Aargauischer Gewerbeverband

What Aargauischer Gewerbeverband does

Aargauischer Gewerbeverband (AGV) is a private trade association representing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canton Aargau, Switzerland. Founded approximately 125 years ago (c. 1899) and headquartered at Entfelderstrasse 19, 5000 Aarau, AGV operates with a small staff of 16 employees and serves as the sole cantonal-level umbrella for affiliated local trade associations (Gewerbevereine) and individual SME members. Its operations are organized around three pillars: vocational education (anchored by the biennial Aargauische Berufsschau, which attracted approximately 35,000-37,000 visitors in its 2025 edition, and Berufsbildner/innen-Kurse for vocational trainers), business promotion (regional Gewerbeausstellungen, the KMU-Barometer sentiment survey, and KMU-Workshop fit4excellence), and political advocacy (Medienmitteilungen, Vernehmlassungen on cantonal legislation, and Parolen for cantonal votes).

AGV's revenue model is membership-based and non-profit by design. The primary revenue stream is recurring membership dues from affiliated local Gewerbevereine and individual SME members, supplemented by advertising sales in the 'Aargauer Wirtschaft' newspaper (published 10-12 times annually with a circulation of 11,000 copies; advertising managed by external partner DaPa Media Vermarktungs GmbH). Specific dues and pricing are not publicly disclosed. The association does not operate as a technology vendor: it offers no software products, APIs, or proprietary platforms. Its technology footprint is limited to a standard website (agv.ch), an E-Paper archive on issuu.com, and standard data-protection-compliant external hosting.

Distribution and member acquisition follow a community-led GTM motion: AGV reaches SMEs through its affiliated local Gewerbevereine network, in-person events (Delegiertenversammlungen, Gewerbeausstellungen, Aargauische Berufsschau), the monthly 'Aargauer Wirtschaft' newspaper, press releases, and complementary partnerships with the national Schweizerischer Gewerbeverband (sgv) for federal-level advocacy, with SIU for continuing education, and with the Aargauischer Lehrerinnen- und Lehrerverband (alv) for the jointly founded 'Schule trifft Wirtschaft' vocational-education initiative (formalized as an independent association in May 2024).

Name

Aargauischer Gewerbeverband

Legal name

Aargauischer Gewerbeverband

Website

https://agv.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aargauischer Gewerbeverband (AGV), founded c. 1899 in Aarau, Switzerland, is a private trade association representing SMEs in Canton Aargau. It delivers advocacy, vocational training, and member services through events, publications, and political engagement, funded by membership dues and newspaper advertising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association & SME Advocacy Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• SME trade association
• Vocational education advocacy
• Canton business representation
• Member services
• Continuing education courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Aarau

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Revenue generated from membership fees of affiliated local trade associations (Gewerbevereine) and individual SME members in the Aargau canton.
2. Advertising Revenue: Revenue from advertisements placed in the 'Aargauer Wirtschaft' newspaper, with circulation of 11,000 copies published 12 times annually.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aargauischer Gewerbeverband (AGV) is a private trade association founded approximately 125 years ago that represents small and medium-sized enterprises (KMU/SMEs) in Canton Aargau, Switzerland. Its core offerings include political advocacy and consultation responses (Vernehmlassungen) on cantonal legislation, vocational education programs and exhibitions (notably the biennial Aargauische Berufsschau), continuing education courses for vocational trainers and SME leaders, the monthly member newspaper 'Aargauer Wirtschaft', regional trade exhibitions, and SME sentiment surveys (KMU-Barometer).

Product overview

Aargauischer Gewerbeverband (AGV) is a trade association representing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland. Founded approximately 125 years ago, the organization operates as a membership-based association rather than a technology company. Its portfolio consists of three main pillars: (1) vocational education (Berufsbildung), anchored by the Aargauische Berufsschau and Berufsbildner/innen-Kurse; (2) business promotion through Gewerbeausstellungen and the KMU-Barometer survey; and (3) policy advocacy via Medienmitteilungen, Vernehmlassungen, and political position-taking. The association also publishes the Aargauer Wirtschaft newspaper and runs the Schule trifft Wirtschaft initiative to connect schools with industry. No software products, APIs, or technology platforms are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aargauer Wirtschaft: Official association newspaper published 10x annually, serving as the official publication organ for members and interested parties in the Aargau SME sector.
• Aargauische Berufsschau
• Schule trifft Wirtschaft
• KMU-Barometer
• KMU Frauen Aargau

Products and services

• Aargauische Berufsschau Biennial vocational training exhibition — the largest event of AGV — showcasing career opportunities in the trades to approximately 35,000 students with their parents and teachers every two years.
• Aargauer Wirtschaft

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 37,000 visitors at Aargauische Berufsschau 2025, establishing new visitor record
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schweizerische Gewerbeverband (SGV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational-level umbrella association for trade and craft businesses in Switzerland. AGV is affiliated as the cantonal representative. The partnership includes coordinated advocacy at the federal level and shared access to resources and publications including the Schweizerische Gewerbezeitung.
• SIU (Schweizerisches Institut für Unternehmerschulung)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinuing education cooperation providing AGV members with access to SIU's training programs. A dedicated portal (www.siu.ch/weiterbildungen-agv) offers further education courses at preferential terms for AGV members.
• Aargauischer Lehrerinnen- und Lehrerverband (alv)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-initiated the 'Schule trifft Wirtschaft' (School meets Business) initiative in 2014 to strengthen vocational training through closer cooperation between schools and businesses. The initiative was formalized as an association in May 2024.
• DaPa Media Vermarktungs GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal partner handling sales and management of advertisements in the 'Aargauer Wirtschaft' newspaper. Contact: Davide Paolozzi, Luzernerstrasse 22, 5620 Bremgarten.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gewerbeverband Basel-Stadt: Cantonal trade association for SMEs in Basel-Stadt, providing the same member services, political representation, and vocational training support as AGV. Operates as a structurally identical regional SME association.
• Zürcher Handelskammer: Greater Zurich Chamber of Commerce and industry association serving SMEs and larger enterprises with advocacy, networking, and services. Directly comparable in mandate and member services to AGV, but in a larger and more economically diverse canton.
• Chambre vaudoise du commerce et de l'industrie (CVCI): Vaud cantonal chamber of commerce representing SMEs and industry with advocacy, training, and networking services. Comparable role to AGV in the French-speaking Swiss context, making it a direct peer.
• Handelskammer beider Basel: Cross-cantonal chamber of commerce for the Basel region serving SMEs and commercial enterprises. Provides similar advocacy, training, and member services to AGV across a broader Basel-area geography.
• KMU Thurgau: Cantonal SME association in Thurgau delivering advocacy, networking, and training to its member SMEs. Operates an essentially identical model to AGV in a smaller neighboring canton.
• Gewerbe Bern: Cantonal trade association for SMEs in Canton Bern, with a parallel structure of local Gewerbevereine, vocational training promotion, and political advocacy. Mirrors AGV's operating model in a different canton, making it a direct peer.

Broad incumbents

• Schweizerischer Gewerbeverband (sgv): National-level umbrella trade association for Swiss SMEs, of which AGV is the cantonal Aargau affiliate. Operates the same advocacy, training, and publication model at the federal level, making it the parent and most direct broad-incumbent peer.

Regional players

• Centre Patronal: Patronal association for SMEs in French-speaking Switzerland, providing HR, legal, and political advocacy services. Comparable to AGV's advocacy role but focused on the Suisse romande market rather than Aargau.
• Bund der Selbständigen (BDS): German Federation of Self-Employed, representing SMEs and the self-employed with advocacy and member services. Comparable in mission to AGV but operates in Germany rather than Switzerland, making it a thematic regional peer.

Others

• Schweizerisches Institut für Unternehmerschulung (SIU): Swiss Institute for Entrepreneurship Training, which is a strategic continuing education partner of AGV. Comparable as an enabler of SME training programs, though it operates as a training provider rather than a trade association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aargauischer-gewerbeverband

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Aargauischer Gewerbeverband