whatwedo GmbH

What whatwedo GmbH does

whatwedo GmbH is a Swiss privately-held software studio headquartered at Speichergasse 35, Bern, founded in 2008 (with company-history sources also referencing 2014 as a possible re-founding) and operating with approximately 11 employees. The company provides custom software development, IT consulting, and digital transformation services to two primary customer segments: Swiss small and medium enterprises (SME/KMU) requiring bespoke platforms, ERP/CRM, e-commerce (Sylius-based), IoT, process automation, and middleware integrations; and educational institutions that need examination, learning, and administrative systems such as the in-house smartlearn platform.

Its core product portfolio consists of two proprietary assets — smartlearn, a Swiss-market examination and learning platform that has scaled to a national deployment of roughly 10,000 students across 75+ locations for the Kaufmännischer Verband Schweiz, and MESETO, a web-based ERP for service management with Bexio accounting integration developed for Müller-Elektronik AG — supplemented by project-based bespoke builds for clients including the Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum, BernCity, Universität Bern, and Sensopro AG. The technology stack is open-source-leaning (Symfony PHP framework, Vue.js, MySQL/MariaDB, Docker) and the company is an official SensioLabs Bronze partner since March 2023.

Revenue mechanics blend three streams: professional services for custom software (quote-based, project minimums around CHF 40,000, multi-year contracts), IT consulting, and a subscription/recurring component through smartlearn licensing. Distribution is exclusively domestic Swiss — direct sales plus inside sales — led by a free one-hour workshop and complimentary software concept used as a lead-generation mechanism. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, with no external funding, no outsourced delivery, and growth driven entirely by founder-led account development under CEO Ueli Banholzer.

Name

whatwedo GmbH

Legal name

whatwedo GmbH

Website

https://whatwedo.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

whatwedo GmbH is a Bern-based Swiss software studio of ~11 employees that builds custom web applications, ERP/CRM, IoT, and education platforms — notably its smartlearn examination platform — for Swiss SMEs and educational institutions using open-source Symfony, Vue.js, and Docker technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Software Development: Project-based custom software development services for SMEs, educational institutions, and businesses. Includes web applications, platforms, IoT solutions, process automation, and digital transformation projects.
2. IT Consulting: IT consulting services combining business and IT expertise, including business analysis, requirements engineering, and neutral advisory services.
3. Product Licensing (smartlearn): smartlearn examination and learning platform licensing and implementation services for educational institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

whatwedo GmbH is a Swiss software studio that designs, develops, and maintains custom web applications, platforms, and software for SMEs and educational institutions. Its core offering combines custom software development, IT consulting, and digital transformation services with proprietary products such as the smartlearn examination platform, the MESETO service-management ERP, and the LEMA campus management system. All delivery is performed in Switzerland with no outsourcing, primarily on open-source technology (Symfony PHP, Vue.js, Docker).

Product overview

whatwedo GmbH is a Swiss software studio offering custom software development services rather than a single unified product. Their portfolio consists of proprietary products and service offerings: smartlearn is their flagship examination and learning platform for Swiss educational institutions; MESETO is a web-based ERP for service management with integrated CRM and financial connectivity. Beyond these named products, they provide custom development services including e-commerce solutions (using Sylius), IoT solutions, web applications, ERP/CRM systems, middleware and interface development, process automation, and education software solutions. All services are delivered from Switzerland with no outsourcing, and solutions are built on open-source technologies, primarily the Symfony framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• smartlearn Modern proprietary examination and learning platform developed and maintained by whatwedo for Swiss educational institutions; provides secure IT examination systems, digital absence management, and integrations with education LMS systems.
• MESETO Web-based ERP application for service management, originally built for Müller-Elektronik AG, with integrated CRM, order management, service scheduling with calendar/map, digital service protocols, automated document creation, dynamic pricing, and Bexio financial integration.
• LEMA Campus Management System School digitization platform providing relevant functions and communication tools for all stakeholder groups in educational institutions, including administration, teaching, and student-facing workflows.
• Digital Attendance Control Privacy-compliant digital absence management system for educational settings, with connections to legal guardians or training supervisors.
• Custom Software Development for SMEs (KMU)
• IT Consulting

Quantifiable outcome

• Google visibility increased 10x for FineSolutions AG
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SensioLabs (Symfony)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2023Official partner of SensioLabs - creators of the globally known Symfony framework and Twig templating engine. Partnership enables whatwedo to leverage deep Symfony expertise and provide high-quality Symfony-based solutions.
• WaldhirschminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline marketing professionals who collaborated with whatwedo on the FineSolutions website project, combining technical expertise with marketing strategy.
• dreipolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZurich-based design agency that provided the design for the Swiss National Museum blog project, collaborating with whatwedo on frontend development.
• Swiss ICT Association (swissICT)minorOthersMember of Swiss ICT Association, demonstrating commitment to Swiss IT industry standards and professional development.
• Swiss Made SoftwareminorOthersMember of Swiss Made Software initiative, certifying that software is developed in Switzerland.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Atos Switzerland: Global IT services company with Swiss operations providing digital transformation, custom development, and managed services to enterprise and public-sector clients. Broad incumbent competing in the same Swiss enterprise digital transformation space.
• Accenture Switzerland: Global management consulting and technology services firm with a significant Swiss presence serving large enterprises on digital transformation and custom software. Competes for the upper end of whatwedo's market.
• ELCA Informatique SA: One of the largest independent Swiss IT services firms, offering custom development, consulting, and software solutions across multiple industries. Operates in the same custom software and digital transformation space as whatwedo but at significantly greater scale and breadth.
• Swisscom AG: Switzerland's largest telecom operator with extensive IT services and digital transformation offerings for Swiss enterprises. Overlaps with whatwedo in custom software and digital transformation but as part of a much broader portfolio.

Others

• Crealogix AG: Swiss software provider with education and banking technology offerings. Adjacent rather than direct competitor, but the most relevant Swiss edtech peer for smartlearn given shared vertical and Swiss market focus.

Direct peers

• Netcetera AG: Swiss software company delivering custom digital solutions across industries including finance, healthcare, and public sector. Comparable in custom development orientation and Swiss enterprise customer base, though larger in scale.
• Adfinis AG: Swiss open-source IT services company providing custom development, infrastructure, and consulting. Comparable in philosophy (open-source-first), Swiss SME and enterprise market, and roughly similar size.
• Open Web Technology (OpenWT): Swiss web development agency focused on custom digital solutions and platforms for enterprises. Comparable to whatwedo in custom software delivery, market focus, and project-based engagement model.
• ipt AG: Swiss IT services company offering custom software development, consulting, and managed services to Swiss enterprises and institutions. Comparable in service mix and target customer base.
• Liip AG: Swiss digital agency specializing in custom web development with strong open-source and Symfony/PHP expertise, serving SMEs and enterprises in Switzerland. Very comparable to whatwedo in size, market, and technology stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/whatwedo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whatwedo-ch
• Instagraminstagram.com/whatwedo.ch
• Xx.com/whatwedo

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 whatwedo GmbH