she:works GmbH

What she:works GmbH does

she:works GmbH is a non-profit (gemeinnützige GmbH) women's employment and qualification organization headquartered in Linz, Upper Austria, founded in 2004 as a spin-off of the Association for Women and Qualification (Verein VFQ) and rebranded from VFQ in 2023. Its roots trace to 1988 with the founding of FRAGILE, a carpentry workshop for women. The organization operates across five physical locations in Upper Austria, with a flagship new site at Tabakfabrik Linz opened in August 2025, and employs approximately 29 staff plus 30+ trainers. she:works serves four primary customer segments: unemployed women seeking career reintegration (Career Center / Frauenberufszentrum), young women aged 15-25 pursuing technology careers (Young Talents), women aged 50+ considering self-employment or career reinvention (SilverGirls), and Upper Austrian enterprises seeking workforce solutions.

Its product portfolio spans the she:works Career Center (free AMS-funded counseling for ~700 women/year), the she:works Academy (academy.she-works.at delivering fee-based workshops at €50/session), the AQUA Service (workplace-proximate qualification with apprenticeship exam preparation), she:works Business Services (B2B offerings including Arbeitskräfteüberlassung labor leasing, digitalization, accounting/payroll, office services, cleaning, packaging, and room rental), and specialized programs including Green Jobs FBZ, FiT – Women in Technology, Technology – ready4girls, and the Female Business Mingle networking event series. Technology infrastructure includes an E-Learning portal (elearning.vfq.at), online women's counseling, Open Space digital services (Digi & Coffee), and AI-powered language assistance for professional German qualification.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: (1) primary government funding from AMS Oberösterreich (Austrian Public Employment Service), ESF (European Social Fund), Land Oberösterreich, and European Commission project grants; (2) B2B commercial revenue from workforce solutions, labor leasing, accounting, and outsourced services; and (3) Academy coaching fees (first two counseling sessions free, then €50 per 50-minute session). As a non-profit, she:works operates without external equity funding rounds and is governed by its parent Association VFQ under Managing Director Susanne Steckerl (MEd, MBA).

Name

she:works GmbH

Legal name

she:works GmbH

Website

https://she-works.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

she:works GmbH is a non-profit women's career center in Linz, Upper Austria, delivering AMS-funded career counseling, vocational qualification (AQUA), B2B workforce solutions, and technology-training programs for unemployed women, young women aged 15-25, and women aged 50+ across five regional locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Employment & Workforce Integration Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Services (5613), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Help Supply Services (7363), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO), Workforce Development, Employment Readiness & Job Placement (BPADAKAE), Career Transition, Re-entry & Employability Support (Mid-career, Returnships) (EDAAAKAN), Career & Employability Integration Support (Work Culture, Networking, Job Readiness) (EDAIAKAH)

Keywords

• Women's career services
• Employment integration
• Workforce qualification
• Temporary staffing
• Career counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Linz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

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. Government Funding (AMS/ESF): Primary revenue from Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) funding for women-specific employment integration projects, career centers (Frauenberufszentren), and social economic operations. Also receives ESF (European Social Fund) and state funding.
2. B2B Services Revenue: Commercial services to companies including temporary staffing (Arbeitskräfteüberlassung), digitalization and data management, accounting and payroll services, office services, cleaning services, and room rental. Social-economic operating business generating revenue from enterprise clients.
3. Academy Workshop Fees: Fee-based coaching and training programs through she:works Academy including competence profiling (€50 per session after 2 free sessions), workshops, and career counseling services.
4. Project Funding: Funded projects including PEVA (Pro European Values AT), PowerWomen4Europe (European Commission funding), Women4Europe, and Green Jobs programs with external financing from institutions like Bundeskanzleramt and European Commission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

she:works GmbH is a non-profit social-economic enterprise that supports women's employment integration in Upper Austria through four core pillars: (1) the Career Center / Frauenberufszentrum providing free career counseling and qualification for unemployed women, (2) she:works Qualification / AQUA Service delivering workplace-adjacent vocational training, (3) she:works Business Services offering B2B workforce solutions including temporary staffing, accounting, digitalization, cleaning, and packaging to companies, and (4) she:works Young Talents targeting girls and young women aged 15–25 interested in technology careers.

Product overview

she:works GmbH is a non-profit women's career center (Frauenberufszentrum) operating as a social-economic business since 1999, formerly known as VFQ (Gesellschaft für Frauen und Qualifikation mbH). The organization rebranded to she:works in 2023. Its portfolio consists of four core pillars: (1) the Career Center / Frauenberufszentrum providing career counseling, workshops, and coaching for unemployed women; (2) she:works Qualification / AQUA Service offering workplace-adjacent vocational qualification programs; (3) she:works Business Services providing B2B services including temporary staffing and outsourcing for companies; and (4) she:works Young Talents targeting teenage girls for technology careers. The she:works Academy operates as a branded sub-platform (academy.she-works.at) delivering workshops and courses, including the SilverGirls program for women 50+. Specialized programs include Green Jobs FBZ (sustainability-focused career orientation), FiT – Women in Technology, and the Female Business Mingle networking event series. Supporting services include start-up consulting, IT consulting, online banking training, and online women's counseling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• she:works academy: Educational and further training programs for women including SilverGirls programs for women 50+
• Career Center / Frauenberufszentrum (FBZ)
• she:works business services
• she:works young talents
• SilverGirls
• Green Jobs FBZ
• Female Business Mingle

Quantifiable outcome

• 700 women per year achieve career integration through Career Center services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PEVA – Pro European Values ATcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2025PEVA is a joint initiative implementing European values programs. she:works serves as the Austrian partner for this European values project, collaborating on initiatives like Women4Europe and the PowerWomen4Europe program to strengthen democratic participation and gender equality.
• Women4EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2024Project implemented jointly with PEVA – Pro European Values AT, focused on strengthening women's voices in European democratic processes. Completed in December 2025 with ambassador network established.
• PowerWomen4EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2024European Commission-funded project empowering women, particularly with migration background and from disadvantaged backgrounds, through workshops on democracy, gender equality, and media literacy. Reaches approximately 160 women over 9 months.
• Klimabündnis Oberösterreich (Climate Alliance Upper Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for climate protection and sustainability. she:works operates as a Climate Alliance business (Klimabündnis Betrieb), actively participating in environmental initiatives and promoting green careers for women.
• Upper Austrian FBZ Organizations (Green Jobs Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with Upper Austrian FBZ (Frauenberufszentren) carrier organizations for the Green Jobs project. She:works serves as project coordinator for the district-spanning sensitization program covering Linz, Linz-Land, Eferding, Freistadt, Perg, Rohrbach, and Steyr regions.
• FAB Arbeitsstiftung (Environment Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironment Foundation that commissions the Green Jobs project in cooperation with Upper Austrian FBZ organizations. She:works implements workshops, excursions, and coaching programs under this partnership.
• Grand GarageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaker space facility in Linz where the 5-day Social:TecVenture workshops take place, providing innovative digital and technical methods training for apprentices and trainers.
• Siemens AG AustriaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipating company in the 'Technology – ready4girls' pilot project, sending apprentices and trainers to the Social:TecVenture program and implementing innovative workshop concepts.
• ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipating company in the 'Technology – ready4girls' pilot project for apprentice and trainer development in technical fields.
• Magistrat Linz (City of Linz)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipating company in the 'Technology – ready4girls' pilot project, providing apprentices and trainers for technical training workshops.
• Sprecher AutomationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipating company in the 'Technology – ready4girls' pilot project for technical apprentice development.
• Tabakfabrik LinzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic location partnership since August 2024 at Tabakfabrik Linz. She:works serves women from this iconic location with workshop spaces, offices, and networking opportunities. Tabakfabrik provides flexible spaces from offices to workshop areas and training facilities.
• IKT LinzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIT company that has hired several apprentices from she:works technical training programs, demonstrating successful placement outcomes.
• Grand Garage (Maker Space at Tabakfabrik)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization at Tabakfabrik where women and girls can explore different professions through the network of tenants including Haratech (modern manufacturing), B7 Fahrradzentrum, and factory300.
• WKO (Economic Chamber Upper Austria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic Chamber partnership for Female Business Mingle events and recognition of women's professional achievements.
• VHS Wissensturm LinzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner for Female Business Mingle events and other training programs.
• Frauenreferat OÖ (Women's Office Upper Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government office for women's affairs, supporting and collaborating on women's empowerment initiatives and events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• VHS Wissensturm Linz (Volkshochschule): Adult education center in Linz offering career qualification, language courses, and digital-skills workshops. Named partner of she:works for Female Business Mingle events; directly comparable training delivery and target audience.
• FAB Arbeitsstiftung: Austrian social organization active in Upper Austria providing qualification, employment projects, and integration programs with public funding. Named partner on she:works' Green Jobs FBZ project and a comparable mission-driven operator.
• abz*austria: Austrian non-profit focused on employment integration, training, and qualification for women (particularly with migration background) in Vienna and beyond. Highly comparable mission, AMS/ESF funding model, and Frauenberufszentrum-style services.
• BFI Berufsförderungsinstitut Oberösterreich: Largest vocational training provider in Upper Austria delivering qualification, reskilling, and labor-market integration programs with public funding. Comparable qualification/AQUA-style offerings and target population including job seekers.

Broad incumbents

• AMS Oberösterreich (Arbeitsmarktservice): Austrian Public Employment Service that contracts with and funds she:works. Directly comparable target population and labor-market integration mandate, though at federal/state scale rather than regional non-profit.
• WIFI Oberösterreich (Wirtschaftsförderungsinstitut): WKO-affiliated training institute offering continuing education, career qualification, and certifications across Upper Austria. Comparable training delivery model and regional employer partnerships, but broader audience without women-only mission.

Emerging players

• Europäische Akademie für Frauen (EAF): Brussels-based policy and research organization focused on women's economic empowerment and European values. Comparable European Commission-funded programming and women-in-labor-market focus, though primarily policy/advocacy rather than direct service delivery.

Others

• Klimabündnis Oberösterreich: Climate Alliance Upper Austria — named partner of she:works for the Green Jobs FBZ program. Comparable regional network model and EU-sustainability theme alignment, but focused on municipal climate action rather than women's employment.

Regional players

• Frauenstiftung Steiermark: Styrian non-profit supporting women's labor-market integration through qualification, coaching, and employment programs. Closely comparable Frauenberufszentrum-style mission but operating in a different Austrian Bundesland.
• Frauenberufszentrum Wien (Frauen aus der Wiener Wirtschaft): Vienna-based women's career counseling and qualification provider operating under the same Austrian Frauenberufszentrum framework. Highly comparable service model (career planning, qualification, B2B placements) but serves a different Bundesland.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sheworks.at
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sheworksgmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/sheworksgmbh?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 she:works GmbH