Databay
Databay AG is a German IT full-service provider specializing in ILIAS open-source LMS hosting, custom plugins, and managed services for DACH universities, enterprises, and public institutions, with adjacent TYPO3, custom software, and IT infrastructure offerings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersWürselen, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Databay does
Databay AG is a privately held German IT full-service provider headquartered in Würselen near Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded in 1997 as Databay GbR and incorporated as a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) around 2000, the company operates with 51-100 employees across offices in Würselen and Aachen-Brand. Its core offering is end-to-end services for the open-source ILIAS learning management system, including GDPR-compliant hosting on Databay's own hardware in Germany, consulting, design customization, custom plugin development, training, and user support. Databay is a founding member of ILIAS open source e.V., holds ILIAS Premium Partner status, and has developer maintainers of multiple ILIAS core components, with its ILIAS department head serving on the ILIAS Technical Board.
Beyond ILIAS, Databay delivers TYPO3-based website services (the firm holds TYPO3 Silver Membership), custom software development using Symfony and its own FastFW PHP framework, IT infrastructure services (networking, server/storage, BigBlueButton and application hosting, enterprise mail servers), and e-learning content production. The firm's monetization model combines recurring managed services (annual ILIAS hosting, support subscriptions), project-based professional services, and selective commercial plugin licensing — the two-factor authentication plugin priced at €1,500 initial license plus €750 per version upgrade is the most visible commercial plugin.
The customer base is concentrated in the DACH region and spans German universities (Universität Bern, Universität zu Köln, Justus Liebig Universität Gießen), federal agencies (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), healthcare providers (vitos), and enterprises (TÜV SÜD Akademie, Henkel, YNCORIS, BELFOR DeHaDe). Databay sells primarily through direct consultation-driven sales via its website and inside-sales contact (CFO Philipp Hermanns), supplemented by free webinars, community engagement, and participation in publicly funded research projects (OptimizationChat, LUTZ, diaMant) under EU/EFRE NRW programs. The 2025 leadership transition saw Ralf Schenk move from the Executive Board to the Supervisory Board after 25 years, with Aresch Yavari (CEO), Jens Conze (COO), and Philipp Hermanns (CFO) continuing as the executive board.
Databay firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Databay
- Legal name
- Databay AG
- Website
- https://databay.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Databay AG is a German IT full-service provider specializing in ILIAS open-source LMS hosting, custom plugins, and managed services for DACH universities, enterprises, and public institutions, with adjacent TYPO3, custom software, and IT infrastructure offerings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Databay industry classification
Industry- Product category
- IT Services and E-Learning Solutions
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Data Platforms & Modern Data Stack Services (Lakehouse, DW, MDM) (BPAEAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Data Sharing, Data Exchange & Data Marketplace Platforms (HDAEABAH)
Keywords
Where Databay is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Würselen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Databay business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- ILIAS Services: Full-service ILIAS lifecycle management including hosting, consulting, design, custom development, training, and user support. Revenue is project-based and recurring (hosting contracts).
- TYPO3 Website Services: TYPO3-based web design, development, hosting, and newsletter services for business clients.
- Custom Software Development: Individual software development including app development (iOS/Android/cross-platform), business process digitization, interface development, Excel migration, and custom solutions.
- IT Infrastructure Services: Networking, server and storage, client management, BigBlueButton hosting, application hosting, and enterprise mail server services.
- ILIAS Plugin Licensing: Sale of ILIAS plugins such as the 2FA plugin (1,500 EUR initial license + 750 EUR per version), and design packages (Basis 600 EUR, Professional 3,000 EUR).
- E-Learning Content Production: Creation of e-learning content including Web-Based Trainings (WBT), learning and explainer videos, interactive modules, and quizzes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | ILIAS Hosting — managed hosting on Databay's proprietary hardware in Germany |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | 2FA Plugin Standard — initial license for all 2FA variants (shared accounts, global roles, app-based) |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | TestArchiveCreator — open-source ILIAS plugin, free of license costs |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | VIMP Integration Plugins — open-source ILIAS plugins, free of license costs |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | HISinOne Proxy — open-source interface, free of license costs |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ILIAS Design — Basis-Paket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ILIAS Design — Professional-Paket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ILIAS Design — Premium-Paket |
| Subscription | Annual | ILIAS User Support — ongoing support service |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Databay product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Databay AG provides full-service IT solutions with a deep specialization in the ILIAS open-source learning management system, delivering managed hosting, consulting, design, custom development, training, and user support for universities, enterprises, and public institutions. The company also offers TYPO3-based website design and hosting, custom PHP/Symfony (and proprietary FastFW) software development, and IT infrastructure services including networking, server, storage, and application hosting on its own GDPR-compliant German hardware.
Product overview
Databay AG is an IT services company offering a portfolio centered on the open-source ILIAS learning management system and related e-learning services, alongside TYPO3 website development, custom software development, and IT infrastructure services. The core ILIAS E-Learning platform is complemented by extensive add-on modules including business extensions (EnrollmentManager, Pflichtkursmonitoring, Berichtswesen, SAP-LSMW-Adapter, Zertifikatsmailing, Lernenden-Führung, Dezentrale Benutzerverwaltung), development plugins (TestOverview, ExtendedTestStatistics, TestArchiveCreator, InteractiveVideo, Mindmaps, Matrix Chat, VIMP Integration), and training services. Additional offerings include the SeminarCatalog sub-brand for seminar management, E-Learning Content production, TYPO3 website services, custom software development (Symfony/FastFW frameworks), and IT infrastructure hosting. The company is also developing OptimizationChat, an AI-powered system for natural language-to-optimization model conversion. Databay operates as an ILIAS Premium Partner and TYPO3 Silver Member with its own infrastructure in Germany.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ILIAS E-Learning Platform Services Full-service offering around the open-source ILIAS LMS, including hosting, on-premises operation, user support, consulting, design, custom development, business add-ons, and training. Targeted at universities, enterprises, and public institutions in the DACH region.
- ILIAS Hosting Managed hosting service for ILIAS installations of any size, run on Databay's proprietary hardware in Germany under GDPR-compliant conditions. Available to universities, enterprises, and public institutions on a recurring annual subscription.
- ILIAS On-Premises Support Installation, operation, and external support of ILIAS on customer-owned hardware, providing Databay's expertise without managed hosting.
- ILIAS Anwendersupport (User Support) Subscription-based user support service for ILIAS platform operators, covering troubleshooting, guidance, and assistance for end users on the customer's ILIAS installation.
- ILIAS Design Packages Tiered ILIAS visual design customization: Basis-Paket (€600) for basic color/logo adjustments, Professional-Paket (€3,000) for full corporate design with form and font customization, and Premium-Paket (on request) including design concepts and UX analysis.
- ILIAS Beratung (Consulting) Strategic and conceptual consulting for ILIAS implementation, covering platform selection, process design, mandatory and voluntary learning scenarios, and optimization strategies.
- ILIAS Entwicklung (Custom Development) Custom ILIAS development of plugins, third-party system integrations (SAP, HISinOne, Proctorio, VIMP, Matrix), design customizations, and feature extensions (Test & Assessment, Interactive Video, Mindmaps, Matrix Chat, among others).
- ILIAS Business Add-ons Enterprise add-ons for ILIAS, including EnrollmentManager (automated course assignment), Pflichtkursmonitoring (mandatory course monitoring), Berichtswesen (reporting), SAP-LSMW Adapter, Roundcube Webmail Client, Zertifikatsmailing (certificate mailing), Lernenden-Führung (learner guidance), and Dezentrale Benutzerverwaltung (decentralised user administration).
- ILIAS Schulungen (Training) ILIAS training services including open webinars (covering ILIAS 9 and ILIAS 10 topics) and customized customer-specific training sessions.
- SeminarCatalog Sub-brand seminar management solution built on the ILIAS platform for managing and marketing in-person events and e-learning courses. Operates as a separate product at seminarcatalog.de.
- E-Learning Content Production E-learning content production including Web-Based Trainings (WBT) using Articulate Rise 360/Storyline 360, learning and explainer videos (flat design, cartoon, whiteboard, screencast), interactive modules, quizzes, and SCORM packages for integration with ILIAS, Moodle, and other LMS platforms.
- TYPO3 Website Services Professional website design, development, hosting, and newsletter services based on the open-source TYPO3 content management system. Databay is a TYPO3 Silver Member.
- Individuelle Softwareentwicklung (Custom Software Development) Bespoke software development using the Symfony framework and Databay's proprietary FastFW framework, covering app development (iOS, Android, cross-platform), business process digitization, interface development, Excel migration, and standard solutions such as the Datendrehscheibe data hub.
- IT-Services (Infrastructure) IT infrastructure and hosting services including network technology, server and storage, client management, TYPO3 hosting, BigBlueButton hosting, application hosting, enterprise mail servers, and AnyDesk remote support.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Plugin for ILIAS Proprietary security plugin for ILIAS enabling two-factor authentication via email OTP or authenticator apps, with support for shared accounts, global roles, and personal accounts, blocking bypass attempts and maintaining login logs.
- OptimizationChat (AI Research Product) AI-powered chat system under development that converts natural-language descriptions of optimization problems (production, logistics, warehouse management) into formalized mathematical optimization models solvable by standard solvers. Targeted at SMEs.
Quantifiable outcome
- GDPR-compliant ILIAS hosting on proprietary German hardware
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Databay
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Databay technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration14 records
AI capability5 records
Feature23 records
Databay partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ILIAS open source e.V.coreDatabay AG is a founding member of ILIAS open source e.V. The head of Databay's ILIAS department serves on the Technical Board, directly influencing the strategic direction of the ILIAS open source learning management system project. Databay developers serve as maintainers for multiple ILIAS components and contribute actively to the project's development.
- TYPO3 AssociationcoreDatabay AG holds Silver Membership in the TYPO3 Association, supporting the TYPO3 open source CMS project. The membership contributions fund the continued development of TYPO3 as a world-class content management system, and enable Databay to develop proprietary extensions for its clients.
- BELFOR DeHaDe GmbHminorResearch partner in the diaMant project (participative change management) funded under the Cluster Smart Logistik initiative. BELFOR DeHaDe represents the customer perspective in developing methods for collaborative digital transformation in customer-provider networks.
- HenkelminorResearch partner in the diaMant project (participative change management) under the Cluster Smart Logistik initiative. Henkel contributes industry use cases for developing digital tools for collaborative change management between customers and service providers.
- YNCORIS GmbH & Co. KGminorResearch partner in the diaMant project (participative change management) under the Cluster Smart Logistik initiative. YNCORIS contributes industrial chemical industry use cases for collaborative digital transformation research.
- diaMant Project ConsortiumminorMulti-partner research consortium under Cluster Smart Logistik developing methods and digital tools for participative change management in customer-provider networks. Databay contributes software development expertise for the business model clinic methodology.
- LUTZ Research ConsortiumminorResearch project 'LUTZ' (Lernumgebung für transformationale Führungsarbeit der Zukunft) successfully completed in April 2023. Developed an interactive learning environment for leadership training with realistic simulations. Databay contributed software development and design expertise for the digital learning world.
- e-teaching.orgminorPartner for demonstrating InteractiveVideo plugin through a demo video published on e-teaching.org platform, which provides a public showcase for the ILIAS interactive video extension.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Databay competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Communardo GmbH: German IT services firm specializing in collaboration and knowledge management (Atlassian, Microsoft). Comparable size and regional German customer base, with overlap in intranet/knowledge platform services that complement LMS offerings.
- Instructure (Canvas): Global commercial LMS incumbent serving higher education and enterprises with the Canvas platform. Represents the competitive threat of well-funded commercial alternatives to ILIAS in the German and European higher-education market.
- Atos Germany: Large global IT services incumbent with significant German public-sector and enterprise footprint. Competes for the same large-scale digitalization and managed services contracts that Databay addresses via partnership or as a niche specialist.
- T-Systems International GmbH: Deutsche Telekom's enterprise IT services arm — a broad incumbent offering cloud, managed services, and digitalization across German enterprises and public sector. Competes for the same enterprise LMS/digitalization RFPs that Databay targets.
- Dataport: Public-sector IT services provider for northern German states, offering managed hosting, software development, and digitalization. Competes indirectly with Databay for German public-sector and university contracts via large framework agreements.
Emerging players
- itemis AG: German IT services firm of comparable size with strong open-source and model-driven engineering expertise. Overlaps with Databay in custom software development and regional German enterprise customer base, though not focused on ILIAS.
- Moodle Pty Ltd: Global open-source LMS vendor and the most prominent alternative to ILIAS in the open-source LMS category. While Moodle competes directly with ILIAS at the platform level, Databay's plugin ecosystem is platform-specific to ILIAS and would require significant retooling to address Moodle.
Direct peers
- CAE Beratung & Entwicklung GmbH: German ILIAS Premium Partner and consulting firm offering ILIAS hosting, development, and training. Closely comparable to Databay in niche, region, and customer profile (universities and corporate learners).
- B1 Systems GmbH: German open-source IT services specialist covering Linux, cloud, and adjacent open-source enterprise software. Comparable in size, geographic focus (Germany), and open-source-first go-to-market, with overlap in hosting and managed services delivery.
- szenaris GmbH: Bremen-based German IT services firm specializing in ILIAS LMS hosting, support, and implementation. Like Databay, szenaris is an ILIAS Premium Partner serving German universities and enterprises — directly competing for the same customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Databay social profiles
Digital presenceDatabay compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Databay financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Databay leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Databay funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Databay M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Databay
What does Databay do?
Databay AG provides full-service IT solutions with a deep specialization in the ILIAS open-source learning management system, delivering managed hosting, consulting, design, custom development, training, and user support for universities, enterprises, and public institutions. The company also offers TYPO3-based website design and hosting, custom PHP/Symfony (and proprietary FastFW) software development, and IT infrastructure services including networking, server, storage, and application hosting on its own GDPR-compliant German hardware.
Is Databay a public or private company?
Databay is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Databay founded?
Databay was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Databay based?
Databay is headquartered in Würselen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Databay make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. ILIAS Services are the primary driver. The others are TYPO3 Website Services, custom Software Development, IT Infrastructure Services, ILIAS Plugin Licensing and E-Learning Content Production.
Who are Databay's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Communardo GmbH, Instructure (Canvas), Atos Germany, T-Systems International GmbH and Dataport. Emerging players are itemis AG and Moodle Pty Ltd. Direct peers are CAE Beratung & Entwicklung GmbH, B1 Systems GmbH and szenaris GmbH.
Does Databay have an API?
No public API is recorded for Databay.
What industry is Databay in?
Databay's product category is IT Services and E-Learning Solutions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAHAC, Data Platforms & Modern Data Stack Services (Lakehouse, DW, MDM), with a secondary code of HDAEABAH, Data Sharing, Data Exchange & Data Marketplace Platforms. Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7370.