99grad

What 99grad does

99grad is a Wiesbaden-based design agency operating as a German civil law partnership (99° GbR) under three managing partners — David Bascom, Tanja Mann, and Martin Löwen-Mörsdorf. Founded in 1999, the firm provides full-service design capabilities spanning corporate identity, web design (WordPress and TYPO3 with SEO), print, packaging, film production, illustration, infographics, logo and signet design, space design, and application/game development. Its client base is a mix of mid-to-large German enterprises (Levi's, Trek/Diamant, Honda R&D Europe, DZ Privatbank, Aero Pump, Provadis) and regional public institutions and cultural organizations (ESWE Verkehr, mattiaqua, Museum Wiesbaden, Schloss Freudenberg, Sportamt Wiesbaden). The company operates from a single headquarters at Blumenstraße 2 in Wiesbaden and is entirely partner-owned with no external venture or private equity investment.

The business model is project-based professional services billed at hourly rates of EUR 130 for consulting/concept/text and EUR 90 for design, programming, implementation, and project management, in line with the German Tarifvertrag für Designleistungen. Customer acquisition is sales-led through direct B2B relationships, portfolio-driven inbound from the website, and referrals, with no intermediary channels. The agency has maintained continuous operation for over 25 years, won a consecutive AWARD SUPERSTAR Gold in 2011 for Levi's POS display work, and reports cumulative operational metrics including 6.24 million sqm of printed paper and 576 million lines of code across projects.

A notable technical specialization is the agency's ChatGPT App Development service, which builds In-Chat applications using OpenAI's Apps SDK, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and a proprietary MCP server architecture. This positions 99grad as an early-mover integrator for AI-native chat interfaces within the German mid-market design agency landscape, adding an application-layer AI offering on top of its traditional design portfolio. The agency also maintains a creative IP footprint through open-source releases such as the Profet custom font.

Name

99grad

Legal name

99° GbR

Website

https://99grad.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

99grad is a Wiesbaden-based German design agency offering corporate design, web (WordPress/TYPO3), print, packaging, film, illustration, and ChatGPT app development services to mid-market enterprises and public institutions across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wiesbaden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Design and Creative Services: Project-based professional services including corporate design, web design, app development, print design, film production, illustration, and space design. Charged on hourly rates and project quotes.
2. ChatGPT App Development: Custom development services for AI-powered in-chat applications using OpenAI technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

99grad is a German design agency that sells project-based creative services spanning corporate design, web design, print and packaging design, illustration, infographics, film production, and space design. The agency also develops custom ChatGPT In-Chat applications using the OpenAI Apps SDK and Model Context Protocol (MCP) with its own MCP-server architecture. Services are delivered directly to business clients and are billed on project quotes and hourly rates.

Product overview

99grad is a German design agency founded in 1999, offering a comprehensive portfolio of design services. The agency operates as a service-based design consultancy rather than a software product company. Core services include web design (WordPress, TYPO3, SEO), ChatGPT app development (using OpenAI Apps SDK and Model Context Protocol), print design (packaging, brochures, publications), illustrations (infographics, icons), logo and corporate design, film production, packaging design, space/room design (showrooms, exhibitions, trade shows), and app/game development. The agency is headquartered in Wiesbaden with approximately 576 million lines of code and 14 agency children in statistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Webdesign (Web Design) Multilingual website design and development using WordPress and TYPO3 CMS platforms, including SEO optimization. For enterprise and public-sector clients needing digital presence.
• ChatGPT App Entwicklung (ChatGPT App Development) Custom development of In-Chat apps for ChatGPT that run directly within the chat interface, using OpenAI Apps SDK, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and proprietary MCP-server architecture. For businesses seeking AI-integrated conversational applications.
• Print Design Print design services including packaging, brochures, flyers, advertisements, and publications. For B2B clients and public institutions needing marketing collateral.
• Illustrationen (Illustrations) Illustration services including infographics, display graphics, illustrations, and icons. For clients needing visual storytelling and custom drawn assets.
• Logos (Logo and Emblem Design) Logo and emblem design services for brand creation. For companies developing or refreshing brand identity.
• Corporate Design Corporate identity and design services for holistic brand appearance across touchpoints. For enterprises needing integrated brand systems.
• Film Production Film production including cinema spots, clips, and corporate films. For B2B marketing and brand storytelling.
• Packaging Design Packaging design and brand design services for physical products. For consumer-facing brands needing physical packaging.
• Raumgestaltung (Space Design) Space design including objects, showroom concepts, trade show booths, and exhibitions. For brands needing physical environments and experiential installations.
• Apps, Tools, Games & User Experience Development of apps, tools, games, and user experience design. For businesses needing interactive digital products and UX.
• Infografiken (Infographics) Infographic design services for presenting data and facts in visually engaging formats. For organizations needing to communicate complex information visually.

Quantifiable outcome

• 59 million passengers served by ESWE Verkehr campaigns
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Serviceplan Group: Europe's largest owner-managed agency group headquartered in Munich, offering brand, digital, design, and communications services. Broadly comparable capabilities to 99grad but at vastly greater scale.
• Interbrand: Global brand consulting firm with strong German presence, specializing in brand strategy, identity, and design. Directly comparable to 99grad's corporate design work but with global scale and strategy capabilities 99grad lacks.
• Jung von Matt: One of Germany's largest independent creative agencies with full-service brand, advertising, and digital capabilities. Operates broadly in the same space as 99grad but with much greater scale and pan-European reach.
• Scholz & Friends: Major Hamburg-based German creative agency offering integrated brand communication, advertising, and design. Overlaps with 99grad's corporate design and digital work but operates at substantially larger scale.
• KMS Team: Larger established German brand design firm with broad corporate design, brand strategy, and digital capabilities. Comparable service categories to 99grad but with significantly greater scale and resources.
• Landor & Fitch: Global brand strategy and design consultancy with European operations, specializing in brand identity, packaging, and experience design. Comparable to 99grad's brand and packaging services but at a vastly larger scale.

Direct peers

• MetaDesign: Berlin-based German design firm with similar breadth across corporate design, brand strategy, and digital experiences. Comparable to 99grad's integrated service model and DACH B2B client base.
• Strichpunkt: Mid-sized German design agency offering integrated brand, editorial, and digital design services for enterprise clients. Comparable to 99grad in size, geography (DACH), and full-service B2B positioning.
• LOOPING Group: German design agency offering corporate publishing, brand communication, and digital services. Comparable in scale, geography, and integrated B2B service portfolio to 99grad.
• Peter Schmidt Group: Hamburg-based German brand design agency specializing in corporate design, packaging, and brand identity. Closely comparable to 99grad's corporate design, packaging, and brand work for enterprise clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/grad99

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 99grad