FORMER 03

What FORMER 03 does

FORMER 03 GmbH is an owner-managed digital agency headquartered in Munich (Schwabing), Germany, founded in 2003 and operated by Managing Directors Sebastian Fiedler and Gert Zellentin. The firm employs approximately 25 specialists delivering concept, design, development, and ongoing maintenance of web projects for mid-size to large enterprises across publishing, trade and gastronomy, IoT, travel, e-mobility, energy, and notably the automotive dealership sector in Germany.

The service portfolio spans custom website development, responsive and mobile-first UX design, CMS implementation and maintenance (Kirby, TYPO3, WordPress, Webflow), e-commerce solutions, multimedia installations, chatbot development, online marketing with web analytics, corporate design, and GDPR-aligned data protection services. Core technology stack includes JavaScript, Node.js, PHP, (S)CSS, React, Preact, Next.js, Kirby CMS, and Webflow, supported by a Gitlab-based CI/CD pipeline with Cypress automated testing and Sonarcloud SAST. Notable technical differentiators include ERP/PIM interface integration (Leitner Touristik, Rheingas) and a custom automotive Carfinder tool with CRM connections for dealer groups.

The business model is sales-led and project-based, combining Time & Material engagements for ongoing support with fixed-price projects for defined scopes. Notable enterprise clients include DATEV (since 2007), Dallmayr (since 2010), PONS, Langenscheidt, Rotwild, EnOcean, Leitner Touristik (since 2016), Elli (VW Group), and multiple automotive dealer groups including Feser Graf Gruppe, Weller, Brass, Kummich, and Mayburg. Distribution is direct, single-country (Germany), with no public pricing and no disclosed external funding; the company remains bootstrapped and privately held.

Name

FORMER 03

Legal name

FORMER 03 GmbH

Website

https://former03.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FORMER 03 GmbH is a Munich-based, owner-managed digital agency founded in 2003, employing ~25 specialists to deliver website development, CMS, UX design, ERP integration, and digital services for German enterprises across automotive, publishing, travel, and energy verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Agency Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer Experience (CX) & Digital Experience (BPAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Digital agency services
• Web development
• CMS implementation
• UX design services
• E-commerce development

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Time & Material Projects: Ongoing client support and maintenance engagements billed on time and materials basis
2. Fixed Price Projects: Clearly defined projects with predetermined scope and pricing

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

FORMER 03 is a Munich-based, owner-managed digital agency that conceptualizes, designs, develops, and maintains websites and digital platforms for business clients. The agency delivers custom web projects using modern frameworks (React, Next.js, Node.js, PHP) and established CMS platforms (Kirby, TYPO3, WordPress), with specialization in automotive dealer websites, ERP/PIM integrations, and corporate digital presences for mid-size and enterprise clients.

Product overview

FORMER 03 is a Munich-based, owner-managed digital agency founded in 2003 that offers a comprehensive portfolio of digital services. The agency provides custom website and app development, responsive webdevelopment, mobile-first UX design, multimedia installations, chatbot development, online marketing with web analytics, artwork and icon design, artificial intelligence services, and data protection consulting. The company specializes in digital solutions for the automotive sector (including dealer websites, car-finder integrations, and CRM connections), travel companies, publishing houses, and energy providers. Core technical offerings include corporate design, CMS development using platforms like Kirby, TYPO3, and WordPress, and continuous integration/deployment practices. The portfolio is delivered through an interdisciplinary team of 25 specialists combining expertise in UX, design, development, and project management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Website Development and Design Custom website conceptualization, design, and development services. FORMER 03 builds individual, innovative web projects using modern frameworks and responsive design principles for enterprise clients.
• CMS Implementation and Maintenance Content management system implementation and ongoing maintenance services using platforms such as Kirby, TYPO3, and WordPress, typically paired with modern JavaScript frontend frameworks.
• E-Commerce Solutions Online shop and e-commerce website development including custom inventory finders, booking systems, and product platforms for enterprise clients in automotive, travel, and publishing.
• UX and Mobile Web Design User experience and mobile-first design services covering planning through execution, ensuring cross-device compatibility and user experience across desktop, tablet, and mobile platforms.
• Online Marketing and Web Analytics Online marketing services combined with web analytics to track, optimize, and improve digital presence and user engagement for client websites.
• Corporate Design Corporate identity and design services including brand development, visual identity systems, and consistency across digital platforms.
• Chatbot Development Development of conversational chatbot solutions for client websites and digital platforms.
• Multimedia Installations Multimedia installation services for interactive or digital experience projects.
• Artificial Intelligence Services Artificial intelligence (KI) services listed as a core competency area, supporting client digital projects with AI capabilities.
• Data Protection and Data Security Consulting Data protection standards and information security consulting, ensuring GDPR compliance and secure data handling practices for client projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Visibility increased 35x for WELLER brand consolidation project in 3 months
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• SALT AND PEPPER: German digital agency delivering IT consulting, UX and software engineering for enterprises; competes for adjacent enterprise web and platform build mandates with a similar full-stack technology stack.

Direct peers

• denkwerk: Cologne-based independent digital agency offering UX, design, web development, and online marketing with a comparable full-service digital model and similar client roster of German enterprises.
• KMS Team: Munich-based digital agency specialized in digital marketing transformation, platforms and customer experience, sharing FORMER 03's Munich home market and enterprise CX/experience offering.
• dotSource: German digital commerce and customer experience agency delivering e-commerce, CMS and platform projects for enterprise clients; comparable in tooling, methodology, and target buyer profile.
• Plan.Net (Serviceplan Group): Munich-headquartered digital agency within the Serviceplan Group that, like FORMER 03, serves major German brands with integrated UX, web development, and digital marketing; overlaps directly in the automotive and enterprise space.
• Scholz & Volkmer: Wiesbaden-based owner-managed digital agency offering concept, design, and development services to mid-size and enterprise German clients; mirrors FORMER 03's boutique, owner-led positioning.
• Netlight: Munich-founded digital consultancy and engineering firm with practices in design, web, and platform development; overlaps with FORMER 03's design+engineering boutique model.

Broad incumbents

• Valtech (Germany): Larger, multi-country digital experience and commerce agency with a German presence; competes for the same enterprise web and e-commerce RFPs but operates at meaningfully greater scale than FORMER 03.
• SinnerSchrader (Accenture Song): Hamburg-rooted digital agency (now part of Accenture Song) offering end-to-end digital product, platform, and experience engineering for major German/European brands; a scaled incumbent in the same category.

Regional players

• PANORAMA3000: Munich-based creative and digital agency serving German mid-market and enterprise clients with brand, web, and digital experience work — a regional boutique competing for similar local accounts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/former03

Compliance1 record

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 FORMER 03