Was Geht

What Was Geht does

Was Geht (legal name: Was Geht Veranstaltungskalender) is a Hannover-based, founder-led startup that operates a mobile-first event discovery platform for the city of Hannover and the surrounding Region Hannover. Founded in 2023 by Ronja Nickel, the company offers a consumer iOS and Android app ("Was Geht Event App") and a companion website, together providing location-based event discovery, personalized recommendations, map-based navigation via Google Maps, and community sharing and rating features. The platform covers a broad range of cultural events — from small readings and alternative theater to large festivals — with a stated mission to surface events that are often overlooked, including subcultural and marginalized formats. The underlying technology stack is conventional: a Wix-hosted website, cross-platform mobile apps, AWS and Salesforce/Heroku infrastructure, and Google Maps APIs for location and mapping; no proprietary AI or ML systems are disclosed.

The business model is freemium on both sides of the marketplace. Consumers download and use the app at no charge, and event organizers are offered free accounts to list events. The company does not publicly disclose paid tiers, pricing, or material revenue streams; the only commercial signals are sponsorships and partner content associated with public-sector partnerships, specifically funding and promotional engagement from Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH (HMTG) and grant funding from SOZIOVATION der Region Hannover, alongside the city's "Kulturstadt Hannover" partnership. The customer base comprises three segments: (1) culture-consuming residents of Hannover and the Region, who are served by the consumer app; (2) cultural venues, independent organizers, and creators who list events; and (3) city marketing and tourism organizations, which are served as institutional partners. The company is bootstrapped, has 6 employees, has reported over 30,000 app downloads, and has won the Marketingpreis 2024 and the Startup-Impuls Gründungswettbewerb.

Name

Was Geht

Legal name

Was Geht Veranstaltungskalender

Website

https://wasgeht-events.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Was Geht is a Hannover-based mobile event-discovery app that helps residents find and share local cultural events, while offering free event listings to organizers and partnering with city tourism bodies. Founded in 2023 by Ronja Nickel, it operates solely in Hannover and the surrounding region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Event Discovery Platform

NAICS

All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Tours, Activities & Attractions Metasearch (THALAEAI)

Keywords

• Event discovery app
• Local event platform
• Cultural event listing
• Regional event aggregator
• Mobile event discovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. App Distribution (Consumer): The app is available for free download to consumers on iOS and Android app stores, enabling event discovery and attendance. Revenue generation from end users is not clearly disclosed as a direct stream.
2. Event Organizer Listings: Organizers can create a free account to list events on the platform. This is currently offered at no cost to event creators, with the goal of growing the event database and user base.
3. Sponsorships & Partner Content: Partnerships with tourism boards, the city of Hannover, and cultural organizations likely involve promotional and sponsorship elements, though specific terms are not publicly disclosed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Was Geht is a mobile and web application that aggregates and surfaces cultural events across the Hannover metropolitan region, enabling users to discover nearby events through location-based search, personalized filters, and an interactive map. Event organizers — including small, subcultural, and marginalized groups — can list their events on the platform at no cost, and the service is free and ad-free for end users, monetized through municipal and regional sponsorships.

Product overview

Was Geht is a single-product company offering a unified event discovery platform consisting of a mobile application (iOS and Android) and an associated website. The Was Geht Event App serves as the primary product, enabling users to discover local cultural events through personalized recommendations, map-based navigation, and social features. The company does not offer a modular platform or multiple distinct products; the app and website together constitute the complete product offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Was Geht mobile app (iOS and Android) A free mobile application for iOS and Android that aggregates cultural events across the Hannover region. It offers location-based discovery, personalized interest filters, an interactive event map, and social sharing features for end users, while allowing event organizers to list events at no cost.
• Was Geht web platform A browser-based version of the Was Geht event discovery platform that gives Hannover-area residents an alternative way to browse cultural events, search by location and interest, and share events with friends without installing a mobile app.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30,000 app downloads
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH (HMTG)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerHMTG is the official city tourism and marketing body for Hannover. Was Geht is funded by HMTG and acts as a promotional channel for Hannover's event landscape, making cultural events visible to residents and tourists alike.
• Region Hannover / SoziovationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFunded from Soziovation funds of the Region Hannover, this funding supports Was Geht's mission to make culture accessible. Soziovation is a regional funding program supporting social innovation.
• Stadt Hannover – Kulturstadt HannovercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWas Geht is an official partner of the 'Kulturstadt Hannover' initiative, working with the city to make the 'Culture City' brand tangible and accessible through event discovery. Co-organizes events like the Kulturstadt Community Picknick.
• Landeshauptstadt Hannover (City of Hannover)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe city of Hannover's official communications channels promote Was Geht as a modern way to discover the city's cultural offerings. The city's Fachbereich Sport, Bäder und Eventmanagement uses the platform to reach younger audiences.
• Musikzentrum HannoverminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMusic center in Hannover listed as a partner using the Was Geht platform to promote its events and reach local audiences.
• Eichels EventminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndependent event organizer in Hannover listed as a Was Geht partner, using the platform for event discovery and visibility.
• Kulturzentrum FaustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural venue Faust listed as a partner using the Was Geht platform to list events.
• Sport im Park (Region Hannover)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports event organizer in the Hannover region listed as a Was Geht partner.
• Radio 21minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional radio station Radio 21 is listed as a partner, using Was Geht to reach younger audiences with cultural events.
• Novum (1908)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent venue/partner listed on Was Geht's partner page.
• PAV (Projekt für Audiovisuelle Kunst)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAudiovisual arts project listed as a Was Geht partner.
• Hannover InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHannover international business/tourism organization listed as a Was Geht partner.
• h1 HannoverminorGTM or Marketing Partnerh1 Hannover (media/communications entity) listed as a partner on Was Geht.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Meetup: Community- and event-driven platform that helps users discover local gatherings. Comparable to Was Geht on the consumer/event-organizer model and on community/social features, though Meetup focuses on recurring groups globally.
• Eventbrite: Global event-discovery and ticketing marketplace for consumers and organizers. Directly comparable to Was Geht in core functionality (event listing + discovery), though it operates globally and at vastly greater scale with a paid ticketing model.
• Bandsintown: Concert and live event discovery platform with location-based recommendations and personalized alerts. Comparable to Was Geht on the location-aware event discovery mechanic, though narrower in scope (music-focused).
• Spotted by Locals: City-focused travel and event app offering locally curated tips and happenings. Closely comparable to Was Geht in its hyperlocal, 'by locals for locals' positioning, though covering multiple cities across Europe.
• Fever: Experiences and events marketplace offering curated local activities, concerts, and immersive experiences. Closely comparable to Was Geht's model of surfacing local cultural events to consumers, with a more developed monetization layer (paid ticketing).
• DICE: Mobile-first event discovery and ticketing app focused on music and cultural events. Highly comparable in product design (mobile-first, personalized recommendations, social features) and target audience (younger, culture-interested consumers).

Broad incumbents

• Time Out: Global city-guide and events media brand covering local cultural happenings. Comparable to Was Geht in curating local events for residents and visitors, but as editorial media rather than a mobile-first product.
• Eventim: Largest ticketing and live entertainment platform in Germany and Europe. Comparable as an event-distribution channel for Hannover-based organizers, but operates at massive scale with a ticketing-led, rather than discovery-led, model.
• Ticketmaster: Global ticketing and event-discovery incumbent. Comparable as a destination for live event listings and ticket purchasing, though focused on major events rather than subcultural curation.

Emerging players

• Resident Advisor: Specialized event-discovery platform for electronic music and club culture. Comparable to Was Geht in its niche editorial positioning and mission-driven curation of subcultural events, though international in scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Hannover_WasGeht
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/was-geht
• Instagraminstagram.com/hannover_wasgeht
• TikToktiktok.com/@hannoverwasgeht?lang=de-DE

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 Was Geht