Frachtwerk GmbH

What Frachtwerk GmbH does

Frachtwerk GmbH is a privately held, founder-managed New Work IT consulting and software development firm headquartered in Berlin, with a second office in Karlsruhe and approximately 50 employees as of the most recent reporting. Founded in 2017, the company combines three integrated practices under one organization: IT consulting and managed services (including tiered subscription packages S/M/L/XL), custom software development (anchored by its open-source Essencium framework built on Spring Boot and Next.js/TypeScript), and organizational transformation consulting (Trans­formations­beratung) that leverages its own 8+ years of self-organized agile practice as the lived methodology. Its primary customers are German Mittelstand (mid-market) companies, with additional focus verticals in Logistics & Mobility (named engagements with DB Regio and DB Engineering & Consulting) and Smart City / public-sector data platforms.

The technology stack is open-source-first and explicitly anti-Big-Tech: client operations run on Windows/Linux with Docker, Ansible, and Kubernetes, monitored via Zabbix, Uptime Kuma, and Healthchecks.io, with device management through ACMP and SSO via OpenID-Connect/LDAP. Frachtwerk operates over 250 customer systems with millions of daily accesses, all hosted exclusively in EU (German) data centers under ISO 27001-compliant processes and GDPR/DSGVO governance. Internally developed or productized assets include the GitHub-published Essencium starter framework, Jourfixe.io (a hybrid team presence/absence tool launched in 2020 with Mattermost integration), and a company-specific LLM service for enterprise process automation deployed on private EU servers.

Commercially, Frachtwerk monetizes through a mix of recurring managed IT subscriptions (transparent fixed monthly tiered pricing, no lock-in), quote-based custom software development (clients retain full source-code ownership and exclusive rights), project-based data analytics and consulting engagements, and multi-year transformation coaching contracts. Distribution is direct, sales-led, and concentrated in the German-speaking market, with named contacts per service line (Jonathan Heber for IT Operations, Pia Frischen for Transformation Consulting, Tobias Dillig for Software Development). The firm is bootstrapped, founder/management-owned (Managing Directors Tobias Dillig and Friedrich Ellmer), holds Bitkom/OSB Alliance/BNW/Stetig&&Wandel association memberships, and is certified as a Gemeinwohl-bilanziertes (common-good-economy audited) organization.

Name

Frachtwerk GmbH

Legal name

Frachtwerk GmbH

Website

https://frachtwerk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Frachtwerk GmbH is a Berlin-based New Work IT consulting and software development firm (~50 employees) serving German Mittelstand with tiered managed IT services, custom software built on its open-source Essencium framework, organizational transformation consulting, and a private EU-hosted LLM offering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Consulting and Managed IT Services

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Managed DevOps / Platform Operations (Run & Operate) (BPAEAKAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

DevOps Consulting & Transformation (BPAEAKAA), Digital Employee Experience (DEX) & IT Experience Management (ITXM) Platforms (HDAEALAL), DevOps, SRE & Platform Engineering Consulting (BPAHAEAK), Hybrid Cloud Platforms & Orchestration (HDABAMAA)

Keywords

• IT consulting services
• Managed IT services
• Custom software development
• Open source IT infrastructure
• Organizational transformation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. IT Consulting: Digital transformation consulting, agile organizational consulting, and transformation consulting services. Engagement models include workshops, ongoing advisory, and transformation coaching engagements.
2. Custom Software Development: Individual software development based on Essencium framework or built from scratch. Customers receive permanent access to source code and documentation and exclusive rights to the results.
3. Managed IT Services / IT Operations: Subscription-based IT support packages (S, M, L, XL tiers) providing ongoing IT infrastructure management, monitoring, security, and support. Revenue is recurring and predictable, based on tiered monthly fees.
4. Data Analytics Consulting: Data analysis, visualization, predictive modeling and optimization consulting services, typically delivered as project-based engagements.
5. External Data Protection Officer (DSB): Acting as external data protection officer for organizations, providing GDPR compliance support and ongoing data privacy management.
6. Training & Support: Training sessions, customer wiki access, and regular customer events bundled with IT service packages or offered separately.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Frachtwerk is an open-source-focused IT system house that combines three service lines for German Mittelstand companies: (1) IT and digital transformation consulting including agile organizational consulting, (2) custom software development built on its Essencium framework or from scratch with full source code ownership, and (3) managed IT operations delivered as tiered monthly subscription packages (S/M/L/XL) covering cloud infrastructure, monitoring, security, and helpdesk support. All operations run on EU data centers under ISO 27001-compliant processes.

Product overview

Frachtwerk GmbH is a New Work IT consulting and software development organization offering a combination of consulting, custom software development, and managed IT operations services. Their core product portfolio includes Essencium (an open-source development framework for rapid application development), Jourfixe.io (a hybrid team management tool for presence/absence tracking), and a company-specific LLM service. Their service offerings are organized into tiered IT support packages (S, M, L, XL) plus specialized services including Software Development, Data Analytics (with predictive modeling and optimization), System Operations/IT Infrastructure, IT Operations, Transformation Consulting, Data Protection, and Legacy System Replacement. The company focuses on Open Source solutions, cloud infrastructure, and ISO 27001-compliant operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Essencium: An open-source starter framework for software development, consisting of Essencium Backend (Spring Boot) and Essencium Frontend (next.js with Typescript). Published as open-source software on github.com/Frachtwerk.
• Jourfixe.io
• FW Systems

Products and services

• Essencium Open-source development framework providing standard features such as user management, authentication (OpenID-Connect/LDAP SSO), role-based access control, and file management. Built with Spring Boot (backend) and Next.js/TypeScript (frontend) to accelerate custom software development projects for Frachtwerk's clients.
• Jourfixe.io Software tool for managing and displaying employee attendance and absences in hybrid and distributed teams. Features a graphical interface for PC/tablet/mobile, team management, SSO integration, workspace booking, and Mattermost integration for automated status updates.
• Unternehmenseigenes LLM (Company-specific LLM) Enterprise-specific large language model deployment service for business tasks and process automation. Runs entirely on private EU servers ensuring data privacy, with scalable infrastructure and access to the latest AI models, available to organizations seeking private AI deployment.
• IT Support Packages (S, M, L, XL) Tiered subscription IT support packages scaled to company size: Paket S (entry-level cloud infrastructure for companies without dedicated IT manager), Paket M (centrally managed IT with industry-specific software, 2-hour response time), Paket L (full-service IT landscape with continuous monitoring, 1-hour response, 4-hour recovery), and Paket XL (custom 24/7 monitoring for complex IT infrastructures). Includes optional add-on modules covering Client Management, Virtual Server, Network Management, Telephony, and Mobile Device Management.
• Software Development Custom software development service covering requirements management, software architecture, frontend/backend development, UI/UX design, deployment and ongoing maintenance. Projects use the Essencium framework or are built from scratch, with clients receiving permanent access to source code and documentation and exclusive rights to deliverables.
• Data Analytics Data analysis and interpretation services including trend identification, data visualization with tools like Grafana and Qlik, predictive modeling, machine learning-based classification, and optimization models delivered as project-based engagements for organizations seeking data-driven insights.
• System Operations / IT Infrastructure Managed IT services covering cloud infrastructure, VPN access, automated updates, active monitoring, backup concepts, security management, and disaster recovery. Based on open-source and cloud solutions, delivered as recurring subscriptions with transparent fixed monthly pricing for organizations needing full-service IT landscape management.
• IT Operations (Betrieb) Secure and reliable software operations service including automated deployments via Docker, Ansible, and Continuous Deployment; multi-cloud redundancy; ISO 27001-compliant operations; proactive security monitoring; and centralized client management through ACMP for organizations requiring enterprise-grade production operations.
• Transformationsberatung (Transformation Consulting) Agile organizational transformation consulting covering team engagement, value appreciation implementation, leadership development, and culture change programs. Based on Frachtwerk's own 8+ years of self-organized agile practice, beginning with a free 30-minute consultation and a 1-day value-generating workshop, with optional follow-on transfer coaching or independent implementation support.
• Datenschutz (External Data Protection Officer) External data protection officer service providing GDPR compliance support, process and system review, risk assessment, and pragmatic data protection documentation for organizations requiring ongoing privacy management and DSGVO adherence.
• Legacy System Replacement End-to-end legacy system modernization service covering IT strategy, requirements management, UI/UX design, market analysis, implementation support, migration, and change management with a focus on open-source solutions and future-proofing for organizations seeking to replace aging IT systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 250 systems managed for customers with millions of daily accesses worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Stetig&&WandelminorOthersPartner label membership in Stetig&&Wandel, an organization focused on sustainable business transformation. Frachtwerk displays the partner label on their website.
• BitkomminorOthersActive member of Bitkom, Germany's digital association. Enables participation in policy discussions, industry events, and access to a broad network of digital companies.
• BNW (Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft)minorOthersMember of BNW, the Federal Association for Sustainable Business. Supports Frachtwerk's commitment to the Well-being Economy (Gemeinwohlökonomie) and sustainability reporting.
• HedgeDoc CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrachtwerk actively contributes to the HedgeDoc open-source project (collaborative editor), including security fixes and release management. The company operates its own HedgeDoc instance and contributes to the broader open-source ecosystem.
• Essencium Open Source CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEssencium, Frachtwerk's open-source starter framework, is published on GitHub (github.com/Frachtwerk). The company contributes to the open-source community by maintaining and publishing this framework for use by others.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ATIX AG: Munich-based IT consulting and managed services firm specializing in open-source infrastructure (Linux, containers, Kubernetes, monitoring). Directly comparable in open-source-first managed IT positioning for German Mittelstand.
• B1 Systems GmbH: Germany-based open-source specialist providing consulting, training, and managed services around Linux, virtualization, and DevOps tooling. Closely matches Frachtwerk's open-source consulting and operations stack.
• NETWAYS GmbH: Nuremberg-based open-source managed services and monitoring specialist (Icinga, Elastic, Grafana, Kubernetes). Strong overlap on the managed open-source IT operations and monitoring value proposition.
• SHD AG: German IT services firm focused on managed services, modern workplace, and open-source infrastructure for mid-market enterprises. Comparable in target segment, open-source posture, and managed IT delivery model.
• iteratec GmbH: Munich-headquartered digital transformation and software engineering consultancy. Comparable as a German mid-sized software and digital transformation firm serving enterprise clients with custom development.
• inovex GmbH: Karlsruhe-based IT services firm specializing in digital transformation, DevOps, data engineering, and managed services. Directly comparable on technology stack, German mid-market focus, and DevOps/managed services delivery.
• QAware GmbH: Munich-based software consultancy focused on Java/Spring Boot, cloud-native development, and digital transformation. Highly comparable on engineering stack (Spring Boot aligns with Essencium) and transformation services.

Broad incumbents

• msg systems AG: Large German IT consulting and software house with broad industry coverage and ~9,000 employees. Overlaps with Frachtwerk in custom software development, IT operations, and transformation consulting for mid-market and enterprise clients.
• T-Systems International: Deutsche Telekom's enterprise IT arm, providing large-scale managed IT services, cloud, and transformation for German enterprise and public sector. Competes for the same Mittelstand-to-enterprise transformation mandates.

Others

• Hetzner Online GmbH: German cloud and hosting provider operating EU data centers with a strong data-sovereignty narrative. Comparable as an infrastructure enabler for the same Mittelstand and EU data-residency buyer, though not a direct services competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/Frachtwerk
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/frachtwerk
• Instagraminstagram.com/frachtwerk.de
• Xx.com/FrachtWerkGmbH
• Facebookfacebook.com/frachtwerkGmbH

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Frachtwerk GmbH