InterCultur gGmbH

What InterCultur gGmbH does

InterCultur gGmbH is a Hamburg-based non-profit limited liability company (gemeinnützige GmbH) founded on December 6, 2011, as a 100% subsidiary of AFS Interkulturelle Begegnungen e.V., one of the oldest and largest intercultural exchange organizations in the world. The company delivers intercultural competence training, educational projects, and youth/adult exchange programs for German and international clients across multiple verticals, applying an experiential learning methodology built on David Kolb's 4-phase learning cycle, including cultural simulations, case studies, role plays, and group discussions delivered in-person, online, and hybrid formats. Its product portfolio spans the Intercultural Trainer Academy (a 10-day English-language certification program run 2-3 times per year), the MiA e-learning platform (jointly operated with AFS and YFU), flagship projects such as Schule:Global, M.O.V.E., Mercator Go!, Discover EU, and SCORA Meet, plus customized corporate seminars on Germany/USA cultural competence, diversity management, and virtual training methodology.

Revenue is generated through four streams: customized training and seminar fees from organizations and companies; Trainer Academy enrollment fees (EUR 2,300 corporate / EUR 1,900 individual); foundation and EU grant funding for educational projects (notably from Stiftung Mercator, which accounts for more than 10% of annual budget, and Robert Bosch Stiftung); and donations. Go-to-market is primarily sales-led direct consulting for enterprise, event-driven through academies, and community-led via the AFS partner network and AJA member organizations; distribution is direct (website inquiry, project-based engagement) with no self-serve e-commerce. Customer segments include enterprises (OHB SE, Siemens Gamesa, Weleda, Panasonic Automotive Systems Europe, Ingredion, InnoGames, Thermo Fisher), education (Diakonisches Werk, Hamburger Institut), government (Landeshauptstadt Hannover, Justizbehörde Hamburg), labor unions (IG Metall), and youth/school networks via Schule:Global. The operating team is small (8 FTE plus ~30 freelance trainers nationwide), supported by a managing director (Stefanie Stadelmann) and two authorized signatories, with operations anchored in Hamburg Altona since the 2023 office relocation.

Name

InterCultur gGmbH

Legal name

InterCultur gemeinnützige GmbH

Website

https://intercultur.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

InterCultur gGmbH is a Hamburg-based non-profit subsidiary of AFS Interkulturelle Begegnungen e.V. that delivers intercultural competence training, certifications, and exchange programs to enterprises, educators, governments, and youth across Germany and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intercultural Training and Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Language & Cross-Cultural Training (BPACANAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Adjustment & Intercultural Training Programs (EDAIAKAB), Virtual/Blended Exchange (COIL) Partnerships (EDAIABAH), Cultural Immersion Add-Ons (Culture + Language) (EDAIAEAL)

Keywords

• Intercultural training services
• Cultural competence education
• Diversity management training
• Intercultural exchange programs
• Trainer certification programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training and Seminar Services: Customized seminars, trainings, and events for organizations, companies, educational institutions, and individuals. Offered in-person, online, or hybrid formats. Training duration typically half-day to 2.5 days.
2. Intercultural Trainer Academy Certification: Intensive 10-day certification program for intercultural trainers. Runs 2-3 times annually. Pricing: 2,300€ Corporate, 1,900€ Individual/Non-Profit. Recognized as Bildungsurlaub in all German states; Bildungsprämie accepted.
3. Educational Projects and Grants: Implementation of funded projects including Mercator Go!, Discover EU, M.O.V.E., Schule:Global, and various exchange programs. Revenue from project funding and grants from foundations such as Stiftung Mercator.
4. Donations and Charitable Support: As non-profit organization, receives donations and charitable contributions for intercultural education programs for youth and refugees. Bank account at SozialBank AG for donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

InterCultur is a non-profit training and education organization that delivers customized intercultural competence training, seminars, and educational projects for organizations, companies, schools, universities, and individuals. Its flagship is the 10-day Intercultural Trainer Academy certification program, complemented by culture-specific seminars, diversity management workshops, virtual exchange programs, and youth exchange academies built on experiential learning methodology.

Product overview

InterCultur gGmbH is a non-profit training and education organization (gGmbH) founded in 2012 as a subsidiary of AFS Interkulturelle Begegnungen e.V. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of intercultural training programs, educational projects, and exchange programs. The core offerings include the 10-day Intercultural Trainer Academy (a certification program for becoming an intercultural trainer), project-based programs like Schule:Global (school certification), M.O.V.E (virtual exchange), Mercator Go! (alumni academy), Discover EU, and SCORA Meet. These are complemented by specialized training programs covering intercultural competence, diversity sensitization, organizational development, methodology/didactics, and moderation. The company also operates various summer academies and cultural exchange programs with international university partners. Training formats include in-person, online, and hybrid delivery, all based on experiential learning methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Intercultural Trainer Academy: A 10-day intensive training program that certifies participants as intercultural trainers. Offered 2-3 times yearly in Hamburg and Bremen. Costs 2,300 EUR corporate / 1,900 EUR individual/non-profit.
• Schule:Global
• MiA (Mein interkultureller Austausch)

Products and services

• Intercultural Trainer Academy A 10-day intensive English-language continuing education program that qualifies participants as intercultural trainers. Provides an interdisciplinary mix of theory and practice covering training designs, methods, intercultural psychology, and teaching/learning styles. Recognized as Bildungsurlaub in all German states with Bildungsprämie accepted.
• Schule:Global A seal/certification program for schools recognizing outstanding achievements in intercultural education and youth/student exchange. Schools receive a personal coach to help integrate intercultural learning into their school concept.
• M.O.V.E – Mercator Virtual Experiences Digital encounter projects with partners around the world, enabling virtual intercultural exchange experiences for participants.
• Mercator Go! Alumni Academy Alumni academy program developed in cooperation with Stiftung Mercator and Karlshochschule International University, focused on future skills for global changemakers. The 2025 program is titled 'Building Bridges: Future Skills for Global Changemakers'.
• Discover EU Program Program accompanying the European Commission's Discover EU initiative, providing intercultural support for young adults receiving Discover EU travel passes.
• SCORA Meet 'Schools opposing racism and antisemitism' encounter and exchange program promoting intercultural understanding and opposing discrimination in school settings.
• AFS Global STEM Changemakers Academy Academy bringing together young people to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while fostering intercultural competence.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific RISE Scholarship Scholarship program supporting young people in gaining international experience and intercultural skills, sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific.
• Customized Intercultural Training Programs Customized seminars, trainings, and events for organizations, companies, educational institutions, and individuals covering intercultural competence, cultural simulations, diversity management, and international team collaboration. Offered in-person, online, or hybrid formats with training duration typically half-day to 2.5 days.
• Cultural Competence Trainings (Kulturelle Kompetenz Trainings) Culture-specific seminars covering Germany, USA, and other countries, helping participants develop intercultural communication skills for specific cultural contexts (e.g., 'Typisch Deutsch' for international employees).
• Intercultural Summer Academies Various intercultural summer academies with different thematic focuses, organized in cooperation with domestic and foreign universities. The 2026 Summer Academy is titled 'Building Bridges: Leading, Participating, and Reasoning for Europe's Future'.
• Deutsch-Chinesischer Online Austausch (DCOA) Online exchange program connecting students and young adults from Germany and China for virtual intercultural encounters.
• Summer Academy (Winter Academy / Hamburg & Bremen) Intercultural academy programs held in Hamburg (Summer) and Bremen/Constructor University (Winter), 2-3 times per year, attracting participants from across Germany and internationally.
• Karls Academy Intercultural summer academy organized in cooperation with international universities, focused on intercultural learning and exchange.

Quantifiable outcome

• Continuous participant satisfaction evaluation conducted after every program

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• Karlshochschule International UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2025Partnership for Mercator Go! Alumni Academy 2025 'Building Bridges: Future Skills for Global Changemakers'. University provides venue and academic collaboration.
• Bildungsnetzwerk ChinastrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Publication partnership for 'Wenn wir uns begegnen: Eine Handreichung für den deutsch-chinesischen Schulaustausch' guide for German-Chinese school exchange.
• Goethe-InstitutstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-published 'Digitale Tools für den virtuellen Austausch – Fokus: China – Deutschland' guide. Also partner in 'Komm, ich zeig dir meine Welt!' intercultural challenges guide.
• Constructor University (formerly Jacobs University Bremen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Winterakademie of the Intercultural Trainer Academy is held at Constructor University in Bremen. Partnership for academic-quality training venue and collaborative program delivery.
• AFS Interkulturelle Begegnungen e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2011AFS is the parent organization of InterCultur gGmbH. InterCultur is a 100% subsidiary of AFS. This relationship provides access to over 75 years of experience in intercultural exchange programs and a broad international network of partner organizations.
• AJA Arbeitskreis gemeinnütziger JugendaustauschcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchule:Global initiative is an AJA initiative implemented through cooperation of member organizations including AFS, Aubiko e.V., YFU, Experiment e.V., Open Door International, Partnership International, and Deutsches Rotes Kreuz in Hessen Volunta gGmbH.
• AFS InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterCultur is a local affiliate of AFS International, part of the global AFS network for intercultural exchange.
• NETZWERK Unternehmen integrieren FlüchtlingeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork membership supporting integration of refugees into businesses, aligning with InterCultur's work with immigrant populations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• InterNations: Germany-founded global community and platform for people living and working abroad, with adjacent content on intercultural competence. Comparable in targeting internationally-mobile professionals and offering intercultural learning resources, though its model is community/SaaS rather than B2B training delivery.
• Kiron Open Higher Education: German non-profit offering accessible higher education for refugees and displaced learners, with strong focus on digital intercultural learning pathways. Comparable as a German non-profit with digital intercultural education programs, particularly for migrants and refugees, though specialized in higher-ed access rather than corporate training.

Direct peers

• Carl Duisberg Centren: Germany-based provider of language training, intercultural training, and professional development programs for individuals and corporate clients. Directly comparable in terms of German market focus, customized intercultural seminars, and combination of training and educational projects.
• Experiment e.V. German non-profit offering intercultural youth exchange programs and educational projects; co-member with InterCultur in the AJA Arbeitskreis gemeinnütziger Jugendaustausch. Operates in the same intercultural education and exchange segment with similar grant-funded model.
• YFU (Youth for Understanding) Deutschland: One of the largest German youth exchange organizations, co-developer with InterCultur on the MiA platform. Comparable in offering intercultural exchange programs and educational projects for youth, and a logical peer in the AJA ecosystem.
• GLS Global Leadership Skills / GLS Sprachenzentrum: Berlin-based language and intercultural training provider serving corporate clients with customized programs. Directly comparable in delivering paid corporate intercultural competence training in Germany, with similar target buyer profile (multinationals, SMEs, public institutions).

Broad incumbents

• Goethe-Institut: Germany's globally active cultural institute promoting German language and intercultural dialogue; co-publication partner with InterCultur on digital exchange tools. Comparable in offering cultural exchange and intercultural learning programs, but at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
• DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst): Germany's largest publicly-funded organization supporting international academic exchange and intercultural competence in higher education. Overlaps with InterCultur's higher education segment (Hochschulen) and university internationalization services at much larger scale.
• AFS Intercultural Programs (International): Global parent network of which InterCultur is the German affiliate; AFS International operates exchange and intercultural programs in 60+ countries. Comparable as a global intercultural exchange organization offering similar youth and education programs at much larger scale.
• Berlitz Corporation: Global leader in language training and cross-cultural communication, offering corporate intercultural training alongside language instruction. Comparable as a paid B2B provider of cross-cultural competence programs for multinational enterprises, though much larger and broader in scope than InterCultur.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcFXQZ3aD_Qsm4lro7yNSvA
• Facebookfacebook.com/interCultur
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/intercultur-ggmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 InterCultur gGmbH