's leading institutions for freelance profession advisory. Partners with Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße on regular free consultation days (IFB-Sprechtage) for founders in freelance professions, providing individual advisory sessions in Heppenheim.
• House of Digital Transformation e.V. (HoDT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for digital transformation that partners with Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße on the 'Anwendungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz und Quantencomputing am Bertramshof' (Application Center for AI and Quantum Computing). Hosts the 'Schlaue Pause – KI-Mittagssnack' online event series every two weeks.
• IHK Darmstadt (Industrie- und Handelskammer Darmstadt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Commerce and Industry for Darmstadt and surrounding region. Partners on the 'Durchstarten für morgen!' event series delivering webinars on sales, pricing negotiations, and business planning. Also co-hosts IT security consultation days, crisis preparedness webinars, and the 'Unternehmenswerkstatt' business plan workshop.
• RKW HessencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRKW Hessen (Rationalisierungs- und Innovationszentrum der Deutschen Wirtschaft) partners on consultation days for funding advisory and subsidies (RKW-Sprechtag zu Beratungsförderung und Zuschüssen). Provides expertise on Hessian SME funding programs.
• Mitarbeiterunterstützungsprogramm Rhein-Neckar e.V. (MUP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployee assistance program association in the Rhine-Neckar region. Presents at HR network meetings organized by Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße on topics of mental health in the workplace.
• IHK-Sprechtage / QuABBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHK consultation sessions and QuABB (Qualifizierung, Ausbildung, Beschäftigung, Betrieb) program addressing training prevention, youth career support, and reducing dropouts. Co-hosted by Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße.
• Kreis BergstraßecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMain shareholder of Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße GmbH. The district provides core funding and political backing. Landrat Christian Engelhardt serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Kreis Bergstraße and the WFB co-organize events including the Ausbildungs- und Studieninfotag.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH: Regional economic development agency for the Stuttgart region, providing location marketing, founder support and investment advisory to municipalities and companies; directly comparable in mandate, governance (municipality-backed GmbH) and service portfolio to Wirtschaftsregion Bergstraße.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH: Public-private economic development agency for Berlin offering location marketing, business and founder support, and cluster management; structurally and functionally the closest large-city analogue to Wirtschaftsregion Bergstraße's service model.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH (WFB Bremen): City-state economic development company of Bremen providing investment promotion, business development and tourism services; a same-model German Wirtschaftsförderung GmbH, comparable in service mix and shareholder structure.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Dortmund: City-level Wirtschaftsförderung providing business and founder advisory, real-estate marketing and location promotion for Dortmund; structurally and functionally a close mid-sized analogue of WFB.

Broad incumbents

• Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH (HTAI): State-level economic development agency of Hesse covering investment promotion, innovation and EU funding; competes with and complements WFB across the same state and shares many policy themes (digitalization, energy, innovation).
• NRW.Global Business GmbH: State-owned business development agency of North Rhine-Westphalia providing FDI, trade and innovation services; comparable as a publicly-backed Wirtschaftsförderung but operating at a much larger state scale.
• Invest in Bavaria (Bayern International): State investment-promotion agency of Bavaria; a benchmark German public-sector Wirtschaftsförderung with a similar mandate (location marketing, founder support, FDI) but operating at much larger state scale.

Regional players

• FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH: Regional marketing organization for the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main metropolitan region; overlaps with WFB's territory on one side and competes for the same investment and tourism narrative in the Rhine-Main corridor.
• Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar GmbH: Cross-border metropolitan association marketing the Rhine-Neckar region; directly overlaps with WFB's Bergstraße catchment on the other metropolitan side and competes for the same investor and labor-market narrative.

Others

• IHK Darmstadt Rhein-Main-Neckar: Regional Chamber of Commerce covering the same geography as WFB and actively co-delivering consultation days, webinars and the Unternehmenswerkstatt workshop; not a direct competitor but an adjacent ecosystem player with overlapping advisory mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeF0vHSPovoSTrL4IzwelIg
• Facebookfacebook.com/WirtschaftsregionBergstrasse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wirtschaftsregion-bergstrasse
• Instagraminstagram.com/wirtschaftsregion.bergstrasse
• Xx.com/BergstraWfb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Bergstrasse