BdKom - Bundesverband der Kommunikatoren

Name

BdKom - Bundesverband der Kommunikatoren

Legal name

Bundesverband der Kommunikatoren e. V.

Website

https://bdkom.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: BdKom generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees. Standard membership costs 165€ per calendar year, with reduced rates for young professionals and higher rates for corporate supporting members at 300€ per year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BdKom is a registered non-profit professional association (e.V.) providing annual membership subscriptions to approximately 4,000 press officers and communications professionals across German-speaking countries. The core membership delivers access to a cross-industry networking platform (regional, specialist, and competence groups), approximately 150 events per year, the KOM Magazin professional journal published six times annually, the myBdKom mobile app for digital networking, and various member services including coaching and discounted benefits.

Product overview

BdKom is a professional association for communications professionals in the German-speaking region, offering a unified membership platform with multiple integrated services. The core membership provides access to networking through regional, specialist, and competence groups, approximately 150 annual events, and the KOM Magazine journal. The offering includes specialized programs such as the Students Network for junior members, the Buddy-Programm for mentorship, and the BdKom Award and WissKom Award for recognizing excellence. Additional services encompass the myBdKom mobile app, the annual KKongress conference, Corporate Benefits discounts, the Berufsfeldstudie research publication, and various Servicebroschüren on professional topics. The association also provides FairFormuliert, Conflict Coach, and Erste-Hilfe-Coaching services, along with a Next Gen Lab initiative. These products function as integrated components of membership rather than standalone offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KOM Magazin: The leading professional magazine for the German-speaking communication industry, published six times annually, included in membership.
• myBdKom App
• KomCard
• BdKom Students Network
• BdKom Talent Award
• BdKom Award
• KKongress
• Sommerakademie
• BdKom Buddy-Programm

Products and services

• BdKom Membership
• KOM Magazin

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to 4,000+ communications professionals across all sectors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

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.

• Quadriga Hochschule BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration for the Berufsfeldstudie (professional field study) conducted for over 15 years, analyzing the development of the PR and communications profession. The association also has partnerships with Quadriga Media Berlin for publications.
• Quadriga Media BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWebsite operator and publication partner. Runs the association's website and provides publishing services for member materials and research.
• StaffbasecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for the myBdKom mobile app - a social platform enabling members to network, chat, and share events digitally.
• Deutsche Presseakademie (depak)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational partner offering discounted training and continuing education formats for BdKom members.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Emerging players

• European Association of Communication Directors (EACD): Pan-European network for senior corporate communication leaders. Targets a similar communications-officer persona as BdKom but at a more senior, cross-border tier — overlapping at the high end of BdKom's membership.

Regional players

• Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR): UK chartered body for PR professionals with credentialing, training, and member services. Provides a useful benchmark for how a national communications association can evolve into a credentialed profession with deeper member value.
• Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA): UK-based trade body for PR and communications professionals offering networking, training, and advocacy. Operates in a comparable professional-association model to BdKom but serves the UK market rather than DACH.
• Arthur W. Page Society: US-based invitation-only association for chief communications officers and senior corporate communication executives. Operates a similar thought-leadership and peer-exchange model to BdKom at a more senior level in the US market.

Broad incumbents

• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC): Global membership association for business communicators offering networking, certification (CMP/SCMP), and professional development. Operates the same professional-association model as BdKom but at global scale, including a presence in Europe.
• Global Alliance for Public Relations: International federation of communications associations worldwide. BdKom's DACH focus makes it a natural member/affiliate of Global Alliance, which represents the global category in which BdKom operates at a regional level.

Direct peers

• Deutscher Journalisten-Verband (DJV): Germany's largest journalists' union and professional association, already a BdKom partner association offering discounted membership to its members. Operates in the adjacent journalism side of the same media/communications ecosystem.
• DPRG (Deutsche Public Relations Gesellschaft): Germany's other major professional association for PR and communications professionals. DPRG directly competes with BdKom for the same member persona and offers overlapping networking, events, and awards — making it BdKom's closest domestic peer.

Others

• Deutsche Presseakademie (depak): Germany's leading provider of professional training and continuing education for journalists and communications professionals. Already a BdKom partner offering discounted training, depak operates adjacent to BdKom in the same skills-development value chain.
• Quadriga Hochschule Berlin: Berlin-based university specializing in communications, PR, and public affairs, and BdKom's long-standing academic partner (15+ year collaboration on Berufsfeldstudie). Not a competitor but a strategic ecosystem partner addressing adjacent demand from the same professional base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bdkom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bdkom
• Instagraminstagram.com/bdkom_official

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 BdKom - Bundesverband der Kommunikatoren