active elements

What active elements does

active elements GmbH is a German owner-managed, full-service digital agency headquartered in Garbsen with a second office in Wunstorf, Lower Saxony, founded around 2005 and led by Dipl.-Ing. Carsten Gottbehüt. The firm delivers web design and programming, TYPO3/WordPress-based CMS implementation, HTML5 animations, SEO, web hosting, print design, e-learning content, and an in-house GDPR-compliant ("DSGVO-konform") video conferencing solution.

Its core technical stack is content-website-centric: TYPO3 and WordPress implementations, custom HTML5 interactive components such as the proprietary "Acties" quiz tool for lead generation and SEO A/B testing, and a self-hosted video conferencing product targeted at regulated European customers. The Acties tool was introduced in 2016 and remains positioned as an agency IP asset that can be repurposed across client campaigns.

Revenue mechanics are project-based professional services plus likely recurring hosting/maintenance retainers, with a customer mix spanning healthcare, education, B2B technology (e.g., Dream Chip, since 2010), and SMB clients in Lower Saxony. Long-tenured relationships (DGA since 2007) point to a stable retained-client core, but the firm operates at sub-ten-employee scale with no external funding and no disclosed revenue, making the business inherently a lifestyle/small professional services practice rather than a scaling venture.

Name

active elements

Legal name

active elements GmbH

Website

https://active-elements.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

active elements GmbH is a German owner-managed full-service digital agency (Garbsen/Wunstorf) that delivers TYPO3/WordPress web design, HTML5 animations, SEO, hosting, e-learning, and a GDPR-compliant video conferencing solution to regional SMB and institutional clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Garbsen

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

Revenue model

1. Web Design & Programming: Custom web design, TYPO3 and WordPress template programming, HTML websites, web applications, and plugin/extension development. Project-based professional services.
2. SEO & Online Marketing: Search engine optimization services, Google AdWords campaign management, and page speed optimization.
3. Print Design Services: Corporate design, logo development, flyers, annual reports, posters, rollups, business cards, letterheads, brochures, and print production management.
4. Webhosting: Secure and fast web hosting with high availability, SSL encryption, email services under customer's own domain, and personal configuration.
5. E-Learning & Schulungen: Efficient training and e-learning programs, on-site or online training sessions with personalized training materials and ongoing phone support.
6. E-Commerce Solutions: Online shop setup, maintenance, and management including WooCommerce, osCommerce, modified eCommerce, and Magento platforms with ERP integrations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

active elements is a full-service German advertising agency (Werbeagentur) that designs, programs, and hosts websites using TYPO3, WordPress, and HTML5, while also producing print materials and corporate identity assets. The agency additionally offers SEO, Google AdWords campaign management, e-commerce setup (WooCommerce, osCommerce, modified eCommerce, Magento), a DSGVO-compliant browser-based video conferencing solution, e-learning/training, web hosting, and page-speed optimization for clients in the Hannover/Lower Saxony region.

Product overview

active elements is a full-service advertising and digital agency offering a comprehensive suite of web design, programming, and print design services. The core offerings include Website development (TYPO3, WordPress, HTML5 animations, Web-Apps), Print design (logo development, corporate design, flyers, posters, annual reports), and Digital marketing (SEO optimization, Google AdWords campaigns, e-commerce solutions). The agency also provides specialized services including Videokonferenzlösung (GDPR-compliant video conferencing), E-Learning solutions, Web hosting, and PageSpeed optimization. As a bundling strategy, the agency provides marketing texts, slogans, and full-service support. The company operates from two locations (Garbsen and Wunstorf) and has been serving clients for nearly 20 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Webdesign & Programmierung Website design and development services including TYPO3 templates, HTML5 animations, and web applications with responsive design that adapts to all end devices (PC, tablet, smartphone). Targeted at organizations, SMBs, and educational institutions needing a professional online presence.
• Videokonferenzlösung DSGVO-compliant video conferencing solution with simple operation, custom branding, custom domain, no additional software required - only a current browser needed. Targeted at organizations needing a privacy-compliant video meeting tool under their own brand.
• Printdesign Print design services including flyers, annual reports, posters, rollups, business cards, letterheads, brochures, Word templates, logo development, and corporate design. Targeted at organizations and businesses needing cohesive branded print materials.
• SEO & Suchmaschinenoptimierung Search engine optimization services including SEO analysis, content optimization, technical optimization, usability improvements, and Google AdWords campaign management. Targeted at organizations and SMBs seeking search visibility and lead generation.
• E-Learning & Schulungen Training and e-learning programs delivered on-site or online using the client's own website for individualized instruction in small groups, with personalized training materials and ongoing phone support. Targeted at organizations that need to upskill their staff on managing their own website.
• eCommerce Lösungen Online commerce solutions including setup, maintenance, and management for WooCommerce, osCommerce, modified eCommerce, and Magento OpenSource platforms, with interfaces to inventory management/ERP systems. Targeted at retailers and businesses launching or operating online shops.
• Webhosting Secure and fast web hosting with high reliability, fast access, SSL encryption, and email services under the customer's own domain name. Targeted at organizations and SMBs needing German-based, reliable hosting tied to their web presence.
• Ladezeitoptimierung (PageSpeed) Page load time optimization through image compression and HTML code optimization to improve Google rankings and reduce bounce rates. Targeted at organizations and SMBs whose existing websites underperform on search or load speed.
• Marketingtexte & Slogans Copywriting for marketing texts, web copy, ad copy, sales letters, blog posts, and newsletter content, delivered as part of the agency's full-service bundle. Targeted at organizations and SMBs needing persuasive, audience-targeted content.
• Acties (Interactive SEO/Security Quiz) Interactive HTML5-based quiz tool that lets prospective customers test their website for SEO suitability and potential security vulnerabilities. Targeted at SMBs and organizations as a lead-generation tool for the agency.

Quantifiable outcome

• Response time: 240 minutes average on email inquiries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Departed: German creative and digital agency combining brand strategy, design, and digital implementation. Comparable as a German full-service creative agency, though focused on enterprise clients across consumer goods, retail, and B2B sectors.
• Scholz & Friends: One of Germany's largest independent full-service advertising agencies with integrated digital, brand, and print capabilities. Comparable as a German full-service 'Werbeagentur' though operating at substantially larger scale and serving national/international clients across all verticals.
• Kolle Rebbe: Hamburg-based independent creative agency combining brand, design, digital, and content. Comparable full-service creative model with a focus on integrated campaigns for German brands, though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Interone: German digital agency (part of BBDO Germany) covering web design/development, e-commerce, CRM, and digital marketing. Comparable full-service digital offering though focused on enterprise-scale clients in automotive, retail, and financial services.
• Kemper Trautmann: Cologne-based creative and digital agency with services spanning brand strategy, web design, campaigns, and digital product development. Comparable as a German integrated agency serving national brands, though operating at a much larger scale than active elements.
• Antoni: Berlin-based full-service advertising agency providing brand, digital, social, and campaign work. Comparable German full-service agency model, though Antoni operates nationally with larger teams and brand-name clients.
• denkwerk: Cologne-based full-service digital agency offering web design/development, e-commerce, SEO, and digital marketing. Comparable in service mix (web design, SEO, e-commerce, digital strategy) but significantly larger in scale and serving enterprise clients across Germany.
• TLGG: Berlin-based digital and content agency with services spanning digital strategy, web/app development, social media, and campaign execution. Comparable as a German digital-native agency serving major brands, though at enterprise scale.
• Pixelpark: Berlin-based digital agency offering web design/development, e-commerce, CMS, and digital marketing. Comparable in German digital agency positioning and full-service offering, though serving larger enterprise clients across multiple industries.

Regional players

• wirDesign: Braunschweig-based brand and corporate design agency serving primarily German Mittelstand clients with brand identity, web, and communication design. Comparable as a regional German agency focused on brand and digital work for SMEs and associations, though operating at a slightly larger scale within a similar Lower-Saxony/Hannover regional footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 active elements