What bessergrün does

bessergrün GmbH is a Germany-based curated sustainable marketplace for financial and insurance products, founded in August 2019 in Itzehoe and operating as a B2B2C aggregator. The company does not act as a licensed insurer, energy supplier, or asset manager itself; rather, it curates a positive/negative-screened catalogue of products from licensed partner carriers and routes end-customers to partner websites for quotation, policy issuance, and servicing. Product coverage spans personal and commercial insurance (liability, household, building, accident, legal protection, health supplements, hunting, bicycle, drone, photovoltaic, classic car), green energy (Ökostrom, Ökogas via Mark-E), digital wealth management (ETF-based portfolios via Smavesto), e-mobility carsharing (FUTURE.rent), and climate-friendly tourism (Carolinensiel-Harlesiel).

The company is held by three founding-shareholder insurers — Itzehoer Versicherungen, NV-Versicherungen VVaG, and INTER Versicherungsgruppe — and is governed by four managing directors. Revenue is generated through low single-digit license fees paid by each licensed partner per contract concluded through the marketplace; the company states it is not profit-oriented and reinvests proceeds into ecological projects (reforestation across multiple German states, ghost net recovery in the North Sea with Ghost Diving Germany). Distribution combines a self-serve digital storefront, a broker/Makler channel supported by the bessergrün Academy, B2B partnerships, and trade-show activation (DKM). Reported scale metrics include 40,000+ customers, 230,000+ trees planted, and 21 products from 9+ partner carriers as of 2022.

The technology layer is non-proprietary: the platform functions as a content-and-routing layer rather than a transactional insurance core, with no mobile app, no public API, and no disclosed AI/data capabilities. Marketing relies on owned content (blog, podcast, social), earned media, and the environmental project portfolio as authenticity proof points.

Name

bessergrün

Legal name

bessergrün GmbH

Website

https://bessergruen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

bessergrün is a German curated B2B2C marketplace that aggregates sustainability-screened insurance, green energy, digital wealth management, e-mobility, and climate-friendly tourism products from licensed partner carriers, earning low single-digit license fees per concluded contract. Founded 2019 and held by three German mutual insurers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Itzehoe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. License fees from licensed partners: bessergrün generates revenue through low single-digit license fees paid by each licensed partner per contract concluded through the platform. The company describes itself as not profit-oriented; revenue is reinvested in ecological projects such as tree planting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

bessergrün operates a curated sustainable marketplace that aggregates verified green insurance, renewable energy, digital wealth management, and climate-friendly travel products from licensed partner companies in Germany. Customers discover products on the bessergrün platform and are redirected to partner websites to complete purchase and servicing. For every contract concluded, bessergrün plants a tree in Germany and partner premiums (less insurance tax and reinsurance share) are invested exclusively in sustainable capital assets screened against a Positive/Negative list.

Product overview

bessergrün operates as a sustainable marketplace platform that aggregates and offers green insurance products, renewable energy, and complementary services from selected partner companies. The platform is organized around a core offering of sustainability-focused insurance products including private liability, property, health, and specialty insurance (classic car, drone, photovoltaic) offered by partners like NV-Versicherungen, INTER, GEV, and OCC. Additional product categories include green energy products (Ökostrom, Ökogas) via Mark-E, climate-friendly tourism through Carolinensiel-Harlesiel, and digital wealth management via Smavesto. Each product on the platform follows a consistent sustainability model where a tree is planted per contract and premiums are invested exclusively in sustainable capital assets based on positive/negative screening criteria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Privathaftpflichtversicherung Sustainable private liability insurance offered by NV-Versicherungen that protects policyholders financially in case of damages, with additional coverage for sustainable repairs and one tree planted per contract.
• Hundehalterhaftpflichtversicherung Dog owner liability insurance from NV-Versicherungen covering damages caused by dogs, with tree planting and sustainable capital investment per contract.
• Pferdehalterhaftpflichtversicherung Horse owner liability insurance from NV-Versicherungen covering unlimited liability for damages caused by horses, with sustainability benefits.
• Hausratversicherung Household contents insurance covering damages from fire, theft, storm, hail, and water leaks, with participation in costs for energy-efficient replacements and tree planting.
• Wohngebäudeversicherung Building insurance from GEV and NV-Versicherungen covering fire, water, theft, and storm damages with sustainable performance bonuses for eco-friendly reconstruction.
• Unfallversicherung Accident insurance from NV-Versicherungen providing coverage for leisure accidents with increased benefits for helmet use, volunteer work, and first-aid assistance, plus tree planting.
• Ambulante Zusatzversicherung Outpatient supplementary health insurance from INTER Versicherungsgruppe providing private patient status for treatments including practitioner services, osteopathy, and medication co-payments.
• Krankenhauszusatzversicherung Hospital supplementary insurance from INTER enabling private room and specialist treatment options beyond standard public health insurance coverage.
• Zahnzusatzversicherung Dental supplementary insurance from INTER covering high-quality dental prosthetics, implants, and treatments with reduced co-payments.
• Jagdhaftpflichtversicherung Hunting liability insurance from INTER Versicherungsgruppe required for all hunters in Germany, covering damages during hunting activities and hunting dogs.
• Fahrradkaskoversicherung Bicycle comprehensive insurance from NV-Versicherungen covering theft and damage to bicycles with sustainable benefits including tree planting.
• Photovoltaikversicherung Photovoltaic insurance from INTER Versicherungsgruppe protecting solar panel owners from financial losses due to storm, lightning, or short-circuit damage.
• KFZ-Versicherung Motor vehicle insurance offered by partner insurance companies with sustainable service options.
• Rechtsschutzversicherung Legal protection insurance covering legal costs for various areas of law.
• Drohnenversicherung Drone liability insurance covering damages caused by drones.
• Haus- und Grundbesitzerhaftpflichtversicherung Property owner liability insurance from NV-Versicherungen covering unlimited liability for rented properties and undeveloped land.
• Oldtimer-Versicherung Classic car insurance from OCC Assekuradeur for vintage automobiles and valuable sports cars with digital insurance solutions.
• Ökostrom 100% certified green electricity from Mark-E with 24-month price guarantee, supporting renewable energy transition in Germany.
• Ökogas Climate-neutral gas product from Mark-E where CO2 emissions from consumption are offset through certified climate protection projects.
• Klimafreundlicher Urlaub Climate-friendly vacation packages in Carolinensiel-Harlesiel featuring e-mobility options, carbon-offset travel, and eco-friendly Green Tiny Houses.
• Digitale Vermögensverwaltung Digital wealth management via Smavesto using ETFs with sustainable investment strategies, starting at €50/month with a 1% annual fee.
• Gewerbeversicherung Commercial business insurance from rhion.digital covering business contents, liability, and commercial buildings with sustainability features.
• DELA Sterbegeldversicherung Funeral expense insurance (DELA sorgenfrei Leben) from DELA Lebensversicherungen providing financial security for funeral costs.
• INTER MeinLeben Privatrente Fund-based pension insurance from INTER with Welt Nachhaltigkeit fund strategy for sustainable retirement savings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Each insurance/energy contract results in one tree planted in Germany
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NV-Versicherungen VVaGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNV-Versicherungen (Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit) is a co-founding shareholder of bessergrün alongside Itzehoer Versicherungen and INTER. Based in Neuharlingersiel with over 200 years of history, NV offers multiple sustainable insurance products on the platform including private liability, household, accident, bicycle, pet, and property insurance. All premiums are invested exclusively in sustainable capital assets.
• INTER Krankenversicherung AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorINTER Versicherungsgruppe (Mannheim) is a co-founding shareholder of bessergrün. Offers health supplemental insurance (dental, hospital, outpatient), hunting liability, photovoltaic insurance, and a unit-linked pension (INTER MeinLeben Privatrente) on the platform. Also provides additional life insurance through DELA.
• Itzehoer VersicherungencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-founding shareholder of bessergrün alongside NV and INTER. Itzehoer Versicherungen contributed founding leadership and staff to the initiative and provides commercial insurance offerings through the platform.
• Mark-E AktiengesellschaftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMark-E (ENERVIE Gruppe, Hagen, NRW) provides 100% certified green electricity and climate-neutral green gas (KlimaFair Gas) on the bessergrün platform. Serves around 368,000 households and business customers. Committed to investing part of revenues in renewable energy certificates and planting one tree per contract.
• GEV Grundeigentümer-VersicherungcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGEV (Hamburg, founded 1891) is a nationwide property insurance specialist offering residential building, household, private liability (Protect+), and holiday home insurance on the bessergrün platform. Provides sustainable additions such as coverage for balcony solar systems, eco-friendly replacement, and regional contractor preference in the 'Pro Klima' module.
• rhion.digital (RheinLand Versicherungsgruppe)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorrhion.digital, the broker insurer of RheinLand (Neuss), provides commercial insurance products ('Kompakt' for commercial contents, liability, and buildings) on the bessergrün platform as of Q3 2021. Each commercial contract planted one tree in Germany.
• DELA LebensversicherungenmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDELA (Netherlands-based cooperative, operating in Germany) offers the DELA sorgenfrei Leben funeral insurance product on the bessergrün platform. Launched at DKM 2022. DELA premium income of €592 million (2021) and 5+ million members across NL, Belgium, and Germany.
• FUTURE.rent UGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFUTURE.rent (founded 2019) is Europe's first private carsharing platform for electric vehicles, listed on bessergrün. Vehicle owners rent out EVs and each rental contract results in a tree planted by bessergrün. All vehicles are fully insured via Itzehoer Versicherungen across Europe.
• SmavestomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmavesto provides digital wealth management on the bessergrün platform. Customers can start savings plans from €50/month with a total annual fee of 1% (0.75% to Smavesto, 0.25% to Baader Bank). Portfolios are built from ETFs selected by mathematical optimization models.
• Nordseeheilbad Carolinensiel-HarlesielminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe North Sea spa town (Curort) added climate-friendly vacation bookings to the bessergrün platform in 2022. Guest CO2 emissions from travel are compensated via Gold Standard climate projects, and one tree is planted per booking. The destination features electric 'Carobahn' transport, EV charging points, and Green Tiny Houses.
• OCC Assekuradeur GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOCC (Lübeck, founded 1984, 120+ employees) is a leading specialty insurer for classic cars in the DACH region. OCC's classic car insurance joined bessergrün in April 2024, aligning with the sustainability ethos of preserving and maintaining vintage vehicles as resource-efficient alternatives to new car production.
• AdmiralDirektminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdmiralDirekt is a direct insurance provider partner listed on the bessergrün platform since launch in October 2019.
• Ghost Diving Germany e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGhost Diving Germany is the primary environmental project partner for the ghost net recovery initiative in the North Sea. Professional divers from the organization have conducted multiple expeditions in 2022, 2023, and 2025 to recover abandoned fishing nets, with over 1.8 tonnes recovered. The project has generated extensive media coverage (NDR, Hamburger Abendblatt, etc.) and serves as a key authenticity driver for the bessergrün brand.
• Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesforsten (AöR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHLF is the governmental forest management body responsible for planting and maintaining the initial bessergrün reforestation projects. Planted 10,000 trees in 2019 and another 10,000 in 2021 on a former agricultural field in Nindorf, Schleswig-Holstein. Follow-up reforestation projects in Harz, Bergisches Land, Brandenburg, and other regions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• feather: Digital insurance broker for renters and expats in Germany, operating a curated, app-based distribution model for a narrower customer segment. Comparable as a digital insurance aggregator targeting underserved niches.

Direct peers

• CLARK: Digital insurance manager/broker in Germany aggregating multiple insurance products in a single app-based interface. Directly comparable B2C insurance aggregator model, though without the sustainability positioning.
• Getsafe: Digital-first insurance broker in Germany offering a curated selection of insurance products through a mobile platform. Closely comparable digital aggregator model serving German consumers, although not positioned around sustainability.

Others

• Yova: Swiss/DACH digital wealth management platform offering sustainable impact-investing portfolios. Comparable to bessergrün's Smavesto wealth-management vertical and its sustainability-themed finance positioning.
• Ostrom: 100% green electricity provider in Germany offering climate-neutral energy tariffs directly to consumers. Comparable to bessergrün's Mark-E green energy vertical and the broader sustainable utility proposition.
• Tomorrow: German sustainable banking app combining everyday banking with sustainability impact tracking. Adjacent to bessergrün as a sustainability-themed financial services platform serving German retail customers.

Broad incumbents

• Verivox: Leading German comparison portal for energy, insurance, telecommunications and finance. Adjacent aggregator business model with insurance and energy verticals that overlap directly with bessergrün's marketplace.
• Check24: Germany's largest price-comparison and aggregator portal covering insurance, energy, banking, travel and telecom. Comparable to bessergrün as a multi-vertical aggregator/marketplace model but far broader in scope and without a sustainability focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bessergruen
• Instagraminstagram.com/bessergruen/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bessergruen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 bessergrün