AKRYL

What AKRYL does

AKRYL is a Hamburg-headquartered German digital consulting firm that delivers digital strategy consulting, custom software development, and project implementation services to international development organizations, government agencies, and NGOs. Its client base spans GIZ, BMZ, the European Union, the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee, the International Tax Compact, the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, and German Bundesliga, with engagements focused on capacity building, monitoring & evaluation, and digital transformation tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The firm operates from Hamburg (headquarters), Berlin, and Shanghai, and has delivered projects across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe.

AKRYL maintains four proprietary technology products built on open-source foundations: Datama Works (a data management and M&E suite covering BI, social media, and web analytics), Exchange 4 Development/E4D (a virtual training and event platform for the development cooperation sector), AKADEMOS (a custom Learning Management System), and ICT4D Cloud (a GDPR-compliant secure file transfer solution hosted in Germany). In parallel, it develops bespoke client-specific tools such as AdComm-DAT and TAAN for the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee, the Sino-German Agricultural Centre Expert Matchmaking Database, the Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima Navigator and CRM (CiviCRM-based), and the CRAMSE climate risk search engine. AKRYL is an official endorser of the Principles for Digital Development, and its solutions emphasize open-source standards, user-centric design, data governance, and privacy/security compliance.

The firm's revenue model combines project-based professional services (digital strategy consulting and custom software development) with recurring platform revenue from its SaaS-style proprietary tools. Go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct consulting engagements and project commissions from major development agencies and government ministries, supported by a content and case-study-driven website. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors and appears to be founder-owned.

Name

AKRYL

Legal name

AKRYL digital agency GmbH

Website

https://akryl.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AKRYL is a Hamburg-based digital consulting firm that delivers strategy consulting, custom software development, and proprietary SaaS platforms to international development organizations, government agencies, and NGOs across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Consulting and ICT Development Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

ERP, CRM & Enterprise Applications Consulting (BPAHAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

E-Signature & Digital Transaction Management (DTM) (HDAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Digital consulting services
• ICT development
• International development consulting
• Open source software
• Digital strategy consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Strategy Consulting: Digital strategy consulting services helping clients navigate the digital ecosystem, define web presence strategy, and implement digital tools. Services include analyzing user needs, identifying appropriate technology, and developing sustainability models.
2. Software and Digital Tool Development: Custom software development services including web-based applications, mobile apps, project websites with CMS, LMS solutions, M&E tools, fintech and e-commerce systems, geo-location systems, blockchain tools, and multimedia production.
3. Tech Products (SaaS/Platform): Proprietary platforms including Datama Works (data management suite), Exchange 4 Development E4D (virtual training platform), AKADEMOS (LMS), and ICT4D Cloud (secure file transfer). Revenue likely from platform licensing or subscription.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AKRYL is a digital consulting firm that delivers digital strategy consulting, ICT development, and project implementation services to international development organizations and public sector clients. The firm also develops and operates proprietary tech products including Datama Works (data management suite), Exchange 4 Development/E4D (virtual training platform), AKADEMOS (open-source LMS), and ICT4D Cloud (GDPR-compliant secure file transfer), alongside custom digital tools for climate adaptation, agricultural development, and CRM.

Product overview

AKRYL is a digital consulting firm offering both professional consulting services and a portfolio of proprietary technology products. The product portfolio consists of four core SaaS products: Datama Works (a data management suite for M&E, business intelligence, social media and web analytics), Exchange 4 Development / E4D (a digital training and event platform for the development sector), AKADEMOS (a custom open-source Learning Management System), and ICT4D Cloud (a secure file transfer solution hosted in Germany with GDPR compliance). Additionally, AKRYL develops custom digital products in cooperation with clients and partners, including specialized tools for climate adaptation, expert databases, and CRM systems built on open-source platforms like CiviCRM. The consulting services complement these products by offering digital strategy consulting, custom software development, and project implementation support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Datama Works: A full suite of data management tools focused on relevant insights for development sector clients, including data monitoring & evaluation, data governance, web analytics, social media monitoring, and business intelligence.
• Exchange 4 Development (E4D)
• AKADEMOS
• ICT4D Cloud

Products and services

• Datama Works Full suite of data management tools focused on relevant insights for development sector clients, including data monitoring & evaluation, data governance, web analytics, social media monitoring, and business intelligence.
• Exchange 4 Development (E4D) Digital training and event solution specifically designed for the development cooperation sector, offering a flexible, modules-based, secure platform that enables stakeholders to experience multi-faceted trainings, conferences, workshops, and meetings in virtual space.
• AKADEMOS Custom Learning Management System (LMS) based on open source, catering to stakeholders from the development sector with capabilities for creating learning modules and enabling socialization and networking.
• ICT4D Cloud Secured file transfer solution hosted in Germany that complies with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), designed to be secure and user-friendly.
• AdComm-DAT (Adaptation Communications Drafting Assistance Tool) Working tool developed for the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee that helps countries formulate their adaptation notifications and contributes to planned supplementary guidance.
• TAAN (Tool for Assessing Adaptation in the NDCs) Interactive knowledge platform providing detailed information on adaptation in the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (I)NDCs for the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee.
• Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ) Expert Matchmaking Database Custom database for the Sino-German Agricultural Centre providing background information on German and Chinese experts and institutions in development cooperation in the agricultural sector, with algorithm-based expert matching.
• Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima Navigator Navigator platform developed for Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima offering a compendium of basic knowledge, in-depth knowledge, and concrete practical examples.
• Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima CRM Custom customer relationship management system built on the open-source CiviCRM platform for Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima.
• CRAMSE (Climate Risk Assessment Method Search Engine) Search engine enabling users to find suitable methodological approaches for Climate Risk Assessment based on single or multiple criteria regarding specific context and conditions.
• Digital Strategy Consulting Services Digital strategy consulting services helping clients navigate the digital ecosystem, define web presence strategy, and implement digital tools, including user-needs analysis, technology identification, sustainability model conceptualization, and theory of change development for development-sector clients.
• Custom Software and Digital Tool Development Custom software development services covering web-based applications, mobile apps, project websites with CMS, LMS solutions, M&E tools, fintech and e-commerce systems, geo-location systems, blockchain tools, and multimedia production, using open source technologies.

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ is a major development organization implementing international projects. AKRYL has worked with GIZ on projects including the Cultural and Creative Industries initiative in Africa and Middle East, and the Shaping Development-Oriented Migration Programme (MEG). GIZ commissions projects that AKRYL implements, making this a key client-partner relationship in the development sector.
• BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMZ commissions international development projects that AKRYL implements, including the Shaping Development-Oriented Migration Programme (MEG). As the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ provides project mandates and funding for AKRYL's consulting and implementation services.
• European UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EU established the National Information Platforms for Nutrition (NIPN) to enhance coordination systems for nutrition. AKRYL works on projects established by the EU in the international development sector.
• Principles for Digital DevelopmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAKRYL is an official endorser of the Principles for Digital Development. This endorsement provides credibility and alignment with global standards for digital development projects, supporting their positioning as a trusted partner in the development sector.
• Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und KlimaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAKRYL developed custom tools for the Foundation Alliance for Development and Climate, including a Navigator platform with knowledge compendium and a CRM system based on CiviCRM. These are co-developed digital products tailored to the foundation's needs.
• Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAKRYL implemented and launched a custom expert matchmaking database for DCZ, providing background information on German and Chinese experts and institutions in agricultural development cooperation, with algorithm-based matching capabilities.
• UNFCCC Adaptation CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAKRYL developed the Adaptation Communications Drafting Assistance Tool (AdComm-DAT) which serves as a working tool for countries to formulate adaptation notifications, contributing to planned supplementary guidance by the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NetHope: Global technology consortium serving NGOs and humanitarian organizations with digital solutions, capacity building, and shared infrastructure — overlapping heavily with AKRYL's ICT4D and development-sector consulting focus.
• GFA Consulting Group: Hamburg-headquartered consulting firm implementing GIZ- and BMZ-commissioned international projects across sectors — the closest geographic and buyer-portfolio competitor to AKRYL.
• Cloudburst Group: US-based consulting and technology firm providing data, analytics, and digital solutions to international development and humanitarian clients — comparable niche and delivery model.
• InSTEDD: Non-profit technology organization designing digital tools and platforms (e.g., for health, early warning, and development programs) used by humanitarian and development actors — directly comparable mission and tech-product orientation to AKRYL.

Broad incumbents

• DAI (Development Alternatives, Inc.): Large international development consulting firm implementing donor-funded programs with embedded digital/M&E components — competes for similar GIZ/BMZ/EU framework agreements.
• Tetra Tech International Development: International development services division of Tetra Tech providing consulting, engineering, and digital solutions to USAID, GIZ, FCDO and multilateral clients — a competing bidder for major framework contracts.
• Palladium: Global consulting firm executing donor-funded development programs including digital transformation, M&E, and adaptive management — competes for the same institutional buyer pool as AKRYL.
• ThoughtWorks (social impact practice): Global technology consultancy with a dedicated social-impact practice serving development-sector clients; overlaps with AKRYL on custom software, digital strategy, and platform engineering for mission-driven organizations.
• Accenture Development Partnerships: Not-for-profit practice within Accenture delivering pro-bono and reduced-fee consulting to international development organizations — relevant incumbent competing for high-value digital-development mandates.

Emerging players

• DIAL (Digital Impact Alliance): Alliance funded by USAID and Gates Foundation advancing digital inclusion and digital development practices — operates in the same ICT4D ecosystem, shaping the standards AKRYL endorses.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/about
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akryl-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 AKRYL