Wissensfabrik

What Wissensfabrik does

Wissensfabrik – Unternehmen für Deutschland e.V. is a German non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2005 and headquartered in the Ludwigshafen area. It operates a nationwide Mitmach-Netzwerk (participation network) of approximately 130 corporate members and foundations that co-fund and co-deliver practice-oriented MINT (Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Technology) education projects for Kitas, primary, and secondary schools, alongside mentoring programs for startups and university students. Functional specialities include KiTec technology-discovery content for grades 1-4, the IT2School & KI digital-literacy and AI-literacy curriculum for secondary schools, City4Future (a climate-and-urban-planning module co-developed with the Wuppertal Institut and Universität Bamberg), NaWi natural-science projects, School2Startup entrepreneurship education, and Women4MINT role-model programming.

The organization's core technology is a curated content and coordination stack: a portfolio of proprietary, free downloadable project materials, teacher-training programs, an online application and member portal (Meine Wissensfabrik), and a regional coordination layer ("MINT-Hubs") in four German states — Baden-Württemberg (launched October 2023), Sachsen (November 2023), Schleswig-Holstein (September 2022), and Rheinland-Pfalz. Each hub is co-stewarded with the relevant state education ministry and its teacher-training institute (ZSL, IQSH, Pädagogisches Landesinstitut). The startup side runs four mentored formats: WECONOMY (12-month competition with corporate mentors), Speedmentoring, Business2Startup, and Student2Startup, supported by partners including UnternehmerTUM and HHL.

Wissensfabrik runs a community/membership-led go-to-market with three revenue streams: (1) recurring corporate membership fees paid by ~130 companies and foundations (tier structure not publicly disclosed; quote-based), (2) CSR/sponsorship and in-kind contributions from member companies funding educational materials, teacher training, and employee-volunteer mentoring, and (3) ancillary donation and merchandise income (including a Jubiläums-Wein sold through the BASF Weinkeller). All educational projects are provided free of charge to participating schools and Kitas, with the member company funding materials and teacher training in each Bildungspartherschaft. The organization has 11-50 employees distributed across Communications & Marketing, Education, Startup Promotion, Administration, and regional Hub coordination.

Name

Wissensfabrik

Legal name

Wissensfabrik – Unternehmen für Deutschland e.V.

Website

https://wissensfabrik.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wissensfabrik is a German non-profit (e.V.) founded in 2005 that runs a nationwide network of ~130 companies and foundations funding free MINT (STEM) education projects in Kitas and schools, plus startup mentoring programs, coordinated through regional MINT-Hubs in four German states in partnership with state education ministries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education and Startup Support Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM), Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Corporate CSR networks
• School-company partnerships
• Startup mentoring platforms
• Nonprofit education networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Ludwigshafen

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. Corporate Membership Fees: Around 130 companies and foundations pay membership fees to join the Wissensfabrik network. Membership fees fund the coordination of educational projects, the Geschäftsstelle operations, and the development of new program formats. Fees vary by company size and engagement level.
2. CSR / Sponsorship Contributions from Member Companies: Member companies and corporate foundations provide financial sponsorship for the MINT education projects. Companies fund educational materials, teacher training, and project delivery as part of their CSR strategies. This also includes in-kind support through employee volunteering as mentors.
3. Donations: Individual donations are accepted to support MINT education and startup promotion, as evidenced by the dedicated donation page on the website.
4. Jubiläums-Wein Sales: A commemorative Sauvignac wine is sold through the BASF Weinkeller as a limited-edition product, with proceeds supporting the Wissensfabrik's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Wissensfabrik is a non-profit association that operates a nationwide network of ~130 companies and foundations delivering free, practice-oriented MINT education projects to schools and kindergartens, and providing startup mentoring programs. Educational offerings include KiTec, IT2School & KI, City4Future, NaWi, School2Startup, and Women4MINT, executed through Bildungsparnerschaften that pair corporate members with educational institutions across four regional MINT-Hubs. Startup-side offerings include WECONOMY, Speedmentoring, Business2Startup, and Student2Startup.

Product overview

Wissensfabrik is a non-profit network organization (e.V.) that operates as a platform of educational programs and startup support initiatives. The portfolio consists of multiple distinct project brands: KiTec (technology discovery for elementary schools), IT2School with optional AI modules (IT education for secondary schools), City4Future (climate-friendly city planning), NaWi (natural sciences), School2Startup (entrepreneurship education), and Women4MINT (female role model program). On the startup side, offerings include WECONOMY competition, Speedmentoring, Business2Startup, and Student2Startup mentorship programs. The MINT-Hub regional structure provides local coordination in four German states (Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein). The programs are offered free of charge to schools and are funded through member company partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WECONOMY: Startup competition and mentoring program of the Wissensfabrik
• Speedmentoring
• Business2Startup
• Student2Startup
• KiTec
• KiTec Digital
• IT2School
• IT2School & KI
• City4Future
• NaWi – geht das?
• School2Startup
• Women4MINT

Products and services

• KiTec – Kinder entdecken Technik Hands-on technology discovery program for Kitas and primary schools (grades 1-4) where children learn engineering principles by building bridges, simple machines, and similar projects, delivered free of charge through corporate-school Bildungsparnerschaften.
• IT2School – Gemeinsam IT entdecken (with AI modules) Project-based IT and computer science program for secondary schools that teaches programming with Calliope mini-computers, algorithmic thinking, data handling, AI concepts, and digital media literacy, provided free of charge through the MINT-Hubs and Bildungsparnerschaften.
• City4Future – Entwickle deine klimafreundliche Stadt der Zukunft Module-based project where students develop concepts for climate-friendly cities, integrating energy transition, mobility, and urban planning with MINT and democratic education, co-developed with the Wuppertal Institut and University of Bamberg.
• NaWi – geht das? Natural science discovery program for primary schools in which children explore scientific phenomena through hands-on experiments, delivered through corporate Bildungsparnerschaften and the MINT-Hub Rheinland-Pfalz.
• School2Startup Entrepreneurship education program with modules covering business simulation games, economics fundamentals, and student-led company founding, designed for grades 3 through secondary level and bridging into the startup mentoring programs.
• WECONOMY Flagship annual startup competition and 12-month mentoring program that pairs student founders and early-stage startups with experienced business mentors from Wissensfabrik's corporate member companies, culminating in pitch events and networking opportunities.
• Speedmentoring Rapid mentoring format where startup founders hold a series of short sessions with multiple experienced professionals from member companies to receive quick feedback and broaden their corporate networks.
• Business2Startup Mentoring program pairing established-business professionals from member companies with startups for structured knowledge transfer, industry insight, and potential pilot-customer introductions.
• Student2Startup Program connecting university students with startup mentors to expose them to entrepreneurship, build entrepreneurial thinking, and create pathways into the startup ecosystem.
• Women4MINT – Berufsvorbilder im Unterricht Classroom program that brings female MINT professionals from member companies into schools as role models to inspire girls and young women to pursue STEM careers.
• Smart-City-Workshop to go Interactive workshop kit for corporate members that guides students through designing a sustainable smart city, with materials, guidelines, and facilitation support provided by Wissensfabrik.
• Sonderpreis Unternehmertum (Jugend forscht) Award program that grants the Entrepreneurship Special Prize (Sonderpreis Unternehmertum) at regional Jugend forscht competitions to young researchers whose projects show commercial potential, active since 2015.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70 Saxon schools reached with MINT projects since November 2023; target of up to 150 schools in two years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• SAP Young ThinkerscoreTechnology or IntegrationSAP Young Thinkers is a partner providing technology education resources and support to the Wissensfabrik network, contributing to the digital literacy and IT education mission of IT2School and related projects.
• BASF SEflagshipOthersBASF is a founding member of Wissensfabrik and a major supporter of multiple MINT projects. BASF funds educational materials, hosts company visits, and provides the BASF Weinkeller for the Jubiläums-Wein initiative. BASF also supports NaWi in the MINT-Hub Rheinland-Pfalz.
• Code your Life / CalliopecoreTechnology or IntegrationCode your Life and Calliope provide the programming platforms and educational content used in IT2School projects where students program Calliope mini-computers to learn algorithmic thinking and coding.
• IQSH – Institut für Qualitätsentwicklung an Schulen Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIQSH is the state institute for school quality development in Schleswig-Holstein. It collaborates with the MINT-Hub Schleswig-Holstein to provide IT2School training for teachers and coordinate school participation across the state.
• Pädagogisches Landesinstitut Rheinland-PfalzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Pädagogisches Landesinstitut provides teacher training and coordinates the MINT-Hub Rheinland-Pfalz, integrating Wissensfabrik projects (KiTec, IT2School, City4Future, NaWi) into the state's educational offerings.
• ZSL – Zentrum für Schulqualität und Lehrerbildung Baden-WürttembergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZSL serves as the state center for school quality and teacher training in Baden-Württemberg, providing ZSL-Landeskoordinatoren for IT2School and coordinating the MINT-Hub Baden-Württemberg alongside Wissensfabrik.
• SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT Baden-WürttembergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCHULEWIRTSCHAFT BW collaborates with the MINT-Hub Baden-Württemberg to connect member companies with schools and facilitate Bildungsparnershipen across the state.
• Sächsisches Staatsministerium für KultusflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Saxon State Ministry of Culture is a key partner in the MINT-Hub Sachsen, co-signing the cooperation agreement in November 2023 and promoting IT2School and City4Future to all secondary schools in Saxony.
• SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT SachsencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCHULEWIRTSCHAFT Sachsen co-signed the MINT-Hub Sachsen agreement and works to connect Saxon companies with schools for Bildungsparnershipen.
• Beisheim StiftungcoreOthersThe Beisheim Stiftung is a major financial supporter of the MINT-Hub Sachsen, contributing funding alongside the Saxon Kultusministerium, SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT Sachsen, and Wissensfabrik.
• Teach First Deutschland / Paper.PlanecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeach First Deutschland, through its Paper.Plane program, provides trained Lernbegleitungen (learning facilitators) who support schools in Saxony implementing Wissensfabrik projects, qualifying and placing facilitators as part of the MINT-Hub Sachsen.
• Bosch – Robert Bosch GmbHcoreOthersBosch is an active member supporting multiple Wissensfabrik projects, including KiTec workshops in schools (e.g., Bosch in Salzgitter hosting Grundschulkinder) and providing employee volunteers as mentors and workshop facilitators.
• Infineon Technologies AGcoreOthersInfineon Dresden is an active partner in the MINT-Hub Sachsen, providing workshops at the 82. Oberschule Dresden-Klotzsche including LEGO chip modeling, sensor building, virtual cleanroom tours, and career orientation for students.
• Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaAminorOthersDräger is an active member company of Wissensfabrik with representatives involved in governance and project support activities.
• Voith GmbH & Co. KGaAminorOthersVoith is a member company of Wissensfabrik supporting social responsibility and education initiatives.
• Brenntag SEminorOthersBrenntag is a member company of Wissensfabrik.
• LBBW – Landesbank Baden-WürttembergminorOthersLBBW hosted the WECONOMY 2024 closing event and supports Wissensfabrik's startup promotion activities as a member.
• Herrenknecht AGcoreOthersHerrenknecht launched its first Bildungsparnerschaft in the MINT-Hub Baden-Württemberg with the Bärbelvon-Ottenheim-Schule in Schwanau, supporting IT2School implementation with employee volunteers.
• Jungheinrich Vertrieb Deutschland AG & Co. KGminorOthersJungheinrich supports digital education through the IT2School project, strengthening digital literacy among students.
• Stiftung Kinder ForschenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStiftung Kinder Forschen collaborates with Wissensfabrik on early childhood MINT education initiatives.
• acatech – Deutsche Akademie der Technischen WissenschaftenminorOthersacatech is a cooperation partner contributing to the Wissensfabrik network's mission to strengthen technical sciences education in Germany.
• Wuppertal InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wuppertal Institut co-developed the City4Future project with Wissensfabrik, contributing research expertise on climate, sustainability, and urban development to the educational content.
• Universität BambergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Bamberg co-developed the City4Future project and provides ongoing academic support, including participation in the City4Future Hackathon in Mittweida.
• Zeiss Innovation Hub (Carl Zeiss AG)minorOthersThe Zeiss Innovation Hub in Karlsruhe hosted an IT2School robotics challenge where students programmed Calliope bots, demonstrating corporate support for hands-on tech education.
• UnternehmerTUM GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnternehmerTUM, Germany's largest center for entrepreneurship, collaborates with Wissensfabrik on startup mentoring programs and supports the WECONOMY program with experienced entrepreneurs as mentors.
• Zollhof Tech IncubatorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZollhof Tech Incubator is a cooperation partner of Wissensfabrik, connecting startup founders with the Wissensfabrik mentoring ecosystem.
• HighTech GründerFondsminorOthersHighTech GründerFonds is a cooperation partner providing venture capital perspective and expertise to the Wissensfabrik startup ecosystem.
• Volksbank Mittweida eGminorOthersVolksbank Mittweida supports the MINT-Hub Sachsen as a Bildungsparrtner of the Oberschule Mittweida, enabling City4Future projects and hackathons in the region.
• Karlshochschule International UniversityminorOthersKarlshochschule International University is a cooperation partner contributing academic expertise to the Wissensfabrik network.
• Jugend forscht e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWissensfabrik sponsors the 'Sonderpreis Unternehmertum' (Entrepreneurship Special Prize) at regional Jugend forscht competitions since 2015, inspiring young researchers to consider commercializing their innovations.
• Fraunhofer-GesellschaftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer is a cooperation partner contributing research and technology expertise to the Wissensfabrik network.
• HHL Leipzig Graduate School of ManagementminorOthersHHL contributes to the Wissensfabrik startup ecosystem through its Gründerinnen Initiative, supporting female entrepreneurship mentorship.
• RWTH Aachen UniversityminorOthersRWTH Aachen University is listed as a cooperation partner of Wissensfabrik.
• Experimenta gGmbH (Science Center)minorOthersExperimenta, the science center in Heilbronn, is a cooperation partner supporting hands-on science education in alignment with Wissensfabrik projects.
• MINTvernetztminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMINTvernetzt is a cooperation partner working on MINT education coordination at the national level.
• Dieter von Holtzbrinck StiftungminorOthersDieter von Holtzbrinck Stiftung supports the IT2School project and is a member of the Wissensfabrik network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• acatech – Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften: National academy of technical sciences and listed Wissensfabrik cooperation partner; overlaps in advocating STEM literacy, talent pipeline development, and policy engagement around Germany's technical workforce.
• Haus der kleinen Forscher: Foundation running early-childhood STEM education programs at Kitas and primary schools across Germany, overlapping with Wissensfabrik's KiTec and NaWi target segments and value proposition.
• Teach First Deutschland: Nonprofit deploying Fellows (Lernbegleitungen) into disadvantaged schools; partners with Wissensfabrik on MINT-Hub Sachsen project delivery and addresses the same education-equity and teacher-capacity gap in Germany.
• MINTvernetzt: National MINT education coordination network listed as Wissensfabrik's cooperation partner; operates in the same STEM-education-for-schools space with similar national coordination ambitions.
• Jugend forscht e.V. National STEM youth competition foundation with which Wissensfabrik co-runs the Sonderpreis Unternehmertum since 2015; directly comparable as a STEM-talent-pipeline nonprofit operating across German schools.
• Stiftung Kinder Forschen: German foundation promoting STEM education in early childhood (Kitas and primary schools), directly overlapping with Wissensfabrik's KiTec and NaWi programs for the same target audience of educators and children.
• UnternehmerTUM: Germany's largest entrepreneurship center, a strategic partner supplying mentors for Wissensfabrik's WECONOMY program; directly comparable as a startup-corporate bridging platform serving the same founder audience.
• SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT: Network of school-business partnerships active at state level (e.g., SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT BW, Sachsen) and a direct co-governance partner in Wissensfabrik's MINT-Hubs, addressing the same school-corporate matchmaking function.

Broad incumbents

• Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft: Larger umbrella association of German foundations and corporate donors funding education and innovation; broader in scope than Wissensfabrik but materially comparable in connecting corporate philanthropy with education-system programs.
• Bundesverband Deutsche Startups: German startup association that overlaps with Wissensfabrik's WECONOMY/Speedmentoring programs in serving founders, though it focuses on policy advocacy and ecosystem coordination rather than education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wissensfabrik
• Facebookfacebook.com/wissensfabrik.deutschland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wissensfabrik
• Instagraminstagram.com/wissensfabrik_de/?hl=de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Wissensfabrik