What KNOBS does

KNOBS S.r.l. is an Italian blockchain and Web3 software house founded in 2014 and headquartered in Milan, operating as one of the earliest dedicated blockchain development firms in Italy. Approximately 90% of the company's resources are devoted to blockchain technology across multiple platforms (Ethereum, Polygon, Linea, Algorand, Solana, Ripple, ICP), with smart contract development in Solidity alongside traditional custom software development (web apps, mobile apps, CRM/ERP systems). The company has built a portfolio of proprietary productized platforms — Digital Product Passport (DPP) for ESPR-compliant supply chain traceability, CertiShield for blockchain-based vehicle certification, NFT Studio for token creation and management, Easy Wallet for QR-code-based token redemption, Proofly for document notarization, and the newly launched INDID for decentralized identity — which are sold both as standalone products and integrated into client engagements.

KNOBS serves three primary customer tiers: large enterprises (IVECO, Stellantis, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, TIM, Mediaset, Telepass, Sisal, Tempocasa, LUISS), SMEs and mid-market firms, and Web3 startups. The core go-to-market is a consultative direct-sales motion through website contact forms and Calendly booking, complemented by self-service SaaS access to NFT Studio and Easy Wallet, community-led developer relations (Ethereum Milano meetups, Web3 Academy training), and event-driven lead generation at GITEX, Web Summit, Blockchain Week Rome and Milan Fintech Summit. Revenue is generated predominantly through custom software development and consulting (professional services), with subscription/transaction fees from NFT Studio and CertiShield as emerging secondary streams; pricing is quote-based for enterprise work with a freemium tier for NFT Studio.

The company became part of the SG Company Società Benefit S.p.A. conglomerate ecosystem in summer 2024, following undisclosed minority investments by Smart Capital (founded by TMP Group) in August 2021 and November 2022. KNOBS maintains operational independence and the KNOBS brand while accessing cross-vertical synergies with SG Company sister companies in entertainment and digital communication. The firm's strategic posture is oriented toward the 2027 EU ESPR mandate as a regulatory tailwind for its Digital Product Passport offering, with parallel bets on tokenization, digital identity and the Italian classic-vehicle ecosystem.

Name

KNOBS

Legal name

KNOBS S.r.l.

Website

https://knobs.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KNOBS is a Milan-based Italian blockchain software house (founded 2014) serving large enterprises, SMEs and Web3 startups with custom development, consulting, and proprietary products including Digital Product Passport, CertiShield, NFT Studio, Easy Wallet and INDID; now part of SG Company ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Software Development

akta.pro primary industry

Smart Contract Developer Platforms & Tooling (SDKs, APIs, frameworks, indexing) (FSAPAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Smart Contract Frameworks & SDKs (developer kits, templates, standards) (FSAPABAB), Smart Contract Wallets / Account Abstraction (MPC/AA, social recovery, paymasters) (FSAPACAB), Regulatory Reporting, Tax & Audit Trails (reconciliation, provenance) (FSAPAJAI), Compliance Identity & KYC/KYB for Wallets (on-chain identity, reusable KYC, travel rule tooling) (FSAPACAL)

Keywords

• Blockchain software development
• Web3 consulting services
• Digital product passport
• NFT platform solutions
• Smart contract development

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Software Development & Consulting: Tailored software solutions and IT consulting services. Includes assessment, software selection, roadmap development, and ongoing support/maintenance.
2. NFT Studio SaaS Platform: Subscription or usage-based access to NFT creation and management platform with free registration tier available.
3. CertiShield Digital Vehicle Passport: Platform fees for vehicle certification services targeting professionals, collectors and organizations in the classic car sector.
4. Blockchain Training & Education: Customized blockchain and Web3 training programs for enterprises, including The Web3 Academy with Marco Montemagno.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KNOBS is an Italian blockchain software house that builds custom Web3 and blockchain applications and sells a proprietary suite of blockchain-based products. Offerings span smart contract development on Ethereum, Polygon, Linea, Algorand, Solana and ICP, alongside ready-made products including the Digital Product Passport (DPP) for ESPR-compliant supply chain traceability, CertiShield for blockchain-certified vehicle passports, NFT Studio for token creation, Easy Wallet for browser-based QR code redemption, Proofly for document notarization, and INDID for decentralized identity.

Product overview

KNOBS offers a suite of blockchain-based products centered on Digital Product Passports, tokenization, and document certification. The core portfolio includes: Digital Product Passport (DPP) for supply chain traceability and ESPR compliance; NFT Studio for token creation linked to QR codes; Easy Wallet for token/NFT management via browser; CertiShield for vehicle digital passports; and Proofly for document notarization. Products integrate with each other—NFT Studio tokens connect to Easy Wallet for redemption, and the DPP platform leverages blockchain immutability for regulatory compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CertiShield: Digital Vehicle Passport platform for certifying vintage and classic automobiles using blockchain technology
• NFT Studio
• Easy Wallet
• Proofly

Products and services

• Digital Product Passport (DPP) Blockchain-based traceability solution enabling transparency throughout a product's lifecycle from raw materials to recycling, designed for ESPR regulatory compliance mandatory from 2027 across fashion, electronics, batteries, furniture, chemicals, and construction sectors.
• CertiShield Blockchain-based certification platform for vintage and youngtimer vehicles that generates immutable Digital Vehicle Passports storing documentation, appraisals, and restoration records on-chain, targeting appraisers, restorers, museums, collectors, and dealers through partners including Portobello, Lopane, and Federperiti.
• NFT Studio Web3 platform for creating, issuing, and managing tokens linked to QR codes for redemption, supporting digital collectibles, loyalty programs, and event ticketing, with self-service access at nftstudio.knobs.it.
• Easy Wallet Digital wallet for managing tokens and NFTs via QR code scanning, accessible directly from browser without app installation or registration, providing automatic smart wallet creation on first scan.
• Proofly Blockchain-based document notarization platform for certifying and verifying digital documents with tamper-proof records on-chain.
• INDID Modular platform for decentralized identity solutions launched at Web Summit Lisbon, available for enterprise clients.
• Custom Software Development and Consulting Tailored software development and IT consulting services including assessment, software selection, roadmap development, and ongoing support/maintenance, delivered through Agile embedded dedicated teams.
• Blockchain and Web3 Consulting Advisory and development services for blockchain and Web3 initiatives, including strategy, technical consulting, smart contract development, and project delivery for enterprise and startup clients.
• Full Stack Project Development Full-stack software project development including web apps, mobile apps, and CRM/ERP systems delivered with Agile methodologies and dedicated teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• ESPR Digital Product Passport mandatory compliance from 2027
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• Giro Automobilistico d'ItaliaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025CertiShield as official partner for 2025 Giro Automobilistico d'Italia, providing digital certification for participating classic vehicles.
• SG Company Società Benefit S.p.A.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024KNOBS became part of SG Company Società Benefit S.p.A. ecosystem in summer 2024. The group operates in technology, entertainment and communication sectors, enabling KNOBS to integrate Web3 with digital experiences, engagement, gamification and new decentralized economies.
• Fortiland Digital AssetscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Joint venture with Smart Capital to create a leading operator in blockchain and digital asset strategies. Objective to invest in Web3, metaverse, NFT, blockchain and DeFi projects.
• Young PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2022Partnership for developing complex blockchain projects and integrated solutions for enterprises and professionals. Combined expertise in blockchain development and digital asset services.
• BCodecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2022Joint partnership with Young Platform for comprehensive blockchain solutions. BCode brings additional technical capabilities to the collaboration.
• CertiShield Partners (Portobello, Lopane, Federperiti)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial partners for CertiShield digital vehicle passport certification. Portobello (auction house), Lopane (auto expertise), and Federperiti (professional appraisers) use the platform for vehicle certification services.
• The Web3 Academy (Marco Montemagno)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational partnership with influencer Marco Montemagno for blockchain and Web3 training courses, expanding reach to broader audience.
• Osservatorio Blockchain & DLT - Politecnico di MilanominorOthersSponsorship of Politecnico di Milano's blockchain research observatory for second consecutive year, supporting academic research and industry knowledge development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Accenture Blockchain: Global consultancy with a large blockchain and Web3 practice delivering enterprise solutions across industries. Broad incumbent competing for the same enterprise blockchain transformation budgets as KNOBS.
• Nchain: Blockchain research and enterprise solutions provider with proprietary platforms and advisory services. Comparable overlap with KNOBS's cross-chain development and enterprise solutions franchise.

Emerging players

• Modex: Blockchain developer tools and infrastructure company offering BaaS and enterprise blockchain apps. Comparable to KNOBS's blockchain development platform and multi-chain solution capabilities.
• Arianee: France-based platform for digital product passports and NFT-based product identity, particularly in luxury and fashion. Comparable as a blockchain-based DPP and digital identity provider targeting regulated industries.
• Sourceful: Builds blockchain-based supply chain traceability and sustainability reporting tools. Comparable to KNOBS's DPP and certification use cases for enterprise supply chain transparency.

Direct peers

• Chainsulting: European blockchain software development and smart contract auditing firm. Comparable to KNOBS in custom development, smart contract delivery, and enterprise advisory services.
• 3boost: Italian boutique consultancy specializing in blockchain, smart contracts, and Web3 solutions for enterprises. Directly comparable to KNOBS in size, geography, and enterprise-focused delivery model.
• Circularise: Provides blockchain-based Digital Product Passport and supply chain traceability solutions for industrial and consumer goods. Highly comparable to KNOBS's DPP offering targeting ESPR compliance.
• Blockchain Italia: Italian blockchain consultancy and software house offering custom enterprise blockchain solutions and Web3 advisory. Closely comparable to KNOBS in geography, target customer profile (Italian enterprises), and service mix spanning development and consulting.

Regional players

• Bit2Me: Spain-based crypto and blockchain services platform offering wallets, tokenization, and enterprise services. Comparable as a European-focused blockchain software and wallet provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@knobs6358
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knobs
• Xx.com/KnobsBlockchain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KNOBS