Wirtschaftsregion Sudwest Gmbh

What Wirtschaftsregion Sudwest Gmbh does

Wirtschaftsregion Südwest GmbH (WSW) is the public-private economic development corporation (Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft) for the Landkreise Lörrach and Waldshut in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1996 and registered as a GmbH at Amtsgericht Freiburg (HRB 412642), WSW identifies future-oriented themes and trends for municipalities and businesses, initiates and develops regional projects, and builds networks to advance the competitiveness and sustainability of the High Rhine (Hochrhein) economic region. Its offerings are structured as a portfolio of programs rather than a unified software product: networking event series (Unternehmertreff, Wirtschaftsgespräche Südwest), webinar formats (Zukunft.Dialog, 8 nach 8), workforce attraction networks (SüdWestWork, HOHOHO.work), innovation and digitalization projects (Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald, RegioWIN, connect Dreiländereck), consulting services for companies/municipalities/investors, and a triannual newsletter.

The organization does not operate a commercial technology product; its digital footprint runs on standard infrastructure (Redaxo CMS, DomainFactory hosting, CleverReach newsletter, Zoom/Teams/Webex for virtual events). Its technology-facing value-add is as a convener and amplifier: it brings partner-implemented innovations such as the Appbude AI Voice Agent and AI/digitalization programming to its regional SME audience through events and subsidized consulting via the Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald RegioWIN project. All advisory and networking services are provided free of charge to end users.

WSW is funded through contributions from 46 shareholders — municipalities across both districts, the two county governments, five savings banks, chambers of commerce and crafts, energy companies, and educational institutions including DHBW Lörrach. The shareholder base has expanded from 34 at founding to 46 in 2026. Operating from offices in Lörrach (HQ at the Innocel Innovations-Center) and Waldshut-Tiengen, the agency is led by Managing Director Alexander Maas under the chairmanship of Lörrach's Mayor Jörg Lutz, with a small professional team that includes marketing, community management, and district economic officers.

Name

Wirtschaftsregion Sudwest Gmbh

Legal name

Wirtschaftsregion Südwest GmbH

Website

https://wsw.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wirtschaftsregion Südwest GmbH (WSW) is the public-private economic development corporation for the German districts of Lörrach and Waldshut, funded by 46 shareholder municipalities and institutions. It delivers free networking events, consulting, and innovation/digitalization programs to regional companies, municipalities, and investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lörrach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership / Shareholder Contributions: WSW is funded through contributions from its 46 shareholders — municipalities, counties, savings banks, chambers of commerce, and other regional institutions. The company does not charge companies or municipalities for its advisory and networking services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

WSW is the regional economic development agency (Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft) for the districts of Lörrach and Waldshut in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It identifies future-oriented trends for municipalities and companies, initiates and develops projects, and builds networks to advance the regional economy. Services include free advisory and consulting for businesses, municipalities, and investors; commercial property mediation; networking events and webinars; innovation and digitalization initiatives; and skilled-labor attraction campaigns.

Product overview

Wirtschaftsregion Südwest GmbH (WSW) is a regional economic development agency (Wirtschaftsförderung) serving the districts of Lörrach and Waldshut in Germany, not a traditional software product company. Its portfolio consists of networking event series (Unternehmertreff, Wirtschaftsgespräche Südwest), webinar formats (Zukunft.Dialog, 8 nach 8), workforce initiatives (SüdWestWork, HOHOHO.work), innovation support projects (Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald, RegioWIN, connect Dreiländereck), consulting services for businesses/municipalities/investors, and communication tools (WSW-Newsletter). The core offering is regional economic promotion through connection-building, information sharing, and funding support rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SüdWestWork: A partner network for recruiting and retaining skilled workers in the Landkreis Lörrach.
• HOHOHO.work
• Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald
• Unternehmertreff
• Wirtschaftsgespräche Südwest
• connect Dreiländereck
• RegioWIN

Products and services

• Unternehmertreff Networking event series that brings together entrepreneurs, institutions, and organizations from the districts of Lörrach and Waldshut, featuring impulse lectures and networking apéros. Targeted at regional business decision-makers.
• Wirtschaftsgespräche Südwest Annual business conference organized in cooperation with the districts of Lörrach and Waldshut, bringing new impulses to the region and offering a platform for networking among owners and decision-makers of regional companies.
• Zukunft.Dialog Monthly webinar series providing compact insights into current topics and trends around digitalization, technology, and future design. Each episode features a short impulse lecture followed by Q&A.
• 8 nach 8 (connect Dreiländereck) Monthly short webinar series organized by the connect Dreiländereck initiative, featuring 15-20 minute presentations on IT and digitalization topics followed by Q&A.
• SüdWestWork Partner network for recruitment and retention of skilled workers in Landkreis Lörrach. Unites companies, institutions, and municipalities to promote the region as an attractive place to live and work.
• HOHOHO.work Initiative for recruitment and retention of workers and skilled professionals for Landkreis Waldshut. Works with network partners including companies, institutions, and municipalities to establish the region as an attractive employment, living, and education location.
• Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald (ZRS) RegioWIN project providing subsidized consulting for SMEs on innovation, transformation, and sustainability. Offers support for energy efficiency, digitalization, and AI implementation through open consultation hours across the region.
• connect Dreiländereck Regional initiative for IT and digitalization awareness targeting companies, institutions, and municipalities from the districts of Lörrach and Waldshut. Offers a platform for experience exchange and networking, with a current focus on cybersecurity.
• RegioWIN Regional funding and development program supporting innovation and sustainable economic development in rural areas.
• Service für Unternehmen Business consulting services supporting existing and new companies quickly and unbureaucratically with property mediation, networking, cooperation facilitation, and bureaucratic assistance.
• Service für Kommunen Municipal service package providing economic development support tailored to the needs of local communities.
• Service für Investoren Investor support services including property and commercial space mediation, cooperation with networks and clusters, and connections to authorities.
• WSW-Newsletter Triannual newsletter providing updates on regional economic news, networks, projects, events, and available commercial spaces. Distributed three times yearly via CleverReach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grew from 34 shareholders at founding to 46 shareholders by 2026, adding 12 municipalities and 1 savings bank in 7 years

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Landkreis LörrachcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026County government and primary shareholder of WSW. Co-finances WSW operations and participates in joint economic development initiatives including the Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald project and the annual Wirtschaftsgespräche Südwest event.
• Landkreis WaldshutcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026County government and primary shareholder of WSW. Co-finances WSW operations and collaborates on cross-county economic strategy, skilled labor initiatives, and the HOHOHO.work workforce attraction campaign.
• BadenCampusmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026BadenCampus expanded to Lörrach in 2026 through a strategic alliance with WFL Wirtschaftsförderung Lörrach GmbH and WSW. Located in the Innocel Innovations-Center, it provides an access point for companies in both districts for digitalization, AI, and transformation support.
• WFL Wirtschaftsförderung Lörrach GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Economic development agency for the city of Lörrach. WSW cooperates with WFL on joint projects including the BadenCampus alliance, the connect Dreiländereck IT initiative, and the AI Voice Agent project. Both organizations serve overlapping geographic areas with complementary mandates.
• connect DreiländereckmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Regional initiative (jointly run by DHBW Lörrach, Handwerkskammer Freiburg, Handwerkskammer Konstanz, IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee, WFL, and WSW) that sensitizes companies, institutions, and municipalities on IT and digitalization topics, with a current focus on cybersecurity. Runs the monthly '8nach8' webinar series and connect Highlights events.
• DHBW LörrachmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Dual University of Applied Sciences (Lörrach campus) is a WSW shareholder. Cooperates on the connect Dreiländereck initiative and provides academic expertise and student talent pipelines to regional companies via WSW programming.
• IHK Hochrhein-BodenseecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a shareholder of WSW. Provides expertise on innovation funding, SME support, infrastructure, and internationalization. Co-organizes events and contributes expert speakers to WSW programs.
• Handwerkskammer FreiburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Chamber of Crafts (Freiburg) is a WSW shareholder, contributing expertise on skilled trades, training, SME digitalization, and cybersecurity for small businesses through WSW events.
• Handwerkskammer KonstanzcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Chamber of Crafts (Konstanz) is a WSW shareholder, contributing expertise on skilled trades, training, and IT security for small companies to WSW programming.
• Sparkasse HochrheincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996One of five savings bank shareholders in WSW. Sponsors the Unternehmertreff events and provides expert presentations on corporate finance, succession planning, and funding programs at WSW events.
• Sparkasse Lörrach-RheinfeldencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Savings bank shareholder providing financial expertise and sponsorship at WSW events. Participates in the Unternehmertreff series and provides presentations on corporate succession and SME financing.
• Sparkasse MarkgräflerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Savings bank shareholder active in WSW's Unternehmertreff and Wirtschaftsgespräche Südwest events, contributing expertise on transformation, sustainability, and SME financing.
• Sparkasse St. BlasiencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Savings bank shareholder serving the St. Blasien area, contributing to WSW events and providing corporate succession planning expertise.
• Sparkasse WiesentalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Savings bank shareholder active in the Wiesental sub-region, sponsoring and presenting at WSW events covering business transformation and SME support.
• Energieagentur Südwest GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy agency partner that provides neutral and free resource efficiency checks (KEFF checks) for companies, presented regularly at WSW's Unternehmertreff events. Also contributes to the Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald project.
• Agentur für Arbeit (Employment Agency) Lörrach and WaldshutmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German Federal Employment Agency collaborates with WSW on workforce development initiatives, presenting the 'Diamant im Unternehmen' (training support) program and the Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz (skilled immigration law) at WSW events.
• HOHOHO.work InitiativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew initiative (launched 2024-2025) for the recruitment and retention of skilled workers in the Waldshut district. Jointly run by WSW with companies, institutions, and municipalities in the Waldshut area, promoting the region as an attractive place to live and work.
• SüdWestWork / Partnernetzwerk Landkreis LörrachmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkilled labor attraction and retention network for the Lörrach district, similar to HOHOHO.work for Waldshut. A WSW-coordinated initiative bringing together companies, institutions, and municipalities to promote work-life balance, childcare, and regional attractiveness.
• Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald (ZRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship RegioWIN co-funded project that operates multiple open consultation offices ('Zukunft.Räume') across both districts, offering free advice on innovation funding, energy efficiency, digitalization, and AI to regional SMEs. Managed by WSW with community managers in both districts.
• badenovaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy company and WSW shareholder contributing to sustainability and energy transition discussions in the region.
• naturenergie hochrhein AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional energy provider and WSW shareholder based in Rheinfelden (Baden), contributing to energy and sustainability topics.
• 46 Municipal ShareholderscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner46 municipalities across the Lörrach and Waldshut districts are shareholders of WSW, including the cities of Lörrach, Rheinfelden (Baden), Weil am Rhein, Waldshut-Tiengen, Bad Säckingen, Schopfheim, Zell im Wiesental, Todtnau, Schönau im Schwarzwald, St. Blasien, and Wehr, plus smaller municipalities such as Bernau im Schwarzwald, Grenzach-Wyhlen, Jestetten, Klettgau, Lauchringen, Murg, Lottstetten, Maulburg, Schliengen, Schwörstadt, Weilheim, Wutöschingen, Steinen, Grafenhausen, Höchenschwand, Bad Bellingen, Kandern, Ibach, Efringen-Kirchen, Binzen, Hausen im Wiesental, and Stühlingen (46th shareholder, joined 2026).

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH: Berlin's federally/state-funded economic development and inward investment agency. Comparable business model (public-private GmbH delivering investor services, location marketing, and SME programs) but at city-state scale.
• NRW.INVEST GmbH: State-level economic development agency for North Rhine-Westphalia. Comparable in providing site selection, investor services, and cluster support; operates at state scale with similar mixed public funding model.
• Hamburg Invest Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft mbH: Hamburg's municipal economic development corporation. Same legal form (GmbH) and mandate (investor acquisition, SME support, cluster development) as WSW, but operating at major-city scale.
• Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH: State-owned economic development agency for Hesse. Directly comparable business model (public GmbH providing workforce, innovation, and investment advisory to regional SMEs and investors).

Emerging players

• Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH (WFS): Free State of Saxony's economic development corporation. Comparable GmbH model serving SMEs, municipalities, and investors with workforce and innovation programs; smaller-budget counterpart to the larger state agencies.
• BadenCampus: Regional innovation and digitalization hub; expanded to Loerrach in 2026 via alliance with WSW and WFL. Early-stage innovation ecosystem focused on AI and digitalization—comparable as a complementary, emerging counterpart in WSW's network.

Direct peers

• IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee: Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Hochrhein-Bodensee region. WSW shareholder and co-organizer of business support programs. Directly comparable in serving the same regional SME customer base with advisory and networking services.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (WRS): Regional economic development agency for the Stuttgart region, structured as a public-private GmbH with municipal/shareholder funding. Same legal form (GmbH) and economic development mandate as WSW, just at a larger scale.
• WFL Wirtschaftsförderung Lörrach GmbH: City of Loerrach's municipal economic development agency. Operates in the same service area as WSW (Loerrach district) and is explicitly a WSW strategic partner. Most directly comparable agency by geography and mandate.

Regional players

• Wirtschaftsförderung Heilbronn-Franken GmbH: Regional economic development agency for Heilbronn-Franken. Same private-public GmbH structure serving multiple municipalities with workforce, innovation, and location marketing services. Closely comparable governance and scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/regionsuedwest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wirtschaftsregionsüdwest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wirtschaftsregion-suedwest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Wirtschaftsregion Sudwest Gmbh