Pates
Pates AG is a Munich-based, management-owned recruitment consultancy founded in 2013 that places permanent, freelance, and temporary staff exclusively for pharmaceutical and medical technology companies across the DACH region, leveraging a proprietary 30,000+ candidate database and the CLAMPS assessment model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersMunich, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Pates does
Pates AG is a Munich-based, privately held recruitment consultancy (Personalberatung) founded in 2013 that serves exclusively the pharmaceutical and medical technology (Life Sciences) industries across the DACH region. The firm operates a single Munich headquarters at Leopoldstraße 248 and serves more than 210 pharma and medtech companies, having placed over 778 permanent candidates and 421 freelancers over its 11+ year operating history. Its core service portfolio spans permanent placement (Festanstellung), freelance and interim management placements, and temporary worker leasing (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung), with revenue generated primarily through transaction-based fees — 40% of first-year gross for permanent roles up to €150K, 45% above that threshold, and 20% of freelance contract value.
The company's technology layer consists of a day-current proprietary database of more than 30,180 specialized candidates, the CLAMPS candidate assessment model, and a Benchmark Process for position definition and candidate matching, supported by a candidate self-service portal and a multi-channel sourcing strategy combining headhunting, job portals, social recruiting, and direct network engagement. Supplementary offerings include the Pates Talent Flat subscription model, a Freelancer Partner Program, a podcast ("Klartext mit Max Kraft"), and a 120+ article content platform (Recruiting DNA blog) used as an inbound marketing asset. All employees combine HR expertise with Life Sciences domain knowledge, regularly updated through external sector consultants.
The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, targeting enterprise pharma and medtech employers through direct engagement, while also capturing inbound demand via SEO, content, social media, and events. Pates is governed as a German Aktiengesellschaft under co-CEOs Daniel Richter (Vorsitz) and Maximilian Kraft, with Markus Münzenmaier chairing the Supervisory Board; ownership is management-held with no disclosed external investors or parent. Revenue and ARR are not publicly disclosed.
Pates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pates
- Legal name
- pates AG
- Website
- https://pates-experts.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pates AG is a Munich-based, management-owned recruitment consultancy founded in 2013 that places permanent, freelance, and temporary staff exclusively for pharmaceutical and medical technology companies across the DACH region, leveraging a proprietary 30,000+ candidate database and the CLAMPS assessment model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialized Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Recruitment Services
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies (561311)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Manufacturing, MSAT & Operations Staffing (API/Biologics/Cell & Gene) (HLAGAOAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA)
Keywords
Where Pates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Munich
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Permanent Placement Fees: Recruitment fees for placing candidates in permanent positions. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the candidate's total first-year gross compensation including bonuses, gratuities, and 13th month salary. For positions up to €150,000 gross: 40%; for executives from €150,000 gross: 45%.
- Interim Management / Freelance Staffing: Provision of freelance consultants for project-based work. Fees are 20% of total gross compensation paid to the freelancer over the contract period, applicable if a direct contract is established within one year of initial introduction.
- Temporary Worker Leasing (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung): Provision of temporary workers to pharmaceutical and medical technology companies through the German Arbeitnehmerüberlassung model.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Standard Permanent Placement - up to €150K |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Executive Permanent Placement - from €150K |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Interim Management / Freelance Placement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Pates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pates AG provides specialized recruitment and staffing services exclusively for the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries in the German-speaking market. Its core offerings include permanent placement (Festanstellung), freelance/project-based placement, temporary worker leasing (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung), and interim management. The firm supplements these with a Pates Talent Flat subscription for recurring hiring needs.
Product overview
Pates AG operates as a specialized recruitment consultancy offering a unified service portfolio focused exclusively on the pharmaceutical and medical technology (Life Sciences) sectors in the German-speaking market. Their core offering comprises permanent placement, freelance/project-based placement, temporary labor (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung), and interim management services. The company differentiates through its proprietary recruiting methodology (CLAMPS model and benchmark process) and multi-channel sourcing strategy combining headhunting, job portal advertising, social recruiting, and direct candidate database searches. Supplementary offerings include the Recruiting DNA Podcast and Blog for thought leadership, the Pates Talent Flat subscription model, a Freelancer Partner Program, and a candidate-facing portal for job applications. All services are delivered through their Munich headquarters with over 11 years of industry experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Recruitment Services for Pharmaceutical Industry Executive search and permanent placement services connecting pharmaceutical manufacturers, generics producers, biotech firms, vaccine makers, and animal health companies with specialized candidates in quality assurance, regulatory affairs, clinical operations, production, and R&D.
- Recruitment Services for Medical Technology Staffing and placement services for medical technology companies, covering medical devices, in-vitro diagnostics, and PLM/OEM roles in quality management, regulatory compliance, and product development.
- Permanent Placement (Festanstellung) Permanent employment placement matching qualified candidates with permanent positions in pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, including full recruitment cycle support from briefing through onboarding and contract negotiation.
- Freelance / Project-Based Placement Intermediation of freelance professionals for project-based assignments in the Life Sciences sector, including 72-hour candidate proposal commitment for freelance/interim mandates.
- Temporary Labor (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung) Temporary staffing solution allowing pharmaceutical and medical technology companies to engage specialized professionals on a temporary basis via the German Arbeitnehmerüberlassung model.
- Interim Management Interim management providing experienced consultants for temporary leadership and management positions in pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, delivered through independent contractors.
- Pates Talent Flat Recurring talent subscription offering ongoing access to qualified candidates for pharmaceutical and medical technology companies with continuous or recurring hiring needs.
Companies that use Pates
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Pates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Pates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Amadeus Fire: German specialist staffing firm listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with finance, IT, and life-sciences-adjacent verticals. Larger incumbent operating across multiple German specialist niches, including pharma-adjacent segments.
- Randstad: Global staffing leader with a dedicated Life Sciences/pharma practice across perm, contract, and RPO. Much larger scale and broader portfolio, but overlaps in pharma/medtech talent supply.
- PageGroup (Michael Page): Global recruiter whose Michael Page and Page Personnel brands operate a Life Sciences desk serving pharma and medtech employers. Broader portfolio with an overlapping life-sciences capability, competing for the same mid-to-senior mandates.
Direct peers
- Brunel: Dutch-based global specialist staffing firm with strong DACH presence and dedicated life-sciences and engineering verticals. Comparable to Pates in combining multi-country DACH coverage with deep life-sciences/pharma expertise.
- Robert Walters: International recruiter with a dedicated Life Sciences practice serving pharma and medtech employers on mid-to-senior permanent and contract hires. Comparable mid-market international recruiter with a specialized life-sciences vertical.
- Skills Alliance: London-based recruitment firm dedicated to pharma, biotech, and medtech across Europe. Directly comparable single-vertical life-sciences focus with perm and contractor placements.
- SThree (Real Staffing): Specialist staffing group whose Real/Life Sciences division places contract and permanent professionals into pharma, biotech, and medtech. Directly comparable business model of niche vertical staffing in life sciences.
- CPL Life Sciences: Recruitment specialist focused on life sciences, including pharma manufacturing, clinical, and medical devices. Comparable niche life-sciences vertical with perm and contract offerings.
- Optares: German recruitment specialist focused on life sciences, chemistry, and pharma. Direct regional peer to Pates with a similar niche-vertical positioning in the DACH market.
- Hays Life Sciences: Global recruiter with a dedicated Life Sciences practice covering pharma, biotech, and medtech. Closest large-scale analogue to Pates' pharma/medtech vertical focus, operating across multiple geographies with perm and contract staffing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pates social profiles
Digital presencePates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Pates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pates 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 Pates
What does Pates do?
Pates AG provides specialized recruitment and staffing services exclusively for the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries in the German-speaking market. Its core offerings include permanent placement (Festanstellung), freelance/project-based placement, temporary worker leasing (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung), and interim management. The firm supplements these with a Pates Talent Flat subscription for recurring hiring needs.
Is Pates a public or private company?
Pates is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Pates founded?
Pates was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pates based?
Pates is headquartered in Munich, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Pates make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Permanent Placement Fees are the primary driver. The others are interim Management / Freelance Staffing and temporary Worker Leasing (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung).
Who are Pates's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Amadeus Fire, Randstad and PageGroup (Michael Page). Direct peers are Brunel, Robert Walters, Skills Alliance, SThree (Real Staffing), CPL Life Sciences, Optares and Hays Life Sciences.
Does Pates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pates.
What industry is Pates in?
Pates's product category is Specialized Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Recruitment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAOAL, Manufacturing, MSAT & Operations Staffing (API/Biologics/Cell & Gene), with a secondary code of BPACAFAA, General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry). Its NAICS code is 561311 and its SIC code is 7361.