Ideenexpo Gmbh

What Ideenexpo Gmbh does

Ideenexpo GmbH is a Hannover-based private German limited liability company founded in 2007 that operates the IdeenExpo, Germany's largest biennial hands-on technology and career orientation fair for young people. Its core product is a 9-day event held at the Messegelände Hannover (most recent edition: June 20-28, 2026, with 400,000+ visitors) featuring interactive exhibits (Exponate), workshops, science slams, live concerts, and career-oriented programming. The company serves two primary customer segments: end users (students aged roughly middle-school through university and organised school groups attending for free) and exhibiting organisations (corporate sponsors such as Volkswagen, Airbus, Continental, ZF Friedrichshafen, Bundeswehr, Autostadt, and Salzgitter AG, plus universities and chambers of commerce) who pay for booth space and sponsorship packages to recruit future talent and build employer brand. Public/government funding from bodies such as BMBFSFJ and Lower Saxony institutions provides a third revenue pillar. The organisation is managed by Geschäftsführer Olaf Brandes and Albert Steffen, with Dr. Volker Schmidt as supervisory board chairman, and operates with 11-50 employees.

Beyond the flagship event, Ideenexpo GmbH maintains a year-round product portfolio branded as IdeenExpo Plus, including ClubZukunft (ongoing youth engagement), Ideenfang (innovation competition), Roadshow (mobile outreach to schools), Science Slam (science communication competition), the Zukunft Orange podcast, and the KarriereNavi career-navigation platform with the ZukunftsCheck self-assessment tool. Distribution is multi-channel: a website (www.ideenexpo.de) with self-service information and school-visit registration, mobile apps on iOS and Android, an email newsletter (delivered via Brevo), social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), earned media through NDR broadcast partnership, and direct sales to corporate exhibitors. Technology infrastructure is conventional and largely outsourced (Sentry for app monitoring, Google Analytics/Matomo for web analytics, Meta Pixel for advertising); website development is handled by B&B. Markenagentur GmbH. Revenue mechanics are event-cycle-driven: biennial concentration of exhibitor fees and corporate sponsorships supplemented by public grants, with no visitor admission charge, creating cyclical cash flow tied to the two-year cadence.

Name

Ideenexpo Gmbh

Legal name

IdeenExpo GmbH

Website

https://ideenexpo.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ideenexpo GmbH operates Germany's largest biennial youth STEM and career fair at Messegelände Hannover (next edition June 20-28, 2026), attracting 400,000+ visitors and 20+ corporate exhibitors, funded by exhibitor fees, corporate sponsorships, and public grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education & Career Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHABAE

Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Exhibition & Trade Show Organizers

SECONDARYMPAGAGAM

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYTHAHACAE

Academic & Education Conference Organizers

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• STEM education events
• Youth career orientation
• Interactive science exhibitions
• Technology career fairs
• Educational event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Fees: Companies, universities, and organizations pay to exhibit at the IdeenExpo event, showcasing their industries and career opportunities to visitors.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Major corporations and organizations sponsor the event, providing financial support in exchange for brand visibility and direct engagement with young talent.
3. Public/Government Funding: The event receives support from government bodies and public institutions focused on STEM education and youth career development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IdeenExpo GmbH organizes the biennial IdeenExpo, a large-scale technology and career orientation event held at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds (Messegelände), featuring interactive exhibits, workshops, science slams, live concerts, and presentations aimed at inspiring young people about STEM careers. The organization also operates year-round programs under the "IdeenExpo Plus" umbrella, including ClubZukunft, Ideenfang, Roadshow, Science Slam, the Zukunft Orange podcast, and the KarriereNavi career navigation platform.

Product overview

IdeenExpo Gmbh operates as a STEM education and career orientation organization centered around its biennial IdeenExpo flagship event at Messegelände Hannover (next edition: June 20-28, 2026). The core product combines interactive exhibits (Exponate), workshops, science slams, and live concerts to inspire youth about technical careers. The portfolio extends through IdeenExpo Plus initiatives including ClubZukunft, Ideenfang competition, Roadshow, and Science Slam. Digital offerings include a mobile app (iOS/Android), the KarriereNavi career platform with ZukunftsCheck assessment tool, and the Zukunft Orange podcast series. The organization also maintains archives of past events (2024, 2022, 2021, 2019).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ClubZukunft: Initiative for young people's future career orientation
• Ideenfang
• Roadshow
• Science Slam
• Zukunft Orange
• KarriereNavi

Products and services

• IdeenExpo (Main Event) Biennial technology and career orientation expo held at Messegelände Hannover, combining interactive exhibits, workshops, science slams, live concerts, and career-oriented programming to inspire young people about STEM careers. Free for visitors; the 2026 edition attracted over 400,000 visitors from across Germany.
• IdeenExpo Mobile App Official mobile application for iOS and Android providing event information, schedules, exhibitor directories, and interactive features for IdeenExpo attendees.
• ClubZukunft Year-round youth engagement program under IdeenExpo Plus that maintains ongoing connection with STEM education and career orientation outside the main expo event.
• Ideenfang Innovation competition where teams develop and present new ideas, with regional winners and recognition across Germany.
• Roadshow Mobile outreach program that brings IdeenExpo exhibits, workshops, and STEM engagement activities to schools and communities across Lower Saxony and beyond.
• Science Slam Science communication competition format in which scientists and researchers present their work in engaging, accessible ways to young audiences, culminating in a finale at the main expo.
• KarriereNavi Career navigation online platform offering a database of apprenticeship programs and dual study opportunities from IdeenExpo exhibitors, with filtering and the ZukunftsCheck self-assessment tool.
• Zukunft Orange Podcast Podcast series featuring conversations with scientists, journalists, and innovators about STEM topics and future careers, distributed on Spotify and other platforms; notable guests include Ranga Yogeshwar and Jacob Beautemps.

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• BundeswehrcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Bundeswehr is a major exhibitor at IdeenExpo, showcasing military career opportunities and technical equipment to young visitors. The partnership helps address recruitment challenges by engaging youth early in career decision-making.
• AutostadtcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Autostadt (Volkswagen Group's visitor center in Wolfsburg) exhibits at IdeenExpo, presenting automotive mobility concepts and promoting automotive careers to young people.
• VolkswagencoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Volkswagen is a key exhibitor showcasing automotive technology, electric mobility, and career opportunities in the automotive industry to event visitors.
• ContinentalcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Continental exhibits at IdeenExpo presenting automotive and industrial technology solutions and recruiting future engineers.
• ZF Friedrichshafen AGcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026ZF exhibits at IdeenExpo showcasing driveline and chassis technology, promoting engineering careers to young visitors.
• NDRmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk) is a media partner providing coverage of the IdeenExpo event through broadcast and online media.
• IHK NiedersachsenmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) Niedersachsen participates at IdeenExpo, providing insights into technical professions with 18 companies and 7 chambers represented at their stand.
• NiedersachsenMetallmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026NiedersachsenMetall, the metal industry association for Lower Saxony, promotes technical careers and manufacturing professions at the IdeenExpo.
• Salzgitter AGcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Salzgitter AG exhibits at IdeenExpo showcasing steel production technology and industrial career opportunities.
• Das Handwerk (HWK)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026The German skilled trades association (Handwerk) promotes careers in crafts and trades at IdeenExpo, addressing skilled labor shortages.
• MHH (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026MHH exhibits at IdeenExpo showcasing medical research and healthcare career opportunities, part of the R2N (Hannover Medical School and partners) network.
• AirbuscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Airbus exhibits at IdeenExpo showcasing aerospace technology and promoting careers in the aviation and defense industry.
• CovestrocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Covestro, a leading chemical company, exhibits at IdeenExpo promoting careers in the chemical and materials industry.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gamescom (Koelnmesse): Gamescom, organised by Koelnmesse, is one of the world's largest gaming and interactive-entertainment events with hundreds of thousands of visitors. It is comparable as a large-scale, entertainment-led German technology exhibition targeting younger demographics.
• Koelnmesse: Koelnmesse runs over 80 trade fairs including Gamescom, Anuga and dmexco. Comparable as a broad-incumbent German exhibition organiser competing for the same pool of corporate exhibitors and sponsors.
• Messe Frankfurt: Messe Frankfurt is one of Europe's largest trade-fair organisers (Ambiente, Frankfurt Book Fair, Didacta). It is comparable as a broad incumbent in the German/European exhibition market with deep exhibitor relationships across the same corporate roster IdeenExpo serves.
• IFA Berlin (Messe Berlin): IFA Berlin is a major consumer-technology and innovation trade fair operated by Messe Berlin. It overlaps with IdeenExpo on the technology and innovation expo axis, but serves a broader consumer/industry audience rather than youth STEM.
• Messe München: Messe München operates major exhibitions including BAU, IFAT and EXPO REAL. Comparable as a broad-incumbent German trade-fair organiser with overlapping exhibitor base and venue-based event model.

Direct peers

• Maker Faire: Maker Faire is a global network of STEM and maker-focused festivals targeting students, hobbyists and educators. It shares IdeenExpo's interactive-exhibit, youth-STEM engagement model, though at smaller scale.
• Deutsche Messe AG: Deutsche Messe AG operates the Hannover Exhibition Grounds — the same venue where IdeenExpo is held — and runs flagship trade fairs including Hannover Messe. It is the closest operational peer, sharing venue, exhibitor base and trade-fair organising capability.
• Didacta (Messe Frankfurt): Didacta is Germany's largest education trade fair organised by Messe Frankfurt, focused on educators, STEM and career orientation. It overlaps directly with IdeenExpo's target audience of teachers, students and education-focused exhibitors.

Emerging players

• Berlin Science Week: Berlin Science Week is a coordinated city-wide festival of science events across institutions. It is comparable as an emerging player in public science engagement and youth outreach, though smaller in scale and without IdeenExpo's single-venue trade-fair model.

Regional players

• Learntec (Messe Karlsruhe): Learntec is Europe's largest event for digital learning organised by Messe Karlsruhe. Comparable on the STEM/career-education axis but focused on digital learning professionals rather than school-age youth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ideenexpo
• Instagraminstagram.com/ideenexpo
• Facebookfacebook.com/IdeenExpo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ideenexpo-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Ideenexpo Gmbh