What fokus.energie e.V. does

fokus.energie e.V. is a tax-exempt non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) registered in Karlsruhe, Germany, founded in 2014 and recognized under §60a of the German Fiscal Code (Abgabenordnung) for the promotion of public education and scientific research. The organization operates as a regional energy network for the TechnologyRegion Karlsruhe, connecting companies, startups, research institutions (notably KIT and the Fraunhofer ICT), municipal utilities (Stadtwerke Karlsruhe), large energy corporates (EnBW, MVV Energie), and other energy-transition stakeholders around four pillars: Bildung (education), Austausch (exchange), Förderung (promotion), and Sichtbarkeit (visibility). Its portfolio is programmatic rather than product-software based: AXEL, an energy-startup accelerator; JOBvision AZUWA, a federally funded SME apprenticeship-recruitment program; DiKraft, an e-learning platform; energie.geladen, a public-participation platform; the Energie Startup Pokal competition and Future Energy Lab showcase; the Energiekalender, a DACH-region event aggregator; and the "Energiewissen" neutral knowledge base covering generation, distribution, storage, and efficiency topics including renewables, grids, hydrogen, and energy efficiency. Members include a cross-section of energy-sector actors at multiple size tiers, acquired through digital presence, events, and partner referrals.

The organization's revenue model is a hybrid of tiered annual membership dues (ranging from €20/year for students to €2,400/year for organizations with 1,000+ employees, billed via SEPA direct debit) and project funding/sponsorship from public institutions (Wirtschaftsministerium Baden-Württemberg, BMBF, BMU, Umweltbundesamt) and corporate sponsors (Arfmann Rechtsanwälte, KPMG AG, Sparkasse Karlsruhe, among others). Its operating footprint is staffed by seven employees under Managing Director Hilmar F. John and a six-member board chaired by Dr.-Ing. Hans Hubschneider, with no outside shareholders, venture capital, or parent company. Distribution is via website (fokusenergie.net), the "netzwerk.aktuell" newsletter, the Energiekalender, regular events (Brennpunkt expert formats, member dialogues, AXEL Demo Day), social media (Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn), and institutional partnerships with IHK Karlsruhe, Handwerkskammer Karlsruhe, CyberForum, FZI, KIT, Technologiefabrik Karlsruhe, Smart Grids-Plattform Baden-Württemberg, and the Franco-German energy office DFBEW/OFATE. Geographic scope is officially limited to the Technologieregion Karlsruhe and Baden-Württemberg, with selective cross-border programming into France.

Name

fokus.energie e.V.

Legal name

fokus.energie e.V.

Website

https://fokusenergie.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

fokus.energie e.V. is a Karlsruhe-based, tax-exempt non-profit energy network founded in 2014, connecting companies, utilities, research institutions, and startups in the TechnologyRegion Karlsruhe through membership tiers, accelerator programs (AXEL), workforce initiatives (JOBvision AZUWA), e-learning, and energy-knowledge resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from companies, institutions, and individuals based on employee count. Fees range from €20/year for students to €2,400/year for organizations with 1,000+ employees.
2. Project Funding and Sponsorships: Projects like AXEL (energy accelerator), JOBvision AZUWA, DiKraft (e-learning), and energie.geladen receive funding from public institutions and corporate sponsors. Includes sponsors listed on the website such as Arfmann Rechtsanwälte, KPMG AG, Sparkasse Karlsruhe, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

fokus.energie e.V. is a non-profit energy network association that connects companies, startups, research institutions, municipalities, and other energy-transition stakeholders in the Karlsruhe technology region through tiered memberships, networking events, working groups, and flagship programs including the AXEL energy accelerator, JOBvision AZUWA workforce initiative, DiKraft e-learning, and the energie.geladen participation platform. The association also operates an Energiewissen online knowledge base, an Energiekalender event calendar, the netzwerk.aktuell newsletter, the Energie Startup Pokal competition, and the Future Energy Lab showcase for startups.

Product overview

fokus.energie e.V. is an energy network organization based in the technology region of Karlsruhe, Germany, offering a portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the AXEL energy accelerator for startup support, JOBvision AZUWA for workforce development, DiKraft e-learning platform, and the energie.geladen participation platform. Supporting services include an energy calendar, knowledge base (Energiewissen), newsletter (netzwerk.aktuell), and initiatives like the Energie Startup Pokal competition and 3 Grad JETZT campaign. The organization focuses on four strategic pillars: Education (Bildung), Exchange (Austausch), Promotion (Förderung), and Visibility (Sichtbarkeit), serving members from companies, startups, research institutions, and public sector entities in the energy transition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• fokus.energie Membership Tiered annual membership that gives companies, institutions, startups, students, and individuals access to the Karlsruhe energy network, including events, working groups, visibility on the website, partner introductions, and participation in flagship programs.
• AXEL - Der Energie-Accelerator Accelerator program that supports energy startups with training, mentorship, and demo-day exposure, connecting them with potential corporate partners and investors.
• JOBvision AZUWA Workforce development initiative that supports small and medium-sized enterprises in attracting and training apprentices for energy transition professions.
• DiKraft - E-Learning Digital e-learning platform offering training content on energy topics for professional development and capacity building within the network.
• energie.geladen Participation Platform Interactive participation platform that engages members and the broader public in energy transition initiatives and activities run by the network.
• Energiekalender (Energy Calendar) Information service compiling energy-related events, conferences, and continuing-education opportunities across the DACH region, available via subscription.
• Energiewissen Energy Knowledge Base Online knowledge base providing neutral information on energy generation, distribution, storage, and efficiency, including renewable energy, fossil fuels, nuclear power, grids, and energy concepts.
• netzwerk.aktuell Newsletter Recurring newsletter delivering updates on network activities, energy-related news, and developments in the energy sector to members and subscribers.
• Energie Startup Pokal Annual startup competition that awards innovative energy solutions and gives winners visibility and support within the Karlsruhe energy network.
• Future Energy Lab Exhibition platform where energy startups present solutions for the energy future, featured during major energy events hosted by the network.
• 3 Grad JETZT Initiative Awareness initiative promoting energy-saving behaviors and adaptive air-conditioning practices at workplaces, run jointly with IHK Karlsruhe and Handwerkskammer Karlsruhe.

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• CyberForum e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital hub network partner providing collaboration on knowledge exchange and joint events. fokus.energie cooperates with CyberForum on educational formats and startup support.
• Handwerkskammer KarlsruhecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for educational events and training, particularly for skilled trades in energy sector. Joint events like 'Brennpunkt' are organized together.
• IHK Karlsruhe (Chamber of Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of commerce partnership for joint events, training, and initiatives like '3 Grad JETZT' campaign and energy events.
• Forschungszentrum Informatik (FZI)coreTechnology or IntegrationResearch partner for digital solutions in energy sector. AXEL Demo Day events held at FZI House of Living Labs.
• Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor research partner in the network. KIT researchers participate in events, and the institution hosts various energy-related activities.
• AXEL - Der Energie-AcceleratorflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy accelerator program operated by fokus.energie, supporting energy startups with training, mentorship, and demo days. Part of the network's innovation support ecosystem.
• JOBvision AZUWAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject supporting companies in attracting apprentices for energy transition professions. Funded by Federal Ministry for Family Affairs. Focuses on skilled workforce development.
• eejobs.deminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJob portal for energy transition providing 10% member discount on services for fokus.energie members.
• Technologiefabrik KarlsruhecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology and startup support organization, partner in educational and networking events for the energy network.
• Deutsch-französisches Büro für die Energiewende (DFBEW/OFATE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border cooperation on energy transition between Germany and France, organizing joint events and knowledge exchange.
• Smart Grids-Plattform Baden-Württemberg e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional smart grids platform, partner for energy grid-related events and discussions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BDEW (Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft): German federal association for the energy and water industries, representing utilities and large energy companies including several fokus.energie members. A broader incumbent that overlaps with fokus.energie's role as an industry convener but at national scale.
• VKU (Verband kommunaler Unternehmen): National association of municipal utilities in Germany. Comparable to fokus.energie in serving municipal and regional energy stakeholders but with national policy reach and a much larger institutional footprint.
• EIT Climate-KIC: European knowledge and innovation community for climate, including energy transition. Operates accelerator, education, and networking programs similar in spirit to fokus.energie's portfolio but with EU-wide scope and larger institutional backing.
• BEE (Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energie): National German industry association representing renewable energy interests toward policy and the public. Operates at a much broader national scale than fokus.energie and overlaps in advocacy, networking, and member services for the energy transition.

Emerging players

• EIT InnoEnergy: European-supported energy innovation engine that runs accelerator programs and invests in clean energy startups across Europe. Overlaps with fokus.energie's AXEL accelerator and startup-support programs but at pan-European scale and with direct investment capability.

Direct peers

• ClusterAgentur Baden-Württemberg: State-sponsored agency coordinating industry clusters in Baden-Württemberg, including energy. Comparable to fokus.energie in convening industry, research, and policy stakeholders around energy topics within the same regional ecosystem.
• Energy Saxony e.V. Regional energy cluster association in Saxony that networks energy companies, research institutions, and startups. Mirrors fokus.energie's cluster-network model but in eastern Germany, with a comparable mix of events, projects, and innovation support.
• Energieagentur Baden-Württemberg: State-level energy agency for Baden-Württemberg providing energy transition information, training, and project support to companies, municipalities, and citizens. Overlaps directly with fokus.energie's networking, education, and project facilitation activities in the same region.
• Smart Grids-Plattform Baden-Württemberg e.V. Stated strategic partner of fokus.energie but also a direct comparable: a Baden-Württemberg-based association that convenes energy stakeholders around smart grids topics. Operates in the same geography with a similar membership/networking model.
• Cluster Energietechnik Berlin-Brandenburg (CEBB): Regional energy cluster in Berlin-Brandenburg that connects industry, research, and policy stakeholders to drive the energy transition. Operates with a similar networking, project, and events-based model as fokus.energie but anchored to a different German region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fokusenergie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 fokus.energie e.V.