HochwasserKompetenzCentrum (HKC) e.V.

What HochwasserKompetenzCentrum (HKC) e.V. does

HochwasserKompetenzCentrum (HKC) e.V. is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2007 and headquartered in Cologne, Germany, that operates as a multi-stakeholder network for flood and heavy rain (Starkregen) risk management. It brings together flood-affected citizens, policymakers, municipal authorities, science and research institutions, and the flood protection industry into a single association, facilitating dialogue and knowledge transfer across the full risk management chain. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Ulrike Franzke with deputy chairs Mariele Evers and Malte Lautz, supported by a small secretariat of roughly seven staff.

HKC's core product portfolio centers on the Hochwasser-Pass (Flood Pass), a site-specific risk assessment document for residential and commercial properties, accompanied by a free Quick-Check online tool and the FLOODLABEL international brand. Additional assets include the Hochwasser-App NRW mobile application (relaunched April 2026 in partnership with the State of North Rhine-Westphalia), an interactive web platform for Rhineland-Palatinate, and two physical Infomobiles plus a trailer used as mobile outreach and consultation units at public events. The association also produces a substantial content library of brochures, instructional videos, and children's educational materials developed under the BMBF-funded KAHR project.

The revenue model is hybrid and reflects the non-profit structure: recurring membership dues from municipalities, public institutions, companies, and private individuals form the base, supplemented by Infomobil rental fees (€600–€1,000 per deployment day), commissioned project work (e.g., the HPA Polder Hamburg port adaptation contract signed October 2023), and project-based public funding from bodies such as BMBF. Distribution is primarily self-serve through the hkc-online.de website, supplemented by member portal access, mobile Infomobil outreach, and event-based engagement. HKC monetizes its intellectual property primarily through institutional legitimacy and ecosystem coordination rather than direct commercialization of its tools.

Name

HochwasserKompetenzCentrum (HKC) e.V.

Legal name

HochwasserKompetenzCentrum (HKC) e.V.

Website

https://hkc-online.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HochwasserKompetenzCentrum (HKC) e.V. is a Cologne-based German non-profit association founded in 2007 that operates a national network connecting flood-affected citizens, municipalities, scientists, and industry for heavy rain and flood risk management, delivering tools like the Hochwasser-Pass, Quick-Check, Hochwasser-App NRW, mobile Infomobiles, and educational materials.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flood Risk Management

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro primary industry

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination (HLAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Flood risk management
• Heavy rain prevention
• Flood protection network
• Property flood certification
• Climate adaptation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln (Cologne)

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: HKC is a registered association (e.V.) financed through membership fees. Members include municipalities, public institutions, companies, and private individuals. Members receive benefits including annual free Infomobil booking for non-commercial purposes, reduced Infomobil rental rates, access to the member area with downloads (articles of association, meeting minutes), and profile listings on the website.
2. Infomobil Rental Fees: The Infomobiles are available for rental. For HKC members: one free annual booking for non-commercial purposes (fuel costs only at €0.38/km), and additional days at €600/day. For non-members: public/non-profit institutions pay €600/day for educational use; commercial entities pay €1,000/day plus €0.38/km travel distance. All rates include driver provision, staffing, and travel costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

HKC is a registered non-profit association that operates a multi-stakeholder network for flood and heavy rain (Starkregen) risk management, connecting affected citizens, municipalities, science, and industry. Its flagship deliverables include the Hochwasser-Pass (a property-level flood risk assessment document), the free Quick-Check online tool, the Hochwasser-App NRW mobile application, two Infomobiles for mobile public outreach, and a library of educational materials including brochures and children's resources.

Product overview

HochwasserKompetenzCentrum (HKC) e.V. is a non-profit association that serves as a network organization for flood and heavy rainfall (Starkregen) prevention. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered around its flagship tool, the Hochwasser-Pass (Flood Pass), which provides property-level risk assessment and certification. The ecosystem includes the free Quick-Check tool for rapid initial assessments, the Hochwasser-App NRW mobile application for North Rhine-Westphalia, and mobile information units (HKC-Infomobil) for community outreach. HKC also provides educational materials including brochures, videos, and children's materials developed under the KAHR project. The organization facilitates knowledge exchange through publications, workshops, annual conferences (Fachkonferenz Klimaangepasst leben), and maintains a member portal with login access. Projects like the Hamburg port adaptation and ecosign cooperation extend the portfolio into specialized applications and innovative communication concepts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hochwasser-Pass: An innovative document for site analysis and risk assessment of existing or planned residential and commercial properties regarding flooding and heavy rain. Includes a Quick-Check tool for initial risk assessment and recommendations for self-protection measures.
• FLOODLABEL
• HKC-Infomobil
• Hochwasser-App NRW

Products and services

• Hochwasser-Pass (Flood Pass)

Quantifiable outcome

• Hochwasser-Pass / FLOODLABEL endorsed by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as an official tool under the Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ecosign Akademie für nachhaltiges DesignminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025HKC collaborated with ecosign Akademie für nachhaltiges Design in Winter Semester 2025/26 on the project 'Land unter – Klimaanpassung vor der eigenen Haustür' (Land under – Climate adaptation at your own doorstep). Students developed innovative risk communication concepts including card games, short films, music compositions, and social media campaigns. The winning concept 'Better Quick-Check' by three students is being implemented with HKC. This partnership leverages creative design expertise to improve public-facing communication about flooding risks.
• HPA Polder Hamburg GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2023HPA Polder Hamburg GmbH, a subsidiary of Hamburg Port Authority, signed a cooperation agreement with HKC e.V. on October 17, 2023. HKC is commissioned by HPA Polder Hamburg GmbH to further develop the Hochwasser-Pass for port users, adapting it to the needs of polder and harbor operators. Tasks include integrating storm surge hazard assessment, developing a measures and behavior catalog, redesigning the document format, and creating a physical exhibit on flood protection. This is a significant commissioned development partnership strengthening HKC's role in professional flood risk management.
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO)coreOthersThe Hochwasser-Pass is listed as an official tool under the WMO's Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM). This international recognition endorses the tool as a valuable resource for flood management practitioners globally. The FLOODLABEL (international brand of the Hochwasser-Pass) is also recommended by UNESCO's International Centre for Water Resources and Global Change.
• Stadt BonnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHKC cooperated with the city of Bonn on the 'Bonn unterstützt' (Bonn supports) public awareness campaign. The joint initiative used poster advertising to inform citizens in the Bonn city area about potential flooding hazards and self-protection measures. A dedicated website (bonn-unter.info) was created as part of the campaign. The project demonstrates how municipalities can partner with HKC for citizen-facing flood risk communication.
• UNESCO International Centre for Water Resources and Global ChangecoreOthersUNESCO's International Centre for Water Resources and Global Change has recommended the Hochwasser-Pass / FLOODLABEL as a tool for water-related disaster preparedness and climate adaptation education. This international institutional endorsement enhances the credibility and reach of the HKC-developed tool.
• BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany)coreOthersThe conceptual development of HKC's children's materials (Kinderworkshop and Kinder-Vorsorge-Rucksack) was funded by BMBF as part of the KAHR project (KLIMAKIT module). BMBF provided project funding to support the creation of these educational materials for primary school children on flooding prevention.
• KAHR-Projekt (BMBF-funded climate adaptation research project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKC participated in the KAHR-Projekt (KLIMAKIT module) funded by BMBF. Within this project, HKC developed children's educational offerings including the Kinderworkshop and Kinder-Vorsorge-Rucksack. The project demonstrates HKC's capacity to integrate into federal research initiatives and translate research into practical educational tools.
• WDR / QuarksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk) / Quarks featured HKC in media coverage including a video about heavy rain risk assessment using the Hochwasser-App NRW and a podcast documenting HKC's project week on the Hochwasserlehrpfad (flood educational trail) in Kornelimünster. This media coverage raises public awareness of HKC's tools and services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK): German federal agency for civil protection and disaster assistance, responsible for national preparedness frameworks, citizen warning apps, and emergency education. Overlaps with HKC on preparedness awareness and flood/warning topics but is the federal government body rather than a private association.
• Rijkswaterstaat: Dutch agency responsible for major waterways, flood-protection infrastructure, and water management. Comparable to HKC's flood risk focus but operates as a national governmental body rather than a membership-driven association.

Broad incumbents

• Deltares: Dutch applied research institute focused on water, subsurface, and infrastructure including flood risk management. Comparable to HKC through overlapping flood/water expertise, though it operates as a much larger research and consulting organization with broader technical services.
• International Water Association (IWA): Global network of water professionals spanning more than 140 countries, connecting science and practice in water management. Comparable to HKC's network-based approach to bridging science, practitioners, and the public on water-related domains including flooding.
• Wetlands International: Global non-profit dedicated to wetland conservation and water resource management. Shares HKC's water/flood-related mission and network-based advocacy, but operates internationally at a much larger scale across ecosystems.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): World's largest humanitarian network focused on disaster preparedness, response, and community education including floods. Comparable in its network-based approach to community flood education and preparedness, with vastly larger global footprint.
• UNDRR (UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction): United Nations focal point for disaster risk reduction supporting implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Shares HKC's mission of advancing preparedness and risk communication globally, though operating as a UN system entity rather than a national association.

Direct peers

• Deutsches Komitee Katastrophenvorsorge (DKKV): German national committee focused on disaster risk reduction, operating as a multi-stakeholder network in Germany similar to HKC but with broader hazard scope. Comparable because of its association-based network model bridging science, policy, and practice in disaster preparedness.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzSF5n8e5VH1tUfS3YlzX8A
• Facebookfacebook.com/hkconline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hochwasserkompetenzcentrum-hkc-e.v.
• Instagraminstagram.com/hkc_online

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HochwasserKompetenzCentrum (HKC) e.V.