What Aardling does

Aardling is a Belgium-headquartered software strategy, architecture, and domain modelling consultancy specializing in Domain-Driven Design (DDD). Founded by Mathias Verraes in 2020 through the consolidation of his prior consulting practice with the DDD Europe conference (established 2016), the firm advises enterprise clients on aligning software architecture with business strategy through techniques such as EventStorming, bounded context design, and socio-technical modelling. Its client roster spans Fortune 500 organizations across financial services (Danske Bank, Macquarie), automotive (Porsche, Renault Group), consumer platforms (Shopify, Spotify), and growth-stage scale-ups (Billie, Orbem), with engagements ranging from strategic assessments and embedded consulting to large-scale training programs — notably training 800+ engineers at Shopify over a three-year period.

The firm's commercial offering spans four pillars: professional services (Software Architecture Assessment, AI Readiness Assessment, Software Strategy, Domain Modelling, Legacy Modernization, Training, Speaking/Keynotes), owned conferences (DDD Europe, Data Mesh Live, NewCrafts), the DDD Academy online education platform, and published works including 'Design and Reality' and 'Collaborative Software Design.' Underlying methodology emphasizes an adapted EventStorming approach and proprietary practices around bounded contexts and strategic DDD, reinforced by content production through a blog, newsletter, YouTube channel, and the Satisfying Software vodcast. Aardling's senior consultants — Mathias Verraes (now Board Director), CEO Thomas Coopman, Gien Verschatse, and Stijn Vannieuwenhuyse — personally lead client engagements, with the broader organization supported by dedicated Heads of Sales and Marketing, plus Training, Events, and Project Management functions. Legal entities operate in Belgium (HQ), the Netherlands, and France.

Name

Aardling

Legal name

Aardling BV

Website

https://aardling.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aardling is a Belgium-based software strategy and Domain-Driven Design consultancy serving Fortune 500 enterprises and growth-stage scale-ups across finance, automotive, and technology with architecture advisory, training, conferences, and an online education platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Software Architecture Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Computer Related Services (541519)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Enterprise Application Modernization (Monolith-to-Modules, Domain Modernization) (BPAEAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

DevOps Consulting & Transformation (BPAEAKAA)

Keywords

• Software strategy consulting
• Domain-driven design
• Software architecture services
• Legacy modernization consulting
• Enterprise DDD training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kortrijk

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Strategy Consulting: Strategic consulting engagements helping organizations with software architecture, domain modelling, and software design strategy. Engagements include assessments, workshops, and embedded consulting with client teams.
2. Training Programs: DDD and software architecture training delivered as workshops, masterclasses, and courses including Introduction to DDD, Advanced DDD, EventStorming, and specialized topics. Includes DDD Academy online education platform.
3. Conference Operations: Revenue from organizing DDD Europe, Data Mesh Live, and NewCrafts conferences including ticket sales and sponsorships.
4. Book Sales: Sales of co-authored books including 'Design and Reality' and 'Collaborative Software Design'.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aardling is a software strategy, architecture, and domain modelling consulting firm that helps enterprises regain control of complex software systems through services including software architecture assessments, AI readiness assessments, software strategy consulting, domain modelling, legacy modernization, training, and speaking engagements. Its practice is anchored in Domain-Driven Design (DDD) methodologies, including an adapted EventStorming technique and bounded context design, delivered by senior consultants to engineering teams in finance, automotive, logistics, and technology sectors.

Product overview

Aardling is a software strategy, architecture, and domain modelling consulting firm. It does not offer a single software product; instead, its offering is a portfolio of professional services, educational programmes, conferences, and published media. The core consulting services include Software Architecture Assessment, AI Readiness Assessment, Software Strategy, Domain Modelling, Evolving Legacy and Modernisation, Training, and Speaking/Keynotes. These are delivered by senior consultants who work directly with client teams. Aardling also operates three conferences: Domain-Driven Design Europe (DDD Europe), Data Mesh Live, and NewCrafts. Its educational arm includes DDD Academy (an online learning platform) and instructor-led training programmes covering DDD, EventStorming, and related techniques. Published media includes the Satisfying Software podcast/vodcast series and books such as Design and Reality and Collaborative Software Design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DDD Academy: The world's only education platform exclusively focused on software design and strategy, offering courses in Domain-Driven Design.
• DDD Europe
• Data Mesh Live
• NewCrafts

Products and services

• Software Architecture Assessment Diagnostic engagement evaluating the current state of software architecture, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement in complex enterprise software systems.
• AI Readiness Assessment Evaluation to determine an organisation's preparedness to adopt and integrate AI-assisted development practices into their software design and delivery workflows.
• Software Strategy Strategic consulting on software architecture, design, modelling, and product vision for technology leaders and organisations navigating complex software environments.
• Domain Modelling Domain discovery and modelling engagements that untangle complex business domains using techniques such as EventStorming, collaborative modelling, and bounded context design to make architecture work for the business.
• Evolving Legacy and Modernisation Assistance with addressing complexity in core legacy systems to enable real agility, including model implementation and refactoring towards modern architectures.
• Training Instructor-led and remote training programmes in Domain-Driven Design, EventStorming, and software architecture, including introductory and advanced courses, workshops, and masterclasses for engineering teams.
• Speaking and Keynotes Expert speakers and keynote presentations at conferences and internal events on software architecture, Domain-Driven Design, and related topics.
• Domain-Driven Design Europe (DDD Europe) The world's leading Domain-Driven Design conference, organised by Aardling, featuring talks and hands-on labs focused on software modelling, design, strategy, and architecture. Held annually in Amsterdam.
• Data Mesh Live A conference organised by Aardling focused on data mesh architecture and related data engineering topics.
• NewCrafts A software development conference organised by Aardling, focused on craftsmanship and modern software engineering practices.
• DDD Academy The world's only education platform exclusively focused on software design and strategy, founded by Mathias Verraes. Offers online courses in Domain-Driven Design and related disciplines.
• Satisfying Software A video and audio podcast series hosted by Aardling consultant Gien Verschatse, featuring conversations with experts on software design, architecture, and team organisation.
• Design and Reality A book co-authored by Mathias Verraes and Rebecca Wirfs-Brock, containing essays on software design challenges including reframing problems through design, models and metaphors, bounded contexts, and critical software redesign.
• Collaborative Software Design A book co-authored by Gien Verschatse and Kenny Baas-Schwegler on practices, collaboration tools, and techniques for incorporating stakeholders into the software design process.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained over 800 engineers at Shopify in DDD over three years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@aardling_eu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aardling-eu
• Xx.com/aardling_eu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Aardling