What raphael does

Raphael GmbH is a privately held German digital agency founded in 2001 and headquartered in Dortmund, with a second office in Munich co-located with its parent-group affiliate +Pluswerk AG. The firm delivers end-to-end digital services — strategy, UX design, platform development, system integration, and ongoing managed operations — to German Mittelstand and large enterprises, with a particularly strong footprint in the public sector (universities, research institutions, government bodies, cultural organizations) and humanitarian non-profits. Core delivery is built on TYPO3 CMS, with secondary capability on WordPress and NEOS CMS, deployed on Kubernetes/Docker infrastructure with Apache Solr search and multi-site architecture capable of running hundreds of microsites from a single codebase (e.g., 700+ Malteser sites, 280+ HSMV university domains, 24+ RVR microsites).

The agency's technology stack also extends into commerce integration (Magento + ERP + Salesforce + OCI/Punchout, as deployed for ATLAS Schuhfabrik) and into practical AI integration (chatbots and smart search via a GDPR-compliant EU processor, mobilistics GmbH). Its proprietary differentiators are the TYPO3 Higher Education Package and Microsite Kickstarter tooling, a Scrum-based agile delivery model with fixed-price contracting, and certified TYPO3 / Scrum Master / Product Owner talent (TYPO3 Association Platinum Member status). BITV 2.0 / WCAG accessibility compliance and VgV/UVgO public-procurement participation are recurring requirements in the client base.

Commercially, Raphael generates revenue through three streams: (1) project-based digital consulting, strategy and implementation (one-time project fees), (2) ongoing managed services including Kubernetes hosting, 24/7 monitoring, security, and continuous platform evolution (recurring managed-services revenue), and (3) bundled multi-site / multiportal platform engagements that combine large upfront build with long-tail operations. Long-term client relationships (Malteser since 2008, ATLAS since 2013, TEDi since 2015, HSMV consortium ongoing) drive both renewal economics and switching-cost stickiness. The firm is led by managing directors Sonja Raphael (Dipl. Ing. Architektin), Hans-Jörg Raphael (Dipl. Informatiker), and Daniel Cron, with Anna Steffen and Verena Kleckel-Siefke holding Prokura. The customer base is exclusively B2B; there is no consumer product or self-serve SaaS offering.

Name

raphael

Legal name

raphael GmbH

Website

https://raphael-gmbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Raphael GmbH is a German digital agency (founded 2001, Dortmund/Munich) building TYPO3-based multi-site web platforms, e-commerce integrations, and managed operations for public-sector, university, non-profit, and Mittelstand enterprise clients across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Agency Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Enterprise Application UX, Portals & Low-Code Extensions (BPAEAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industry-Specific Low-Code Platforms (Vertical App Platforms) (HDAEAKAL), Agents & Autonomous Workflows (Tool Use, Planning, Multi-Agent) (HDAAACAF), AI Integration & Orchestration Platforms (Connectors, Workflow, iPaaS for AI) (HDAEANAI)

Keywords

• TYPO3 CMS development
• Digital agency services
• Multi-site platform solutions
• Enterprise web development
• Digital transformation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Consulting & Strategy: Advisory services for digital strategy, UX/UI design, requirements analysis, and project steering. Typically scoped as part of larger implementation projects or standalone engagements.
2. Web Platform Development & Implementation: Design, development, and deployment of websites, portals, and multi-site ecosystems. Primarily project-based with fixed-scope contracts using agile (Scrum) methodology. Long-term client relationships drive repeat engagements and continuous development.
3. Ongoing Operations & Support: Managed hosting, technical support, and continuous platform evolution for existing clients (e.g., Kubernetes-based infrastructure, 24/7 monitoring, security). Generates recurring revenue from long-term partnerships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Raphael GmbH is a German digital agency that designs, develops, and operates complex web platforms, multi-site/multiportal ecosystems, and integrated commerce solutions primarily on TYPO3 CMS (with WordPress and NEOS as alternatives). The agency combines strategy and project management, UX/UI design, system integration, AI chatbot/smart search features, and Kubernetes-based managed hosting, serving mid-market companies, large enterprises, universities, public sector institutions, and non-profit organizations.

Product overview

Raphael GmbH is a German digital agency serving mid-market and large enterprises with digital strategy, complex web projects, and ongoing service. The portfolio is organized around six core service lines — Technology Solutions (TYPO3, WordPress, NEOS CMS implementations), AI Solutions (chatbots and smart search), Strategy & Project Management (Scrum-based), UX & Customer Experience (including BITV 2.0 accessibility), System Integration & Architecture (ERP/CRM/API integrations), and Digital Platforms & Portals (multisite/multiportal ecosystems). Key platform offerings include TYPO3 CMS solutions (including the Higher Education Package for universities with Microsite Kickstarter), WordPress and NEOS CMS alternatives, Kubernetes-hosted infrastructure, and Solr-based enterprise search. Their flagship multiportal projects include Malteser (700+ websites), the Hochschulverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (7 universities, 280+ domains), and the Regionalverband RVR (24+ microsites). They also deliver integrated commerce platforms (e.g., ATLAS with Salesforce/ERP integration and AI chatbot) and ongoing website hosting with Docker/Kubernetes, monitoring, and support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TYPO3 CMS Solutions
• Multi-Site Platform & Multiportal Solutions
• AI Solutions (Chatbots & Smart Search)
• Digital Strategy & Project Management
• UX & Customer Experience Design
• System Integration & Architecture
• Managed Hosting & Infrastructure (Kubernetes)
• WordPress & NEOS CMS Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ websites managed on a single multiportal platform for Malteser Germany
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers17 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

Integration15 records

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• +Pluswerk AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner+Pluswerk AG is the parent/group company of raphael GmbH. The partnership involves joint project delivery across multiple office locations (Dortmund, Munich). +Pluswerk and raphael collaborate on large-scale multi-site platform projects, particularly university consortium platforms (e.g., Hochschulverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where both entities worked across multiple standorte). +Pluswerk provides additional development capacity and cross-location coverage for shared enterprise and public sector clients.
• TYPO3 AssociationcoreTechnology or Integrationraphael GmbH is a TYPO3 Association Platinum Member – the highest tier of membership. The agency holds multiple TYPO3 certifications (CMS Certified Editor, Developer, Integrator) and actively participates in the TYPO3 ecosystem including the annual TYPO3 Conference where the agency has received TYPO3 Awards. Platinum membership signifies deep integration with and contribution to the TYPO3 open-source CMS community.
• BVDW (Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft)minorOthersraphael GmbH is a member of the Bundesverband Digitaler Wirtschaft (BVDW) – the German Digital Economy Association. Membership indicates adherence to industry standards and professional guidelines in digital marketing and web development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Neofonie: Berlin-based German digital agency and software vendor with enterprise content, search (Solr/Twitter), and AI capabilities. Overlaps with Raphael on enterprise search and AI chatbot integrations.
• Aperto (IBM iX): Large German digital agency (now part of IBM iX) with broad enterprise and public-sector digital transformation capabilities. Competes with Raphael for large enterprise and public-sector digital platform deals at a much larger scale.
• Arvato Systems (Bertelsmann): Large Bertelsmann-owned IT services provider with public-sector and enterprise digital platform capabilities in DACH. Competes for the same large public-sector and Mittelstand platform engagements as Raphael, but at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• jweiland.net: Long-established German TYPO3 agency with hosting, support, and development services. Competes directly for TYPO3 hosting, support, and smaller TYPO3 implementation projects in DACH.
• Pluswerk AG: Parent group agency of Raphael; multi-location German digital agency with overlapping TYPO3 and enterprise CMS capabilities. Operates as a sibling agency and capacity partner within the same group.
• Netresearch DTT: German TYPO3 and Drupal digital agency with comparable enterprise CMS, e-commerce, and integration offerings. Competes for similar German Mittelstand and public-sector TYPO3/Drupal engagements.
• Bitmotion: TYPO3-specialist agency in Germany with comparable higher-education and multi-site platform delivery. Closest direct peer to Raphael for TYPO3 Higher Education Package-style projects.
• Sitegeist: Hamburg-based TYPO3 and enterprise CMS agency with multi-site and integration capabilities for German enterprise and public-sector clients. Overlaps with Raphael on TYPO3 multi-site and integration work.
• Dreikon: German TYPO3 enterprise agency focused on complex multi-site and portal projects. Directly comparable to Raphael's multi-site and public-sector work.
• Punkt.de: German TYPO3-focused digital agency based in Karlsruhe with deep multi-site and enterprise web platform expertise. Direct competitor for TYPO3-based multi-site and public-sector engagements in Germany.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/internetagentur.raphael
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/raphael-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/raphael_digitalagentur
• Xx.com/raphaelgmbh

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 raphael