DI Works
DI Works is a Milan-based product innovation consultancy that delivers end-to-end new product development, technology scouting, and AI-powered R&D tools through its RD+ ecosystem platform to enterprise clients across 14+ industries including automotive, fashion, healthcare, pharma, and consumer electronics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersMilano, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DI Works does
DI Works is a Milan-based product innovation consultancy founded in 1998, operating as the design innovation arm (BTSDI) of the BTS group via the i²d holding company. The firm delivers end-to-end new product development and experimentation, technology and material scouting with supplier qualification, interactive information design, and operational excellence consulting to enterprise R&D departments across 14 industry verticals, including automotive, fashion, healthcare, pharma, packaging, consumer electronics, machinery, construction, and food and beverage. Named clients include Gucci, Samsung, Hyundai, Philip Morris, Pirelli, Luxottica, Bracco, Campari Group, Piaggio, L'Occitane, La Marzocco, Elica, Coesia, and Sacmi, among others. The team comprises approximately 10 multidisciplinary professionals combining industrial design, materials engineering, design engineering, and chemical engineering expertise, supported by a global NPD partners network of 20 organizations.
The firm's technology backbone centers on the RD+ platform, a curated digital ecosystem connecting 83 corporates, 35 qualified suppliers, and 18 startups for technology and materials research, supplier matching, and cross-industry innovation. Layered on top of this ecosystem is an AI feature suite delivered through i²d, including trend prediction from customer feedback, error detection in technical documents, AI design-to-cost optimization, smart repositories for materials and technologies, AI-generated product datasheets, and industrial process optimization. YouFeed (under i²d) provides customizable in-store and product feedback gathering. The firm is also deploying Digital Product Passport (DPP) capabilities for sustainability tracking, exemplified by the Life Rewinter consortium producing 1,000 upcycled ski sets each with a DPP. Cumulative outputs cited include 10+ R&D innovations per year, 11 patents achieved for clients, and 10+ on-market validated solutions.
DI Works generates revenue through two streams: project-based professional consulting services sold via direct enterprise sales (book-a-call CTAs and scheduled discovery calls) and recurring subscriptions for the RD+ platform (basic monthly and full annual tiers for corporates and suppliers, with startups and knowledge centers receiving free access). The go-to-market combines sales-led direct engagement with a community-led marketplace model via RD+, supported by LinkedIn presence, content marketing through diworksblog.com, industry events, and a newsletter. The firm is privately held as DI Works srl, an Italian società a responsabilità limitata (VAT IT09565500965), with no external funding rounds, M&A activity, or leadership transitions disclosed.
DI Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DI Works
- Legal name
- DI Works srl
- Website
- https://diworks.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DI Works is a Milan-based product innovation consultancy that delivers end-to-end new product development, technology scouting, and AI-powered R&D tools through its RD+ ecosystem platform to enterprise clients across 14+ industries including automotive, fashion, healthcare, pharma, and consumer electronics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DI Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Design and Product Innovation Consulting
- NAICS
- Industrial Design Services (541420), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Workplace & Collaboration Consulting (BPAHAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Enterprise Work Management & Collaborative Workflow Platforms (HDAEAHAI)
Keywords
Where DI Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milano
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
DI Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for new product development, technology scouting, operational excellence, and innovation process consulting. Revenue generated through project-based engagements with corporate clients.
- RD+ Platform Subscription: Subscription-based access to the RD+ innovation platform for corporates and suppliers. Basic or full access levels available. Startups and knowledge centers receive free access.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Corporate R&D Basic Access |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate R&D Full Access |
| Subscription | Monthly | Supplier Subscription |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Startup Access |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
DI Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DI Works is a product innovation consultancy that delivers end-to-end new product development, technology and materials scouting with supplier/startup qualification, and operational excellence in innovation and manufacturing processes for enterprise R&D departments across 14+ industries. It complements these consulting services with two proprietary digital tools — the RD+ platform (a curated marketplace for technology and materials research) and YouFeed (a customizable customer feedback solution) — alongside AI-driven capabilities for trend prediction, technical document error detection, AI design-to-cost, AI-generated datasheets, and Smart Repositories for materials and technologies.
Product overview
DI Works is a product innovation consultancy that operates as part of i2d, offering a portfolio of services centered around new product development, technology scouting, and digital tools for R&D. The core offerings include: the RD+ platform (a digital collaboration space for technology and materials research), YouFeed (a customizable customer feedback solution), and four main consulting services: New Product Development and Experimentation, Technology and Material Scouting, Interactive Information Design, and Operational Excellence. The company also provides AI-powered tools including trend prediction, error detection, and Smart Repositories for Materials and Technologies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RD+: DI Works digital space for research and experimentation, where users can share, explore and access cutting edge technology & materials updates, startups and multi-industries and market insights.
Products and services
- RD+ Platform DI Works' digital space for research and experimentation, enabling users to share, explore, and access cutting-edge technology and materials updates, startups, multi-industries, and market insights. It serves as a curated innovation ecosystem connecting 83 corporates, 35 qualified suppliers, and 18 startups, with Basic and Full subscription access for corporates and free access for startups and Knowledge centers.
- YouFeed A customizable feedback-gathering solution designed to help businesses understand users, what they buy and think. Businesses using YouFeed can build loyalty and contact with users, collect product feedback, and gather qualitative and quantitative data via in-store engagement and scan-shop / scan-product interactions.
- New Product Development and Experimentation End-to-end product design service covering CMF strategy, design for manufacturing, feasibility studies, tech transfer with prototypes, iterative prototyping, and user experience testing for enterprise R&D departments across industries.
- Technology Matching (Technology and Material Scouting, Startup Scouting, Suppliers Qualification, Tech Transfer) Scouting of cutting-edge technologies and materials enabling new product experiences and sustainability improvements, combined with supplier qualification (verified against strict success criteria), startup scouting, and tech-transfer to translate identified opportunities into feasible, reliable solutions for clients.
- Interactive Information Design A consulting service that bridges physical and digital worlds to create customer experiences for products in future scenarios, including data-driven discovery and experience definition.
- Operational Excellence Assessment and optimization of product development, manufacturing, and procurement processes including innovation process, production flows, and quality management for corporate clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10+ R&D innovations per year through tests and prototypes
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use DI Works
Customer profileNamed customers27 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
DI Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability8 records
Feature10 records
DI Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- i2d (i²d)coreDI Works is a part of i2d company. i2d maximizes products, services, and brands to create value using AI to revolutionize design, enhance brand perception, and improve customer well-being. i2d creates more engaging, user-centered products by combining design expertise with emerging technologies.
- BTS (BTS.com)coreDI Works is a part of BTS group. BTSDI represents the design innovation arm of BTS, combining global expertise in innovation consulting with BTS's broader consulting capabilities.
- RD+ Platform PartnerscoreRD+ platform connects 83 corporate R&D members, 35 qualified suppliers, and 18 startups in a verified innovation ecosystem. All members are certified and contacted by DI Works, with verified information to ensure effective networking.
- NPD Global Partners NetworkmajorDI Works creates global teams for New Product Development merging partners' skillsets and creating unique teams of professionals. Global partners have years of experience on specific industries and areas of expertise.
- Life Rewinter ConsortiumminorSustainability project collecting end-of-life winter sports hard goods from rental fleets to recover and fully recycle materials. 1,000 ski sets will be produced from upcycled materials, each featuring a Digital Product Passport.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DI Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IDEO: Global design and innovation consultancy offering end-to-end product design, technology scouting, and innovation strategy for enterprise clients. Closest direct peer to DI Works in terms of cross-industry design-led innovation consulting, though IDEO operates at materially greater scale.
- NineSigma: Open innovation services firm focused on technology scouting, supplier qualification, and accelerating corporate R&D pipelines. Directly comparable to DI Works' technology and material scouting service line and its startup-corporate matching motion.
- Designworks (a BMW Group company): Strategic design and innovation consultancy operating across mobility, healthcare, and consumer industries with a strong cross-industry tech-transfer model. Comparable to DI Works' multi-vertical design innovation offering, with a deeper mobility-vertical heritage.
- Cambridge Consultants: Technology and innovation consultancy combining engineering, design, and AI to develop breakthrough products across industries. Directly comparable to DI Works' blend of design, materials, and technology scouting for enterprise R&D.
- frog (Capgemini Engineering): Design and innovation consultancy (part of Capgemini Engineering) specializing in product design, technology strategy, and AI-augmented innovation for enterprise customers. Highly comparable in service mix and customer profile, with global reach DI Works is seeking.
- Method: Design and innovation consultancy combining brand, product, and service design with emerging technology for enterprise clients. Comparable to DI Works in design-led NPD and cross-industry expertise, with stronger digital product focus.
- Design Group Italia: Italian strategic design consultancy offering industrial design, innovation, and brand experience across consumer goods, automotive, and luxury. Closely comparable to DI Works in geography, vertical mix (Fashion, Furniture, Automotive), and integrated design-engineering methodology.
Emerging players
- Wazoku: Innovation management software platform providing idea management, challenge-driven innovation, and supplier scouting for enterprises. Comparable to the RD+ platform's matchmaking and innovation ecosystem positioning, though more software-focused and less services-led.
Broad incumbents
- McKinsey Design: Design practice of McKinsey & Company offering product, service, and experience design embedded within broader strategy consulting engagements. Competes with DI Works for enterprise innovation budgets, though typically as part of larger strategic mandates.
- Accenture Industry X: Accenture's digital engineering and manufacturing practice combining design, AI, and operations consulting for industrial clients. Overlaps with DI Works' AI-for-R&D and industrial process optimization offerings, with significantly greater scale and geographic reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DI Works social profiles
Digital presenceDI Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DI Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
DI Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DI Works 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 DI Works
What does DI Works do?
DI Works is a product innovation consultancy that delivers end-to-end new product development, technology and materials scouting with supplier/startup qualification, and operational excellence in innovation and manufacturing processes for enterprise R&D departments across 14+ industries. It complements these consulting services with two proprietary digital tools — the RD+ platform (a curated marketplace for technology and materials research) and YouFeed (a customizable customer feedback solution) — alongside AI-driven capabilities for trend prediction, technical document error detection, AI design-to-cost, AI-generated datasheets, and Smart Repositories for materials and technologies.
Is DI Works a public or private company?
DI Works is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DI Works founded?
DI Works was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DI Works based?
DI Works is headquartered in Milano, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does DI Works make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are RD+ Platform Subscription.
Who are DI Works's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IDEO, NineSigma, Designworks (a BMW Group company), Cambridge Consultants, frog (Capgemini Engineering), Method and Design Group Italia. Wazoku is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are McKinsey Design and Accenture Industry X.
Does DI Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for DI Works.
What industry is DI Works in?
DI Works's product category is Design and Product Innovation Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAEAH, Digital Workplace & Collaboration Consulting, with a secondary code of HDAEAHAI, Enterprise Work Management & Collaborative Workflow Platforms. Its NAICS code is 541420 and its SIC code is 8742.