What Neugelb does

Neugelb Studios GmbH is a Berlin- and Frankfurt-based digital design studio that operates exclusively as the dedicated Digital Design Studio of Commerzbank AG, one of Germany's largest banks. Founded in 2016 and structured as a wholly-owned German GmbH subsidiary, Neugelb employs 97 people from 27 nationalities across offices in Berlin-Kreuzberg (mobile team) and Frankfurt-Bahnhofsviertel (web team, co-located near Commerzbank Tower). The studio's offerings center on three interconnected assets: a user-centered Mobile Banking App developed through interdisciplinary collaboration, a Living Styleguide comprising design documentation with live examples and design+code libraries, and a Digital Brand Vision providing a holistic blueprint of Commerzbank's digital ecosystem. Its core technology stack is built around service design, agile product development, UX/UI design, user research, and quality assurance — not standalone software products.

The studio combines design, development, research, and QA expertise to deliver products, features, and services that are deployed through Commerzbank's customer-facing digital channels to millions of retail and corporate banking customers. There is no public API, no SDK, no app-store distribution, and no external pricing — work is delivered as internal services to the parent. Leadership comprises Managing Directors Thomas Kaiser, Hannes Kober, and Holger Grünwald, with Dominik Stöttner as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

The revenue model is professional services delivered as an internal cost center: Neugelb operates as Commerzbank's captive design agency, generating no external revenue and incurring no external customer-acquisition costs. Go-to-market is effectively enterprise field sales in reverse — fully embedded within a single client's organizational structure, working across product teams up to the Marketing Board. Distribution and marketing channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, XING, case studies on neugelb.com) function primarily as employer branding rather than demand generation, consistent with a wholly-owned subsidiary whose only customer is its parent.

Name

Neugelb

Legal name

Neugelb Studios GmbH

Website

https://neugelb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Neugelb Studios GmbH is the wholly-owned digital design studio of Commerzbank AG, employing 97 designers, developers, researchers, and QA specialists in Berlin and Frankfurt to build mobile banking apps, web platforms, and design systems exclusively for Commerzbank's digital ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Design Services

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)

Keywords

• Digital design studio
• User experience design
• Mobile banking design
• Design system development
• Service design consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Internal Services to Commerzbank: Neugelb Studios GmbH operates as the internal digital design studio for Commerzbank AG. As a wholly-owned subsidiary, it provides design, development, and research services exclusively to its parent company. Revenue is generated through the service relationship with Commerzbank as an internal cost center.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Neugelb Studios GmbH is the internal digital design studio of Commerzbank AG, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary. It develops user-centered digital banking products, including a mobile banking application, a Living Styleguide (design documentation with live examples and code libraries), and a holistic Digital Brand Vision for Commerzbank's digital ecosystem. The studio provides design, development, research, and QA services exclusively to its parent company through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Product overview

Neugelb is the internal digital design studio for Commerzbank, operating as a unified service design studio rather than a product company. The studio develops digital banking experiences through three interconnected offerings: the Mobile Banking App (user-centered mobile application), the Living Styleguide (design documentation with live examples and code libraries), and the Digital Brand Vision (holistic digital ecosystem strategy). These services work together to push the boundaries of digital banking through user-centered design and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Banking App
• Living Styleguide
• Digital Brand Vision

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Commerzbank AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeugelb Studios GmbH is the dedicated Digital Design Studio for Commerzbank AG, one of Germany's largest banks. As a wholly-owned subsidiary, Neugelb operates as Commerzbank's internal design and development team, working exclusively on digital banking products, features, and services for the bank. The studio collaborates closely with Commerzbank stakeholders across all levels, from product teams to the Marketing Board.
• Hochschule Darmstadt (h_da)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership between Neugelb and the Institute for Product Design at h_da Darmstadt. The collaboration involved 10 Neugelb professionals working with 10 design students on innovative banking concepts. The year-and-a-half project culminated in a final presentation to Commerzbank's Marketing Board. This partnership provided fresh perspectives from the next generation of designers while offering students real-world project experience.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• Netlight: Nordic-origin digital and management consultancy with offices across Northern Europe. Comparable as a high-talent, culture-driven consultancy, though primarily Northern European rather than German in focus.

Direct peers

• SinnerSchrader (now part of Accenture Song): Long-standing Hamburg-based digital agency offering UX/UI design, product development and digital strategy for enterprise clients including banks. Comparable in size, German footprint, and digital product design focus to Neugelb, but operates with external clients rather than as a captive subsidiary.
• Diconium: Stuttgart-based digital product studio specializing in digital commerce, connected vehicle and enterprise platforms. Comparable as a German digital product house with similar headcount range and enterprise customer profile.
• Ergosign: German UX design consultancy with offices in Saarbrücken, Munich and Hamburg focused on user experience, interaction design and usability for enterprise and industrial clients. Comparable as a mid-sized German UX-native firm.
• Ustwo (now ustudio): London-based digital product studio famous for the Monzo banking app design. Directly comparable as a multi-disciplinary digital product studio that designs and ships consumer-facing mobile banking experiences.
• Huge: Global digital agency with a substantial financial services practice (notably USAA and Citi). Comparable in offering integrated digital product, brand and UX for large banks at scale.
• MHP (Mieschke Hofmann und Partner): Porsche-owned digital and management consultancy operating as a captive subsidiary of a major industrial group. Highly comparable structurally to Neugelb as an in-house digital studio of a large German corporate parent.
• IxDS (Interaction Design): Berlin-based interaction design consultancy serving clients across mobility, finance and healthcare. Comparable as a mid-size German UX consultancy with similar geographic and cultural roots to Neugelb.

Broad incumbents

• Accenture Song (formerly Fjord): Global design and creative services arm of Accenture, with deep financial services design expertise (e.g., BBVA, HSBC). Comparable in service offering (design + build for banks) but operates at vastly larger scale.
• IDEO: Globally recognized design firm with a strong financial services practice. Comparable as a high-end design partner to large financial institutions, though much larger and more brand-driven than Neugelb.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/neugelb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/neugelb
• Instagraminstagram.com/neugelb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Neugelb