Astep
Astep is a Copenhagen-based, family-owned lighting design company founded in 2014 by Alessandro Sarfatti that designs, manufactures in Italy and globally distributes premium designer luminaires under three collections (Gino Sarfatti reissues, contemporary Evolution Collection, and Tribute reissues) to residential, hospitality, commercial and healthcare customers via e-commerce, a flagship showroom and an authorized retailer network spanning 40+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersCopenhagen, Denmark
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Astep does
Astep is a privately held Danish lighting design company headquartered in Copenhagen, founded in 2014 by Alessandro Sarfatti to continue a three-generation family heritage in lighting that traces back to Arteluce (1939, Gino Sarfatti) and Luceplan (1978, Riccardo Sarfatti). The firm designs and curates a catalog of premium luminaires spanning three collections: reissued Gino Sarfatti designs (Le Sfere series, Model 2065, Model 537, Model 2109, Model 262), contemporary Evolution Collection pieces from designers such as Alfredo Häberli, Francisco Gomez Paz, David Thulstrup, Luca Nichetto, Mayice Studio and Samuel Wilkinson, and Tribute Collection reissues of works by Franco Albini & Franca Helg, Osvaldo Borsani and Carlo Santi & Vittorio Borachia. Products are manufactured in Italy and integrate proprietary and licensed technologies including Green Cast recycled PMMA, Snowsound Fiber acoustic textiles, the Rehub upcycling process for reclaimed Murano glass, induction-based wireless charging (Nox), and bioethanol power generation (Candela), with unit prices ranging from €393 to €6,911.
Astep monetizes the catalog through three channels: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site (astep.design), a flagship Copenhagen showroom at Esplanaden 6, and an authorized retailer network spanning more than 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. The customer base is split between residential consumers purchasing through retail and DTC, and B2B spec-in projects in hospitality (Thames City, the cōmodo, Palazzo Avino, Hotel Le Ballu, Stilwerk Strandhotel Blankenese, Hotel Odeon), food and beverage (Spring Place New York, Madklubben Østerbro, Canal No2, The Public Place Tokyo), office and coworking (Century City), and healthcare (HCA klinikken). Pricing is unit-based with publicly listed EUR prices inclusive of VAT and a 28-day return policy.
The firm is B Corp certified (since 2023), reports 90%+ elimination of plastics from packaging, and states that 100% of its lamps are engineered to be fully repairable, anchoring a circular-design and Italian-craftsmanship positioning. Operations are small (1–10 employees), with the legal entity Astep ApS registered in Denmark; the company is privately owned with no disclosed external institutional investors and minimal public financial disclosure.
Astep firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Astep
- Legal name
- Astep ApS
- Website
- https://astep.design
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Astep is a Copenhagen-based, family-owned lighting design company founded in 2014 by Alessandro Sarfatti that designs, manufactures in Italy and globally distributes premium designer luminaires under three collections (Gino Sarfatti reissues, contemporary Evolution Collection, and Tribute reissues) to residential, hospitality, commercial and healthcare customers via e-commerce, a flagship showroom and an authorized retailer network spanning 40+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Astep is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Copenhagen
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Astep business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales: Astep generates revenue through direct sales of designer lighting products via their e-commerce website and flagship Copenhagen showroom.
- Retailer/Distribution Network: Products are sold through a global network of authorized retailers across 40+ countries, with Astep serving as the brand and manufacturer supplying to these B2B partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product pricing ranging from entry-level to premium fixtures |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Return policy and consumer rights |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Astep product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Astep designs, manufactures, and sells designer lighting fixtures (portable, table, wall, suspension, ceiling, and floor lamps) under three collections: The Gino Sarfatti Collection (reissued iconic Italian designs), The Evolution Collection (new contemporary designs by named international designers), and the Tribute Collection (works by architects who designed for Arteluce). All products are manufactured in Italy with emphasis on sustainable materials, acoustic performance, and B Corp certified environmental standards. The company sells directly through its e-commerce site and Copenhagen flagship showroom, and indirectly through a global authorized retailer network across 40+ countries.
Product overview
Astep is a Danish lighting design company founded in 2014 by Alessandro Sarfatti, offering a curated collection of designer lamps and luminaires. The company operates three product collections: The Gino Sarfatti Collection (reissues of iconic 20th century lighting designs by Gino Sarfatti including Le Sfere series, Model 2065, Model 2050, and VV Cinquanta by Vittoriano Viganò), The Evolution Collection (new contemporary designs by current designers including Candela by Francisco Gomez Paz, Nox by Alfredo Häberli, Pepa by Francesco Faccin, Upglas by Luca Nichetto, Isol by David Thulstrup with Snowsound acoustic technology, Filamento by Mayice Studio, Sorpresa by Samuel Wilkinson, and Ublo by David Thulstrup), and the Tribute Collection (works by architects who worked for Arteluce including Franco Albini & Franca Helg, Osvaldo Borsani, and Carlo Santi & Vittorio Borachia). Products span multiple typologies including portable, table, wall, suspension, ceiling, and floor lamps. The company is B Corp certified and emphasizes sustainability through recycled materials, repairability, and Italian craftsmanship.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Candela Portable bioethanol-powered lamp that generates its own electricity to provide LED illumination while charging mobile devices. Designed by Francisco Gomez Paz.
- Nox Portable wireless charging luminaire with hand-blown opaline glass diffuser, touch dimmer and up to 15 hours of wireless use via 16000mAh Lithium Polymer battery. Designed by Alfredo Häberli.
- Pepa Portable battery-powered table lamp with solid ash wood body and 360-degree rotary dimmer. Designed by Francesco Faccin.
- Upglas Table lamp made from reclaimed Murano glass upcycled through Rehub's patented process; each piece is unique with marbled chromatic patterns. Designed by Luca Nichetto.
- Lille Table Compact table lamp with glazed porcelain base and internally-frosted blown glass shade. Designed by Francesco Faccin.
- Lille Wall/Ceiling Versatile wall and ceiling fixture with ceramic base and soft opaque glass shade; available in multiple glaze colors. Designed by Francesco Faccin.
- Model 262 Minimalist ceiling/wall lamp with spun aluminum reflector with raw industrial finish, celebrating the light bulb as focal point. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 537 Table lamp combining aluminum reflector with brass stem and marble base; asymmetrical design with playful balancing act. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 548 Table lamp with adjustable spotlight directed toward reflecting screen; methacrylate diffuser in orange, blue or white. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 566 Desk lamp with balanced elemental form featuring adjustable body tube and cast alloy base. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 1081 Floor lamp from Le Sfere collection featuring single luminous sphere on steel stem; available in two heights. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 1095 Slender floor lamp with tubular aluminum stem and reflective cup; provides indirect light with elegant proportions. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 2042/3 Le Sfere Plafone Ceiling lamp from Le Sfere Plafone series with three blown opaline glass spheres on painted steel mount. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 2042/6 Le Sfere Plafone Ceiling lamp from Le Sfere Plafone series with six blown opaline glass spheres on painted steel mount. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 2042/9 Le Sfere Plafone Ceiling lamp from Le Sfere Plafone series with nine blown opaline glass spheres on painted steel mount. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 2050 Iconic suspension lamp with handblown opal glass diffuser; re-edition using Green Cast 100% recycled material. Designed by Franco Albini & Franca Helg.
- Model 2065 Elegant suspension lamp with dual opaline methacrylate saucer diffusers; features Green Cast recycled material. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 2065 Wall Wall-mounted version of Model 2065 with curved wall-mount structure and dual methacrylate diffusers. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 2109 Le Sfere Chandelier Le Sfere Chandelier featuring circular array of up to 24 blown opaline glass spheres. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 237/1 | Model 238/1 Single sphere suspension lamp with opaline glass sphere held by painted steel ring; available in 14cm and 20cm sphere sizes. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- Model 237/2 | Model 238/2 Double sphere suspension lamp with two opaline glass spheres held by painted steel rings. Designed by Gino Sarfatti.
- LT8 Floor-to-ceiling modular lighting system with extruded aluminum structure and brass legs; adjustable light source direction. Designed by Osvaldo Borsani.
- SB Cinquantotto Handblown opal glass pendant available in 32cm and 20cm diameters. Designed by Carlo Santi & Vittorio Borachia.
- VV Cinquanta Floor Floor lamp with posable dual-stemmed construction and enameled spun aluminum reflector. Designed by Vittoriano Viganò.
- VV Cinquanta Suspension Suspension lamp with distinctive dual-stemmed kinetic construction; adjustable reflectors for varied lighting compositions. Designed by Vittoriano Viganò.
- VV Cinquanta Twin Two-armed wall lamp with brass bracket and posable enameled aluminum reflectors. Designed by Vittoriano Viganò.
- VV Cinquanta Wall Wall lamp with posable direct light source that swivels and tilts; brass fixture allowing 350-degree rotation. Designed by Vittoriano Viganò.
- Isol Floor Floor lamp combining acoustic sound-absorbing properties with Snowsound technology; aluminum structure with acoustic fabric diffuser. Designed by David Thulstrup.
- Isol Suspension Suspension lamp with patented Snowsound Fiber textile for acoustic performance; die-cast aluminum rings and recyclable fabric. Designed by David Thulstrup.
- Filamento Suspension Vertical Sculptural suspension with borosilicate glass tube creating visible filament of light through concave/convex geometry. Designed by Mayice Studio.
- Filamento Suspension Horizontal Horizontal sculptural suspension lamp with borosilicate glass element. Designed by Mayice Studio.
- Filamento Suspension Double Double sculptural suspension with dual glass tubes creating linear light presence. Designed by Mayice Studio.
- Ublo IP54-rated wall lamp designed for bathrooms and outdoor use; industrial aesthetic with minimalist design and replaceable G9 bulbs. Designed by David Thulstrup.
- Sorpresa Expandable chandelier inspired by traditional wool winder; ships flat and expands into dramatic form with natural oak structure and recycled mesh diffuser. Designed by Samuel Wilkinson.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% reduction in plastic packaging through optimized cardboard use
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Astep
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Astep technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Astep partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Dansk IndustriminorAstep is a member of Dansk Industri (Danish Industry), an industry organization providing access to industry knowledge, networks, and employer-related guidance. Astep does not participate in lobbying activities carried out by this organization.
- RehubcoreRehub holds the patent for the upcycling process used to transform reclaimed Murano glass into new lamp products. Their patented biodegradable resin enables the transformation of glass fragments into sculptural lighting pieces through a specialized low-temperature firing process.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Astep competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Luceplan: Italian premium designer lighting company co-founded in 1978 by Riccardo Sarfatti — Alessandro Sarfatti's father. Effectively a sister brand within the Sarfatti family portfolio, with overlapping product categories (pendant, table, floor), Italian manufacturing, and similar architectural-spec channel.
- Louis Poulsen: Danish heritage premium lighting manufacturer with comparable iconic re-edition strategy (Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton), global distribution, and design-award profile. Closest geographic/cultural peer given shared Danish design heritage and similar retail-tier positioning.
- Flos: Italian premium designer lighting brand (part of Design Holding) with deep reissue heritage (Castiglioni, Scarpa), Italian manufacturing, architectural-spec business, and global retail network. Highly comparable product taxonomy and pricing tier.
- Artemide: Italian designer lighting manufacturer with strong architectural and residential product lines, Italian manufacturing, B2B project/spec channel, and similar designer-collab model. Competes directly for hospitality and high-end residential projects.
- Foscarini: Italian designer lighting brand with comparable premium positioning, Italian manufacturing, designer collaborations (Marc Sadler, Patricia Urquiola), and global distribution through independent retailers and design stores.
- FontanaArte: Italian premium lighting brand with deep heritage (founded 1932, originally linked to Gio Ponti), Italian manufacturing, and parallel strategy of reissuing iconic mid-century designs alongside contemporary creations. Directly comparable positioning to Astep.
- Vibia: Spanish designer lighting manufacturer with global architectural-spec channel, contemporary designer collaborations, and premium pricing similar to Astep. Competes in the same hospitality and high-end residential specification segment.
- Tom Dixon: British premium designer lighting and furniture brand with comparable designer-led identity, luxury hospitality placements, and global retail presence in design stores. Overlaps in typology (pendant, table, portable) and price tier.
- DCW éditions: French designer lighting brand with explicit re-edition heritage strategy (Bernard-Albin Gras, Benoit Belin), European craftsmanship manufacturing, and premium positioning. Most analogous peer in terms of catalog structure and IP-licensing approach.
Emerging players
- Gubi: Danish design brand with strong reissue heritage (Bestlite, Grasshopper, Patera) overlapping Astep's strategy, plus contemporary lighting. Comparable Danish design heritage and global distribution through design retailers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Astep social profiles
Digital presenceAstep compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Astep financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Astep leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Astep funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Astep 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 Astep
What does Astep do?
Astep designs, manufactures, and sells designer lighting fixtures (portable, table, wall, suspension, ceiling, and floor lamps) under three collections: The Gino Sarfatti Collection (reissued iconic Italian designs), The Evolution Collection (new contemporary designs by named international designers), and the Tribute Collection (works by architects who designed for Arteluce). All products are manufactured in Italy with emphasis on sustainable materials, acoustic performance, and B Corp certified environmental standards. The company sells directly through its e-commerce site and Copenhagen flagship showroom, and indirectly through a global authorized retailer network across 40+ countries.
Is Astep a public or private company?
Astep is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Astep founded?
Astep was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Astep based?
Astep is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does Astep make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are retailer/Distribution Network.
Who are Astep's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Luceplan, Louis Poulsen, Flos, Artemide, Foscarini, FontanaArte, Vibia, Tom Dixon and DCW éditions. Gubi is listed as an emerging player.
Does Astep have an API?
No public API is recorded for Astep.