Wirtschaftsförderung Bodenseekreis GmbH

What Wirtschaftsförderung Bodenseekreis GmbH does

Wirtschaftsförderung Bodenseekreis GmbH (WFB) is the regional economic development corporation for the Bodenseekreis district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, headquartered in Friedrichshafen. Organized as a private GmbH, it is a public-mandate entity that provides free consulting, startup support, networking facilitation, and location marketing services to local businesses, founders, skilled workers, students, and municipalities within the district.

The agency operates a broad portfolio of recurring programming and partnership-based services. This includes six event series (GründungsKompass, Business Breakfast, Business Lunch, Business Impuls, Business Night, and Zukunft am Mittag), management of the BodenseeAIRea aerospace industry cluster, the Karriere im Süden skilled worker attraction program, the wissen was geht! career orientation program for students, the Typisch Bodenseekreis location marketing campaign, and the Production Excellence Day 2026 scheduled for October 22, 2026. The agency also engages in cross-border work through the Vierländerregion Bodensee initiative covering Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Technology infrastructure is limited to standard collaboration and marketing tools (Cisco WebEx, MS Teams, CleverReach, etracker, Google Ads).

WFB's business model is non-commercial: services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, with the organization funded through public contributions from the Bodenseekreis district and associated municipality memberships. It maintains a small lean team of 6 employees and is led by Geschäftsführer Benedikt Otte. In the Prognos Future Atlas 2025, Bodenseekreis was ranked 20th of 400 German districts, a positioning that WFB leverages for regional business attraction. Revenue and financial figures are not disclosed.

Name

Wirtschaftsförderung Bodenseekreis GmbH

Legal name

Wirtschaftsförderung Bodenseekreis GmbH

Website

https://wf-bodenseekreis.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wirtschaftsförderung Bodenseekreis GmbH is the regional economic development agency for the Bodenseekreis district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, providing free business consulting, startup support, networking events, and location marketing to local businesses, founders, skilled workers, and municipalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Friedrichshafen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Membership Contributions: As a regional economic development corporation (Wirtschaftsförderung), WFB operates as a service-oriented organization funded primarily through public contributions and district membership. Services are provided free of charge to users without membership requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wirtschaftsförderung Bodenseekreis GmbH (WFB) is the official regional economic development agency for the Bodenseekreis district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It provides free business consulting, startup support, networking, location marketing, and event series to companies, entrepreneurs, founders, skilled workers, students, and municipalities in the Lake Constance region, without requiring membership.

Product overview

Wirtschaftsförderung Bodenseekreis GmbH (WFB) is a regional economic development organization that provides business development services rather than a traditional software product. The core offering consists of advisory services, networking support, and event organization for companies and entrepreneurs in the Lake Constance region. The service portfolio includes: consulting services (business consulting, startup support, network services); educational programs (GründungsKompass Bodensee seminar series, wissen was geht! career action program, Karriere im Süden skilled worker initiative); event series (Business Breakfast/Lunch/Impuls/Night Bodensee, Production Excellence Day, Zukunft am Mittag); location marketing (Typisch Bodenseekreis cross-media campaign, Immoportal Bodensee real estate platform); and industry clustering (BodenseeAIRea aviation and aerospace cluster). The WFB also publishes a monthly Wirtschaftsnachrichten Bodenseekreis newsletter. These services are provided free of charge to support the regional economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Consulting Services Company-specific and location-specific advisory services to help businesses find optimal sites in the Lake Constance district and adapt to changing needs.
• Start-up Support Individual consultation and comprehensive information for entrepreneurship, including assistance with business plans for new ventures, offered free of charge to founders.
• Network Services Support for networking with potential partners, suppliers, and customers, including regional and business site information for companies seeking to grow or relocate.
• GründungsKompass Bodensee Six-part seminar series providing comprehensive information and practical experience on topics related to founding a business, including business plans, finances, taxes, social security, and marketing.
• wissen was geht! Career choice action program for students aged 14+ enabling company visits during summer holidays to explore careers and apprenticeship opportunities in the Bodenseekreis.
• Karriere im Süden Regional skilled worker initiative helping young talent and experienced professionals find job opportunities in the Lake Constance district, with helpful information for newcomers to the region.
• Business Breakfast Bodensee Networking event series for executives who want to start their workday with inspiring impulses, featuring presentations on current business topics.
• Business Lunch Bodensee Joint event series with regional educational institutions combining networking lunch with scientific presentations and practical case studies.
• Business Impuls Bodensee Information event series on current topics for small and medium-sized enterprises, with expert presentations and networking opportunities.
• Business Night Bodensee Flagship evening event for entrepreneurs featuring top keynote speakers followed by networking with regional specialties.
• Typisch Bodenseekreis Cross-media location marketing campaign showcasing economic strength, diversity, and future viability of the Bodenseekreis region through magazine, website, posters, and digital channels.
• Immoportal Bodensee Commercial real estate platform providing an overview of available business sites and commercial properties in the Lake Constance region.
• BodenseeAIRea Cluster Aviation and aerospace industry cluster that networks companies and partners in the Lake Constance region, establishing partnerships with other industry clusters in Germany.
• Wirtschaftsnachrichten Bodenseekreis Newsletter Monthly economic news newsletter providing updates on events, competitions, funding programs, and regional business news in the Bodenseekreis.
• Production Excellence Day Annual event focusing on production network transformation, supply chain flexibility, industrial production trends, Smart Factory, and variant management.
• Zukunft am Mittag Free online event series providing compact knowledge impulses on future-relevant topics presented at lunchtime by changing speakers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rank 20 out of 400 German districts in Prognos ranking
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zentrum für Digitalisierung in Produktion und Produktentwicklung (ZDP) at DHBW RavensburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZDP is a core partner for organizing the Production Excellence Day, focusing on digitalization in production and product development at the Technikcampus Friedrichshafen.
• RITZ Regionales Innovations- und TechnologietransferzentrumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Production Excellence Day and host venue at Technikcampus Friedrichshafen, supporting technology transfer in the region.
• IWT Wirtschaft und Technik GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for Production Excellence Day, contributing expertise in industry and technology transfer.
• Handwerkskammer UlmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for startup support events and information sessions about trade and crafts business establishment.
• MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-WürttembergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner providing orientation consulting for culture and creative professionals in the region.
• BodenseeAIRea ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWFB is the initiator of the BodenseeAIRea aviation and aerospace cluster, which has established partnerships with other industry clusters in Germany. The cluster focuses on aviation & astronautics and represents a flagship initiative for regional economic development.
• Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for job placement and career services, particularly for the 'Karriere im Süden' initiative supporting professionals finding positions in the Lake Constance district.
• IHK Bodensee-Oberschwaben (Chamber of Industry and Commerce)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChannel partner listing job openings and apprenticeship opportunities through their Lehrstellenbörse (apprenticeship portal).
• Handwerkskammer UlmminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChannel partner for apprenticeship listings through their training placement service.
• Vierländerregion Bodensee (Four Countries Region Lake Constance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border cooperation project with partners from Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein strengthening the regional image and helping businesses and professionals seize opportunities in the four-country Lake Constance region.
• Immoportal BodenseeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial real estate platform offering overview of available business sites and commercial properties in the Lake Constance region.
• Karriere im SüdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional skilled worker initiative helping young talent and experienced professionals find job opportunities in the Lake Constance district, with helpful information for newcomers to the region.
• wissen was geht!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer orientation initiative for students aged 14-20, connecting them with employers offering vocational training and apprenticeships in the Bodenseekreis.
• Internationale Bodensee-HochschuleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork providing overview of the diverse higher education landscape around Lake Constance for students and professionals.
• Sparkasse BodenseeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMain sponsor for Business Night Bodensee events, providing financial support for networking events for entrepreneurs and business professionals.
• Volksbank ÜberlingenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Business Night Bodensee Green Edition, supporting sustainable business networking events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wirtschaftsförderung Münster GmbH: Regional economic development corporation for the Münster region offering comparable services to WFB: location marketing, cluster management, business consulting, and startup support.
• Vierländerregion Bodensee: Cross-border cooperation platform spanning Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. WFB is a core partner; the platform coordinates regional promotion and cross-border business services directly aligned with WFB's Vierländerregion activities.
• Handwerkskammer Ulm: Chamber of Crafts serving the Ulm region, listed as a partner of WFB for startup support and apprenticeship placement. Provides business consulting services to trades and crafts businesses overlapping WFB's SME target segment.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart: Regional economic development agency for the Stuttgart region, providing business consulting, location marketing, and cluster management similar to WFB. Most directly comparable German Wirtschaftsförderung entity.
• IHK Bodensee-Oberschwaben: Chamber of Industry and Commerce serving the Bodensee-Oberschwaben region. Listed by WFB as a channel partner and serves overlapping business constituencies with business advisory and apprenticeship services.

Broad incumbents

• Wirtschaftsförderung Berlin (Berlin Partner): Berlin's state-owned economic development corporation providing business consulting, location marketing, and cluster management to companies, startups, and skilled workers in Berlin.
• FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH: Regional marketing and economic development organization for the Frankfurt Rhine-Main metropolitan area. Comparable cluster promotion, location marketing, and international investor outreach.
• Baden-Württemberg International: State-level agency supporting international business activities and foreign trade for Baden-Württemberg (WFB's state). Operates at a larger scale with similar Wirtschaftsförderung mandate.
• Hamburg Invest Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft: City-state level economic development corporation providing location marketing, business consulting, and cluster management. Comparable function at much larger scale than WFB.
• Invest in Bavaria: State-level business promotion agency in Bavaria offering free consulting to companies relocating or expanding into Bavaria. Directly comparable service portfolio and target audience to WFB.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8hkGWGB31xVNLq1SYgbUeQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/wirtschaftsfoerderungbodenseekreis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wf-bodenseekreis
• Instagraminstagram.com/wirtschaftsfoerderung.bsk

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 Wirtschaftsförderung Bodenseekreis GmbH