What Cruncher does

Cruncher is a Lausanne-based digital web development agency founded in 2011 by Stephen Band and Marco Bonetti, who continue to operate as the two co-founders and directors. The firm designs and builds responsive websites, web applications, e-commerce portals, and interactive tools for a client base concentrated in Swiss enterprises, educational institutions, cultural organizations, and government entities. Its core technology stack is built on Django and Django CMS, with semantic HTML and CSS, progressive JavaScript enhancement, Elasticsearch, WebGL, and SVG underpinning capabilities such as interactive maps, 3D visualizations, video transcoding pipelines, and custom product configurators. The agency's portfolio includes named, productized offerings (EPFL Newsletter Builder, EPFL Graphic Generator, KAVEA video streaming platform, Touring Machine tour management software) alongside bespoke CMS, e-commerce, and marketplace builds for clients such as EPFL, ECAL, Swiss Typefaces, Galerie 1 2 3, Blondel, Procsea, and Nendaz.

The business runs as a professional services shop on custom project-based, multi-year contracts; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct outreach, referrals, and a long-standing partnership with Swiss design agency :ratio, supplemented by an inbound portfolio website, technical blog, case studies, and an open-source developer-relations presence (maintaining Django packages such as Django Rosetta and Django Simple Captcha). Cruncher operates primarily in Switzerland with a stated footprint into France, delivers through two core directors with occasional intern support, and has no external investors, parent company, or public funding on record.

Name

Cruncher

Legal name

Cruncher

Website

https://cruncher.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cruncher is a Lausanne-based web development agency founded in 2011 that builds custom websites, web applications, e-commerce platforms, and interactive tools for Swiss enterprises, educational institutions, cultural organizations, and government clients using Django, semantic web technologies, and WebGL.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Web Development Services: Professional services revenue from building custom websites, web applications, e-commerce platforms, and digital tools for clients. Projects range from simple websites to complex platforms with specific technical requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cruncher is a Lausanne-based web development agency that designs and builds custom websites, web applications, e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, and interactive digital tools for Swiss and international clients. Projects combine front-end creativity with solid back-end systems, leveraging Django/Django CMS, semantic HTML/CSS, progressive JavaScript enhancement, Elasticsearch, WebGL, and SVG to deliver high-performance, accessible solutions. The agency also develops named proprietary tools (e.g., EPFL Newsletter Builder, EPFL Graphic Generator, KAVEA, Touring Machine) and contributes open-source packages used worldwide.

Product overview

Cruncher is a Lausanne-based web development agency delivering custom websites, e-commerce platforms, and interactive web tools. The portfolio spans CMS-powered websites and web applications (e.g., Stojan rebrand, ECAL design school site, Blondel chocolatier), e-commerce and marketplace platforms (Galerie 1 2 3, Swiss Typefaces, Procsea B2B marketplace), named tools including EPFL Newsletter Builder (a DjangoCMS-based email authoring platform), EPFL Graphic Generator (a poster and social-media design tool), and KAVEA (a video streaming and subscription platform), as well as Touring Machine (a tour management web application). Capabilities include interactive maps, WebGL 3D visualisations, and real-time trading interfaces. The agency also contributes open-source tools including Literal (dynamic templating), Django Rosetta, Django Simple Captcha, and Scribe (SVG music renderer).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CMS-Powered Websites and Web Applications

Quantifiable outcome

• Nendaz Tourism website visitors doubled after launch compared to pre-2020 website
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• :ratiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term design partnership with Swiss UX/design agency :ratio. Collaborative relationship on multiple projects including Galerie 1 2 3, ECAL, Nendaz, Université Populaire Lausanne, and Objectif Terre. :ratio handles UX and graphic design while Cruncher provides technical implementation.
• Django CMScoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary technology framework used for many projects including ECAL website, Blondel e-commerce, EPFL Newsletter Builder, and Quartier du Flon. Django CMS provides flexible content management with custom plugin development.
• BasecampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouring Machine is described as 'like the Basecamp of world touring' - inspired by Basecamp's organizational approach for tour management software.
• ElasticsearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationSearch technology used in ECAL website and Living Archives for faceted, cross-linked search functionality with automatic indexing.
• WebSocketscoreTechnology or IntegrationReal-time communication technology used in Procsea B2B marketplace for pushing information through multiple channels to the browser for live updates.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Liip: Swiss digital agency based in Lausanne and other cities offering custom web development, e-commerce, and Django/Python projects for Swiss enterprises and public-sector clients. Directly comparable in scope, geography, and technical stack.
• Ergon Informatik: Zurich-headquartered Swiss software engineering firm delivering bespoke web and enterprise software for Swiss clients in finance, public sector, and industry. Comparable in building custom digital solutions for high-end Swiss customers.
• Superhuit: Geneva-based digital studio creating custom websites and interactive experiences for Swiss cultural, institutional, and brand clients. Comparable in service mix, Swiss focus, and design-led web engagements.
• Hinderling Volkart: Swiss digital and brand agency delivering bespoke websites, platforms, and interactive work for Swiss institutions and global brands. Comparable in serving prestigious Swiss clients with custom-built digital products.
• Unikat Kommunikation: Swiss digital agency focused on strategy, design, and web development for institutional and corporate clients. Comparable boutique Swiss agency competing for similar project-based custom web mandates.
• Atelier Girsberger: Lausanne-based Swiss design and web studio offering bespoke websites for cultural, institutional, and brand clients. Comparable in size, geography, and project-based custom web delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Active Theory: Los Angeles-based digital experience studio renowned for WebGL and interactive 3D web work for global brands. Comparable in WebGL/3D technical specialisation and portfolio of high-profile custom experiences, though at significantly larger scale and global footprint.
• Ustwo: Global digital product studio building custom web and mobile products for major brands and institutions. Comparable as a studio with a strong design and engineering culture and premium client base, though much larger and more international than Cruncher.

Emerging players

• Resn: New Zealand-based interactive web studio producing award-winning custom websites with strong emphasis on WebGL, animation, and creative engineering. Comparable as a boutique agency specialising in highly designed, technically ambitious custom web projects.
• Nordkyn: Norwegian digital experience studio focused on data-driven storytelling and bespoke interactive websites. Comparable as a small specialist agency doing highly custom, design-led web work for prominent clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cruncher
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cruncher

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Cruncher