Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft für den Kreis Borken mbH

What Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft für den Kreis Borken mbH does

Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft für den Kreis Borken mbH (WFG) is the municipal economic development corporation for the district of Kreis Borken in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Headquartered in Ahaus and operating with 26 employees, it was founded in 1968 and is owned by the Kreis Borken district government under the supervision of Landrat Dr. Kai Zwicker. Its mission is to deliver free advisory, consulting, and networking services to startups, SMEs, and established companies across the district's 17 municipalities, organized into seven core service lines: Gründungsberatung (startup consulting), Betriebsberatung (business consulting), Innovationsberatung (innovation consulting), Standortmarketing (location marketing), Breitbandinfrastruktur (broadband infrastructure), Fachkräftesicherung (skilled workforce securing), and Nachwuchsförderung (youth development, including the zdi-Zentrum Kreis Borken for STEM). It is a certified STARTERCENTER NRW center and runs the annual Gründungspreis Westmünsterland startup award.

WFG operates as a publicly funded, non-commercial service organization: revenue derives entirely from municipal, state (NRW), and EU grants and project budgets — there are no fees charged to clients and no commercial product sales. Its go-to-market is direct, free consulting delivered through its Ahaus office, on-site company visits, workshops, and 100+ events annually, supplemented by the WFG.TV YouTube platform, a monthly newsletter, LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook presence, the Wirtschaft aktuell magazine, and the Made in Westmünsterland podcast with Radio WMW. In 2025, it logged more than 1,000 consulting conversations, supported 351 founders as a STARTERCENTER, ran over 100 information and networking events, and channeled approximately €850,000 of MID digitalization funding to around 70 companies.

The organization manages a substantial portfolio of publicly co-financed projects, several of which launched in 2026 and extend its footprint beyond the district. Active initiatives include Future RobotiX (Interreg VI, €2,603,798.40 total project volume, 64.49% funded, launched June 2026) for humanoid robotics in SMEs and skilled trades; ReNET-EV (€1.5 million EFRE/JTF NRW funding, April 2026–March 2029) for cooperative energy networks in commercial areas; TOR@Münsterland (digital resilience and AI-powered technology scouting, June 2026); Familienunternehmen fit für die Zukunft (cross-border family-business succession with Province of Overijssel, through June 2029); iDAPT (feasibility study for a cross-border AI-supported SME innovation platform with Hochschule Saxion); the zdi-BSO-MINT youth STEM program; and Go!Green sustainability reporting advisory. It also operates the Gewerbeflächen- und Immobilienbörse (commercial real estate exchange), the Nachfolge-/Kooperationsbörse (succession and cooperation exchange), and the DigiX digital platform. Strategic partnerships extend across Westfälische Hochschule, FH Münster, Uni Twente, Saxion University, IHK Nord Westfalen, Handwerkskammer Münster, NRW.BANK, Sparkasse Westmünsterland, Volksbank Westmünsterland eG, Agentur für Arbeit Coesfeld, Münsterland e.V., TECH.LAND, and GrensWerk.

Name

Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft für den Kreis Borken mbH

Legal name

WFG für den Kreis Borken mbH

Website

https://wfg-borken.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WFG für den Kreis Borken mbH is the publicly funded municipal economic development corporation for Kreis Borken, North Rhine-Westphalia, providing free startup, business, innovation, broadband, skilled-workforce, and youth-STEM advisory services to SMEs and founders across 17 municipalities, financed by district, state, and EU grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ahaus, Nordrhein-Westfalen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Economic Development Services: WFG für den Kreis Borken mbH operates as a publicly funded economic development corporation (Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft). Its services are provided free of charge to businesses and founders in the Kreis Borken region, funded through public (municipal, state, EU) sources. Revenue is not derived from commercial product/service sales but from public budgets, subsidies, and project grants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WFG für den Kreis Borken mbH is the municipal economic development corporation for the district of Borken in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It provides free advisory and consulting services to startups, SMEs, and established companies across seven core areas: startup consulting, business consulting, innovation consulting, location marketing, broadband infrastructure, skilled workforce security, and youth promotion. The organization manages EU- and state-funded project programs in sustainability, digitalization, robotics, energy, and family business succession, and operates as a one-stop hub connecting regional businesses with public funding, expert consultants, academic partners, and cross-border (Germany-Netherlands) networks.

Product overview

WFG für den Kreis Borken mbH is a regional economic development agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of consulting and support services organized into seven core service areas: Gründungsberatung (start-up consulting), Betriebsberatung (business consulting), Innovationsberatung (innovation consulting), Standortmarketing (location marketing), Breitbandinfrastruktur (broadband infrastructure), Fachkräftesicherung (skilled workforce securing), and Nachwuchsförderung (youth promotion). These core services are supplemented by specialized programs like WFGgoNL for internationalization and WFG TV for video content. The organization manages numerous funded project programs including Ökoprofit (environmental management), Digiscouts (apprentice digitalization), Go!Green (sustainability consulting), Future RobotiX (humanoid robotics), ReNET-EV (energy cooperatives), TOR@Münsterland (resilience tools), and family business support programs. Additionally, the organization operates digital marketplaces for commercial real estate, succession/cooperation exchanges, and the DigiX digital platform. The overall offering is structured as a multi-service consulting organization rather than a unified software product, with services delivered through individual consulting, workshops, events, and project-based collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STARTERCENTER NRW: Certified startup center providing guidance for aspiring entrepreneurs from initial business idea to implementation.
• zdi-Zentrum Kreis Borken
• WFG TV
• Made in Westmünsterland
• Gründungspreis Westmünsterland

Products and services

• Gründungsberatung (Startup Consulting) Consulting services for founders and startups covering business plan development, STARTERCENTER NRW seminars, funding program information, and financing advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the Kreis Borken region.
• Betriebsberatung (Business Consulting) Business consulting for established companies covering enterprise development, succession planning, digitalization, internationalization, sustainability, and crisis moderation.
• Innovationsberatung (Innovation Consulting) Innovation consulting supporting SMEs with technology funding, research allowances (Forschungszulage), knowledge transfer, network facilitation, and visibility for innovation projects.
• Standortmarketing (Location Marketing) Location marketing services including the 'Wirtschaft aktuell' magazine, WFG.TV video platform, social media channels, newsletters, events, and the 'Made in Westmünsterland' regional identity campaign.
• Breitbandinfrastruktur (Broadband Infrastructure) Broadband infrastructure consulting and coordination to expand high-speed internet connectivity in the Kreis Borken region, including broadband strategy and funded fiber-optic buildout.
• Fachkräftesicherung (Skilled Workforce Securing) Skilled workforce retention consulting including school-business networking, career orientation, contemporary HR topics, and support services for HR managers of regional employers.
• Nachwuchsförderung (Youth Promotion) Youth promotion through zdi-Zentrum Kreis Borken, coordinating MINT (STEM) projects, workshops, career orientation programs, and school-business cooperation to foster young talent in the region.
• WFGgoNL (Internationalization Program) Internationalization support program focused on Netherlands market entry and cross-border business development for companies in the Kreis Borken region.
• Gründungspreis Westmünsterland (Startup Award) Annual start-up prize program recognizing outstanding founders and startups in the Westmünsterland region, organized in collaboration with regional partners.
• Go!Green (Sustainability Consulting Program) LEADER-funded project providing free impulse consultations and workshops on corporate climate balance, sustainability concepts, and VSME-standard sustainability reporting for SMEs in the region.
• Ökoprofit (Environmental Management Program) Environmental management program providing individual weakness analyses in energy, materials, waste management, and hazardous substances storage for participating companies.
• Digiscouts (Apprentice Digitalization Program) Program where apprentices identify digitalization potentials in their companies and implement concrete measures as digitalization scouts.
• TOR@Münsterland (Resilience & Technology Scouting) Project developing digital tools including a resilience self-assessment tool and AI-powered technology scouting solution for early identification of technology trends for SMEs.
• Future RobotiX (Humanoid Robotics Project) Interreg VI project developing humanoid robotics solutions for SMEs and skilled trades, with focus on welding, painting, handling/logistics, and crafts.
• ReNET-EV (Regional Energy Cooperatives) Regional network-related energy cooperatives in commercial areas project developing sustainable, economical, and cooperative energy solutions for business parks.
• Familienunternehmen fit für die Zukunft (Family Business Support) Interreg project supporting family businesses with succession, strategy, and future viability through cross-border focus groups and workshops.
• Sustainable Innovation Münsterland Ecosystem project supporting SMEs in sustainable transformation through future-oriented business models and innovation in the Münsterland region.
• iDAPT (Cross-Border Innovation Platform Feasibility Study) Feasibility study for a cross-border innovation platform using AI to help SMEs find contacts, funding, and support for innovation projects across the EUREGIO.
• Grünes Gründen Münsterland Sustainable founding culture project promoting ecologically and socially oriented business ideas in the Münsterland region, with lead partner Münsterland e.V.
• Gewerbeflächen- und Immobilienbörse Commercial real estate exchange platform listing industrial and commercial spaces in Kreis Borken for businesses seeking sites or premises.
• Nachfolge- / Kooperationsbörse Succession and cooperation exchange connecting businesses for succession opportunities and collaborative partnerships in the region.

Named customers13 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Uni Twente (Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Scientific partner in the Future RobotiX Interreg VI project, developing humanoid robotics solutions for SMEs and skilled trades. Along with Westfälische Hochschule, Uni Twente contributes academic research to the four use cases: welding, painting, handling/logistics, and skilled trades.
• Gronfa and GOMA (Netherlands) – companiesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 June 2026Dutch companies participating as direct partners in the Future RobotiX project for the development of humanoid robotics use cases.
• Haake Sicherheitstechnik (Vreden)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 June 2026German company from Vreden participating as a direct partner in the Future RobotiX project, contributing practical expertise for robotics use case development.
• LW Modulbau (Ahaus)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 June 2026German company from Ahaus participating as a direct partner in the Future RobotiX project for humanoid robotics development.
• Provinz Overijssel (Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Dutch provincial government and co-funder of the 'Familiebedrijven – Familienunternehmen fit für die Zukunft' Interreg project, supporting cross-border family business succession and strategy exchange between Germany and the Netherlands.
• RIZM EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Project partner in ReNET-EV, contributing expertise in sustainable and cooperative energy solutions for commercial areas.
• Münsterland e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMünsterland e.V. is the lead partner for the 'Grünes Gründen Münsterland' project and a key strategic partner in multiple initiatives. WFG collaborates with the association on regional economic development projects including Sustainable Innovation Münsterland, Enabling Networks, and other cross-regional programs aimed at strengthening the Münsterland economy.
• NRW.BANKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNRW.BANK collaborates with WFG on startup support and foreign trade promotion. The partnership provides practical tips and information for companies preparing for internationalization, including the MUT – DER GRÜNDUNGSPREIS NRW competition.
• Westfälische Hochschule (Gelsenkirchen, Bocholt, Recklinghausen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Westfälische Hochschule is a key academic partner involved in multiple projects including Smart Region, Future RobotiX, ReNET-EV, iDAPT (with Saxion University of Applied Sciences), and the Effizienz Forum Wirtschaft. The partnership bridges academic research with regional business needs.
• IHK Nord Westfalen (Chamber of Industry and Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHK Nord Westfalen collaborates with WFG on startup monitoring statistics, internationalization support, and joint events such as the 'Made in Westmünsterland' podcast series and entrepreneur breakfasts.
• Handwerkskammer Münster (Chamber of Trades)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Handwerkskammer Münster collaborates with WFG on startup data, skilled trades succession, and joint initiatives such as the Gründungspreis Westmünsterland and the Effizienz Forum Wirtschaft.
• Agentur für Arbeit Coesfeld (Federal Employment Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Agentur für Arbeit Coesfeld works with WFG on workforce development, skilled shortage solutions, and the zdi-BSO-MINT program for youth career orientation, including co-hosting the DIALOG Fachkräftesicherung events.
• Kreishandwerkerschaft BorkencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with WFG on startup support and skilled trades in the Kreis Borken region, contributing data on handcraft registrations and apprenticeship market developments.
• FH Münster (Münster University of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFH Münster is a key research partner in Future RobotiX, ReNET-EV, Sustainable Innovation Münsterland, and the grenzüberschreitende (cross-border) Familienbetriebe project with partners in the Netherlands.
• Sparkasse WestmünsterlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing financial partner of WFG, collaborating on the Gründungspreis Westmünsterland and various regional economic development initiatives.
• Volksbank Westmünsterland eGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with WFG on the GO! Gründungsnetzwerk Kreis Borken and other regional initiatives, contributing to startup and business support.
• TECH.LAND ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWFG is a founding partner of TECH.LAND, a cross-border program connecting private and public actors from Münsterland, Emscher-Lippe region, and Dutch provinces (Overijssel, Gelderland) for innovation in battery research, hydrogen, circular economy, advanced manufacturing/robotics, and health/medical technology.
• Hochschule Saxion (Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHochschule Saxion leads the feasibility study for the iDAPT platform (Innovatieve Transformatie van het MKB in de EUREGIO), a cross-border AI-supported innovation platform for SMEs in the EUREGIO, in partnership with WFG and TechOost.
• Kreis BorkencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKreis Borken (the county government) is the supervisory authority and key institutional partner of WFG, collaborating on broadband infrastructure, ÖKOPROFIT, and broader economic development strategy. Landrat Dr. Kai Zwicker serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
• wfc Wirtschaftsförderung Kreis Coesfeld GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWFG collaborates with wfc Coesfeld on shared events and projects including the KI workshop series 'KI strategisch gestalten', the DIALOG Fachkräftesicherung, and the Effizienz Forum Wirtschaft.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Münster GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Effizienz Forum Wirtschaft, joint events on heat protection, and other regional economic development initiatives.
• gfw - Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung im Kreis Warendorf mbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with WFG on joint events such as the heat protection workshop and other regional economic initiatives.
• WEst GmbH (Wirtschaftsförderung Entwicklungs- und Standortprojekte)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Grünes Gründen Münsterland' project, contributing to sustainable startup culture development in the Münsterland region.
• GrensWerk (Netherlands)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCross-border labor market partnership with the Netherlands, helping Dutch companies access the German labor market and supporting international employment opportunities for workers on both sides of the border.
• Maakwi Campus / Maakwi ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation network and campus in Heek that collaborates with WFG on events, networking, and promoting sustainable innovation in the Westmünsterland region. The Maakwi Campus hosts WFG entrepreneur breakfast events.
• Stadtwerke Bocholt (formerly BEW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal utility company (formerly BEW) accompanying the ReNET-EV project implementation in the I-Park Bocholt pilot area.
• d.velop AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoftware company that has partnered with Gymnasium Remigianum Borken since 2014 in the zdi-BSO-MINT program, providing hands-on software development courses for students that have led to permanent employment relationships.
• Effizienz-Agentur NRW (EFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Effizienz Forum Wirtschaft, bringing expertise in resource efficiency and circular economy to the annual event series.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Agentur für Arbeit Coesfeld: Local branch of the federal employment agency serving the same labor market area as WFG. Direct partner in Fachkräftesicherung and zdi-MINT-BSO programming, making it an adjacent workforce-development counterpart rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Wirtschaftsförderung Münster GmbH: City-level economic development agency for Münster, a co-partner in the Effizienz Forum Wirtschaft and joint events. Same GmbH structure owned by a public-sector entity, delivering overlapping business consulting, innovation, and location marketing services at the city level.
• gfw - Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung im Kreis Warendorf mbH: District-level economic development agency for Kreis Warendorf, listed as a WFG partner on joint events including the heat protection workshop. Same organizational model and service scope, serving an adjacent rural district in NRW.
• wfc Wirtschaftsförderung Kreis Coesfeld GmbH: Adjacent county-level economic development agency explicitly listed as a WFG partner on multiple projects (Effizienz Forum Wirtschaft, KI workshops, DIALOG Fachkräftesicherung). Operates the same Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft model in neighboring Kreis Coesfeld with comparable service portfolio.
• Münsterland e.V. Regional development association for the Münsterland region that collaborates with WFG on Sustainable Innovation, Enabling Networks, and 'Grünes Gründen Münsterland'. Functions as a regional peer/partner aggregator of economic development initiatives across the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• STARTERCENTER NRW: State-wide network of certified startup support centers in North Rhine-Westphalia. WFG is itself a STARTERCENTER NRW-certified entity; the network coordinates startup services across the state and is a natural incumbent/counterpart at the state level.
• NRW.BANK: State development bank of North Rhine-Westphalia, named as a direct WFG partner for foreign trade promotion and the MUT Gründungspreis NRW. Operates at federal-state level rather than district level, but provides overlapping startup and SME support services.
• IHK Nord Westfalen (Industrie- und Handelskammer): Regional Chamber of Industry and Commerce serving the same NRW region as WFG. Co-organizes events like the 'Made in Westmünsterland' podcast and entrepreneur breakfasts, and provides overlapping support services (internationalization, startup data) but under a mandatory membership model rather than free public advisory.
• Handwerkskammer Münster: Regional Chamber of Trades serving the same area. Joint partner with WFG on Gründungspreis Westmünsterland, skilled trades succession, and startup data. Larger, mandatory-membership body with broader portfolio but overlapping SME support mandate.

Regional players

• Effizienz-Agentur NRW (EFA): NRW state-level agency for resource efficiency and circular economy, partner in WFG's Effizienz Forum Wirtschaft. Comparable public-sector advisory model, but state-wide scope focused specifically on sustainability/resource efficiency rather than full-stack economic development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WFGBorken
• Facebookfacebook.com/WFGBorken
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wfg-f%C3%BCr-den-kreis-borken
• Instagraminstagram.com/wfgkreisborken

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft für den Kreis Borken mbH