SBB - Stipendien

What SBB - Stipendien does

SBB - Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung is a German non-profit limited liability company (gemeinnützige GmbH) founded on July 1, 1996, headquartered in Bonn at Menuhinstraße 6, with approximately 67 employees. It administers two federally mandated scholarship programs on behalf of the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF): the Weiterbildungsstipendium, which funds continuing education for young professionals shortly after completing vocational training, and the Aufstiegsstipendium, which supports experienced skilled workers in pursuing their first university degree (full-time or part-time). Recipients in both programs additionally benefit from ideelle Förderung, a non-material support layer comprising a national seminar program, the StipNet online community, regional groups (Regionalgruppen), mentoring, and company insight visits. In 2024, SBB extended its mandate upstream by co-launching TidA - Stipendien für Talente in der Ausbildung with the Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw), targeting high-achieving apprentices in pilot regions Berlin and Düsseldorf with a 300 EUR monthly education allowance over three years.

The organization's go-to-market is structurally community-led: applications are routed through the IHK (industry/commerce) and Handwerkskammer (crafts) chamber networks, which serve as intermediaries for review and forwarding before a jury-based selection. Demand generation is driven by digital info evenings, in-person outreach at Berufsschulen and Hochschulen, and partner-distributed social media kits rather than paid acquisition. The technology stack is light: StipNet functions as the proprietary online portal connecting recipients, with no broader SaaS, API, or mobile app surface disclosed. Operating economics are fully grant-funded: BMBF provides both program funding (Stipendien) and operating budget (Betriebsmittel); no commercial revenue, tuition, or fees are generated. SBB's three shareholders are DIHK, Deutscher Handwerkskammertag (ZDH), and Bundesverband der Freien Berufe (BFB), anchoring its institutional legitimacy within Germany's vocational talent ecosystem. The organization is currently led by Managing Director Melanie Lochner, who succeeded founder Wolf-Dieter Bauer in 2023.

Name

SBB - Stipendien

Legal name

Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung gGmbH

Website

https://sbb-stipendien.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SBB - Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung is a German non-profit foundation, founded in 1996 in Bonn, that administers BMBF-funded federal scholarship programs for vocational professionals pursuing continuing education or university studies across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education Scholarship Administration

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Government-Sponsored Scholarships & Exchange Funding (EDAIAOAF)

Keywords

• Vocational scholarships
• Federal scholarship programs
• Continuing education funding
• Apprentice talent development
• Non-profit education foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (BMBF): SBB is funded by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), which provides both program funding for scholarships (Stipendien) and operational/operating funds (Betriebsmittel). SBB itself is a non-profit organization (gemeinnützige GmbH) and does not generate commercial revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SBB administers two federal scholarship programs funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF): the Weiterbildungsstipendium, which supports young professionals shortly after vocational training with continuing education funding, and the Aufstiegsstipendium, which enables experienced skilled workers to pursue their first university degree. The organization also runs the TidA program for talented apprentices in partnership with Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw), and provides ideelle Förderung (non-material support) including seminars, mentoring, regional groups, and the StipNet online networking platform.

Product overview

SBB - Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung operates a portfolio of scholarship programs for vocational professionals in Germany. The core offerings include the Weiterbildungsstipendium for young vocational graduates pursuing continuing education, the Aufstiegsstipendium for experienced professionals seeking university degrees, and the TidA program for talented apprentices (in cooperation with Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft). All recipients benefit from Ideelle Förderung comprising the Seminarprogramm with topic-specific workshops, StipNet online community, Regionalgruppen for local networking, Mentoring support, and Unternehmenseinblicke company visits. The organization is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and administered as a non-profit limited company (gGmbH) since 1996.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Weiterbildungsstipendium: Federal scholarship program for young professionals who have successfully completed vocational training, supporting further education and professional development.
• Aufstiegsstipendium
• TidA - Stipendien für Talente in der Ausbildung

Products and services

• Weiterbildungsstipendium Federal scholarship program that supports young professionals who have successfully completed vocational training with continuing education funding. Recipients receive 300 euros per month for qualifying professional development activities, available shortly after completing their apprenticeship.
• Aufstiegsstipendium Federal scholarship program for experienced professionals with vocational training and multiple years of work experience to pursue their first university degree. Supports both full-time and part-time studies at German higher education institutions.
• TidA - Stipendien für Talente in der Ausbildung A scholarship program for talented apprentices jointly administered with Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw). Recipients receive 300 euros monthly for three years, participate in comprehensive ideelle programming, and are mentored throughout their apprenticeship.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ stipend recipients supported since founding in 1996
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024SBB partners with the Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw) to jointly operate the TidA (Talente in der Ausbildung) scholarship program for apprentices. sdw handles program administration alongside SBB, with pilot operations in Berlin and Düsseldorf since 2024. The partnership enables shared delivery of the 3-year scholarship, seminar program, and networking across both SBB's existing programs and sdw's Klaus Murmann study scholarship.
• Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammertag (DIHK)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDIHK is one of three shareholders of SBB (as a founding partner). It represents the IHK chamber network that serves as the primary application portal and implementation partner for the Weiterbildungsstipendium across Germany.
• Deutscher Handwerkskammertag (ZDH)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZDH is one of three shareholders of SBB and represents the Handwerkskammer (crafts chambers) network that administers the Weiterbildungsstipendium for skilled trades.
• Bundesverband der Freien Berufe (BFB)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBFB is one of three shareholders of SBB and represents freelancers and self-employed professionals in Germany.
• Rosa-Luxemburg-StiftungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung co-organizes a seminar on self-employment/gründerthemen within SBB's ideelle Förderung seminar program, making it available to SBB scholarship recipients.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (hbs)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHeinrich-Böll-Stiftung co-hosted a cooperation event with SBB (e.g., climate video project with stipend recipients). Also co-organizes the 'Die gläserne Decke' seminar for SBB recipients.
• Ärzteverband Marburger BundminorOthersVeronika Patzler worked for the Marburger Bund during her studies, where she advocated for better working conditions in healthcare. Not a formal SBB partnership but a referenced employer/advocacy organization of SBB stipend recipients.
• IU Internationale HochschuleminorOthersSBB alumna Daniela Gröne-Herden is an Academic Lecturer at IU Internationale Hochschule, where she delivers AI training seminars for SBB recipients.
• IHK SüdthüringenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIHK Südthüringen identified and awarded Alina Beckel as best apprentice ('Bildungsfuchs') and informed her about the Weiterbildungsstipendium, serving as the local chamber implementing partner.
• Kölner Gymnasial- und StiftungsfondsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer of a rhetoric training seminar ('Reden ist Silber') offered through SBB's ideelle Förderung seminar program.
• Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw) - Entrepreneurship CommunityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Entrepreneurship Community, co-led by SBB stipendiaten, provides startup entrepreneurship seminars to SBB recipients. Facilitated through the sdw partnership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stipendiumplus: Coordination platform for Germany's thirteen central funding organizations for higher-education students. Comparable as the reference network for German scholarship recipients and a referral channel for vocational applicants SBB identifies as outside its mandate.
• Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw): German business foundation running the Klaus Murmann study scholarship and now co-administering TidA with SBB. Directly comparable as a vocational/academic scholarship grantmaker targeting Germany's Berufstätige with BMBF-aligned programs.
• Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung: Political foundation affiliated with Die Linke, awarding scholarships to students with progressive political engagement. Active SBB seminar co-organizer (Gründerthemen) and comparable as a German grantmaking foundation delivering ideological support alongside financial stipends.
• Hans-Böckler-Stiftung: Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB)-affiliated foundation awarding scholarships to students at German universities with ideological programming. Comparable as a German grantmaking foundation supporting working students, including those with vocational backgrounds.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: Political foundation affiliated with Bündnis 90/Die Grünen awarding scholarships to German and international students. Active SBB seminar partner (e.g., 'gläserne Decke' workshop, climate video co-production) and comparable as a German grantmaking foundation awarding scholarships.

Others

• DAAD — Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst: Germany's national agency for international academic exchange, awarding scholarships primarily to international students and researchers. Comparable as a federally funded German scholarship-grantmaking organization, though focused on international mobility rather than domestic vocational talent.

Broad incumbents

• Deutschlandstipendium: Federal scholarship program supporting talented students at German universities with co-financing from the BMBF and private donors. Comparable as a government-sponsored scholarship instrument operating through institutional intermediaries, though targeting enrolled university students.
• Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes: Germany's largest and most prestigious academic scholarship organization, publicly funded and targeting top-performing students. Comparable as a federally backed talent-grantmaking foundation, though focused on academic-track rather than vocational pathways.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung: Political foundation affiliated with the CDU awarding scholarships and ideological programming to German and international students. Comparable as a major German grantmaking foundation offering structured ideological support (seminars, networking) alongside financial stipends.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung: Political foundation affiliated with the SPD, awarding scholarships and ideological support to German and international students. Comparable as one of Germany's largest political-foundation scholarship providers with structured ideological programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCn3aqBqqJ0tRr3kqGh6tP5g
• Instagraminstagram.com/sbb_stipendien
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sbbstipendien

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SBB - Stipendien