Metapaper
Metapaper is a Stuttgart-based specialty paper distribution and print marketplace serving European designers, creative professionals, and SMBs through a curated paper catalogue, the Printfarm print marketplace, and the MetaMate AI chatbot.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersStuttgart, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Metapaper does
Metapaper GmbH & Co. KG is a Stuttgart-based specialty paper distribution and print services platform founded in 2012, operating as an information, inspiration, and commerce layer for the European design and print industry. The company combines a curated catalogue of premium specialty papers (Extrarough 2.0, Rough Air, Rough Deluxe, Multiloft, ecoFIBRES, COLORS+Neon, Lessebo) with two complementary platforms: a self-serve paper configurator at metapaper.io and the Printfarm marketplace for finished printed products such as brochures, greeting cards, layflat books, magnets, posters, RISO products, and newspapers. A recommended network of 60+ vetted printing houses across Germany and Europe provides fulfilment, while free sample books, a comprehensive Wiki, the Metapaper Podcast, and the Breakfast of Inspiration event series drive top-of-funnel demand from designers, creative professionals, and SMB buyers.
Underlying technology includes the Paper Selector tool, the Printfarm marketplace, and MetaMate — a text-based AI chatbot launched in 2024 and positioned as the first AI-based communication tool in the European paper industry, providing paper selection guidance to customers. Revenue is generated through one-time paper sales (transparent unit pricing based on weight and quantity), Printfarm marketplace transactions on printed products, and free sample book distribution as a customer acquisition funnel. Distribution spans direct e-commerce, marketplace, recommended printing house network, and a student/apprentice program offering 10% discounts. The company is privately held and managed by Dr. Axel H. Scheufelen and Jörg Schweigert, with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or institutional investor ownership.
Metapaper firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Metapaper
- Legal name
- Metapaper GmbH & Co. KG
- Website
- https://metapaper.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Metapaper is a Stuttgart-based specialty paper distribution and print marketplace serving European designers, creative professionals, and SMBs through a curated paper catalogue, the Printfarm print marketplace, and the MetaMate AI chatbot.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Metapaper industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Paper Distribution and Print Services
- NAICS
- Printing and Writing Paper Merchant Wholesalers (42411)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Paper & Printing Grades Distribution (Printing/Writing, Newsprint, Specialty) (IMAMAIAF)
Keywords
Where Metapaper is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stuttgart
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Metapaper business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Paper Sales: Direct sale of specialty papers including Extrarough, Rough, Smooth, Extrasmooth, and recycled varieties. Papers sold in various weights and formats with transparent pricing.
- Printfarm Print Products: Finished printed products including brochures, greeting cards, layflat books, magnets, posters, Riso products, and newspapers. Sold via Printfarm marketplace to customers.
- Sample Books: Free sample books distributed to potential customers to experience paper quality before purchasing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard paper pricing with transparent rates |
| Subscription | Annual | Student/Azubi discount program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Metapaper product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Metapaper distributes premium specialty papers (Extrarough, Rough Air, Smooth, Extrasmooth, Rough Deluxe, ecoFIBRES, COLORS + Neon, Lessebo, Multiloft) for designers, agencies, and businesses via direct online sales at metapaper.io. It complements paper sales with the Printfarm marketplace, connecting customers to 60+ recommended printing houses for finished printed products (brochures, greeting cards, layflat books, magnets, posters, RISO products, newspapers), and supports selection via the MetaMate AI chatbot and free sample books.
Product overview
Metapaper operates as a two-part platform: a paper selection and consultation platform (Paper Selector, Sample Book, MetaMate AI chatbot) combined with the Printfarm marketplace for direct print product ordering. The core product line includes premium specialty papers (Extrarough, Rough Air, Rough Deluxe, Multiloft, ecoFIBRES, COLORS+Neon, Lessebo) while Printfarm enables customers to order printed products (brochures, greeting cards, layflat books, magnets, posters, RISO products, newspapers) from recommended printing partners. The ecosystem includes project showcases, a knowledge wiki, and an AI chatbot (MetaMate) as the first AI-powered customer service tool in the European paper industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MetaMate: AI chatbot developed by Metapaper, described as the first AI-based communication tool in the paper industry in Europe.
- Printfarm
- Multiloft
Products and services
- MetaMate AI Chatbot Standalone AI chatbot product providing customer support and product guidance on paper selection, printing services, and company information; positioned as the first AI-based communication tool in the European paper industry.
- Printfarm Marketplace
Companies that use Metapaper
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Metapaper technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
Metapaper partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rough Deluxe DevelopmentcoreWorld's first rough natural paper for digital finishing - developed over two years of testing. World-first product innovation.
- Gallery PrintcoreRecommended printing house in Berlin that handles finishing and enhancement of print projects on Metapaper papers. Gallery Print specializes in combining long-standing experience with modern technologies for art and culture printing.
- LessebocoreSwedish paper manufacturer that produces Metapaper COLORS papers. Lessebo is the first factory in Europe to receive Cradle-to-Cradle Gold certification. Papers are made from 100% renewable energy in southern Sweden.
- bizy.cardsminorNFC cards made from Multiloft, with proprietary software solution. Listed as Metapaper Friend on Printfarm.
- Memory PrintingminorPersonalized and romantic printing products. Listed as Metapaper Friend on Printfarm.
- LetterpressominorLetterpress business stationery on EXTRAROUGH paper. Listed as Metapaper Friend on Printfarm.
- P98A BerlinminorLetterpress poster shop in Berlin. Hand-set and printed. Listed as Metapaper Friend on Printfarm.
- RugiminorBeautiful envelopes made from Metapaper recycling materials. Listed as Metapaper Friend on Printfarm.
- United LettersminorPersonalized children's books. Listed as Metapaper Friend on Printfarm.
- Printfarm Partner PrinterscoreExtensive network of 60+ recommended printing houses across Germany and Europe including Dürmeyer Print Media, Druckerei Bender, Offsetdruckerei Karl Gramblich, and many others for newspapers, Riso products, and various print services.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Metapaper competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fedrigoni: Italian premium specialty paper manufacturer and distributor serving designers, printers, and luxury packaging. Direct competitor in the European premium paper segment with overlapping sustainability positioning and similar designer-focused GTM.
- James Cropper: UK-based specialty paper and packaging manufacturer with strong sustainability credentials and bespoke color capabilities. Comparable as a premium European paper supplier to creative professionals and luxury brands.
- Mohawk Fine Papers: US-based premium specialty paper manufacturer with strong sustainability positioning (Mohawk Loop, recycled lines) serving designers, printers, and stationers. Comparable product portfolio and premium-segment go-to-market, though primarily North American.
- Gmund Papier: German specialty paper manufacturer based at Lake Tegernsee, producing premium colored and textured papers for designers and print professionals. Closely comparable to Metapaper's portfolio (rough, smooth, colors, recycled lines) and serves the same German-speaking creative market.
- Papier Direkt: German online paper merchant distributing graphic and office papers to print shops and designers. Closely comparable to Metapaper's e-commerce paper distribution business with overlapping customer base in German-speaking markets.
- Favini: Italian specialty paper manufacturer with a strong sustainability/eco line (Remake, Crush) targeting designers, packaging, and premium print. Direct competitor in European specialty paper distribution.
Broad incumbents
- CEWE: European market leader in photobooks and personalized print products with broad e-commerce platform. Adjacent to Printfarm's personalized/custom print offerings (layflat books, magnets, cards) but at significantly larger scale and consumer-focused.
- Onlineprinters (diedruckerei.de): German online print marketplace offering brochures, business cards, and stationery across Europe. Comparable to Metapaper's Printfarm marketplace side but at much larger scale and with broader (non-premium) positioning.
- Arctic Paper: European paper group with mills in Sweden and Poland producing premium graphic and specialty papers under brands like Munken and Arctic. Broader scale than Metapaper (manufacturing vs. distribution) but competes for the same premium print/design customers.
- Wir machen Druck: German online printing platform offering offset and digital print products to B2B customers. Adjacent to Printfarm but positioned for mass-market print rather than premium specialty paper finishes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Metapaper social profiles
Digital presenceMetapaper compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Metapaper financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Metapaper leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Metapaper funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Metapaper 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 Metapaper
What does Metapaper do?
Metapaper distributes premium specialty papers (Extrarough, Rough Air, Smooth, Extrasmooth, Rough Deluxe, ecoFIBRES, COLORS + Neon, Lessebo, Multiloft) for designers, agencies, and businesses via direct online sales at metapaper.io. It complements paper sales with the Printfarm marketplace, connecting customers to 60+ recommended printing houses for finished printed products (brochures, greeting cards, layflat books, magnets, posters, RISO products, newspapers), and supports selection via the MetaMate AI chatbot and free sample books.
Is Metapaper a public or private company?
Metapaper is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Metapaper founded?
Metapaper was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Metapaper based?
Metapaper is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Metapaper make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Paper Sales are the primary driver. The others are printfarm Print Products and sample Books.
Who are Metapaper's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fedrigoni, James Cropper, Mohawk Fine Papers, Gmund Papier, Papier Direkt and Favini. Broad incumbents are CEWE, Onlineprinters (diedruckerei.de), Arctic Paper and Wir machen Druck.
Does Metapaper have an API?
No public API is recorded for Metapaper.
What industry is Metapaper in?
Metapaper's product category is Specialty Paper Distribution and Print Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAIAF, Paper & Printing Grades Distribution (Printing/Writing, Newsprint, Specialty). Its NAICS code is 42411 and its SIC code is 5110.