WAS Stormarn

What WAS Stormarn does

WAS Stormarn (legal entity Wirtschafts- und Aufbaugesellschaft Stormarn mbH) is the county-owned economic development agency for Kreis Stormarn, a district of approximately 247,207 residents covering 766 km² in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, within the Metropolregion Hamburg. Founded in 1957 and headquartered at Mommsenstraße 14 in Bad Oldesloe under the leadership of Managing Director Ulf Hahn, the agency provides advisory services across location consulting (Standortberatung), grant/funding acquisition (Fördermittelakquise), and networking (Netzwerkarbeit) to support businesses, startups, municipalities, and educational institutions in the district. It operates without proprietary technology products and generates no commercial revenue; instead, it is funded by the Kreis Stormarn district via service contracts, project grants, and fees from commercial land development.

Its service portfolio is delivered through multiple branded programmes: the 'Wirtschaften erleben Stormarn' youth business-education initiative with 15+ partner companies; the IT'S STORMARN Think & Do Tank knowledge network with 10+ partner enterprises including Basler AG, HEROSE, Stern-Wywiol Gruppe, Sterac, and Topmotive Gruppe; the Innovationskontore Stormarn advisory centres linking SMEs to the Hanse Innovation Campus Lübeck; and the cross-district Praktikum Hansebelt internship platform serving five districts (Stormarn, Herzogtum Lauenburg, Segeberg, Ostholstein, Lübeck). The agency also develops and markets commercial land directly, notably the Ahrensburg Beimoor Süd industrial estate (21.5 hectares, 36 settled companies, 900+ jobs secured, EUR 90 million private investment catalysed), and is planning a EUR 9 million, 2,500 m² Innovations- und Gründerzentrum Stormarn (GIZ Stormarn) innovation and startup centre at the same site, partially funded by a EUR 1 million donation from Sparkasse Holstein.

Its go-to-market motion is event-driven and partnership-based: WAS Stormarn organises its own branded formats (Praxisforen, Business Breakfasts, Lunch Pitches, Morning Pitches, Innovation Workshops, IT'S STORMARN knowledge meetings) and co-hosts events with the IHK zu Lübeck, Hanse Innovation Campus Lübeck, Welcome Centre Schleswig-Holstein, and Hansebelt partners. Distribution occurs through direct advisory, event-based engagement, the German-language was-stormarn.de website, social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram), press releases, and presence at trade fairs such as Expo Real and the Real Estate Arena Hanover. With 6 employees, the agency's strategic positioning centres on orchestrating regional networks and capital flows rather than scaling internal capacity.

Name

WAS Stormarn

Legal name

Wirtschafts- und Aufbaugesellschaft Stormarn mbH

Website

https://was-stormarn.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WAS Stormarn is the county-owned economic development agency for Kreis Stormarn in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, providing location consulting, funding acquisition, and networking services to businesses, startups, municipalities, and schools across the district.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bad Oldesloe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public funding and service contracts: WAS Stormarn is a publicly-owned economic development corporation (Wirtschafts- und Aufbaugesellschaft Stormarn mbH) funded by the Kreis Stormarn. It generates revenue through service contracts with the county and municipalities, fees for settlement and site development services, and public grants for specific programs (e.g., innovation support, skilled labour initiatives). No commercial product revenue is generated.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

WAS Stormarn is the county-owned economic development agency for Kreis Stormarn in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It delivers location consulting (Standortberatung), grant and funding acquisition support (Fördermittelakquise), and networking services (Netzwerkarbeit) to businesses seeking to settle, expand, or innovate in the region. Its portfolio of named programs includes the 'Wirtschaften erleben Stormarn' youth-business education initiative, the 'IT'S STORMARN' think-and-do-tank, the Innovationskontore innovation-advisory centers, the planned GIZ Stormarn innovation and startup centre, and the cross-regional Praktikum Hansebelt internship platform. The agency also develops and markets commercial land in county-owned industrial estates such as Ahrensburg Beimoor Süd.

Product overview

WAS Stormarn (Wirtschafts- und Aufbaugesellschaft Stormarn mbH) operates as the Stormarn district's economic development agency, providing a portfolio of advisory, networking, and platform services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include location consulting (Standortberatung), funding acquisition support (Fördermittelakquise), and networking programs (Netzwerkarbeit). These are complemented by several named programs: the 'Wirtschaften erleben Stormarn' educational initiative that connects schools with businesses; the 'IT'S STORMARN' think tank for knowledge exchange among companies; the 'Innovationskontore Stormarn' advisory centers linking SMEs with university research; the planned 'Innovations- und Gründerzentrum Stormarn' startup center in Ahrensburg; and the cross-regional 'Praktikum Hansebelt' internship platform. Together, these services support business location decisions, innovation, skilled labor development, and regional economic growth in the Stormarn district.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wirtschaften erleben Stormarn
• IT'S STORMARN (Think & Do Tank)
• Innovationskontore Stormarn
• Praktikum Hansebelt
• Standortberatung
• Fördermittelakquise
• Netzwerkarbeit

Quantifiable outcome

• 36 companies settled in Ahrensburg Beimoor Süd with 900+ jobs secured, EUR 90 million in private investment, 2,500 m² of innovation centre planned
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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.

• VdW.SH (Verband der Wirtschaftsförderungen Schleswig-Holstein)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2023Association of 12 economic development agencies in Schleswig-Holstein, founded on 17 February 2023 in Kiel. Ulf Hahn (Managing Director of WAS) serves as Deputy Chairman. The association advocates for improved political and economic framework conditions for Schleswig-Holstein's businesses and locations, focusing on land development, innovation policy, skilled labour, and digital transformation. It also provides a platform for exchange, further training, and joint representation vis-à-vis state, federal, and EU institutions.
• Welcome Centre Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2020State-level service supporting companies and international skilled workers with recruitment, integration, and legal orientation in Schleswig-Holstein. WAS Stormarn co-hosted the event 'Zukunft sichern: Internationale Fachkräfte für Ihr Unternehmen' with the Welcome Centre in Stormarn, helping local companies recruit and integrate international talent.
• Hanse Innovation Campus Lübeck (HIC Lübeck)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe HIC Lübeck links the University of Lübeck and Lübeck University of Applied Sciences with regional companies. WAS Stormarn hosts one of three regional Innovation Offices (Innovationskontore) as part of the 'HI Lübeck' project, which serves the 120,000+ SMEs in Schleswig-Holstein. The collaboration provides Stormarn companies with low-threshold access to research expertise, technology transfer, and joint innovation projects. A mobile innovation centre in Bad Oldesloe enables companies to learn about and engage with the Lübeck university campus.
• WTSH (Wirtschaftsförderung und Technologietransfer Schleswig-Holstein GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level economic development and technology transfer agency for Schleswig-Holstein. WTSH provides funding consultancy and co-organises events with WAS Stormarn, including the WAS Praxisforum on innovation and funding. WTSH also funds individual company projects in Stormarn (e.g., Permalux's digitalisation project).
• WFL (Wirtschaftsförderung im Herzogtum Lauenburg mbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development agency for Herzogtum Lauenburg district. Together with WAS Stormarn and EGNO Norderstedt, WFL co-hosts the three regional Innovation Offices linked to HIC Lübeck. Michaela Bierschwall (Managing Director of WFL) is a co-author of the joint innovation centre initiative.
• EGNO (Entwicklungsgesellschaft Norderstedt mbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development company for Norderstedt district. Co-host of one of three regional Innovation Offices linked to HIC Lübeck, alongside WAS Stormarn and WFL. Marc-Mario Bertermann (Managing Director of EGNO) is a co-author of the innovation centre initiative.
• Hansebelt (regional economic development network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-district economic development initiative linking Stormarn with Herzogtum Lauenburg, Segeberg, Ostholstein, and the Hanseatic City of Lübeck. WAS Stormarn collaborates with Hansebelt partners on joint platforms (Praktikum Hansebelt), trade fair presence (Expo Real, Real Estate Arena), and shared events. The Hansebelt is positioned as an attractive business and living region anchored in the Metropolregion Hamburg.
• IHK zu Lübeck (Chamber of Industry and Commerce)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLübeck Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Co-organiser of the Cybercrime Business Breakfast in Ahrensburg with WAS and the Ahrensburg Economic Development Agency. IHK representative Christian Peters presented at the event.
• KiWi (Kieler Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Strukturentwicklungs GmbH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiel Economic Development Corporation. Led the founding of VdW.SH and represents the association as its founding organisation. Werner Kässens (Managing Director of KiWi) was elected as Chairman of VdW.SH.
• Wirtschaftsförderung NordfrieslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development agency for Nordfriesland district. Member of VdW.SH with Managing Director Dr. Matthias Hüppauff serving as Treasurer of the association.
• HLMS (Tourismus Herzogtum Lauenburg und Stormarn)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism development agency for Herzogtum Lauenburg and Stormarn. Jointly represented Stormarn culture and tourism at the Schleswig-Holstein Summer Party in Berlin alongside WAS.
• Partner companies in 'Wirtschaften erleben Stormarn' educational initiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAngio 15+ regional companies actively supporting the 'Wirtschaften erleben Stormarn' youth business education programme. Companies contribute financially, provide personnel resources for mentoring, and offer real-world business experience to participating students at partner schools in Ahrensburg, Bad Oldesloe, Reinbek, and from 2026/27 also in Reinbek (Sachsenwaldschule) and Bargteheide (Kopernikus Gymnasium). Partner companies include Hako, MLL Lamellensysteme, Hela Gewürzwerk, Buhck, Allergopharma, Almirall Hermal, Basler AG, HEROSE, E. Michaelis & Co., Krüger Aviation, Sparkasse Holstein, Sterac, Stern-Wywiol Gruppe, and TOPMOTIVE Gruppe.
• Praktikum Hansebelt consortiumcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint internship platform involving economic development agencies of Stormarn, Lauenburg, Segeberg, Ostholstein, and Lübeck. Managed jointly with regional partners. Enables companies to post internships free of charge and students to search across sectors and districts. WAS Stormarn's Stephan Zechner is the contact person. The platform was relaunched with enhanced features in September 2024.
• Depenbrock Bau GmbH & Co. KGminorOthersConstruction company from Norderstedt commissioned as the main contractor for infrastructure works including civil engineering in Ahrensburg Beimoor Süd (2nd construction phase) and the B-Plan 122 'Gewerbegebiet West' road/intersection development in Bad Oldesloe (including construction of a roundabout).
• Kreistagssitzungssaal Kreis Stormarn (Stormarn County Council Chamber)minorOthersThe county council chamber at Mommsenstraße 13 in Bad Oldesloe is used by WAS Stormarn as a venue for events such as the Praxisdialog on employee housing.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wirtschaftsförderung Nordfriesland: District-level economic development agency for Nordfriesland and VdW.SH member (Treasurer). Comparable in scope and mandate — county-owned Wirtschaftsförderung providing location, funding, and networking services to regional SMEs.
• EGNO Entwicklungsgesellschaft Norderstedt mbH: Economic development company for Norderstedt (in Segeberg district) and co-host of one of three regional Innovationskontore linked to Hanse Innovation Campus Lübeck. Direct operational peer with overlapping mandate in industrial estate development and SME innovation support.
• WFL Wirtschaftsförderung Herzogtum Lauenburg mbH: County-level economic development agency for Herzogtum Lauenburg, directly comparable as a VdW.SH member and co-host of one of the three Hanse Innovation Campus Innovationskontore alongside WAS. Identical mandate (location consulting, networking, industrial estate support) for an adjacent Schleswig-Holstein district.
• KiWi Kieler Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Strukturentwicklungs GmbH: Kiel's municipal economic development corporation; founding organisation of VdW.SH with its MD elected as Chairman. Closely comparable as a city-owned Wirtschaftsförderung providing location consulting, networking, and innovation services.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck GmbH: City of Lübeck's economic development agency; partner in the Hansebelt network and operator of a partner Innovationskontore. Direct functional peer in industrial estate, SME, and startup support within the same Hansebelt region.

Broad incumbents

• WTSH Wirtschaftsförderung und Technologietransfer Schleswig-Holstein GmbH: State-level economic development and technology transfer agency for all of Schleswig-Holstein. Co-organiser of WAS events, funder of individual company projects (e.g., Permalux), and overarching partner — a larger, broader-scope incumbent in the same ecosystem.
• Metropolregion Hamburg GmbH: Cross-state economic development platform encompassing Hamburg and parts of four surrounding states including Schleswig-Holstein. Overlapping mandate in regional marketing and investor attraction at metropolitan scale.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (WRS): Regional economic development corporation for the Stuttgart region, focused on cluster development, innovation, and international location marketing. Comparable as a publicly mandated, multi-stakeholder economic development agency serving a defined German region.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH: Berlin's state-owned business and technology promotion agency. Comparable as a publicly mandated economic development entity providing location marketing, cluster management, and SME services — but at federal-state scale.
• HWF Hamburgische Wirtschaftsförderung GmbH: Hamburg's city-level economic development corporation; broader-scope incumbent covering Germany's second-largest city. Comparable in advisory and relocation services but operates at much larger scale and budget than WAS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wasstormarn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/was-stormarn
• Instagraminstagram.com/wasstormarn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 WAS Stormarn