K5
K5 is a Berlin-based B2B media, events, and networking platform for digital commerce professionals in the DACH region, anchored by the annual 5,000-attendee K5 Future Retail Conference, a multi-show podcast network, the K5 MGZN magazine, and curated expert and community programs serving retail and e-commerce decision-makers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What K5 does
K5 is a Berlin-based, founder-led B2B media, events, and networking platform that has served the DACH digital commerce and future retail community since 2012. Its central offering is the annual K5 Konferenz held at Estrel Berlin, gathering 5,000+ attendees and 250+ speakers across five stages (Future Retail Stage, AI Auditorium, Deep Dive Stage, EXPO, and a scale-up stage). The product surface is broader than the conference: K5 runs three flagship podcasts (ChefTreff hosted by co-founder Sven Rittau, Commerce Cast, and Bold Moves. Kind Hearts. hosted by co-founder Verena Schlüpmann) totaling 500+ episodes, the quarterly K5 MGZN Future Retail Magazine (launched in 2022), a Mediathek video library of 215+ conference recordings, the K5 Kompakt article series, and the K5 Köpfe expert directory of 200+ senior industry figures. The K5 Köpfe Award and K5 Commerce Award institutionalize annual recognition, and K5 Startup Pitches provide deal-sourcing visibility at the conference.
Monetization is event-driven and multi-channel: ticket sales and exhibitor/sponsor packages for the flagship K5 Konferenz and regional MEETups in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Cologne, podcast advertising, magazine advertising, and premium community access through the K5X Circle (entrepreneur network) and K5 Female Circle. The GTM motion is event-led community engagement, with the owned website (k5.de), weekly newsletter, podcast distribution on Spotify/Apple/Deezer/SoundCloud, and social channels (LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram) supporting top-of-funnel and mid-funnel reach. Pricing is quote-based for sponsorships and not publicly disclosed for tickets, and the model is B2B — primarily serving e-commerce decision-makers, digital commerce practitioners, and commerce technology providers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The company operates with 11-50 employees and has no disclosed external funding rounds, institutional investors, or acquisitions in the source material.
K5 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- K5
- Legal name
- K5 GmbH
- Website
- https://k5.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- K5 is a Berlin-based B2B media, events, and networking platform for digital commerce professionals in the DACH region, anchored by the annual 5,000-attendee K5 Future Retail Conference, a multi-show podcast network, the K5 MGZN magazine, and curated expert and community programs serving retail and e-commerce decision-makers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
K5 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Commerce Events & Media
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Q&A Knowledge Communities (MPACAJAD), Knowledge Management & KCS Programs (BPAEAJAJ)
Keywords
Where K5 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
K5 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Conference Tickets & Sponsorships: K5 generates primary revenue through ticket sales for the annual K5 Konferenz (5,000+ attendees) and regional MEETup events, along with corporate sponsorship packages that include exhibition booths, speaking slots, and brand visibility across event materials and digital channels.
- Podcast Sponsorships: Monetization of podcast content through sponsored episodes and advertising placements across the three podcast shows. Advertisers include technology companies, agencies, and commerce platforms targeting the retail audience.
- Network Membership & Premium Access: K5X Circle and K5 Female Circle represent exclusive entrepreneur networks with premium access to networking events, guided tours, and strategic community engagement. Revenue generated through partnership and membership arrangements.
- Magazine Distribution: The K5 MGZN Future Retail Magazine is distributed for free but serves as a lead generation and brand awareness tool, with partner companies featured throughout the publication.
- Partner & Marketing Services: Companies can engage with K5 as partners to gain visibility through speaking opportunities, podcast guest appearances, newsletter placements, and branded content. Partners include major brands like Zalando, OTTO, Amazon, Google, TikTok, and Douglas.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | K5 Konferenz Tickets - Pricing tiers not publicly disclosed |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Exhibitor and Sponsor Packages - Quote-based |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Podcast Advertising - Quote-based |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
K5 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
K5 operates a B2B knowledge and networking platform for digital commerce professionals in the DACH region, centered on the annual K5 Future Retail Conference (5,000+ attendees, 250+ speakers across 5 stages). The company distributes expert insights through three podcast shows (ChefTreff, Commerce Cast, Bold Moves. Kind Hearts.), the K5 MGZN magazine, a video Mediathek, and a curated expert directory (K5 Köpfe), and monetizes the audience through event sponsorships, partnership packages, podcast advertising, and exclusive community memberships (K5X Circle, K5 Female Circle).
Product overview
K5 is a German B2B platform for digital commerce and future retail, providing expert knowledge, networking, and industry events. The platform operates a multi-format content strategy combining the annual K5 Konferenz (5,000+ attendees, 250+ speakers), three flagship podcasts (ChefTreff, Commerce Cast, Bold Moves. Kind Hearts.), the quarterly K5 MGZN magazine, the K5 Mediathek video library, and the K5 Köpfe expert directory. Community features include K5 Female Circle (women's network), K5X Circle (entrepreneur network), K5 MEETups (local events), and K5 Health & Connect Club. The platform also organizes the K5 Commerce Award and Startup Pitches competitions, publishes the K5 Kompakt article series, and offers the K5 Newsletter. All offerings are service-based media and networking products, not software technology products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ChefTreff: A podcast featuring conversations with leading entrepreneurs from the retail world, hosted by Sven Rittau.
- Commerce Cast
- Bold Moves. Kind Hearts.
- K5 MGZN
- K5X Circle
- K5 Female Circle
Products and services
- K5 Konferenz (K5 Future Retail Conference) Annual flagship conference for digital commerce professionals held at Estrel Berlin, drawing 5,000+ attendees and 250+ speakers across 5 stages (AI Auditorium, Future Retail Stage, Deep Dive Stage, EXPO, scale-up stages). Tickets and corporate sponsor packages are sold to enterprise retail executives and solution providers.
- K5 MEETups Regional networking events held in German cities including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Cologne, often hosted at partner company headquarters such as Zalando HQ (Berlin) and Roadsurfer HQ (Munich). Ticketed attendance with local sponsor involvement.
- K5X Circle Exclusive entrepreneur network led by Sven Rittau providing business networking and growth opportunities for e-commerce business leaders, with access to special events and the China Expedition study tour. Revenue through partnership/membership arrangements.
- K5 Female Circle Exclusive women's network within K5 designed for exchange, support, and professional growth in the retail and digital commerce sector, including dedicated Female Circle events.
- K5 Commerce Award Annual industry award program recognizing outstanding achievements in digital retail, e-commerce tools, marketplace platforms, and retail media, with winners announced at the K5 Konferenz.
- K5 Startup Pitches Pitch competition held at the K5 Konferenz providing early-stage commerce startups with stage time and visibility in front of established retail and e-commerce executives.
- K5X China Expedition Curated study tour program providing K5X Circle members with firsthand insights into Chinese retail and e-commerce innovations and market dynamics.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ podcast episodes produced across three shows
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use K5
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
K5 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
K5 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Ex Machina StudiosminorFilm production partnership for sci-fi project 'Heaven' with director Alex Proyas. K5 partnered during Cannes Market for co-production involvement.
- Strong Island FilmsminorFilm production company partnering on hospital siege thriller 'MRI' starring Iko Uwais. K5 set to launch sales at AFM market.
- Estrel BerlincoreK5 Konferenz venue partner. The annual K5 conference is held at Estrel Berlin, one of Europe's largest convention centers, hosting 5,000+ attendees across multiple days.
- ZalandocoreFeatured partner company whose executives appear as K5 Köpfe experts and conference speakers. Hosts K5 MEETup Berlin events at Zalando HQ. Strategic alignment with fashion and lifestyle commerce.
- FlaconicoreFeatured partner company with CEO Bastian Siebers as prominent K5 Köpfe expert and keynote speaker at K5 Konferenz. Aligned on beauty and cosmetics e-commerce topics.
- ECC KölncoreResearch partner providing industry insights. Co-branded content including 'B2BEST-Radar @K5 powered by ECC KÖLN' columns and research reports on B2B commerce.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
K5 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- OMR (Online Marketing Rockstars): OMR runs a flagship digital marketing and commerce conference in Hamburg and a content/podcast ecosystem that closely mirrors K5's community-and-content model; both target German-speaking senior marketing and commerce decision-makers.
- DMEXCO: DMEXCO is the largest digital marketing and commerce trade show in Cologne, drawing tens of thousands of attendees and serving the same DACH enterprise and agency audience as K5; it competes directly for sponsorship budgets and senior-level attendee mindshare.
- Shopware Community Day: Shopware's annual community day is a dedicated commerce platform event in the DACH region that overlaps with K5 Konferenz on audience and partner ecosystem, particularly among merchants and e-commerce technology providers.
- Internet World: Internet World is a Munich-based e-commerce trade show and content platform covering the same DACH retail and digital commerce verticals as K5, with overlapping audience of merchants, agencies, and technology vendors.
Broad incumbents
- Bitkom: Bitkom is Germany's largest digital industry association running major conferences and policy events for the same German enterprise and tech audience that K5 serves in digital commerce; it competes indirectly for senior decision-maker attention and sponsor partnerships.
- Money 20/20: Money 20/20 is a global commerce-adjacent fintech and payments event whose sponsor ecosystem (payment providers, banks, fintechs) overlaps with K5's retail media and marketplace vendor community.
- NRF (National Retail Federation) Big Show: NRF's annual Big Show in New York is the world's largest retail industry event; while much larger and broader in scope than K5 Konferenz, it sets the global agenda for retail and competes for the same enterprise sponsorship dollars and senior retailer attention.
Regional players
- Shoptalk: Shoptalk is the largest US-focused retail and e-commerce conference, comparable in format and content mix (keynotes, exhibits, networking) to K5 Konferenz, and serves as the North American analog for what K5 provides in the DACH region.
- eTail (by Retail TouchPoints): eTail runs North American and European retail/e-commerce conference series with similar content tracks, exhibit formats, and senior retailer audiences as K5 Konferenz.
Others
- eccelerate (formerly ECC Köln): eccelerate is the Cologne-based research and advisory firm that is already a K5 research and content partner (B2BEST-Radar @K5) and operates in the same DACH digital commerce analyst ecosystem, serving overlapping agencies and merchants.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
K5 social profiles
Digital presenceK5 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
K5 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
K5 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
K5 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about K5
What does K5 do?
K5 operates a B2B knowledge and networking platform for digital commerce professionals in the DACH region, centered on the annual K5 Future Retail Conference (5,000+ attendees, 250+ speakers across 5 stages). The company distributes expert insights through three podcast shows (ChefTreff, Commerce Cast, Bold Moves. Kind Hearts.), the K5 MGZN magazine, a video Mediathek, and a curated expert directory (K5 Köpfe), and monetizes the audience through event sponsorships, partnership packages, podcast advertising, and exclusive community memberships (K5X Circle, K5 Female Circle).
Is K5 a public or private company?
K5 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was K5 founded?
K5 was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is K5 based?
K5 is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does K5 make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Conference Tickets & Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are podcast Sponsorships, network Membership & Premium Access, magazine Distribution and partner & Marketing Services.
Who are K5's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are OMR (Online Marketing Rockstars), DMEXCO, Shopware Community Day and Internet World. Broad incumbents are Bitkom, Money 20/20 and NRF (National Retail Federation) Big Show. Regional players are Shoptalk and eTail (by Retail TouchPoints). eccelerate (formerly ECC Köln) is listed as an others.
Does K5 have an API?
No public API is recorded for K5.
What industry is K5 in?
K5's product category is Digital Commerce Events & Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHABAB, Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers, with a secondary code of MPACAJAD, Q&A Knowledge Communities. Its NAICS code is 56192.