Software & Support Media

What Software & Support Media does

Software & Support Media GmbH (S&S Media, operating trade names Sandsmedia and Software Know-how Company) is a Frankfurt am Main-headquartered B2B media company founded in 1993 that operates an integrated knowledge, events, and training platform targeting software professionals in German-speaking countries, the Netherlands, and selected international markets. The company serves a stated community of over 200,000 software professionals and supplies them with curated technical content through three regional learning platforms: entwickler.de (DACH), devm.io (international/English, launched 2022), and devmio.nl (Netherlands). Its commercial customers are predominantly enterprise technology vendors and IT service providers — including GitHub, Microsoft, SAP, VMware, Red Hat, Atlassian, Oracle, jFrog, Couchbase, Gradle, Progress, Software AG, Accenture, adesso, NTT Data, and Audi — who access the audience via sponsorship, advertising, and lead-generation packages. The group operates a Dutch subsidiary, Software & Support Communities BV, with offices in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Haarlem.

The product portfolio is built around three pillars. (1) Learning platforms function as content hubs with integrated live-event capabilities, an "AI-Assistent" discovery feature, and enterprise access mechanisms (domain, IP, or Shibboleth authentication) supporting team subscriptions. (2) A conference portfolio — JAX, W-JAX, BASTA!, DevOpsCon, International JavaScript Conference, MLCon, and J-Fall — collectively draws more than 18,000 visitors per year; J-Fall is co-organized with the Netherlands Java User Group (NLJUG). (3) The Entwickler Akademie delivers 150+ seminars per year to 13,000+ participants through 100+ expert trainers across Java, Angular, Rust, Kubernetes, IT Security, and iSAQB-certified software architecture. Headquarters are in Frankfurt am Main (Schwedlerstr. 8, with Hanauer Landstr. 182 also registered), and the company is led by CEO Dr. Pouya Kamali-Loibl, who has run the business for 25+ years.

S&S Media operates a multi-revenue model with four documented streams: conference sponsorship, print and digital advertising, lead generation (whitepapers, webinars, e-books, display ads across a network of ~150,000 software professionals), and Academy training and certification. GTM is hybrid: a direct sales team handles enterprise sponsorship and advertising; a community-led and content-led approach drives organic audience acquisition through SEO, editorial content, newsletters, and a multi-channel social presence (Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Xing); and the conferences themselves function as both lead-generation venues for sponsors and audience-acquisition events for the platforms. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; all sponsorship, advertising, and training engagements are quoted through the sales organization. No venture or private equity funding rounds are referenced in source materials, and ownership appears founder-led and independent.

Name

Software & Support Media

Legal name

Software & Support Media GmbH

Website

https://sandsmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Software & Support Media (S&S Media) is a Frankfurt-based B2B media company serving 200,000+ software professionals across DACH, the Netherlands, and international markets through learning platforms (entwickler.de, devm.io, devmio.nl), tech conferences (JAX, BASTA!, DevOpsCon), and certified training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Trade Publishing and Events

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Software Publishers (51321), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Software Development (Programming, Frameworks, Dev Tools) (EDABAFAA), Corporate/L&D Course Licensing from Creators (B2B Upskilling) (MPACALAH)

Keywords

• IT trade publishing
• Developer learning platforms
• Technology conference organizing
• Software professional training
• B2B lead generation

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Conference Sponsorship: Technology companies and service providers sponsor S&S Media's conference portfolio (JAX, BASTA!, DevOpsCon, iJS, etc.) to gain brand visibility, exhibit, and generate leads among a highly targeted audience of software professionals. Packages are flexible or custom-designed.
2. Print and Digital Magazine Advertising: Advertising placements in trade magazines (published digitally on the learning platform and in some print editions) that are must-reads for IT developers, project managers, and decision-makers. Premium environment for brand visibility.
3. Lead Generation Services: Sponsors and advertisers can reach the company's network of ~150,000 software professionals through whitepapers, webinars, e-books, and display advertising on entwickler.de, devm.io, and devmio.nl platforms. Content-driven lead generation.
4. Academy Training and Seminars: Certified seminars, bootcamps, and in-house training programs delivered by over 100 trainers. Topics include Java, Angular, Rust, Kubernetes, IT Security, web development, and iSAQB-certified software architecture. 13,000+ participants across 150+ seminars per year.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Software & Support Media GmbH operates an integrated portfolio of developer-focused media products targeting software professionals. The core offering consists of three regional learning platforms (entwickler.de for DACH, devm.io for international, devmio.nl for the Netherlands) delivering curated technical articles, magazines, e-books, video tutorials, and live online workshops; a portfolio of leading technology conferences including JAX, W-JAX, BASTA!, DevOpsCon, International JavaScript Conference, MLCon, and J-Fall; and the Entwickler Akademie providing certified seminars and bootcamps across Java, Angular, Rust, Kubernetes, IT Security, and iSAQB-certified software architecture.

Product overview

Software & Support Media operates as a software know-how company offering a multi-platform learning ecosystem and conference portfolio. The core offering consists of three regional learning platforms: entwickler.de (German-speaking markets), devm.io (English-speaking international markets), and devmio.nl (Netherlands), providing curated technical content, video tutorials, live events, magazines, and e-books. Complementing the platforms are leading tech conferences including JAX/W-JAX, BASTA!, DevOpsCon, International JavaScript Conference, MLCon, and J-Fall, plus the Entwickler Akademie offering certified seminars, training events, and bootcamps. The company also provides sponsorship and lead generation services for reaching software professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Entwickler Akademie: Certified seminars, technical training, and bootcamps for software professionals covering Java, Angular, Rust, Kubernetes, IT Security, and iSAQB-certified software architecture
• entwickler.de
• devm.io
• devmio.nl
• S&S Communities NL

Products and services

• devm.io An English-language learning platform providing curated technical articles, magazines, e-books, online tutorials, and live online workshops for software professionals in USA, UK, and international markets.
• entwickler.de A German-language learning platform covering all technologies, offering fullstack content including live events, video tutorials, articles, and training for the German-speaking market (Germany, Switzerland, Austria).
• devmio.nl A Dutch-language learning platform serving the Netherlands market with technical content and professional development resources.
• JAX Conference Premier conference for Java, Architecture, and Software Innovation providing practical know-how on Java technology and modern engineering approaches, running for over 20 years.
• W-JAX Conference German-language conference for Java, Architecture, and Software Innovation serving the German-speaking market.
• BASTA! Conference Leading conference for web technology and .NET experts featuring strong competence in C#, .NET, Cloud, and Web technologies, running for over 20 years.
• DevOpsCon Leading event series for DevOps education and modern software infrastructure covering CI/CD, Kubernetes, Cloud, and Lean Business.
• International JavaScript Conference (iJS) Fullstack JavaScript conference focusing on Angular, React, Node.js, and related technologies, serving as an indispensable forum for web professionals.
• MLCon Event series for Machine Learning technologies and innovations bringing together ML engineers, data scientists, and business strategists.
• J-Fall Conference Largest Java conference in the Netherlands organized by and for the Java community (NLJUG), featuring keynotes, workshops, and hands-on labs.
• Entwickler Akademie High-quality training programs offering certified seminars and technical training events with over 100 trainers covering Java, Angular, Rust, Kubernetes, IT Security, web development, and iSAQB-certified software architecture.
• Software Architecture Summit Major training event for modern software architecture covering organizational impact, Domain-driven Design, and professional development.
• JavaScript Days A 4-in-1 training event covering JavaScript, Angular, React, and HTML & CSS with hands-on learning opportunities.
• IT Security Summit Training summit covering IT Security topics through over 15 power workshops spanning web and API security, DevSecOps, pentesting, and endpoint security.
• Software Architecture Camp iSAQB-certified training program for software architecture with Foundation and Advanced Level certification pathways.
• Lead Generation Services Lead generation services connecting advertisers with a network of approximately 150,000 software professionals through knowledge platforms, whitepapers, webinars, e-books, and display advertising.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000,000 page impressions per year across digital platforms
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NLJUG (Netherlands Java User Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerS&S Media organizes J-Fall, the largest Java conference in the Netherlands, in partnership with NLJUG (Netherlands Java User Group). The conference is organized 'by the community, for the community' and brings together leading experts and enthusiasts for knowledge sharing and community engagement.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Packt Publishing: Tech book and video publisher with a subscription learning platform for software professionals. Comparable in IT publishing, e-books, and video tutorial library monetization.
• GOTO Conferences: Independent operator of tech conferences for software developers (GOTO, YOW!, droidcon). Comparable in running developer-focused conference portfolios and monetizing via sponsorship.
• Manning Publications: Tech book and video learning publisher for software professionals, also offering liveProjects and online courses. Comparable in curated developer learning content and B2C subscription learning.
• O'Reilly Media: Tech book publisher and operator of the O'Reilly learning platform for software professionals. Closely comparable in targeting software professionals with curated learning content, training videos, and corporate subscription products.
• Heise Medien: German IT publisher operating iX, c't, and Heise Online plus developer conferences. A direct DACH-based peer with a similar IT publishing-and-events business model.
• Pluralsight: Online tech skills learning platform serving software developers and IT professionals with subscription and enterprise training. Directly comparable in B2B technology upskilling and enterprise team subscriptions.
• Apress: Tech book publisher (Springer Nature imprint) covering software development, web, and data topics. Comparable in IT publishing for software professionals and developers.

Broad incumbents

• Stack Overflow: Developer Q&A and community platform part of the Prosus network. A broader incumbent that captures software professional attention via free knowledge sharing, competing indirectly for technical audience mindshare and ad budgets.

Emerging players

• Codemotion: Tech community and conference organizer running developer-focused events across Europe. Comparable in running developer conferences and community programs targeting software professionals.
• codecentric: German IT consulting and training company with a developer community and conference circuit (JavaScript Days, etc.). Adjacent DACH peer operating IT training and tech community programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sandsmediagroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Software & Support Media