Risknowlogy

What Risknowlogy does

Risknowlogy is a privately-held functional-safety services company headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, with operating entities in Valkenburg aan de Geul, Netherlands and Dubai, UAE, and a global reach across Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Asia. Founded on February 2, 2002 by Dr. Michel Houtermans — who in 2005 became the world's first certified functional safety manager and whose own involvement with the discipline predates the 1998 release of IEC 61508 — the firm addresses functional-safety compliance for four primary buyer segments: end users in oil & gas, chemicals, energy and manufacturing; EPC contractors; system integrators; and field device manufacturers. The model is sold as a vertically integrated three-pillar system: Professional Training (Open edX-delivered self-paced courses on IEC 61508, IEC 61511, HAZOP, SIL verification, and LOPA), Independent Certification (a separately accredited certification body issuing role, competence, product, subsystem, solution, site, and FSM system certificates under ISO/IEC 17024, 17065, and 17021), and the Business Master software platform (modules for SIL/PFD/PFH calculations, QID failure-rate database, lifecycle management, and compliance case documentation), tied together by the Safety Passport portable credential record.

The business is bootstrapped and founder-controlled, with no disclosed external funding, debt, or institutional shareholders. Course pricing spans EUR 199 (HAZOP training-only) to EUR 3,850 (full IEC 61508 certification bundle), training-partner revenue share is capped at EUR 10,000 per partner per year, Business Master is sold on an annual subscription, and enterprise certification projects are sold through regional sales representatives covering five continents and direct messaging channels (WhatsApp, Telegram). Cumulative scale is reported at 10,000+ certified professionals across 300+ companies, with named enterprise logos in instrumentation (Mettler-Toledo, Mütec), flow control (BHDT, Esferomatic, WENLEN), analytical instruments, and process safety (Istec, SAM Engineering), plus a government engagement with the Finnish Transport Agency.

Go-to-market combines self-serve online course enrollment, a Training Partner Program, an Experts United affiliate network, and consultative enterprise sales; the company's stated Vivid Vision 2026 targets — 1,000+ paid Business Master accounts, 100 expert affiliates, 100 partner trainers, 200+ programs, EUR 1M+ in partner payouts, 50%+ profit margins, and 50% compliance-effort reduction — define the intended growth trajectory. The firm is privately held by its founder with no public listing; revenue and headcount are not publicly disclosed beyond the 11-50 employee band, while the company itself claims debt-free, 50%+ margin operations and revenue "doubling year after year."

Name

Risknowlogy

Legal name

Risknowlogy GmbH

Website

https://risknowlogy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Risknowlogy delivers self-paced training, independent certification, and compliance software (Business Master) for functional safety professionals at process-industry end users, EPCs, system integrators, and field-device manufacturers globally, anchored by ISO/IEC 17024/17065/17021 accreditation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Functional Safety Training, Certification & Management Software

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Safety, Compliance & Regulatory (OSHA/HSE/GxP) Certifications (EDAAANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Compliance, Safety & Regulatory Training (BPACANAC), Compliance, Safety & Regulatory eLearning Content (EDAGAEAF), Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG)

Keywords

• Functional safety training
• Safety instrumented systems
• SIL verification certification
• HAZOP leadership courses
• Functional safety management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Zug

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Courses: Self-paced online courses delivered via Open edX platform with multiple enrollment tiers. Courses include IEC 61508, IEC 61511, HAZOP & HAZOP Leadership, SIL Verification, LOPA Facilitator, and Functional Safety Management. Pricing tiers range from €199 to €3,850 depending on certification level.
2. Independent Certification Services: Certification of people (professional, expert, master levels), products, subsystems, solutions, sites, and Functional Safety Management systems. Operates under ISO/IEC 17024, ISO/IEC 17065, and ISO/IEC 17021 standards.
3. Business Master Software: Annual subscription to Business Master tool for functional safety management. The platform includes SIL calculations, compliance management, lifecycle tracking, and failure rate database.
4. Training Partner Program: Revenue sharing with external training partners who deliver courses through Risknowlogy's LMS. Partners pay a percentage of revenue with maximum cap of EUR 10,000 annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Risknowlogy sells functional safety training courses (IEC 61508, IEC 61511, HAZOP, LOPA, SIL Verification, Functional Safety Management) delivered through the Open edX platform with tiered pricing and certification add-ons. It provides independent third-party certification of people, products, subsystems, sites, and Functional Safety Management systems under ISO/IEC 17024, 17065, and 17021. It also licenses the Business Master software platform — including SIL Master calculations, QID failure rate database, Life Cycle Manager, and Compliance Case module — on annual subscription, with the Safety Passport serving as a portable credential record tying training and certification outcomes together.

Product overview

Risknowlogy offers an integrated functional safety ecosystem built around three core pillars: Professional Training, Independent Certification, and the Business Master software platform. Training is delivered via Open edX with courses on IEC 61508, IEC 61511, HAZOP, SIL Verification, LOPA, and Functional Safety Management, each offering knowledge certificates and pathways to role/competence certification. Independent Certification covers people (Professional, Expert, Master levels), products, subsystems, solutions, sites, and FSM systems. The Business Master software platform provides the operational backbone with modules for SIL calculations (SIL Master), failure rate database (QID), lifecycle management, and compliance documentation. The Safety Passport® serves as a portable credential record linking training achievements to certification status across the full safety lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Business Master: The software platform for functional safety management featuring SIL calculations (SIL Master), QID failure rate database, Life Cycle Manager, and Compliance Case module.

Products and services

• Professional Training Industry-aligned self-paced and instructor-led courses covering IEC 61508 (Functional Safety), IEC 61511 (Safety Instrumented Systems), HAZOP & HAZOP Leadership, SIL Verification & Calculation, LOPA Facilitator, and Functional Safety Management, delivered via the Open edX learning platform with knowledge certificates issued on exam pass.
• Independent Certification Independent certification of people (Professional, Expert, Master levels) for HAZOP Leader, LOPA Facilitator, and Functional Safety Manager roles; product and subsystem certification under IEC 61508/61511; solution, site, and Functional Safety Management system certification under ISO/IEC 17024, 17065, and 17021.
• Business Master Software Platform Annual subscription software platform for functional safety management including SIL Master module for PFD/PFH calculations, QID failure rate database, Life Cycle Manager for safety lifecycle tracking, and Compliance Case module for audit-ready documentation.
• Safety Passport Portable, verified digital credential record that tracks functional safety professionals' training history, role certificates, and competence levels worldwide, with credentials accessible across employers and presentable in audits.
• IEC 61508 Certification Course 30-hour self-paced course plus certification exam covering the full safety lifecycle, hardware, reliability, and software requirements of IEC 61508, with tiered pricing from €1,250 (Training Only) to €3,850 (Full Certification Bundle including TÜV and Professional/Expert/Master in FS certificate).
• IEC 61511 — Functional Safety and SIL for Safety Instrumented Systems Course 30-hour self-paced course covering Safety Instrumented Systems per IEC 61511, including FSM, HRA, hardware design, PFD calculations, and software development, with FS Specialist or TÜV FS Engineer certification pathways available.
• HAZOP and HAZOP Leadership Course

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 professionals certified
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Open edXcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2022Risknowlogy implemented Open edX as its learning management system in November 2022. Open edX is the open-source version of the online learning platform co-founded by Harvard and MIT. Risknowlogy chose this platform as the best learning technology for transforming the student experience.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ABS Group: Subsidiary of American Bureau of Shipping providing safety, risk, and integrity management services to oil & gas, marine, and process industry clients. ABS Group's process safety and functional safety services overlap with Risknowlogy's enterprise certification work.
• UL Solutions: Global safety science organization offering testing, inspection, and certification. UL Solutions certifies industrial safety and functional safety products, serving as a broad incumbent alternative to Risknowlogy in product certification.
• DNV: Independent assurance and risk management provider serving maritime, oil & gas, energy, and process industries. DNV's process safety and functional safety certification services overlap with Risknowlogy's, particularly for oil & gas and energy customers.
• DEKRA: Global testing, inspection, and certification organization with industrial safety services. DEKRA competes for functional safety certification and process safety training engagements, particularly in automotive, process, and energy sectors.
• TÜV Rheinland: Major global certification body offering functional safety product and personnel certification. Risknowlogy itself partners with TÜV (TUV certification tier is offered on its IEC 61508 and 61511 courses), making TÜV Rheinland both a partner and a competitive incumbent.
• TÜV SÜD: One of the largest global testing, inspection, and certification bodies. TÜV SÜD certifies functional safety products and personnel across IEC 61508/61511 and is a direct alternative for enterprise certification customers, though it covers a much broader certification portfolio.

Direct peers

• ioMosaic Corporation: Process safety consulting, training, and software provider (including Process Safety Office® suite) serving chemical, oil & gas, and pharmaceutical clients. ioMosaic competes with Risknowlogy's consulting/training arm and offers comparable compliance software tools.
• SIS-TECH Solutions: Functional safety engineering consultancy and certification provider focused on process industry applications. SIS-TECH provides SIS design, SIL verification, and FS technician training that directly overlaps with Risknowlogy's EPC and end-user services.
• exida: exida is the most direct competitor — it provides functional safety training, independent product/systems certification, and SIL verification software (exSILentia). It competes head-to-head with Risknowlogy across all three pillars (training, certification, tools) in the IEC 61508/61511 ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Pilz International: Provider of safe automation products (safety PLCs, sensors) and CECE-certified training for safety engineers. While primarily a hardware vendor, Pilz's training division (CMSE) and its positioning in functional safety standards overlap with Risknowlogy's training and certification content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/risknowlogy
• Facebookfacebook.com/risknowlogy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/risknowlogy

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Risknowlogy