BIFO - Beratung für Bildung und Beruf

What BIFO - Beratung für Bildung und Beruf does

BIFO - Beratung für Bildung und Beruf is a publicly funded education and career counseling institution headquartered in Dornbirn, Vorarlberg, Austria, with branch offices in Bregenz and Feldkirch. Founded in 1988 and co-owned by the State of Vorarlberg (Land Vorarlberg) and the Wirtschaftskammer Vorarlberg, BIFO delivers free, provider-neutral, and confidential counseling to youth, adults, parents, people with disabilities, and schools in the Vorarlberg region. Its portfolio spans individual and group counseling, school-based career orientation programs (Talente-Check, BBO workshops, Elternabend), psychological assessment tools (Potenzialanalyse at €245 for adults and €85 for youth, Karriere-Check at €69), and regional flagship events (Ich geh mit, CHANCENTAGE, Girls'Day, the 'i' Ausbildungsmesse).

The technology base is non-AI and service-oriented: a website-driven information hub at bifo.at, a multi-channel online counseling system operating on Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and Signal, a self-hosted Matomo analytics deployment, and an immersive VR career exploration platform (with VR headsets in BIFO centers and a web extension at berufe-vr.at). BIFO also operates two aggregated content platforms — Pfiffikus (2,500 continuing-education courses from 75 providers) and berufeerleben.at (2,000+ occupational profiles) — alongside the i-Kritzel student workbook and the MINT-Koordinationsstelle for STEM outreach.

The revenue model is primarily public funding rather than commercial sales: BIFO is financed by Land Vorarlberg, Wirtschaftskammer Vorarlberg, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education (BMBWF), the Sozialministeriumservice, and the European Social Fund (ESF), with a small amount of fee income from paid aptitude assessments. GTM is community- and institution-led — referrals from schools, AMS, NEBA, KOST, and partner NGOs drive demand; no paid acquisition is used. Structurally, BIFO is embedded in national programs (Bildungsberatung Österreich, NEBA Netzwerk Berufliche Assistenz) and is a member of regional ecosystems spanning 25+ partner organizations.

Name

BIFO - Beratung für Bildung und Beruf

Legal name

BIFO - Beratung für Bildung und Beruf

Website

https://bifo.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BIFO is a publicly funded, free education and career counseling institution in Vorarlberg, Austria, serving youth, adults, parents, and people with disabilities with in-person, video, and messenger-based counseling, psychological assessments, VR career exploration, and regional events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education and Career Counseling Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Reporting, Dashboards & Business Intelligence (BI) (EDADAIAC)

Keywords

• Education and career counseling
• Youth career orientation
• Vocational guidance services
• Career aptitude testing
• Adult career counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Dornbirn

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Government Grants: BIFO is a publicly funded institution operated as a joint initiative of the State of Vorarlberg (Land Vorarlberg) and the Vorarlberg Chamber of Commerce (Wirtschaftskammer Vorarlberg). Additional funding is provided by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research (BMBWF), the Social Ministry Service (Sozialministeriumservice), and the European Social Fund (ESF). The organization provides its core counseling services free of charge to end users, funded entirely through these public sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BIFO is a publicly funded education and career counseling center that delivers free, provider-neutral, and confidential advisory services to youth, adults, parents, and people with disabilities across Vorarlberg, Austria. Its offerings span individual/group counseling (in-person, by phone, video, and via messengers), psychometric assessment tools (Talente-Check, Potenzialanalyse, Karriere-Check), school-based career orientation programs, and signature regional events. The organization also operates companion digital platforms including Berufe erleben Vorarlberg (2,000+ occupational profiles), Pfiffikus (2,500 continuing-education courses), and i-Kritzel (student workbook).

Product overview

BIFO is a comprehensive education and career counseling center offering a portfolio of integrated services for youth, adults, parents, and people with disabilities. The core offering is free, provider-neutral counseling available in-person, by phone, video, and via multiple messaging platforms (Signal, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram). Assessment tools include the Talente-Check for students, Potenzialanalyse for adults, and Karriere-Check for graduates. Digital platforms include Berufe erleben Vorarlberg (career exploration portal with 2,000+ occupations and VR content), Pfiffikus (continuing education platform with 2,500 courses), and i-Kritzel (interactive workbook for students). Regional programs include MINT-Koordination, KOST coordination for compulsory education, and events like CHANCENTAGE, Girls'Day, and the 'i' trade fair. Youth-specific services encompass Jugendcoaching for at-risk youth and Ausbildungsbotschafter peer programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pfiffikus: Continuing education platform for Vorarlberg offering an overview of 2500 courses, seminars, and events from 75 providers for professional and personal development.
• Berufe erleben Vorarlberg

Products and services

• Bildungs- und Berufsberatung (Education and Career Counseling) Free, provider-neutral, and confidential counseling service for adults and youth covering education paths, career decisions, job searching, and professional development; available in-person, by phone, video, or online.
• Beratung für Jugendliche (Youth Counseling) Career and education counseling specifically for young people at the transition from school to work or further education, including support with apprenticeship search and applications.
• Beratung für Erwachsene (Adult Counseling) Career counseling for adults facing re-entry, professional development, or career change decisions, including support with job applications and further education planning.
• Beratung für Menschen mit Behinderung (Counseling for People with Disabilities) Free, provider-neutral, and confidential counseling for people with disabilities and their relatives regarding education and career paths, tailored to individual needs and circumstances.
• Beratung für Eltern (Parent Counseling) Guidance for parents supporting their children through education and career decisions, including information about schools, apprenticeships, and the decision-making process.
• Onlineberatung (Online Counseling) Digital counseling service available via Signal, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct Messages, email, and video (MS Teams); qualified advisors respond during business hours.
• BIFO-Informationszentrum (Information Center) Walk-in information center in Dornbirn providing educational materials, computer access for job searches, and brief consultations without appointments during operating hours (Mon–Thu 13:30–17:00).
• Jugendcoaching (Youth Coaching) Support service for at-risk youth to ensure school attendance or apprenticeship completion; part of the NEBA network, helping young people meet compulsory education requirements until age 18.
• Talente-Check Talent identification program for 7th and 8th grade students to discover strengths, abilities, and potential; includes self-assessment tools and follow-up discussions with students, parents, and teachers.
• Potenzialanalyse (Potential Analysis) Comprehensive test series creating individualized profiles of interests, strengths, talents, and personality traits; €245 for adults and €85 for youth; 3–4 hour test session with 1-hour feedback consultation.
• Karriere-Check Specialized assessment for high school graduates (Maturants) developed by the Chamber of Commerce; €69 fee; 3-hour testing plus individual career planning session to identify post-graduation pathways.
• Workshop 'Stark in deine Zukunft' Free two-part workshop for adults helping identify personal competencies, strengths, and preferences; available in-person (2 × 4 hours) or virtual via MS Teams (2 × 2 hours plus exercises); maximum 6 participants per cohort.
• Berufe erleben Vorarlberg Online platform with information on over 2,000 occupations including filter capabilities, Virtual Reality videos, company profiles, and event listings for students and teachers in Vorarlberg.
• Pfiffikus Continuing education platform for Vorarlberg offering an overview of 2,500 courses, seminars, and events from 75 providers for professional and personal development.
• i-Kritzel Interactive workbook for 7th and 8th grade students combining analog ring binder with digital content to guide students through the career orientation journey.
• MINT-Koordination Vorarlberg Regional coordination of STEM (Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Technology) initiatives as part of Vorarlberg's MINT strategy launched in 2020, promoting youth interest in technical careers.
• 18plus Career and study checker program for pre-graduation and graduation classes, helping students with self-assessment and introduction to information resources for study and career decisions.
• KOST (Koordinierungsstelle Ausbildung bis 18) Coordination office for compulsory education until age 18 in Vorarlberg, connecting young people with appropriate support services and providing an overview of local training opportunities.
• Girls'Day Annual event introducing girls to technical, scientific, and craft professions; BIFO coordinates registration of school groups with participating companies in Vorarlberg (over 520 girls from 3rd-grade classes in 2025).
• Ich geh mit (Vorarlberger Zukunftstag) Annual future day where children aged 10–14 accompany parents, relatives, or acquaintances to their workplace to gain first-hand work experience.
• Ausbildungsmesse 'i' Largest education and career fair in Vorarlberg featuring over 100 professions, 10 school types, and numerous educational initiatives across 12,000 m² of exhibition space.
• CHANCENTAGE Annual multi-day event where students visit companies and schools to experience career and educational opportunities firsthand; an initiative of the Berufe erleben Vorarlberg project.
• Berufsorientierung an Schulen (Career Orientation at Schools) BO-Landeskoordinationsstelle providing quality assurance for career orientation education, supporting schools with Talente-Check implementation, and coordinating BO projects across Vorarlberg.
• Ausbildungsbotschafter (Training Ambassadors) Program that places second-year apprentices from various professions in schools to share practical experience, information about training paths, and answer questions on equal footing with students.
• Gesundheitsprofis (Health Professionals) Program where young adults from healthcare professions visit schools to provide authentic insight into healthcare careers including nursing, physiotherapy, radiology, and medical fields.
• Virtual Reality Berufserkundung (VR Career Exploration) Immersive VR-based career exploration using headsets at BIFO Information Centers and school workshops; companion web app at berufe-vr.at extends VR videos to tablets, smartphones, and computers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 9,000 individual counseling sessions recorded in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Land Vorarlberg (State of Vorarlberg)coreOthersCo-founding owner and primary funder of BIFO alongside the Wirtschaftskammer Vorarlberg. Provides ongoing operational funding and institutional legitimacy. Logo displayed prominently on BIFO website and materials. Multiple BIFO programs are implemented under the umbrella of state policy (e.g., Talente-Check, MINT-Koordinationsstelle).
• Wirtschaftskammer Vorarlberg (Vorarlberg Chamber of Commerce)coreOthersCo-founding owner alongside Land Vorarlberg. Represents the business community perspective and provides funding. The BIFO's employer-facing services (like 'Berufe erleben Vorarlberg') and events (CHANCENTAGE, i-Messe) are conducted in cooperation with WKO. Supports the Ausbildungsbotschafter program.
• Sozialministeriumservice (Social Ministry Service)coreOthersFederal funding body that supports BIFO operations, particularly the youth coaching (Jugendcoaching) and KOST (Ausbildung bis 18) programs. Provides funding under the NEBA (Netzwerk Berufliche Assistenz) framework for career support services targeting at-risk youth and people with disabilities.
• Bildungsdirektion Vorarlberg (Vorarlberg Education Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer and co-funder of key BIFO programs including Talente-Check and MINT-Koordinationsstelle. The Bildungsdirektion is the state-level education authority that oversees school operations, making it essential for BIFO's school-based career orientation programs.
• Bundesministerium für Frauen, Wissenschaft und Forschung (BMBWF)majorOthersFederal ministry providing funding for BIFO's adult education counseling services as part of Bildungsberatung Österreich. Also supports the 18plus program for career guidance after Matura.
• Europäischer Sozialfonds (ESF/European Social Fund)majorOthersEU-level funding source co-financing BIFO operations, particularly adult education counseling services under Bildungsberatung Österreich. The ESF is a key financial backer enabling BIFO's free service model.
• AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice/Vorarlberg Public Employment Service)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustria's public employment service, which refers job seekers to BIFO for career counseling and orientation. Cooperates on programs for unemployed adults and work reintegration. AMS Vorarlberg co-supports the 'i' Ausbildungsmesse.
• NEBA Netzwerk Berufliche Assistenz (Network for Professional Assistance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network for professional assistance that includes Jugendcoaching (youth coaching) and other transition programs. BIFO is an institutional member and provider within NEBA, implementing Jugendcoaching for at-risk youth in Vorarlberg.
• Bildungsberatung Österreich (Austrian Education Counseling)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network for adult education counseling. BIFO is the designated provider for Vorarlberg as part of this federally funded, provider-neutral adult counseling initiative co-funded by ESF and BMBWF. Supported by Bildungsberatung Vorarlberg.
• Vorarlberger Landeskrankenhäuser / VKL (Vorarlberg State Hospitals)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of the 'Gesundheitsprofis' (Health Professionals) program, where healthcare workers visit schools to share authentic experiences about health and care professions, aimed at inspiring students to consider careers in healthcare.
• WIFI VorarlbergminorOthersVocational training institute of the Wirtschaftskammer. Listed as a partner organization, likely cooperating on continuing education information and referrals through the Pfiffikus platform.
• Fachhochschule Vorarlberg (FHV)minorOthersUniversity of Applied Sciences in Vorarlberg. Listed as a partner, cooperating on study choice guidance and potentially on MINT promotion activities.
• dafür (Verein für Menschen mit Behinderung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized organization for people with disabilities that BIFO works with to provide career guidance services specifically tailored to people with disabilities, helping them navigate the labor market with appropriate support.
• FEMAIL FrauenInformationszentrum VorarlbergminorOthersWomen's information center in Vorarlberg. BIFO refers women (especially those re-entering the workforce) to FEMAIL for additional support services. Cooperation on women's career advancement programs.
• KOST Vorarlberg (Koordinierungsstelle Ausbildung bis 18)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKOST is a coordination office for the mandatory education requirement until age 18, operating under the NEBA umbrella with BIFO providing staffing and operational management. BIFO staff serve as KOST coordinators and assistants. Key referral point for at-risk youth.
• aha, Tipps & Infos für junge LeuteminorOthersYouth information center in Vorarlberg. Listed as a partner, likely cooperating on youth-oriented events and information sharing.
• Arbeiterkammer Vorarlberg (AK Vorarlberg)minorOthersChamber of Labour representing employee interests. BIFO refers clients with labor law questions to AK Vorarlberg. Listed as a partner on the BIFO partner page.
• Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund (ÖGB) VorarlbergminorOthersAustrian Trade Union Federation, Vorarlberg regional. Listed as a partner organization, cooperating on workers' rights information and employment-related guidance.
• Industriellenvereinigung VorarlbergminorOthersIndustrial Association of Vorarlberg. Listed as a partner, cooperating on MINT promotion (STEM education) and workforce development initiatives.
• MINT-Koordinationsstelle Vorarlberg (MINT Coordination Office)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIFO hosts the MINT (Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Technology) coordination office for Vorarlberg as part of the state MINT strategy launched in 2020. The coordination is jointly implemented with Land Vorarlberg, Wirtschaftskammer, and Bildungsdirektion. Includes the annual MINT Festival, MINT Region quality label, and school-based MINT activities.
• INTERREG V Programm (European Union/EFRE)minorOthersEuropean cross-border cooperation program funded through the EU's European Regional Development Fund. Listed as a funding and strategic partner for specific BIFO projects.
• okay.zusammen leben (okay-line)minorOthersIntegration support organization in Vorarlberg. BIFO refers newly arrived immigrants to okay.zusammen leben for integration-related support, and receives referrals of immigrants seeking career guidance.
• koje – Koordinationsbüro für Offene Jugendarbeit und EntwicklungminorOthersCoordination office for open youth work and development in Vorarlberg. Cooperates on youth programs and information sharing related to youth career and education support.
• Dornbirner JugendwerkstättenminorOthersYouth workshops in Dornbirn providing vocational training and employment support. Listed as a partner organization cooperating on youth career pathways.
• PH Vorarlberg (Pädagogische Hochschule Vorarlberg)minorOthersUniversity of Teacher Education in Vorarlberg. Listed as a partner, likely cooperating on teacher training for career orientation and on 18plus program delivery.
• ifs – Institut für SozialdiensteminorOthersInstitute for Social Services in Vorarlberg. Listed as a partner organization for social service referrals and cooperation on social support aspects of career guidance.
• fit2workminorOthersNational program providing occupational health and workplace integration support. Listed as a partner, likely cooperating on referrals for clients with health-related employment barriers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Beratungszentrum Beruf & Bildung (Tirol): Education and career counseling provider for Tyrol, Austria — another regional counterpart in the Bildungsberatung Österreich network. Offers very similar free counseling, assessment, and youth transition services but serves a different Bundesland.
• Bildungsberatung Niederösterreich: Peer regional education counseling provider for adults in Lower Austria, part of the same national Bildungsberatung Österreich network as BIFO. Operates the same federally/ESF-funded, provider-neutral counseling model in a different Austrian Bundesland, making it the most structurally comparable peer.

Broad incumbents

• EB-Berufsberatung Schweiz / BIZ Schweiz: Swiss national career counseling service providing free, provider-neutral educational and career guidance across youth and adult segments. Closest functional analog in the German-speaking world to BIFO's Bildungsberatung mandate, though operating at national rather than regional level.
• BFI Österreich (Berufsförderungsinstitut): Major Austrian vocational training provider with regional branches that delivers career-oriented continuing education and labor-market training. Comparable in adult re-entry and career-development scope, though BFI focuses on training delivery while BIFO focuses on counseling/referral.
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit / Berufsinformationszentrum (BIZ): Germany's public employment service career information centers offering free, provider-neutral career counseling, aptitude testing, and occupational information. Functionally equivalent to BIFO at much larger national scale, with similar segmentation (youth, adults, re-entry).
• AMS Österreich (Arbeitsmarktservice): Austria's public employment service, which refers job seekers to BIFO and co-supports events like the 'i' Ausbildungsmesse. Operates career guidance, labor-market information, and job-matching at national scale, overlapping substantially with BIFO's adult career-counseling offering.
• WIFI Österreich (Wirtschaftsförderungsinstitut): Vocational training institute of the Austrian Chambers of Commerce and a listed BIFO partner. Offers continuing education, career-related courses, and apprenticeship information that complements BIFO's guidance role, sharing similar target audiences in Vorarlberg (via WIFI Vorarlberg).

Emerging players

• dafür – Verein für Menschen mit Behinderung: BIFO's specialized partner for disability-focused career guidance in Vorarlberg. While BIFO retains overall counseling responsibility, dafür provides complementary deep disability-specific services — together they cover the same niche that BIFO's disability segment addresses.

Others

• aha – Tipps & Infos für junge Leute: Vorarlberg youth information center that complements BIFO's career-orientation work with broader youth-information services. Partner on youth events and information sharing; overlapping target audience but distinct mandate.

Direct peers

• abz*austria (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Behinderung und Beruf): Austrian NEBA Netzwerk Berufliche Assistenz partner providing Jugendcoaching, Berufsassistenz, and training-assistance services — overlapping directly with BIFO's NEBA-related offerings (Jugendcoaching, KOST Vorarlberg, services for people with disabilities). Comparable client base, funding structure, and service mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVG4D95D9WnpBfQ6KXTXSig/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/bifo.at
• Instagraminstagram.com/bifo.at
• TikToktiktok.com/@bifo.at
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bifo-beratung-f%C3%BCr-bildung-und-beruf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about BIFO - Beratung für Bildung und Beruf