fischerAppelt

What fischerAppelt does

fischerAppelt AG is an owner-managed German integrated communications agency group headquartered in Hamburg, founded in 1986 by brothers Andreas and Bernhard Fischer-Appelt. The group operates seven specialized agencies (sports, relations, live marketing, health, advisors, performance, SQUAD) under one roof, supplemented by wholly-owned specialist brands Fork Unstable Media (brand design and brand technology, acquired 2010), Philipp und Keuntje (creation and brands), Apollo18 (sports marketing), and Apollo GG (esports and gaming, launched 2025). Service offerings span advertising, digital, PR and content, design, film, strategy, live marketing, online marketing and media, and social media across six primary verticals: Automotive and Mobility, Healthcare, FMCG and Retail, Financial and Professional Services, Public and Non-Governmental, and Technology.

The group serves approximately 50% of German DAX companies plus startups and mid-market businesses, with a stated retention profile of 90% of largest clients retained for 5+ years and 50% for 10+ years. It employs 650-700+ professionals across 13 locations in Germany (Hamburg headquarters, Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich, Stuttgart, Sternschanze, Eimsbüttel, Ingolstadt, Eschborn, Essen), New York, and Doha, with 33 nationalities and 21 languages spoken. International reach is augmented by the PROI global network of 78 partner agencies across 165+ cities. Business model is B2B project-based professional services with quote-driven pricing, no public pricing disclosure, and consultative direct sales to enterprise and mid-market clients.

Core technology stack centers on AI-augmented content production: Stable Diffusion-based image generation for automotive clients (e.g., Audi), a proprietary AI song generator for Golden Toast, an AI-hosted podcast persona ('I.W.A.'), and Next.js-based digital platforms such as the Digging Mozart Köchel-Verzeichnis (2,800+ works, winning Webby, NYF, and ADC awards in 2025). Supporting intellectual property includes proprietary strategy frameworks (Resonanz-Kanvas, Storyverse Canvas), an internal f_LAB think tank, and a media ecosystem spanning four podcasts, the Hot Contents whitepaper/webcast series, The German Apartment networking platform, and the Future Mobility Lab consortium co-founded with the University of St. Gallen. The group holds #1 PR Journal Ranking 2025, Top 3 in W&V/HORIZONT Kreativranking 2024, Top 10 in BVDW Kreativranking 2024, 100+ ADC-Nägel, 10+ Cannes Lions, and an Ecovadis Bronze Medal for sustainability.

Name

fischerAppelt

Legal name

fischerAppelt AG

Website

https://fischerappelt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

fischerAppelt is a Hamburg-based owner-managed German integrated communications agency group operating seven specialized agencies plus acquired specialist brands, serving roughly half of all DAX companies across automotive, healthcare, FMCG, finance, public/NGO, and technology verticals with project-based professional services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marketing & Communications Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Account-Based Marketing (ABM) Services (BPAFAKAG)

Keywords

• Integrated marketing communications
• Brand strategy consulting
• Public relations services
• Live event marketing
• Digital content creation

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Integrated Communications Services: Full-service agency providing comprehensive marketing and communications solutions across advertising, digital, PR, content, design, film, strategy, live marketing, online marketing, and social media through seven specialized agencies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

fischerAppelt AG is an owner-managed German communications and marketing agency group that delivers integrated communication and marketing solutions across advertising, digital, PR & content, design, film, strategy, live marketing, online marketing & media, and social media. The group operates seven specialized agencies plus acquired brands (Fork Unstable Media, Philipp und Keuntje, Apollo18, Apollo GG) serving enterprise clients including 50% of German DAX companies, mid-market firms, and startups.

Product overview

fischerAppelt is a German communications and marketing agency group offering integrated communication solutions. The portfolio consists of seven specialized agencies under one umbrella (fischerAppelt, sports; fischerAppelt, relations; fischerAppelt, live marketing; fischerAppelt, health; fischerAppelt, advisors; fischerAppelt, performance; fischerAppelt, SQUAD), supplemented by specialized brands including Fork Unstable Media (Brand Design & Technology), Philipp und Keuntje (Kreation & Brands), Apollo18 and Apollo GG (Sport/Gaming Marketing), and fischerAppelt Middle East. The group also operates f_LAB as its internal think tank developing narrative and affective strategy methodologies. Supporting offerings include proprietary publications (Playbook Resonanz, Storyverse Playbook, f_LAB Dossiers), community events (The German Apartment), podcasts (Monsters of Content Marketing, The German Quest, Cornern mit Kerner), and research publications (Hot Contents Whitepapers, Teengeist Report). Solutions span PR & Content, Advertising, Digital, Design, Film, Strategy, Live Marketing, Online Marketing & Media, and Social Media across industries including Automotive, Healthcare, FMCG, Finance, Public/NGO, and Technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• f_LAB: The think tank of the agency group that analyzes paradigm shifts in society, economy and politics and captures the cultural zeitgeist. Develops ideas, models and solutions for future communications consulting.
• The German Apartment
• Playbook Resonanz
• Storyverse Playbook
• Monsters of Content Marketing
• The German Quest
• Cornern mit Kerner
• Bonjour de Cannes
• Agenda N
• Future Mobility Lab
• Hanseatic Help
• Hot Contents

Products and services

• fischerAppelt, sports

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of largest clients remain for 5+ years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers34 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• DFB (German Football Association)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026German House of Soccer (GHOS) project for FIFA World Cup 2026 in New York. Central meeting place for economics, media and sport during the tournament.
• Internationale Stiftung MozarteumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Digital Köchel-Verzeichnis project for Mozart's works. Fork developed modern web application with 2,800+ entries, interactive visualizations, audio incipits. Won multiple international awards.
• Institut für Mobilität der Universität St. Gallen (IMO-HSG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Co-founded Future Mobility Lab in March 2022 as a consortium for promoting sustainable mobility behavior. Goal is real influence on mobility behavior and active shaping of the mobility transition. Consortium includes 20+ members including cities, associations and mobility service providers in Germany and Switzerland.
• German Apartment NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Global networking platform and event series since 2018. Parallel to leading conferences (Web Summit, CES, RISE, SXSW, IAA, Cannes Lions) brings German marketing community together. Has hosted ministers, CDOs, CTOs.
• Hanseatic Help e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Pro bono partnership since founding in 2015. Supports underprivileged people and charitable organizations in Hamburg and worldwide. Strategic consulting, operational media work, and personal engagement. Special festival project collects sleeping bags and tents for homeless.
• PROI (Partners of Reliable Offices International)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorfischerAppelt is part of PROI, the international network of independent agencies. With 78 partner agencies in 165+ cities across all five continents, the network has 8000 clients. Enables fischerAppelt to bring German brands abroad or global brands to Europe.
• SPRG (Hong Kong/Taipei/China)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose contacts with SPRG partner agency providing specific regional expertise in Hong Kong, Taipeh, and China for international campaigns.
• 360 (North America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose contacts with 360 partner agency providing specific regional expertise across North America for international campaigns.
• AI Media Leaders / Next Media HamburgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarc Reckner, Managing Director of fischerAppelt relations, speaking at AI Media Leaders 2025 on 'Kooperation: We Are Many' about collaboration in media and communications industry.
• Unternehmensnetzwerk KlimaschutzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial founding member of IHK climate platform for companies and multipliers actively contributing to climate protection.
• Handelskammer Hamburg KlimakampagneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of 'Wir handeln fürs Klima' campaign by Hamburg Chamber of Commerce for companies implementing CO2 reduction steps.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Serviceplan Group: Largest independent German agency group headquartered in Munich, operating a comparable 'House of Communication' model with multiple specialized agencies covering creative, digital, media, and tech. Closest direct competitor to fischerAppelt in the German integrated agency market and regularly ranked in the same W&V and BVDW Kreativranking top tiers.
• Jung von Matt: Major German creative agency group with offices in Hamburg (alongside fischerAppelt's HQ), Berlin, and other cities. Competes directly for the same DAX and premium-brand creative mandates, with a similarly strong Cannes Lions pedigree.
• Scholz & Friends: Hamburg-headquartered creative agency group with a comparable integrated structure and strong automotive and FMCG client base. Direct competitor in the same geographic and vertical markets as fischerAppelt.
• Grabarz & Partner: Independently owned Hamburg-based creative agency known for Volkswagen work. Direct competitor for automotive and FMCG clients, with comparable scale and creative reputation in the German market.
• Antoni (part of Omnicom): Berlin-based creative agency within the Omnicom network, notable for winning major German automotive and consumer brand pitches; represents both a creative competitor and a holding-company alternative to fischerAppelt's independent structure.

Broad incumbents

• DDB Germany (part of Omnicom): German arm of global Omnicom-owned DDB network; competes for the same enterprise creative mandates but with the backing of a multinational holding company network that fischerAppelt cannot match in scale or global reach.
• BBDO Germany (part of Omnicom): German operations of global BBDO network; competes for the same DAX-tier enterprise clients with the resources of the broader Omnicom group, positioning itself as a multinational alternative to independent groups like fischerAppelt.
• TBWA Germany (part of Omnicom): German arm of TBWA Worldwide, focused on disruptive creative work for global brands. Competes with fischerAppelt for automotive, FMCG, and tech mandates, but as part of a global holding-company network rather than an independent group.
• Accenture Song (formerly Accenture Interactive): Global experience-led agency arm of Accenture, increasingly winning integrated German enterprise mandates that historically went to independent groups like fischerAppelt. Represents the consulting-firm incursion into the traditional agency space.
• Ketchum Germany (part of Omnicom PR Group): German operations of global Ketchum PR network, competing with fischerAppelt relations for corporate communications and PR mandates at the same DAX-level enterprises.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fischerAppelt
• Facebookfacebook.com/fischerAppelt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fischerappelt
• Instagraminstagram.com/fischerappelt
• TikToktiktok.com/@fischerappelt
• Xx.com/fischerAppelt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Subsidiaries13 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 fischerAppelt