Loading organizations...
Key people at Selbstständig.
Verband der Gründer und Selbstständigen Deutschland (VGSD) builds a comprehensive advocacy platform dedicated to empowering founders, self-employed professionals, freelancers, and small businesses across Germany. The organization’s core offering focuses on robust political and administrative representation, striving to improve the public image and bolster the appeal of independent work. Through concerted action, VGSD addresses critical systemic issues such as navigating bureaucratic complexities, advocating for equitable social security and pension provisions, and facilitating improved access to essential financial services for its diverse membership.
The Verband der Gründer und Selbstständigen Deutschland was established in 2012 by Andreas Lutz, an experienced entrepreneur, and a group of collaborators. Their foundational insight stemmed from recognizing the fragmented representation and significant challenges faced by Germany’s burgeoning self-employed population. Lutz and his co-founders identified a critical need for a powerful, unified collective to actively champion the interests of freelancers and small business owners, aiming to influence legislation and cultivate a more supportive economic and social landscape for independent professionals.
VGSD serves a broad and growing membership base of independent workers throughout Germany. Its long-term vision is to foster an environment where self-employment is not merely tolerated, but actively valued and strategically supported by policy makers and society at large. The association consistently strives to enhance the structural conditions for independent work, ensuring fair and flexible social security frameworks, mitigating administrative burdens, and providing vital resources that enable its members to thrive in the dynamic German economy.
Key people at Selbstständig.
Selbstständig is a small private company based in Erdmannhausen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, operating primarily in the media and entertainment sector with elements of custom software, IT services, and business services.[2][5] It employs 21-50 people and generates $1M-$5M in annual revenue, focusing on areas like sound recording industries (NAICS 5122) and business services (SIC 7389), potentially involving digital content, photography, video production, marketing funnels, and no-code solutions.[2][4][6] Note that "Selbstständig" (or "Selbstständig") is also a common German term for self-employment or sole proprietorship, a business structure where the owner has full personal liability and no asset separation, but this profile refers to a specific entity rather than the legal concept alone.[1][2]
The company serves clients in digital transformation, SaaS adoption, marketing, and content creation, solving problems like efficient video production, ad campaigns, website funnels, and bureaucratic support for expats and businesses.[4] Its growth appears steady at a small scale, with a home-based operational model emphasizing self-motivation and proven strategies to boost revenue without long-term commitments.[4]
Limited public details exist on Selbstständig's founding, but it operates from Erdmannhausen, Germany, with ties to individuals like Dominik Heer (via dominik-heer.net) and profiles suggesting solopreneur or small-team origins in creative and digital services.[2][4] It aligns with Germany's sole proprietorship model (*Einzelunternehmen*), common for freelancers and small traders (*Kleingewerbetreibende* or *e.K.*), requiring residency, trade office registration for commercial activities, and tax ID setup—quick to launch without forming a separate legal entity like a GmbH.[1]
Pivotal elements include expertise in video sales letters (VSL), no-code tools, cold calling, and expat services, with contributors like Edith (EG Büroservice) and Damiano building funnels and campaigns, indicating organic growth from individual self-employed efforts into a 20-50 person operation over years of home-based work (one profile notes 14 years' experience).[4][6] Its website and tech stack (jQuery, nginx, WordPress) point to bootstrapped digital roots.[2]
Selbstständig rides the wave of Germany's freelance economy, where sole proprietorships (*Selbstständig* structures) enable quick entry into digital services amid rising demand for no-code tools, content marketing, and remote work post-pandemic.[1][4] Timing favors it as EU digital transformation accelerates, with small firms filling gaps in SaaS adoption and video/content for SMEs—market forces like low setup barriers (just residency and tax registration) and deductible business taxes (*Gewerbesteuer*) support scalability.[1][3]
It influences the ecosystem by empowering solopreneurs and expats, contributing to Baden-Württemberg's tech-creative hub (near Stuttgart), and exemplifying how micro-companies (20-50 people) democratize marketing tech via tools like funnels and VSLs, reducing reliance on big agencies.[2][4][6]
Selbstständig is poised for niche expansion in AI-enhanced content (e.g., automated funnels) and expat services as remote work grows, potentially scaling revenue beyond $5M by partnering with SaaS platforms or entering sound recording niches.[2][4] Trends like no-code proliferation and Germany's freelance boom (Freiberufler vs. Gewerbetreibender classifications) will shape it, evolving from solopreneur roots to a mid-sized player influencing digital marketing for Europe's SMBs.[1][3][5] Watch for deeper EU market penetration, tying back to its efficient, owner-driven model that mirrors successful German self-employment agility.[1][2]
