ecoptima

What ecoptima does

ecoptima ag is a Swiss professional services firm specializing in the intersection of spatial planning (Raumplanung), development (Entwicklung), and law (Recht). Headquartered in Bern (Spitalgasse 34) with a secondary office in Sursee, the firm delivers interdisciplinary consulting across municipal planning (Ortsplanung), special use planning (Sondernutzungsplanung), area development (Arealentwicklung), traffic and mobility planning, complex project coordination, legal advisory in construction and environmental law, stakeholder participation processes, and publications/knowledge transfer. The firm does not operate a software platform; its offering is delivered through human expertise, with team members holding credentials such as MAS ETH in Raumplanung and prior senior positions at federal agencies (notably BAFU).

The firm's core customer base is the Swiss public sector — federal agencies (BAFU, ARE), cantonal authorities across Bern, Luzern, Aargau, Freiburg, and Solothurn, and 50+ municipalities — with a secondary segment of private property owners and developers. Named anchor engagements include Stadtentwicklungskonzept (STEK) support for the City of Bern, ongoing spatial planning for the City of Sursee since 2011, and federal feature work on 'Reussbühl West' for ARE. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees for planning mandates, feasibility studies, regulatory guidance, legal opinions, and training engagements (including teaching at bwd), with client acquisition driven by competitive tendering for public-sector work, referrals, and project-portfolio visibility.

ecoptima is privately held with no evidence of external investment, PE/VC backing, or a parent company; ownership is partner-based, with internal partner-track elevations (e.g., Balthasar Marx 2022, Christian Kilchhofer 2016) and a 2025 governance update (Kilchhofer to GL-Mitglied). Founded around 1990 with an estimated 15–30 professionals, the firm is actively hiring in 2026 (Projektleiter:in Raumplanung, Jurist:in) and continues to publish thought-leadership materials and federal enforcement guidance that reinforce its positioning at the regulated intersection of Swiss planning and environmental law.

Name

ecoptima

Legal name

ecoptima ag

Website

https://ecoptima.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ecoptima ag is a Bern-based Swiss consultancy providing interdisciplinary spatial planning, area development, and legal advisory services to federal agencies, cantonal authorities, and 50+ municipalities across Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Spatial Planning and Development Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Permitting & Impact Assessment (EIA/NEPA) (BPAIAMAK), Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

Keywords

• Spatial planning consulting
• Municipal planning services
• Environmental law advisory
• Urban development consulting
• Planning legal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Planning and Development Consulting: Professional consulting services for municipal and cantonal spatial planning projects, including Ortsplanung (municipal planning), Sondernutzungsplanung (special use planning), and Arealentwicklung (area development). Revenue is generated through project-based fees for planning mandates, feasibility studies, regulatory guidance, and project coordination.
2. Legal Advisory Services: Legal consultation in planning, construction, and environmental law for municipalities, authorities, and private clients. Includes expert opinions, contract drafting, and procedural guidance.
3. Publications and Knowledge Transfer: Development of planning guides, implementation aids, and educational materials for government bodies. Includes training services for municipal administrators in planning and environmental law.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ecoptima ag is a Swiss planning and legal consultancy firm that delivers interdisciplinary professional services in spatial planning, development, and law. The firm provides municipal planning (Ortsplanung), special use planning (Sondernutzungsplanung), area development (Arealentwicklung), traffic and mobility planning, legal consulting in planning/construction/environmental law, project coordination, stakeholder participation, and knowledge transfer through publications and training. Services are sold primarily on a project-fee basis to Swiss municipalities, cantonal authorities, federal agencies, and private developers.

Product overview

ecoptima ag is a Swiss planning and legal consulting firm offering interdisciplinary services in spatial planning, development, and law. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of consulting services including municipal planning (Ortsplanung), special use planning (Sondernutzungsplanung), area development (Arealentwicklung), traffic and mobility planning (Verkehr, Mobilität), project coordination (Projektkoordination), legal consulting (Rechtsberatung), participation and communication (Partizipation, Kommunikation), and publications/knowledge transfer (Publikationen). The company also offers quality assurance and procurement services. These services are not technology products but rather professional consulting services in planning and law, delivered through interdisciplinary project teams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planung in funktionalen Räumen Planning services for functional spaces, including regional development concepts and spatial planning for areas that span multiple municipalities.
• Ortsplanung Municipal planning services including local development plans and zoning regulations for Swiss municipalities (Gemeinden).
• Sondernutzungsplanung Special use planning including development plans, building regulations, and overlay zones for specific municipal areas.
• Qualitätssicherung, Beschaffung Quality assurance and procurement services including competition procedures and planning procurement for public sector clients.
• Arealentwicklung Area development services for property transformation and urban development projects, typically for private owners and developers.
• Verkehr, Mobilität Traffic and mobility planning services including transport concepts and mobility strategies for municipalities and regions.
• Projektkoordination, komplexe Vorhaben Project coordination services for complex projects including planning procedures, environmental monitoring, and multi-stakeholder coordination.
• Rechtsberatung Legal consulting in construction, planning, and environmental law including contract design, legal opinions, and procedural guidance for municipalities and companies.
• Partizipation, Kommunikation Participation and communication services including stakeholder engagement and public consultation processes for planning projects.
• Publikationen, Arbeitshilfen, Wissensvermittlung Publications, work aids, and knowledge transfer including planning guides, implementation aids, and training/educational materials on planning and environmental law for government bodies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ortsplanungsrevision Brienzwiler approved without opposition at communal assembly
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Metron Raumentwicklung AG: Swiss spatial planning consultancy headquartered in Brugg with offices across Switzerland. Directly comparable to ecoptima in municipal and regional planning (Ortsplanung, Sondernutzungsplanung, REK) and shares the same public-sector municipal client base.
• SNZ Ingenieure und Planer AG: Swiss planning and engineering consultancy working on communal and cantonal planning projects. Direct overlap with ecoptima in Ortsplanung, mobility planning, and municipal development concepts.
• Planteam S AG: Specialist Swiss planning consultancy offering municipal, regional, and transportation planning. Closely comparable service line to ecoptima with focus on small-to-mid-sized municipalities.
• BK Planer GmbH: Swiss planning consultancy delivering Ortsplanung, Sondernutzungsplanung, and spatial strategy for municipalities. Comparable in size, service mix, and public-sector focus.
• Hoppler & Partner: Swiss planning and law firm providing integrated planning, development, and legal advisory to municipalities. Closely aligned with ecoptima's interdisciplinary legal-plus-planning positioning.
• ARBÖ Planer AG: Specialist Swiss planning firm working on municipal planning revisions and regional development concepts. Direct competitor in the same public-tender-driven Swiss planning market.

Broad incumbents

• Basler & Hofmann AG: Large Swiss engineering and planning consultancy offering integrated planning, environment, and infrastructure services. Overlaps with ecoptima on Ortsplanung, Arealentwicklung, and Verkehr planning, with broader multidisciplinary scope and larger headcount.
• EBP Schweiz AG: Established Swiss consulting firm covering mobility, environment, risk, and spatial planning. Competes with ecoptima in transport/mobility planning and regulatory environmental work for federal and cantonal clients.
• Holinger AG: Swiss engineering consultancy with strong environmental and spatial planning practices. Comparable on BAFU-related environmental planning, infrastructure, and cantonal-level mandates.

Regional players

• Suter • von Känel • Wild AG: Swiss planning and engineering consultancy active primarily in central and eastern Switzerland. Comparable municipal-planning portfolio with somewhat different regional concentration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecoptima-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 ecoptima