What RKW Bayern e.V. does

RKW Bayern e.V. is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Munich, founded in 1921, that supports small and medium-sized enterprises (Mittelstand) across Bavaria. Its core offerings include member-organized Erfahrungsaustauschkreise (peer experience exchange circles), seminars, in-house training, coaching, and consulting, delivered to a long tail of SMEs in industries ranging from manufacturing and automotive to food and services.

The association runs an annual membership priced on a revenue-tiered scale (from €102 for the smallest tier upward) and supplements membership income with paid seminars (typically in the low hundreds of euros), consulting and coaching engagements, and project-based public funding from BMWK, INQA, the IQ programme, and ESF+. Recent product extensions include the '100 Sekunden Morgen' mobile app (2024), the digital edition of the RKW Magazin (2025), a new Erfahrungsaustauschkreis on KI & Digitalisierung (2025), and the national Kreislaufcaptains circular-economy project (2026). Operations are also supported through partnerships with entities such as nexus Institut for AI-related workshops, and through integration with the broader nationwide RKW network.

RKW Bayern operates as part of a federated non-profit ecosystem rather than a commercial consultancy. Its economics depend on a diversified mix of small recurring membership fees, low-ticket seminar revenue, project-based public grants, and partner-led programming, with no public revenue disclosure. The listed staff count is small, and headcount data may understate the full operational capacity given program breadth and federation-wide resourcing.

Name

RKW Bayern e.V.

Legal name

RKW Bayern e.V.

Website

https://rkwbayern.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RKW Bayern e.V. is a Munich-based, 100-year-old non-profit association that supports Bavarian SMEs through peer exchange circles, seminars, in-house training, coaching, and consulting, funded via tiered membership fees, paid events, and public grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

SME Business Consulting and Continuing Education

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Learning & Development (L&D) & Training Management (EDABAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quality Tools & Problem Solving (7 QC Tools, 8D, A3, Root Cause) (EDABAKAE), Customer Success Operations & Health Scoring (Renewals/QBRs) (EDABABAM)

Keywords

• SME consulting services
• Corporate training programs
• Peer learning networks
• Management coaching services
• Change management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Fees: Companies pay an annual base membership fee scaled by annual revenue. For companies with annual turnover up to 0.2 million euros, the annual fee is 102.00 euros. Members receive discounts on events and in-house trainings and access to the broader RKW network.
2. Seminar and Training Fees: Open enrollment seminars (offene Seminare) charged per participant per event. Example: MS Word seminar at 250 euros (non-member rate), with RKW members receiving a discount. Fees vary by event type and duration.
3. Inhouse Training Fees: Customized on-site training for client companies, priced per engagement. Minimum viable group size: 4–5 participants. Members receive an additional price discount on inhouse trainings.
4. Consulting Fees: Change management, organizational diagnosis, process analysis, and other consulting engagements for SMEs. Members receive preferential rates.
5. Coaching Fees: Systemic coaching services for executives, HR leaders, and people & culture professionals, provided by Geschäftsführer Josef Wissinger.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RKW Bayern e.V. is a non-profit association that provides consulting, training, coaching, and peer-learning services to small and medium-sized enterprises (Mittelstand) in Bavaria. Core offerings include open-enrollment seminars, customized in-house training, Erfahrungsaustauschkreise (experience exchange circles) for peer networking, systemic coaching for executives and HR leaders, and business consulting on change management, digitalization, sustainability, and HR topics. The organization also facilitates the RKW-Gütesiegel employer attractiveness certification and runs federal programs such as INQA-Coaching, Digiscouts, DigiTalents, and Kreislaufcaptains.

Product overview

RKW Bayern e.V. is a non-profit association serving as a partner for Bavarian SMEs (Mittelstand), offering a comprehensive portfolio of continuing education and consulting services. The core offerings include practical seminars (Seminare), professional peer networks (Erfahrungsaustauschkreise), in-house training (Inhouse-Schulungen), systemic coaching, and business consulting. Additional specialized services include the RKW-Gütesiegel quality seal for employer attractiveness, the Kreislaufcaptains circular economy project, the RKW Magazine (now fully digital), the 100 Sekunden Morgen app for executives, and initiatives like Digiscouts and DigiTalents for workforce development. Thematically, offerings span business administration, AI & digitalization, HR, purchasing, quality management, sustainability, leadership, and sales/marketing. The organization operates as part of a nationwide RKW network and has been active since 1921.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seminare (Training Courses) Practical training seminars covering business topics such as leadership, sales, marketing, data protection, quality management, and digital skills for SMEs. Open enrollment with discounted rates for RKW members.
• Erfahrungsaustauschkreise (Experience Exchange Circles) Professional peer networks for Fach- and Führungskräfte across Bavaria covering topics including AI & Digitalisierung, Finance & Controlling, HR, Purchasing, Quality Management, and Data Protection. Moderated by experienced facilitators.
• Inhouse-Schulungen (In-house Training) Customized on-site training tailored to company-specific needs, available for groups of 4–5+ participants with member discounts. Topic, content, timing, and location are determined by the client.
• Coaching Systemic coaching services for executives and HR professionals, including Executive Coaching, Change & Transformation Sparring, and HR / People & Culture Coaching. Delivered through one-on-one sessions.
• Beratung (Consulting) Business consulting for SMEs covering organizational development, change management, business management, digitalization, energy efficiency, succession planning, and quality management. Members receive preferential rates.
• RKW-Gütesiegel (Quality Seal) Recognized quality seal for employer attractiveness (Arbeitgeberattraktivität), recognizing SMEs that demonstrate excellence in human resources and workplace culture. RKW Bayern e.V. facilitates the seal regionally for Bavarian companies.
• Kreislaufcaptains National project qualifying employees in circular economy practices for SMEs, managed by RKW Bayern e.V. as part of a broader RKW network initiative.
• RKW Magazin Digital magazine providing practical guidance, tools, and inspiring examples for SMEs on topics including sustainability, HR, and digital transformation. Published multiple times per year.
• 100 Sekunden Morgen App Mobile app providing daily strategy impulses for executives, designed as pragmatic help available on-the-go.
• Digiscouts Training project enabling apprentices to identify and implement digitalization projects within their host companies through a structured programme.
• DigiTalents Program connecting SMEs with qualified candidates with migration backgrounds for internships, funded under the IQ programme (ESF+).
• INQA-Coaching Coaching program for SMEs (up to 249 employees) addressing future-oriented workplace challenges, co-funded up to 80% under the INQA initiative. Topics include organizational development, leadership, and HR modernization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members can save up to 85 euros per event compared to non-member rates (from annual membership fee of 102 euros)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• nexus Institut (Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2024RKW Bayern e.V. partnered with the nexus Institut (Berlin) to host a virtual event on 'Partizipation und Stakeholder-Beteiligung bei der KI-Einführung'. The nexus Institut coordinates the KIDD (Künstliche Intelligenz im Dienste der Diversität) research project under the INQA umbrella, which aims to enable companies to shape digitalization processes fairly and transparently.
• Innovationszentrum Bayern für Diversity und Demokratie (izbd²)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2024RKW Bayern e.V. co-organized a virtual seminar on 'Vielfalt im Betrieb demokratisch und kompetent gestalten' with the izbd², a Bavaria-wide center for diversity and democracy in the workplace. The izbd² is part of the 'Betriebliche Demokratiekompetenz' initiative.
• KUS Landkreis Pfaffenhofen am IlmminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2023RKW Bayern e.V. co-hosted a 'Fachkräfteforum' (Skilled Worker Forum) with the KUS Landkreis Pfaffenhofen am Ilm on April 26, 2023, addressing talent acquisition and retention strategies for SMEs.
• Umweltpakt Bayern (Bavaria Environmental Pact)minorOthersRKW Bayern e.V. participates in the Umweltpakt Bayern initiative, which promotes voluntary environmental protection measures by businesses. The organization was re-certified under this pact, reflecting its commitment to sustainable and environmentally responsible operations.
• Qualitätsverbund umweltbewusster Betriebe (QUB)minorOthersRKW Bayern is listed as a partner of the Quality Association for Environmentally Conscious Operations (QUB), which supports companies in implementing environmental management practices.
• Charta der Vielfalt (Diversity Charter)minorOthersRKW Bayern e.V. has signed the Charta der Vielfalt (Diversity Charter), a German corporate diversity initiative urging companies to foster diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Familienpakt BayernminorOthersRKW Bayern e.V. participates in the Familienpakt Bayern initiative, which supports family-friendly working conditions in Bavarian businesses.
• RKW KompetenzzentrumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRKW Bayern e.V. is part of the nationwide RKW network, which includes the RKW Kompetenzzentrum (headquarters), RG-Bau, and other state-level RKW organizations across Germany. The network shares methodologies, content, and best practices, and is governed by a federal board (RKW Rationalisierungs- und Innovationszentrum der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V.).
• INQA – Initiative Neue Qualität der ArbeitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRKW Bayern e.V. participates in the INQA (Initiative New Quality of Work) initiative, which supports SMEs in addressing future-oriented workplace challenges. Through INQA-Coaching, SMEs can receive subsidized coaching (up to 80%) for topics such as organizational development, leadership, and HR.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WEKA Akademie: A German corporate training and continuing education provider offering seminars, in-house training, and e-learning for SMEs. Directly comparable in B2B training for German Mittelstand, though commercial rather than non-profit and without a peer-circle community layer.
• DATEV eG: A large cooperative providing software, consulting, and training for tax advisors, lawyers, and SMEs in Germany. Comparable in non-profit cooperative structure serving German SMEs, with overlapping training and consulting offerings on management and digitalization.
• Management Circle: A German provider of high-end executive seminars, conferences, and in-house training for business professionals. Comparable in offering B2B corporate training and events, though focused on larger enterprises and premium-priced paid seminars rather than SME member-funded programs.
• RKW Kompetenzzentrum: The national headquarters of the RKW network, also serving German SMEs with consulting, training, and innovation programs. Sister organization within the same nationwide RKW Rationalisierungs- und Innovationszentrum network; shares methodologies, content, and best practices with RKW Bayern.
• BVMW - Bundesverband mittelständische Wirtschaft: The Federal Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, a German SME advocacy and training organization. Directly comparable in target audience (Mittelstand) and service offering (networking, training, consulting, advocacy), though operating at federal rather than regional level.

Broad incumbents

• Haufe Group: A major German provider of corporate training content, software, and consulting. Comparable in offering B2B corporate training and consulting services to Mittelstand, but operates as a large commercial digital content/media platform rather than a regional peer network.
• IHK für München und Oberbayern: The regional chamber of commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria, providing SME training, consulting, and certification services across Bavaria. Highly comparable in target customer (Bavarian SMEs) and service mix (seminars, training, consulting), but operates as a larger statutory public-law body with broader mandate.
• Handwerkskammer für München und Oberbayern: The craft trade chamber for Munich and Upper Bavaria, offering continuing education, consulting, and certification for trades SMEs. Overlaps with RKW Bayern on SME training and consulting in Bavaria, but focused on the craft (Handwerk) segment.
• TÜV SÜD Akademie: The training division of TÜV SÜD, offering certification, continuing education, and corporate training. Overlaps with RKW Bayern on quality management and operational training for SMEs, but operates as part of a much larger global testing/certification conglomerate.

Regional players

• IFBB (Institut für Betriebliche Bildung): A Berlin-based institute for in-company training and consulting serving SMEs. Comparable in continuing education and consulting for German SMEs, but primarily serves the Berlin/Brandenburg region rather than Bavaria.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rkw-bayern

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 RKW Bayern e.V.