KetchUp

What KetchUp does

KetchUp (operating at ketchup.academy) is a digital training platform serving the finance and insurance industries in the DACH region. Its core product is a web- and mobile-accessible e-learning platform that prepares candidates for mandatory German IHK Sachkundeprüfungen (specialist examinations) across insurance intermediation (§34d), financial investment intermediation (§34f), real estate loan intermediation (§34i), certified property management (§26a), and consumer credit intermediation (§34k), plus continuing education for licensed insurance intermediaries under IDD and trainer-aptitude preparation under AEVO. The technology stack centers on an interactive learning system with structured learning paths, realistic exam simulations, progress and weakness analytics, and on-demand webinars led by experienced IHK examiners, with deep links from practice questions to underlying course scripts and a 100% money-back guarantee if a learner fails twice.

Name

KetchUp

Legal name

Sachkundegurus

Website

https://ketchup.academy

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KetchUp is a German-market digital academy delivering self-serve and enterprise e-learning for mandatory IHK specialist examinations and continuing education across the finance, insurance, and real estate intermediary sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification Training

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Licensure & Certification Exam Prep (Bar/CPA/NCLEX/PMP, etc.) (EDAGADAD), Real Estate, Appraisal & Mortgage (Agent/Broker CE, Appraiser CE) (EDAAALAI)

Keywords

• Online exam preparation
• Professional certification training
• Insurance intermediary courses
• Finance education platform
• Regulatory compliance training

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Kursverkauf (Exam Preparation Courses): Sale of digital exam preparation courses for IHK certifications including §34d (insurance intermediary), §34f (financial investments intermediary), §34i (real estate loan intermediary), §26a (certified property manager), §34k (consumer credit intermediary), AEVO (trainer aptitude exam), and IDD (Insurance Distribution Directive) continuing education. Customers can purchase written courses, oral preparation courses, or discounted complete packages combining both.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KetchUp operates a digital academy (the Sachkundegurus platform) that delivers online preparation courses for mandatory German IHK specialist examinations (Sachkundeprüfungen) covering insurance intermediation (§34d), financial investment intermediation (§34f), real estate loan intermediation (§34i), certified property management (§26a), consumer credit intermediation (§34k), trainer aptitude (AEVO), and IDD continuing education. Courses combine interactive learning modules, realistic exam simulations, and live webinars with IHK examiners, sold as one-time digital licenses to individuals and as scalable corporate training solutions to enterprises.

Product overview

Sachkundegurus is a digital academy offering a comprehensive suite of IHK examination preparation courses and continuing education programs for the German financial services, insurance, and real estate sectors. The product portfolio centers on mandatory Sachkundeprüfung (specialist examination) prep courses for §34d (insurance intermediaries), §34f (financial investment intermediaries), §34i (real estate loan intermediaries), §26a (property managers), and §34k (consumer credit intermediaries), alongside complementary offerings including AEVO trainer qualification, IDD continuing education, and the Baufi-Masterclass for advanced mortgage advisory. The core learning system features structured digital modules, realistic exam simulations, and progress tracking, all accessible via web and mobile. The company also offers corporate training solutions for enterprise clients seeking to qualify multiple employees for regulatory certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• §34d Versicherungsvermittler (Insurance Intermediary IHK Preparation) Digital preparation course for the IHK specialist examination for insurance intermediaries under §34d GewO (German Trade Regulation). Includes learning modules, practice questions, and exam simulation. Targets individuals seeking licensed insurance intermediary status and enterprise teams needing regulatory qualification.
• §34f Finanzanlagenvermittler (Financial Investment Intermediary IHK Preparation) Digital preparation course for the IHK specialist examination for financial investment intermediaries under §34f GewO. Covers investment products, regulatory requirements, and exam preparation. Targets individuals seeking licensed financial investment intermediary status.
• §34i Immobiliardarlehensvermittler (Real Estate Loan Intermediary IHK Preparation) Digital preparation course for the IHK specialist examination for real estate loan intermediaries under §34i GewO. Covers mortgage lending, property financing, and regulatory compliance. Targets individuals seeking licensed real estate loan intermediary status.
• §26a Zertifizierter Immobilienverwalter (Certified Property Manager Preparation) Digital preparation course for certification as a property manager under §26a GewO. Covers property management, tenant relations, legal requirements, and financial management. Targets individuals seeking certified property manager status.
• §34k Verbraucherkreditvermittler (Consumer Credit Intermediary Preparation) Digital preparation course for consumer credit intermediation under §34k GewO (effective 2026). Covers consumer credit regulations, lending standards, and compliance requirements.
• AEVO Ausbildereignungsschein (Trainer Aptitude Examination Preparation) Preparation course for the trainer aptitude examination (AEVO). Enables participants to train apprentices in Germany according to the ordinance on trainer aptitude.
• IDD-Weiterbildung (IDD Continuing Education) Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) continuing education courses for insurance intermediaries. Meets regulatory compliance requirements for ongoing professional development.
• Baufi-Masterclass (Construction Financing Masterclass) Advanced masterclass program for construction financing and mortgage advisory. Provides in-depth knowledge for professionals seeking expertise in real estate finance.
• Für Unternehmen (Corporate Training Solution) B2B corporate training solution for companies needing to qualify employees for IHK certifications and IDD compliance. Includes onboarding for large teams (10 to 1,000+ participants), integration with internal corporate academies, and personal expert support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% first-attempt pass rate for IHK exams among participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DEKRA Akademie: Major German certification and professional-training provider with a broad portfolio across regulated professions. Comparable on preparing individuals for state-recognized certifications and serving corporate training buyers, with deeper offline footprint.
• WEKA Akademie: German professional-training brand offering courses across regulated fields including finance, HR, and compliance. Comparable target audience (compliance-driven professionals) and B2B enterprise motion, though broader in scope than IHK-specific prep.
• Haufe Akademie: Established German professional development provider with a sizeable financial-services and insurance training portfolio. Comparable on target customer (German enterprises in regulated industries) and on continuing-education / certification content, though broader in scope than IHK-specific exam prep.
• TÜV Rheinland Akademie: German certification and training arm of TÜV Rheinland, offering professional qualification programs for regulated industries. Comparable on certification-driven learning, brand trust, and enterprise customers, with much broader scale and offline delivery.

Emerging players

• StudySmarter: Digital learning platform with strong German footprint covering exam prep and study tools. Comparable on PLG, digital delivery and self-serve learning, though focused on university and school students rather than regulated professional certifications.
• Jura Intensiv: German specialist exam-prep provider (focused on legal Staatsexamen). Comparable as a digitally delivered, niche German exam-prep platform with high learner-outcome focus, though targeting law students rather than finance/insurance intermediaries.

Direct peers

• Forum Institut: Specialist in financial-services continuing education and compliance training in Germany. Closely comparable on regulated finance/insurance content, professional audience, and the B2B events + digital courses mix.
• Going Public! Akademie: German training provider focused on capital-markets and financial-services professional development. Comparable on regulated finance exam preparation and corporate training, with overlapping B2B customers in German financial institutions.
• BWV Bank-Verlag (BWV Bildungsverband): German banking vocational education provider offering certification and continuing-education courses to bank employees. Comparable on regulated German finance certifications, banking-sector enterprise customers, and IHK-adjacent curriculum.
• Lecturio: Germany-based online education platform offering exam-prep courses across regulated professions. Highly comparable digital delivery model and German-market focus, with overlapping exam-prep use cases (e.g., medical, legal) and a similar B2C + B2B mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ketchupacademy

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 KetchUp