Verband Der Grunder Und Selbststandigen Deutschland

What Verband Der Grunder Und Selbststandigen Deutschland does

VGSD (Verband der Gründer und Selbstständigen Deutschland) is a non-profit membership association (eingetragener Verein, e.V.) founded in 2012 and headquartered in Munich, Germany. It represents founders, solo self-employed professionals (Selbstständige), and small businesses with fewer than 10 employees in German policy and public discourse. As of 28 June 2026 the organisation reported approximately 21,035 members, comprising 5,337 paid Vereins-Mitglieder and 15,698 free Community-Mitglieder, supported by roughly 10 staff. Chairman Dr. Andreas Lutz has led the association since its founding and serves as spokesperson of the BAGSV (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Selbstständigenverbände), giving the organisation formal standing in federal consultations on Selbstständige policy.

The association's core offerings include monthly Expert-Talks, a podcast, a Q&A forum hosting over 3,279 questions, 20 Regionalgruppen (regional and industry groups), fee-based online seminars (e.g., the ETF-Sprinter-Team course priced from €449), an annual Netzwerktag (tickets from €319), a member directory, and the monthly VGSD-Jimdo-ifo Geschäftsklimaindex produced jointly with Jimdo and the ifo Institut. Operations run on a web-based association management platform that integrates CRM, email marketing, and event ticketing, with paperless back-office workflows and standard web analytics (Google Analytics, Hotjar). Distribution is direct-to-member via the VGSD website, supported by approximately 200 events per year reaching 20,000+ participants cumulatively.

Revenue derives from three streams: annual membership fees, paid online seminars, and event ticket sales, with commercial activity housed in a wholly-owned subsidiary, VGSD Service GmbH, that operates alongside the non-profit parent. The association is funded primarily through member dues, à la carte seminar fees, and event revenue; it is not venture-backed and does not disclose revenue. Tangible policy outputs — most recently the 2026 Altersvorsorge-Depot reform — and AI-themed community programming (KI-Lokal group, Expert-Talks on KI-Agenten, a designated KI-Mentor role) round out the activity set, though AI is positioned as content rather than as proprietary technology.

Name

Verband Der Grunder Und Selbststandigen Deutschland

Legal name

Verband der Gründer und Selbstständigen Deutschland e.V.

Website

https://vgsd.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Non-profit membership association founded in 2012 in Munich, Germany, representing founders, solo self-employed professionals, and small businesses under 10 employees through political advocacy, expert talks, networking groups, fee-based seminars, and a monthly business climate index.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vereins-Mitgliedschaft (Association Membership): Paid membership fees for Vereins-Mitglieder (association members) who receive full access to expert talk recordings, exclusive content, and additional benefits beyond the free community membership.
2. Seminars and Online Courses: Revenue from fee-based seminars and online courses such as the ETF-Sprinter-Team course priced from €449, offering retirement planning education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VGSD is a registered non-profit association (e.V.) that represents founders, solo self-employed professionals, freelancers, and small businesses (under 10 employees) in Germany, providing political advocacy, networking, expert education, and member services. Core offerings center on a two-tier membership model: a free Community-Mitgliedschaft and a paid Vereins-Mitgliedschaft, combined with access to expert talks, a Q&A community (Frag den VGSD), a podcast, regional and industry groups, fee-based seminars (e.g., ETF-Sprinter-Team from €449), and the monthly Jimdo-ifo Geschäftsklimaindex.

Product overview

The Verband der Gründer und Selbstständigen Deutschland (VGSD) is a membership-based advocacy and networking association founded in 2012 for founders, solo self-employed, and small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. The core offering consists of two membership tiers: a free Community-Mitgliedschaft and a paid Vereinsmitgliedschaft. Association members gain access to a library of Expert-Talk recordings (live video sessions on topics from marketing to law and AI), the VGSD Story Podcast (biweekly member interview series), and the Frag den VGSD Q&A knowledge platform with over 3,200 answered questions. The VGSD organizes 20 Regional- und Branchengruppen for peer networking and hosts an annual Netzwerktag combining barcamp and rotating dinner formats. Fee-based Online-Seminare on retirement planning and other topics are offered as premium add-ons. The association also publishes the monthly Jimdo-ifo Geschäftsklimaindex (business climate index) for solo enterprises and maintains a public member directory (Branchenprofile) showcasing individual members' expertise and services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VGSD Vereinsmitgliedschaft (Paid Association Membership) Full-fee association membership granting access to expert talk recordings, member directory, networking groups, and advocacy representation for founders and self-employed individuals in Germany.
• VGSD Community-Mitgliedschaft (Free Community Membership) Free community membership providing access to the knowledge Q&A platform (Frag den VGSD), newsletter, and community discussion forums.
• VGSD Expert-Talks Live and recorded video sessions featuring expert speakers on topics including marketing, law, tax, AI, self-management, social media, tools, and founding topics, with recordings available to association members.
• VGSD Story Podcast Biweekly interview-style podcast featuring stories of VGSD members, their paths to self-employment, challenges, and lessons learned; publicly available with full episode archives for members.
• Frag den VGSD (Member Q&A Community) Member-driven question-and-answer platform where self-employed members ask, vote on, and answer each other's professional questions; 3,279 questions asked with 94% receiving at least one answer and 57% answered within 24 hours.
• VGSD Regional- und Branchengruppen (Regional and Industry Groups) Network of 20 regional groups (e.g., Berlin-Brandenburg, München, Düsseldorf) and branch groups (e.g., Coaches/Berater/Trainer, Marketing, KI lokal) organizing regular meetups, walk-and-talks, and virtual sessions for peer networking.
• VGSD Online-Seminare (e.g., ETF-Sprinter-Team) Fee-based online training programs for members, such as the ETF-Sprinter-Team course on retirement planning (from €449), providing structured learning on financial topics for self-employed individuals.
• VGSD Netzwerktag (Annual Networking Event) Annual in-person networking event combining barcamp sessions, rotating dinners, and knowledge exchange, with tickets from €319 for association members.
• VGSD-Branchenprofile (Member Directory) Public-facing member profiles showcasing individual self-employed members' expertise, services, contact details, and special offers, functioning as a business directory for members.
• Jimdo-ifo Geschäftsklimaindex (Business Climate Index) Monthly business climate survey and index for solo and micro enterprises in Germany, conducted by ifo Institute and Jimdo with VGSD member participation, published monthly with breakdowns by sector and branch.

Quantifiable outcome

• GKV minimum contributions reduced from €430 to €190 per month (56% savings), saving self-employed individuals €750 million per year since 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• JimdocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Jimdo, a website building platform, partnered with VGSD and the ifo Institut to develop and publish a monthly business climate index specifically for solo self-employed and micro-enterprises. This collaboration, initiated by Jimdo CEO Matthias Henze, provides unique economic data on Germany's self-employed sector that is reported widely in the media and influences economic policy discussions. The partnership includes regular press releases and joint visibility campaigns.
• ifo InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The ifo Institut (Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich) partnered with VGSD and Jimdo to expand its flagship business climate survey to include solo self-employed and micro-enterprises (up to 4 employees). Since November 2021, the Jimdo-ifo Geschäftsklimaindex provides monthly data on the economic situation of Germany's self-employed, with VGSD promoting panel participation among its members. The index is cited widely in German media and political discourse.
• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Selbstständigenverbände (BAGSV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017VGSD is a member of BAGSV, the Federal Working Group of Self-Employed Associations, which coordinates the political interests of independent professionals at the federal level. VGSD's chairman Dr. Andreas Lutz has served as BAGSV spokesperson since 2017 alongside Victoria Ringleb. BAGSV enables VGSD to participate in formal government consultations, parliamentary events, and coordinated lobbying efforts on issues affecting self-employed, such as pension reform and status determination.
• Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft (vbw)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVGSD works with vbw (Association of Bavarian Business) through BAGSV on issues of shared concern such as reducing bureaucracy and improving conditions for small businesses. The collaboration involves joint positions and shared advocacy on economic policy matters.
• IW Köln (Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVGSD collaborates with IW Köln on research about solo self-employed. In 2023, IW Köln published a study on solo self-employed as 'catalysts of digital transformation' commissioned by VGSD, providing economic data on their contribution to German businesses.
• DIW Berlin (Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVGSD works with DIW Berlin on economic research related to self-employed and small businesses, helping create valid data and a better understanding of the living reality of self-employed individuals.
• ZEW (Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVGSD collaborates with ZEW on economic research related to self-employment and small business conditions, supporting evidence-based policy advocacy.
• WISO MeinBürominorGTM or Marketing PartnerWISO MeinBüro is listed as a cooperation partner on VGSD's website, providing business software solutions to VGSD members.
• exali.deminorGTM or Marketing Partnerexali.de is listed as a cooperation partner on VGSD's website, providing professional liability insurance solutions to VGSD members.
• VGSD Service GmbHcoreOthersVGSD Service GmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary (100%) of VGSD e.V. with identical management. It co-operates the website and provides operational services to the association.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Deutscher Steuerberaterverband (DStV): National professional association of tax advisors in Germany. Comparable as a fee-paying professional membership body that lobbies on regulatory matters relevant to its self-employed members.
• Bundesverband der Freien Berufe (BFB): Federation of Liberal Professions in Germany representing freelancers and liberal professionals (doctors, lawyers, architects). Closest comparable peer — both advocate politically for self-employed professionals in Germany and provide member services.
• Bundesverband Deutscher Unternehmensberater (BDU): German professional association for management consultants. VGSD's largest industry group (Coaching, Training und Beratung) overlaps directly with BDU's constituency, and both organizations provide networking, advocacy, and continuing education to consultants.

Others

• Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft (vbw): Bavarian employers' and industry association. Existing VGSD partner via BAGSV; thematically comparable as a regional business membership body engaged in political advocacy on economic and labor issues.

Broad incumbents

• Bitkom: Germany's largest digital industry association. Overlaps with VGSD's IT-Selbstständige segment (described as VGSD's largest sub-group) and competes for the same freelance tech worker members, though Bitkom also serves corporates and is far larger.
• Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag (DIHK): Umbrella of the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, providing services and political representation to businesses including the self-employed. A much larger incumbent with overlapping member interests but broader remit.
• Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie (BDI): Federation of German Industries — the principal lobby for German industrial interests. Engages BAGSV and other self-employed associations on overlapping regulatory issues, representing a broader incumbent voice that VGSD engages with but cannot match in scale.

Regional players

• Freelancers Union: US-based nonprofit organization representing independent workers, offering benefits, advocacy, and community. Comparable mission of building collective voice and services for independent workers in a different market.
• IPSE (Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed): UK-based association representing freelancers, contractors, and the self-employed. Closest international peer in mission and structure, though operating in a different regulatory and market context.
• National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE): US-based membership organization for self-employed and micro-business owners. Similar membership-fee-funded model advocating for policy benefits relevant to small operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/vgsdev
• Facebookfacebook.com/vgsd.ev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vgsd-ev
• Instagraminstagram.com/VGSD.ev
• Xx.com/VGSDeV

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Verband Der Grunder Und Selbststandigen Deutschland