BlackBox/Open

What BlackBox/Open does

BlackBox/Open (legal entity: BlackBox/Open GmbH & Co. KG) is a Germany-based, evidence-based organizational consulting firm founded in 2008 and headquartered in Nürnberg, with a secondary office in München. The firm translates research from work and organizational psychology into applied consulting, training, and event-based services, organized around three core offerings: Transformation (organizational strategy, culture, and change consulting), Weiterbildung (training programs clustered into Arbeitsgestaltung / work design, Führung / leadership, and Methodenkompetenz / methodological skills), and Co-Kreation (workshop formats including Lego Serious Play, Barcamp, and the annual CoCreationExpo). Its modular catalog spans ~30 named methods, including OKR, ProMES® (Productivity Measurement and Enhancement System), Scrum, Identity Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Healthy Leadership, Job Crafting, and Coaching, each grounded in referenced academic frameworks and the firm's scientific advisory board (Bakker, Demerouti, West, Pritchard, Moser).

The business model is professional services across five revenue streams: organizational consulting, training and continuing education, coaching services, event revenue (CoCreationExpo, workshops), and government-subsidized INQA Coaching for SMEs. Pricing is predominantly quote-based; the only publicly disclosed commercial term is the INQA program, which offers up to 12 consulting days at €1,200/day with 80% ESF Plus/BMAS subsidy. Distribution is sales-led, combining a consultative enterprise motion, direct in-house training delivery, open-enrollment programs at partner venues (e.g., Hammerhof Akademie), event-based lead generation, and the INQA referral channel for SMEs. Marketing leverages owned content (monthly 'New Work Meets Science' podcast, blog, quarterly newsletter, LinkedIn/Instagram) and a strong event presence (Zukunft Personal Europe, Nürnberger Unternehmer-Kongress).

The firm serves three primary customer segments — SMEs (KMU), large enterprises, and non-profit organizations — across German-speaking markets. Named customers include DATEV eG, Framatome, thyssenkrupp plastics, HAWE Hydraulik SE, HAWE Micro Fluid, BGW, Leistritz AG, BFW Nürnberg, and longer-tenured SME relationships such as BECO Bermüller (since 2011). Leadership is concentrated around founder Dr. Colin Roth (Geschäftsführender Gesellschafter), with a broader consulting bench of ~16 core staff plus freelance associates. Strategic partnerships include Silbury (AI/digitalization), TÜV Nord Nord-Kurs ('New Work Employer' certification), and Hammerhof Akademie.

Name

BlackBox/Open

Legal name

BlackBox/Open GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://blackboxopen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BlackBox/Open is a Nürnberg-based consulting firm, founded in 2008, delivering evidence-based organizational development, leadership training, and co-creation workshops for SMEs, large enterprises, and non-profits in the German-speaking market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organizational Development Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workplace Culture, Engagement & Wellbeing Training (EDABAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

Keywords

• Organizational development consulting
• Leadership training
• Change management consulting
• Organizational psychology services
• Agile transformation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Nuremberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Organizational Consulting: Consulting engagements for organizational strategy and work culture in digital transformation. Includes transformation projects, change management, and organizational development assignments.
2. Training and Continuing Education: Training programs and continuing education for leaders and employees covering work design, methods competence, and leadership. Offered as inhouse trainings at client sites, open enrollment programs, and virtual formats.
3. Coaching Services: Individual and team coaching services. Coaching described as 'help for self-help' on professional topics.
4. Event Revenue: Annual CoCreationExpo conferences and workshop events generate revenue through event partnerships, sponsorships, and participant fees.
5. INQA Coaching: Government-subsidized organizational development consulting for SMEs. Up to 12 consulting days at €1,200/day with 80% funding rate through INQA program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

BlackBox/Open provides evidence-based organizational consulting, training, and co-creation services grounded in work and organizational psychology. The offering spans three core service areas: Transformation consulting (organizational strategy, culture, and change), Weiterbildung (training across work design, leadership, and methodological skills), and Co-Kreation (workshops and the annual CoCreationExpo). Services are delivered as project-based consulting, in-house and open-enrollment training programs, coaching, and event formats, primarily to SMEs, large enterprises, and non-profit organizations in the German-speaking market.

Product overview

BlackBox/Open is an evidence-based organizational consulting company founded in 2008, headquartered in Nürnberg, Germany. Its offering is structured around three core service areas: Transformation (organizational strategy, culture, and change consulting), Weiterbildung (evidence-based training and seminars across three clusters — Arbeitsgestaltung, Führung, and Methodenkompetenz), and Co-Kreation (co-creative workshop formats and the annual CoCreationExpo event series). The product portfolio consists of approximately 30 distinct named modules — including OKR, ProMES®, Scrum, Coaching, Teamcoaching, Identity Leadership, Transformationale Führung, Job Crafting, and Lego Serious Play — offered as in-house or open-enrollment formats. The company also publishes the 'New Work Meets Science' podcast as a content brand. Services are grounded in work and organizational psychology and developed in collaboration with the company's scientific advisory board.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transformation Consulting (Beratung) Holistic organizational development and change management consulting covering organizational strategy, work culture, and leadership in digital transformation. Modular engagements include OKR, ProMES®, Scrum, Coaching, Teamcoaching, and Organisationale Energie, delivered to SMEs, large enterprises, and non-profit organizations.
• Weiterbildung (Trainings & Seminare) Evidence-based training programs for the future of work, organized in three clusters: Arbeitsgestaltung (work design), Führung (leadership), and Methodenkompetenz (methodological skills). Trainings are available in in-house formats (delivered at client sites) or open enrollment (public program offerings).
• Co-Kreation (Workshops & Events) Co-creative formats and event series providing impulses for innovation and future viability, including the annual CoCreationExpo conference and Barcamp formats. Offered through Lego Serious Play, Barcamp, and Workshop modules.
• INQA Coaching mit BlackBox/Open Government-subsidized organizational development consulting program for SMEs, offering up to 12 consulting days at €1,200 per day with an 80% subsidy rate. Authorized BlackBox/Open consultants deliver engagements across leadership, culture, HR policy, new business models, and the future workplace.
• CoCreationExpo (Event Series) Annual co-creative event series (now in its 7th edition) that brings together business leaders, New Work pioneers, and top researchers in work and organizational psychology for exchange on organizational culture and future of work topics.
• New Work Meets Science (Podcast) Monthly podcast hosted by Dr. Theresa Fehn bridging scientific knowledge from work and organizational psychology with practical application in the world of New Work.

Quantifiable outcome

• ProMES® demonstrates significant effect sizes in improving team performance, with effects that are time-stable and not limited to specific settings or cultures
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• SilburycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for effective connection of people, organization, and artificial intelligence in digital transformation. Jointly develop offerings at the intersection of work design, organizational development, and AI. Collaborate on training module 'Arbeitsgestaltung mit KI' (Work Design with AI). Silbury is an IT and consulting company for artificial intelligence, digitalization, and sustainability.
• Hammerhof AkademiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLearning and encounter location created together with Neue Höfe and Silbury. Integrates open learning offerings in work psychology, transformation, New Work, and sustainability. Provides exclusive retreat venue for entrepreneurs and leaders shaping the future. Primary venue for CoCreationExpo events.
• TÜV Nord Nord-KursmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint 'New Work Employer' certification and consulting program with TÜV Nord Nord-Kurs. Comprehensive service and consulting around New Work and future of work topics, from New Work Check to comprehensive change consulting.
• Neue HöfemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner creating places for new work in Neuhof a.d. Zenn. Entrepreneur Michael O. Schmutzer developed locations combining old and new, tradition and modern design. Provides unique venues including Hotel Riesengebirge, Schwarzer Adler, and Gutshof Neun.
• Dauphin HumanDesign GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner for CoCreationExpo #26. Presented session on 'Immersive Workspaces' exploring how work spaces become experience spaces.
• BECO BermüllerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner for CoCreationExpo #26. Medium-sized company from Nuremberg demonstrating active corporate culture management through workshop on 'From Mission to Lived Culture'.
• SLD MediatecminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner for CoCreationExpo events.
• energy factory St. Gallen AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for organizational energy measurement at CoCreationExpo events. Conducts live energy profile measurements using energy profiling tools.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• TÜV Nord Nord-Kurs: Strategic partner of BlackBox/Open for the 'New Work Employer' certification program. Adjacent rather than competing — they provide certification infrastructure and distribution reach that BlackBox/Open leverages for productized offerings.

Direct peers

• hkp/// group: German HR, compensation, and leadership advisory firm. Comparable in serving large DACH enterprises on leadership effectiveness, board advisory, and organizational design work.
• Great Place to Work Germany: Operates the well-known 'Great Place to Work' certification and culture assessment in Germany. Comparable in providing evidence-based workplace culture measurement and certification products to DACH enterprises.
• CTL (Corporate Transformation Leadership): Germany-based consulting and training provider specializing in leadership development and change. Closely comparable in boutique-scale DACH enterprise leadership and transformation training offerings.
• Metaplan: German organizational consulting firm specializing in strategy development, change, and transformation workshops. Highly comparable in their use of structured co-creative facilitation methods and enterprise transformation focus.
• Kienbaum: Leading German management and leadership consulting firm. Closest direct competitor in the DACH market for executive coaching, leadership development, and organizational consulting, and a natural benchmark for BlackBox/Open's enterprise offerings.
• h&z (House of Change & Transformation): German consulting firm focused on change management, transformation, and learning & development. Comparable in DACH enterprise transformation engagements and structured change methodology offerings.

Broad incumbents

• FranklinCovey: Global leadership and effectiveness training company with proprietary frameworks (e.g., The 7 Habits). Comparable in productized leadership and organizational effectiveness training sold to enterprise L&D buyers.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a large leadership development and organizational strategy practice. Comparable in serving large enterprises on leadership pipelines, culture, and transformation, but at significantly greater scale.
• Gallup: Global analytics and advisory firm famous for employee engagement research and CliftonStrengths. Overlaps with BlackBox/Open in evidence-based workplace diagnostics, leadership development, and engagement surveys, but at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackboxopen
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackboxopen
• Xx.com/blackboxopen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 BlackBox/Open