What Rupprecht Consult does

Rupprecht Consult - Forschung & Beratung GmbH is a privately held German research and consulting firm founded in 1996 in Cologne, specialising in sustainable urban mobility. The firm operates across three integrated service lines — Research (EU and national programme funding applications and project management), Consulting (SUMP development, climate neutrality planning, indicator systems, training), and Innovation support (pilot implementation, Living Lab management, financing advice for mobility innovations) — primarily serving municipal governments, regional and national public authorities, EU institutions (notably DG MOVE), and public transport operators across Europe, the Balkans, Turkey, Moldova, and Indonesia.

The company's product surface consists of two digital assets that complement its advisory work: the SUMP Dashboard, a web-based application enabling cities to track sustainable urban mobility plan goals, indicators, and measures with external stakeholder collaboration; and the Mobility Academy, an e-learning platform launched in 2011 hosting over 100 online courses on sustainable mobility topics. E-course hosting services are offered as an add-on. There is no disclosed proprietary AI/ML technology or software-as-a-service infrastructure beyond these tools; the firm's core technology is its advisory methodology, EU programme expertise, and content library.

Rupprecht Consult generates revenue primarily through project-based professional services engagements secured via direct sales to public-sector clients, supplemented by subscription-based digital product offerings (SUMP Dashboard and e-courses). Pricing is bespoke and not publicly disclosed. The firm maintains a 100% direct distribution model with no resellers, anchored by long-standing relationships with the European Commission — where it serves as lead author of the official EU SUMP Guidelines, currently in its third edition (2025) — and a customer network of nearly 1,000 organisations across Europe and globally. Following a 2023 management transition, the firm is now led by Managing Directors Dr. Wolfgang Backhaus and Dr. Jana Spille, operating through their entity bs connecting UG, with approximately 20 named professionals.

Name

Rupprecht Consult

Legal name

Rupprecht Consult - Forschung & Beratung GmbH

Website

https://rupprecht-consult.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rupprecht Consult is a Cologne-based research and consulting firm, founded in 1996, that advises European municipalities, regional and national governments, and EU institutions on Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, climate-neutrality planning, and mobility innovation via project-based services and the SUMP Dashboard and Mobility Academy digital products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Services: Project development, grant application support, and project management for EU and national funding programmes (Horizon Europe, Interreg, national programmes). Revenue is project-based, tied to funded research engagements with public and institutional clients.
2. Consulting Services: Advisory engagements for municipalities, regions, and national authorities on SUMP development, climate neutrality planning, indicator systems, and training. Billed as project-based consulting engagements.
3. Innovation Support Services: Pilot project implementation support, financing advice for mobility innovations, on-demand service planning, and Living Lab management. Project-based engagements with public sector clients.
4. Digital Products (Dashboard & E-Learning): SUMP Dashboard (web-based monitoring tool) and Mobility Academy e-courses, including e-course hosting services for partners. Digital products embedded within consulting engagements and offered separately.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Rupprecht Consult is a research and consulting company that helps cities, regions, national authorities, and EU institutions develop and implement Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs), achieve climate neutrality, and pilot innovative mobility solutions. It integrates three service lines (research, consulting, innovation support) and complements them with two proprietary digital products: the SUMP Dashboard (web-based monitoring tool) and the Mobility Academy (e-learning platform with over 100 courses).

Product overview

Rupprecht Consult operates as a research and consulting firm specializing in sustainable urban mobility. Their product portfolio consists of two primary digital offerings: the SUMP Dashboard, a web-based monitoring and visualization tool for tracking sustainable mobility plan goals and indicators, and the Mobility Academy, an established e-learning platform launched in 2011 with over 100 courses. These products complement their core consulting services and are used both independently and as integrated components of their advisory offerings. The company also provides e-course hosting services as an add-on to support clients in publishing training content on the Mobility Academy platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Services Project development, grant application support, and project management for EU and national funding programmes (Horizon Europe, Interreg, national programmes), delivered to public sector and institutional clients.
• Consulting Services Advisory engagements for municipalities, regions, and national authorities on Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan development, climate neutrality planning, indicator system development, and capacity building.
• Innovation Support Services Pilot project implementation support, financing advice for mobility innovations, on-demand service planning, and Living Lab management delivered to public sector clients.
• SUMP Dashboard A web-based application that enables cities to monitor SUMP goals and measures, visualize indicator development from baseline to target achievement, and transparently communicate project status to stakeholders.
• Mobility Academy E-learning platform offering over 100 online courses on sustainable urban mobility topics including SUMP planning, active mobility, shared mobility, electromobility, urban logistics, digitalisation, and intelligent transport systems.
• E-Course Hosting Services Advisory services for hosting e-learning courses on the Mobility Academy platform, including strategic consultation on course objectives, didactic support for content structuring, technical platform guidance, and quality assurance through feedback and recommendations.

Quantifiable outcome

• SUMP Guidelines adopted as worldwide planning standard; mandatory for 431 urban nodes in Europe under revised TEN-T regulation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Commission (DG MOVE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRupprecht Consult serves as the lead author (Hauptherausgeber) of the official EU SUMP Guidelines, developed in close cooperation with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport. The company is a long-standing partner in CIVITAS and contributes to the EU Urban Mobility Observatory. This partnership is foundational to the company's reputation and market positioning.
• EU Urban Mobility Observatory (EUMO) Partners: POLIS Network, PANTEIA, TRT – Trasporti e TerritoriocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in developing the SUMP Guidelines third edition and contributing to EU urban mobility policy. POLIS is a network of European cities and regions; PANTEIA is a research consultancy; TRT is an Italian transport and territory consultancy.
• Interreg Baltic Sea Region — BATS and SUMPs for BSR ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRupprecht Consult participates in Interreg Baltic Sea Region projects BATS and SUMPs for BSR, which are organising the Baltic Active Mobility 2026 conference. These are flagship regional cooperation programmes funded by the EU.
• ALTHEA Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRupprecht Consult is a partner in the ALTHEA project, which develops Transition Super Living Labs (TSLLs) bringing together cities, peri-urban spaces, and key stakeholders to co-design new configurations, governance models, and integrated measures for resilient, inclusive, and climate-neutral peri-urban areas. Kick-off meetings held in Aachen and Brussels in December 2025.
• uestra (Region Hannover)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with üstra (public transport operator in Hannover region) on autonomous bus integration (ALBUS project) and on-demand service evaluation (Sprinti). Rupprecht Consult provides implementation support, evaluation, and monitoring.
• eBRT2030 ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Bus Rapid Transit 2030 project focused on electrified, automated, and connected bus systems. Rupprecht Consult contributes innovation support and project management expertise.
• trolley:motionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for securing financing of trolley:motion initiative to innovate trolleybus systems across European cities.
• GIZ MoldovacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRupprecht Consult works with GIZ Moldova on sustainable urban mobility plans for Comrat and Soroca, Moldova. GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) is Germany's development agency.
• Civitta Strategy & Consulting RomaniacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership on SUMP development for Comrat and Soroca, Moldova. Civitta provides strategic consulting; Rupprecht Consult leads workshops and strategic mobility vision development.
• TTL Planning RomaniacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership on SUMP development for Comrat and Soroca. TTL Planning contributes planning expertise; Rupprecht Consult leads strategic vision workshops.
• Stadt AachencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership on Ac-DatEP project (mFUND programme) for digitalisation of mobility in the Aachen region. Workshop on mobility data governance organised with the city.
• BBSR (Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommissioned by BBSR for a nationwide overview and assessment of on-demand transport services compared to conventional scheduled services in public transport.
• Net Zero CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting cities on their journey to climate neutrality. Rupprecht Consult contributes SUMP and climate neutrality advisory services within the initiative.
• New Mobility Solutions Hamburg (NMS Hamburg)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFunding advisory services for New Mobility Solutions Hamburg to support mobility innovation projects.
• ULaaDS Consortium (Urban Logistics as an on-Demand Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean research project developing urban logistics as an on-demand service. Rupprecht Consult provides Living Lab implementation support.
• DISCO Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerData-driven, Integrated, Synchromodal, Collaborative and Optimised urban freight meta model. Rupprecht Consult contributes Living Lab support and urban logistics expertise.
• SCALE Project Consortium (Smart Charging Alignment for Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorizon Europe project on smart charging alignment. Rupprecht Consult contributes Living Lab support and electromobility expertise.
• Transformer ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccelerating the shift towards climate neutrality in cities through Living Lab approaches. Rupprecht Consult provides Living Lab implementation support.
• AC-DatEP Project (mFUND)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnermFUND project on data governance and mobility data infrastructure in the Aachen Functional Urban Area. Rupprecht Consult co-organises workshops and develops a roadmap for digitalisation of mobility in municipalities.
• Ride2Autonomy ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromoting automated shuttles' integration into public transport. Rupprecht Consult provides innovation support and project evaluation.
• fh. Aachen (FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the AC-DatEP project. Torsten Merkens from FH Aachen presented on regional cooperation in the Aachener Städteregion at the project workshop.
• go.Rheinland GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in AC-DatEP project, presenting the NRW multimodal data hub for mobility data integration.
• DREAM_PACE Consortium (Interreg Central Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDemand-responsive transport integrating regional mobility networks for passengers in Central Europe. Rupprecht Consult provides expertise in on-demand services and Living Lab management.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Arup: Global engineering and design consultancy with deep urban mobility, transport planning, and city development practices. Competes for major SUMP and sustainable mobility masterplanning projects, especially in larger European cities.
• Ramboll: Large global engineering, design, and consultancy firm with a major mobility and urban planning practice. Competes for the same large-scale EU SUMP and urban mobility tenders but serves a far broader portfolio of infrastructure, energy, and environmental projects.

Direct peers

• POLIS Network: Network of European cities and regions for transport innovation; Rupprecht Consult is a partner in co-authoring SUMP Guidelines with POLIS. Both serve as conveners and knowledge brokers in EU sustainable mobility policy, competing and collaborating in the same policy-adjacent consulting space.
• Steer Group (Steer Davies Gleave): Global transport consultancy with strong European public-sector practice covering urban mobility, SUMP support, and EU-funded projects. Competes for similar consulting mandates with municipalities and transport authorities.
• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: Global network of local and regional governments working on sustainability, including sustainable urban mobility and climate neutrality. Rupprecht Consult previously had staff (Laura Lopez Osorio) who led ICLEI's E-Bus Mission City Network. ICLEI competes in the same EU-funded urban mobility and climate planning consulting space.
• DTV Consultants: Dutch transport and mobility consultancy serving public authorities on mobility planning, public transport, and EU-funded projects. Directly comparable to Rupprecht Consult's EU project management, SUMP development, and innovation support offerings.
• TRT - Trasporti e Territorio: Italian transport and territory consultancy; partner in EU Urban Mobility Observatory and co-author of SUMP Guidelines. Directly competes in EU-funded sustainable mobility research and SUMP-related advisory work.
• Wuppertal Institut: German research institute for sustainability, climate, and energy; Dr. Böhler-Baedeker previously served as Deputy Head of its Energy, Climate and Transport Policy Department. Both compete for EU research funding and advise German municipalities on climate-neutral mobility transitions.
• PANTEIA: Dutch research and consultancy firm focused on transport, mobility, and labour market; named co-author of SUMP Guidelines alongside Rupprecht Consult and POLIS. Directly comparable in EU mobility research, project management, and policy consulting delivery.

Emerging players

• PTV Group: German transport planning software and consulting firm (now part of Uber Freight ecosystem historically); provides transport modelling and SUMP-related software tools. Overlaps with Rupprecht Consult's SUMP Dashboard product line and shared mobility consulting practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rupprechtconsultgmbh
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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 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 Rupprecht Consult