KMU- und Gewerbeverband Kanton Solothurn (KGV)

What KMU- und Gewerbeverband Kanton Solothurn (KGV) does

KMU- und Gewerbeverband Kanton Solothurn (KGV SO), founded in 1902 and headquartered at Hans Huber-Strasse 38, Solothurn, Switzerland, is a private, member-based cantonal trade association (Wirtschaftsverband) operating as a regional Sektion of the Schweizerischer Gewerbeverband (sgv). It functions as the umbrella organization for more than 50 affiliated Gewerbevereine and Berufsverbände in Canton Solothurn and represents approximately 3,500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), self-employed professionals, and trade/commerce/service/industry firms, providing political advocacy, networking, training, and member-benefit services in both German and via local networks. The association's core 'technology' is institutional rather than software-based: a constitutional governance stack built around the Gewerbekongress, Gewerbekammer, Vorstand, and Geschäftsstelle, supplemented by a small headquarters team of 9 employees delivering services, organizing events, and managing member communications.

The revenue model is subscription-recurring (annual membership fees) at its core, augmented by service-related income: training-center rentals at the in-house Schulungszentrum, event organization, discounted group programs (insurance via SWICA and Asga Pensionskasse, sureties via BG Mitte and SAFFA, job-posting discounts, legal consultations, and a fair-payment solution via VERD.cash), and publication/advertising through the Wirtschaftsflash trade magazine, SO Magazin, and the Wirtschaftsbarometer survey. Go-to-market is relationship-led and sales-led, with membership acquired directly through the Geschäftsstelle and indirectly through the network of Gewerbevereine acting as local touchpoints. Recent product activity includes the launch of Label Cyber-Safe (cybersecurity self-assessment and free audit for members) and a multi-year 2026-2030 strategy positioning the association as 'Ein professioneller Verband. Für starke KMU. Im ganzen Kanton.'

Name

KMU- und Gewerbeverband Kanton Solothurn (KGV)

Legal name

KMU- und Gewerbeverband Kanton Solothurn

Website

https://kgv-so.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KGV SO is a 1902-founded, member-based cantonal trade association in Solothurn, Switzerland, representing roughly 3,500 SMEs and 50+ affiliated trade and professional associations, delivering political advocacy, networking, training, and member-benefit services as a section of the Swiss Trade Association (sgv).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Solothurn

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: KGV SO generates revenue through membership fees collected from affiliated trade associations, professional associations, and individual members. The association represents approximately 3,500 member companies from trade, commerce, services, and industry.
2. Service fees: Additional revenue is generated through services offered to members including training center rentals, event organization, and potentially discounted group purchasing programs for insurance and pension solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KGV SO is a cantonal trade association (Wirtschaftsverband) representing approximately 3,500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Canton of Solothurn, Switzerland. Founded in 1902 and operating as a regional section of the Swiss Trade Association (sgv), it delivers political advocacy, networking events, member benefits (discounted insurance/pensions, legal advisory, job-posting discounts), vocational training coordination, and operates a rental training center.

Product overview

KMU- und Gewerbeverband Kanton Solothurn (KGV SO) is a trade association and chamber of commerce representing approximately 3,500 SME members in the canton of Solothurn, Switzerland. Founded in 1902, it operates as a section of the Swiss Trade Association (sgv). The organization offers a portfolio of member services including the Wirtschaftsflash trade magazine publication, a rental training center facility, the Label Cyber-Safe cybersecurity assessment service, professional education coordination (Berufsbildung), insurance partnerships with SWICA and Asga for health/pension coverage, legal advisory services with free initial consultations, job posting discounts, and the VERD.cash fair payment solution. KGV SO also provides advocacy, policy positions, networking events, and practical knowledge resources for its member businesses in trade, commerce, services, and industry sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wirtschaftsflash Magazine Solothurn trade magazine featuring interviews with business personalities, serving as the region's professional journal for entrepreneurs and member companies.
• Schulungszentrum KGV SO (Training Center) Modern training facility at Hans Huber-Strasse 38 in Solothurn, available for rental to members and external parties for trainings, meetings, workshops, and events with full equipment.
• Label Cyber-Safe Cybersecurity assessment and audit service providing a self-evaluation questionnaire, free security audits, and evaluation of existing protection measures for member companies.
• Berufsbildung (Vocational Education Coordination) Professional education networking service connecting stakeholders, bundling activities, and creating transparency in vocational training marketing, including events and career orientation programs.
• SWICA Health Insurance Partnership Partnership with SWICA health insurer providing members with discounted group rates on health and accident insurance, including wage continuation coverage and absence management services.
• Asga Pensionskasse Partnership Partnership with Asga Pension Fund offering three pension solutions designed for association members with streamlined administration and low management costs.
• Legal Advisory Service Free initial legal consultation of up to 20 minutes with specialized attorneys for members requiring legal support or advice on legal matters.
• Job Posting Service Job posting service offering members 10% discount on online job postings via jobmittelland.ch and 10% discount on print job postings in various newspapers.
• VERD.cash Payment Solution Fair payment solution partnership through VERD Purpose Cooperative with 0.6% transaction fee for businesses, where half of transaction fees go directly to the customer's municipality.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schweizerischer Gewerbeverband (sgv)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKGV SO is a cantonal section of the Swiss Trade Association (sgv), the largest umbrella organization of the Swiss economy. The sgv represents over 230 professional and branch associations and over 600,000 SMEs, representing 99.8% of all companies in Switzerland. Through this affiliation, KGV SO ensures that the concerns of Solothurn SMEs are represented not only at cantonal level but also in federal politics.
• BG Mitte BürgschaftsgenossenschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBürgschaftsgenossenschaft BG Mitte provides surety bonds to help SMEs obtain bank loans for capital-intensive investments, business transitions, and succession planning when banks require collateral.
• Bürgschaftsgenossenschaft SAFFAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1931, SAFFA has supported female entrepreneurs throughout Switzerland with secured bank loans, facilitating the path to self-employment, business acquisition, or growth of existing companies. SAFFA focuses on female entrepreneurs with viable business models under the principle 'By women for women'.
• asga PensionskassecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsga has been committed to occupational pension provision for small and medium enterprises since 1962. With over 16,000 member companies and over 150,000 insured persons, it is the largest independent collective pension institution in Switzerland. Asga offers all corporate insurance solutions from a single source including BVG mandatory provision, supplementary pension, daily sickness allowance, and accident insurance.
• VERD Purpose GenossenschaftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVERD promotes vibrant villages and neighborhoods with local trade as a central element. Their VERD.cash fair payment solution returns money to local communities - half of the transaction fee revenue (0.6%) goes directly to the customer's municipality. For trade, VERD.cash is particularly attractive with only 0.6% transaction fee and no additional costs.
• schnuppy.chminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerModern platform for trial apprenticeships (Schnupperlehrstellen) that is simple, current, and practical. Helps students find the right profession and enables companies to connect with interested young people early. Close cooperation between schools and business and sufficient trial offers are important success factors for dual vocational education.
• BIM AareLandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIM AareLand is an important recurring education fair in the Swiss Central Plateau, held every two years for three days in Olten. It is the ideal platform for young people to inform themselves about career choices and apprenticeship opportunities. With around 250 professions and continuing education offerings, the fair attracts over 100 exhibitors and approximately 11,500 visitors from the cantons of Solothurn, Aargau, Bern/Oberaargau, and Lucerne/Dagmersellen.
• reWork Netzwerk SolothurnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of Solothurn economic associations (KGV SO and SOHK), medical representatives, and social insurance providers united in the common intention to enable successful reintegration into the workforce. The network promotes exchange and cooperation among all participants, provides information and networking. It aims to make a difference in individual cases and enable successful reintegration.
• Label iPunktminorStrategic or Co-development PartneriPunkt supports companies in creating a work environment where people with disabilities can contribute their potential productively. The iPunkt label awards companies that systematically remove barriers in the work environment and can count on specialists with disabilities. iPunkt makes inclusion in the general labor market visible.
• Arbeitskontrollstelle (AKS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWork control office providing services related to labor law compliance and workplace regulations.
• Forum Wirtschaft Solothurn GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic forum for Solothurn providing business networking and economic development services.
• Interessengemeinschaft Kaufmännische Grundbildung SolothurnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterest group for commercial basic education in Solothurn, supporting vocational training in commercial professions.
• KMU Frauen SolothurnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation supporting female entrepreneurs and women in SMEs in the canton of Solothurn. KGV SO provides administrative support.
• Parlamentarische Gruppe Wirtschaft + GewerbeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParliamentary group bringing together politicians from the cantonal parliament who are interested in economic and trade matters.
• Verein BerufsbildungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for vocational education and training, supporting the bridge between the economy and vocational training in the canton of Solothurn.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kgv-so

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 KMU- und Gewerbeverband Kanton Solothurn (KGV)