Modus

What Modus does

modus|zad (full legal name: Modus – Zentrum für angewandte Deradikalisierungsforschung gGmbH) is a Berlin-based, non-profit limited company (gGmbH) operating as an applied research center on radicalization and extremism prevention, with a registered headcount in the 11-50 range. It organizes its work into three service pillars: empirical research and program evaluation (Forschung und Evaluation); OSINT-driven monitoring and trend analysis (Monitorings und Trendanalysen); and applied practice plus practitioner network projects (Praxis- und Netzwerkprojekte). Named projects include KN:IX connect (Islamism prevention and democracy promotion network), TREX (monitoring transnational right-wing extremist and ultranationalist movements, especially Turkish ultranationalism on TikTok), PreP-Ex (a Germany-Canada comparative study on anti-authority extremism), RadiGaMe (radicalization on gaming platforms and messenger services), and the Beratungskompass Verschwörungsdenken nationwide referral counseling platform; the organization also produces English and German publications, a blog, and the modus-extrem podcast.

The underlying technical stack combines automated quantitative data collection with qualitative analysis for social media monitoring, including NLP transcription and language detection of TikTok videos plus pattern identification on accounts and hashtags. Applied practitioner tools include the Myth-O-Meter conspiracy-narrative counter and the Beratungskompass knowledge repository with geo-search functionality. There is no commercial pricing model; outputs are distributed freely through modus-zad.de, open-access publications, social media, podcast platforms, and online conferences.

Revenue is generated entirely through institutional grants and commissioned research projects. The primary funder is the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Seniors, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) via the 'Demokratie leben!' federal programme, with co-commissioning from the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI). The Government of Canada provides international flagship funding (CAD $219,000+ for PreP-Ex, announced May 2024). Customer segments are government agencies (primary), civil society organizations, and indirectly the practitioners, multipliers, and affected families who use the outputs.

Name

Modus

Legal name

Modus – Zentrum für angewandte Deradikalisierungsforschung gGmbH

Website

https://modus-zad.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Modus|zad is a Berlin-based non-profit research center (gGmbH) that conducts applied deradicalization research, OSINT monitoring, and practitioner network projects on extremism and conspiracy thinking for German federal ministries, civil society, and international government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied Deradicalization Research and Extremism Prevention Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLALAEAD

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) & Addiction Teletherapy Platforms

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Telehealth Platforms/Behavioral & Mental Health Teletherapy Platforms

SECONDARYHLACAFAD

Behavioral Health & Substance Use Remote Monitoring

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Digital Health & Health IT/Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) & Connected Care Platforms

Keywords

• Extremism prevention research
• Deradicalization studies
• Social media monitoring
• Conspiracy theory counseling
• Counter-extremism policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Project Funding: Funded through government grants and commissioned research projects, including funding from the Canadian government (over $219,000 for PreP-Ex), and German federal ministries (BMFSFJ, BMI, as part of the Demokratie leben! programme). Operates as a gGmbH (non-profit limited company) with institutional funding.
2. Research, Evaluation & Consulting Services: Conducts commissioned research and evaluation studies for government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners on radicalization, extremism prevention, and deradicalization.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

modus|zad is a non-profit research center that produces applied deradicalization research through empirical social research and process-oriented evaluations, OSINT-based monitoring and trend analyses of extremist online activity, and practice-and-network projects that develop new prevention methods and connect prevention actors. Its deliverables include research reports, policy briefs, monitoring datasets, the modus-extrem podcast, and applied tools such as the Beratungskompass Verschwörungsdenken nationwide referral counseling platform and Myth-O-Meter.

Product overview

Modus – Zentrum für angewandte Deradikalisierungsforschung gGmbH (modus|zad) is a German research organization focused on applied deradicalization and extremism prevention. The portfolio consists of three core service pillars: (1) Research and Evaluation — empirical social research on radicalization and process-oriented evaluations; (2) Monitoring and Trend Analyses — automated and qualitative analysis of extremism trends for policymakers and civil society; and (3) Practice and Network Projects — developing and testing new prevention methods and connecting practitioners. Key named projects include TREX (social media monitoring of Turkish ultranationalism on TikTok), PreP-Ex (anti-authority extremism in Germany and Canada), RadiGaMe (gaming platform radicalization), KN:IX connect (Islamism prevention network), and Beratungskompass Verschwörungsdenken (conspiracy theory counseling platform). modus|zad also publishes the modus-extrem podcast and produces English and German research publications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KN:IX connect – Verbund Islamismusprävention und Demokratieförderung Network and practice project connecting Islamism prevention and democracy promotion actors as part of the Federal Association Islamism Prevention network; intended for prevention professionals and civil society actors.
• TREX – Transnationale rechtsextreme und ultranationalistische Bewegungen Monitoring and trend analysis project examining far-right and ultranationalist movements in (post)migrant societies, with a focus on social media (TikTok) activity of Turkish ultranationalism and related phenomena in Germany; for policymakers, practitioners, and civil society.
• PreP-Ex – Preparing Practitioners for the Rising Threat of Anti-Authority Extremism Research project examining anti-authority extremism online and offline in Germany and Canada, developing resources for practitioners and policymakers; project status marked as completed.
• RadiGaMe – Radikalisierung auf Gaming-Plattformen und Messenger-Diensten Research project investigating radicalization pathways on gaming platforms and messaging services, producing findings, practical recommendations, and resources for prevention practice and policy.
• Beratungskompass Verschwörungsdenken Nationwide referral counseling platform providing geo-search for local conspiracy-theory counseling services, an exchange platform for professionals, a knowledge repository, and a resource database; for counselors and civil society.
• modus-extrem Podcast Podcast series featuring expert conversations on current extremism trends, radicalization, and disengagement work, distributed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer and RTL+; intended for practitioners and the general public.
• Research and Evaluation (Forschung und Evaluation) Empirical social research on radicalization and deradicalization, paired with process-oriented evaluations supporting practical prevention programmes; for ministries, civil society organizations, and partners.
• Monitorings and Trend Analyses Automated quantitative data collection combined with qualitative analysis to provide policy and civil society stakeholders with actionable intelligence on extremism trends, including OSINT-based social media monitoring.
• Practice and Network Projects (Praxis- und Netzwerkprojekte) Development and testing of new practice methods, and networking of prevention actors to rapidly disseminate innovations across the extremism prevention field in Germany.
• modus|zad Publications (English) English-language research reports, working papers, policy briefs, and blog posts covering topics including gamification in radicalization, far-right hate speech on TikTok, sovereignism, Turkish ultranationalism, and digital P/CVE; intended for international researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Developed comprehensive Turkish Ultranationalism Q&A guide and monitoring reports for practitioners and multipliers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Government of CanadaflagshipOthers · 1 May 2024Funded the PreP-Ex project (Preparing Practitioners for the Rising Threat of Anti-Authority Extremism) with over $219,000. A joint German-Canadian research initiative where modus|zad collaborates with Canadian experts to counter anti-authority violent extremism, analyzing how such extremism manifests online and offline in both countries to develop practitioner and policymaker resources.
• Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ)coreOthersPrimary government funder through the 'Demokratie leben!' (Live Democracy!) federal programme. Funds multiple modus|zad projects including TREX, Beratungskompass Verschwörungsdenken, Level Up!, and RadiGaMe. The ministry sets the programmatic framework, and modus|zad operates as a grantee delivering research and practice outputs within this framework.
• Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat (BMI)coreOthersCo-commissioner of the Beratungskompass Verschwörungsdenken project alongside BMFSFJ. BMI provides government funding to support the development of tools addressing conspiracy thinking and strengthening the prevention field in Germany.
• Violence Prevention Network gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Trägerverbund (consortium) for Beratungskompass Verschwörungsdenken, alongside modus|zad and Amadeu Antonio Stiftung. Violence Prevention Network contributes expertise in deradicalization practice, counseling, and prevention work, co-developing instruments and approaches for addressing conspiracy thinking in Germany.
• Amadeu Antonio StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Trägerverbund (consortium) for Beratungskompass Verschwörungsdenken, co-developing resources and approaches with modus|zad and Violence Prevention Network to strengthen the prevention and counseling field on conspiracy thinking and conspiracy narratives.
• Prof. Dr. Kemal BozayminorOthersGuest contributor to the TREX project's modus|insight publication on Turkish ultranationalism in Germany, contributing academic expertise from the field of extremism research.
• SCENORcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as part of modus|zad's professional network. SCENOR (Strategic Communication and Narrative Oriented Research) collaborated on publications including 'Hate Speech Among the Far-Right in Austria and Germany' (2024), 'Far-Right Hate Speech on TikTok' (2024), 'Disentangling the Web of Hate on TikTok' (2024), and the RECO DAR policy brief. SCENOR is listed on modus|zad's English publications page and was interviewed on TikTok propaganda research.
• Akkon Hochschule für HumanwissenschaftenminorOthersListed as part of modus|zad's network of academic and civil society partners, indicating collaboration in the extremism prevention ecosystem.
• Berghof FoundationminorOthersPart of modus|zad's organizational network. Berghof Foundation works on conflict transformation and peacebuilding, contributing to the broader civil society network modus|zad operates within.
• Robert Bosch StiftungminorOthersListed as part of modus|zad's network. The Robert Bosch Stiftung is a major German foundation supporting civil society projects in extremism prevention and democracy support, collaborating within the broader prevention ecosystem.
• PRIF (Institut für Friedens- und Sicherheitspolitik)minorOthersPart of modus|zad's network of academic and policy research organizations working in the field of peace, security, and extremism prevention.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/modus_zad
• Facebookfacebook.com/moduszad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moduszad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Modus