What Bernstein Group does

Bernstein Group is a Berlin-headquartered strategic consulting firm founded in 2001 (originally as Steltemeier & Rawe) that advises companies, investors, startups, and institutions on political positioning, regulatory navigation, advocacy, and strategic communications across the European Union, German federal, state, and municipal levels. The firm operates under a holding structure (Bernstein Holding und Beteiligungsmanagement GmbH) with four core service divisions — Public Policy, Advocacy, Analytics, and Communications — and specialized subsidiaries including Bernstein Analytics (data-driven political intelligence and AI research) and Bernstein Health (healthcare public affairs and market access). Geographically it maintains offices in Berlin (HQ), Brussels (EU affairs), Frankfurt am Main, and Munich, with EU institutional accreditation supporting multi-level political engagement.

The firm's core technology stack combines Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), network analysis, and political data science with proprietary AI/LLM research methodologies, most notably the quarterly LLM-Zitateranking (LLM Citation Ranking) which analyzes 3,000+ responses from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok across 25 topics to measure how AI models cite German news sources, and the Q-Notes thought leadership series on LLM text processing and AI-era communications strategy. Practice groups are organized by regulated sector — Climate Neutrality & Energy, Health, Digital/Gaming/Gambling, Defense & Security, Food/Agriculture/Consumer Protection, Mobility, and Data Communications — enabling specialized regulatory and policy expertise at the practice-group level.

The business model is bilateral advisory consulting delivered directly to enterprise clients through specialized practice groups, with pricing not publicly disclosed. Marketing relies on owned channels including a blog (Bernstein Perspectives), email newsletters (Expect Impact, Expect the Unexpected, Substack for Bernstein Analytics), and LinkedIn thought leadership. The firm holds a Climate Partner climate-neutrality certification (2022) and is GDPR-compliant and certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. There is no external funding, no parent company, and no public listing; ownership remains with founders and partners under the Bernstein Holding structure.

Name

Bernstein Group

Legal name

Bernstein Holding und Beteiligungsmanagement GmbH

Website

https://bernstein-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bernstein Group is a Berlin-based strategic consulting firm advising corporates, investors, startups, and institutions on political positioning, regulatory affairs, advocacy, and communications across EU, German federal, state, and municipal levels. It combines traditional public affairs with proprietary OSINT and LLM-citation analytics through its Bernstein Analytics subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Political & Public Affairs Consulting

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Management Consulting Services (54161), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Affairs, Government Relations & Lobbying (BPAFADAB)

Keywords

• Political consulting services
• Public affairs advisory
• Regulatory communications
• Strategic advocacy consulting
• Crisis communications advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Bernstein Group is a strategic communications and political consulting firm that provides public policy advisory, advocacy, communications, and analytics services to corporations, investors, startups, and institutions navigating European and German multi-level political and regulatory environments. Services span EU, federal, state, and municipal levels, delivered through specialized practice groups covering climate/energy, digital/gaming/gambling, defense/security, food/agriculture/consumer protection, mobility, and health. The firm supplements traditional advisory work with data-driven analysis through subsidiary Bernstein Analytics, including the quarterly LLM-Zitateranking measuring how AI models cite news sources.

Product overview

Bernstein Group is a German strategic consulting firm founded in 2001, operating under a platform-plus-subsidiaries model with four core service divisions (Public Policy, Advocacy, Analytics, Communications) and specialized subsidiaries including Bernstein Analytics (data intelligence and LLM research) and Bernstein Health (healthcare policy). The firm provides political positioning, campaign management, risk assessment, and crisis communications services primarily to European companies, investors, and institutions. Key analytical products include the quarterly LLM-Zitateranking (LLM Citation Ranking) measuring AI model source citations, and the Q-Notes thought leadership series on AI communication strategies. Services are delivered through practice groups focused on climate/energy, digital/gaming, food/agriculture, data communications, and healthcare sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Policy Consulting Strategic advisory that transports client interests into political decision-making processes at EU, federal, state, and municipal levels, covering climate neutrality, digital, gaming, defense, food/agriculture, and mobility sectors. Designed for companies, investors, and institutions seeking structured engagement with political and regulatory stakeholders.
• Advocacy Narrative development and campaign execution to position client messages in political spaces — including strategic positioning, alliance building, evidence development, and data-driven stakeholder identification. Built for clients seeking to shape policy outcomes through coordinated advocacy.
• Communications Strategic communications advisory — including crisis communication, CEO positioning, litigation communication, reputation management, and media training — designed to strengthen client profiles across analog and digital channels. Targets executives and companies facing high-stakes public communications situations.
• Bernstein Analytics Data-driven political and communications analysis subsidiary offering OSINT, network analysis, political risk assessment, and regulatory due diligence services to companies, start-ups, and NGOs. Publishes the LLM-Zitateranking (LLM Citation Ranking) on a quarterly basis.
• LLM-Zitateranking (LLM Citation Ranking) Quarterly research product from Bernstein Analytics that measures how frequently AI language models (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok) cite German news sources, using standardized prompts across 25 topics from economics, domestic politics, foreign policy, culture, and sports with z-transformation to normalize across models. Targets media strategists, PR leaders, and policy communicators assessing media relevance in the AI era.
• Bernstein Health Health policy subsidiary specializing in public affairs, market access, and political advocacy for pharmaceutical and medical-technology companies in the German healthcare system. Advises on health policy advocacy and reimbursability of medical and nursing services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Published quarterly LLM Citation Ranking analyzing 3,000 AI responses across 25 topics and 750 prompts

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kekst CNC: International strategic communications consultancy specializing in corporate positioning, M&A communications, and public affairs. Comparable to Bernstein's Communications and Public Policy practices, particularly for crisis and special situation advisory.
• APCO Worldwide: Global public affairs and corporate communications consultancy with strong Brussels and German presence. Directly comparable to Bernstein in providing cross-border advocacy, policy positioning, and stakeholder engagement services.
• Hering Schuppener: Leading German corporate and financial communications consultancy with strong public affairs practice. Most directly comparable German boutique competitor to Bernstein in terms of size, market focus, and integrated public policy/communications offering.
• Portland (formerly Gplus Europe): European public affairs and strategic communications consultancy with Berlin and Brussels offices. Direct peer; explicitly referenced in Bernstein team backgrounds (Annunciata von Treu was Senior Account Manager at Gplus Europe).
• CNC (Communications & Network Consulting): Berlin-based communications and public affairs consultancy. Closely comparable German peer to Bernstein in terms of geographic focus, integrated public policy/communications model, and corporate client base.

Broad incumbents

• FTI Consulting: Global advisory firm with significant public affairs and strategic communications practice. Comparable to Bernstein in serving corporate clients on regulatory positioning, special situations, and crisis communications, but with much broader service portfolio and international footprint.
• Hill+Knowlton: Global public relations and public affairs firm with extensive European operations. Overlaps with Bernstein across corporate communications, public policy advocacy, crisis management, and healthcare communications practice areas.
• MSL Group (Publicis): Global public relations and public affairs network within Publicis. Comparable to Bernstein's integrated offering with strong European footprint, though operating at much larger scale and broader sector coverage.
• Brunswick Group: Global corporate communications and public affairs firm with deep European presence. Directly comparable to Bernstein in serving corporate clients on regulatory positioning, crisis communications, and stakeholder engagement, but with significantly larger bench and international reach across 20+ offices.
• FleishmanHillard: Global public relations and public affairs firm with extensive European operations including Frankfurt and Brussels offices. Overlaps directly with Bernstein's corporate communications, public affairs, and healthcare practice areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bernstein-group

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Bernstein Group