Machbar

What Machbar does

Machbar GmbH is an owner-managed brand and creative agency founded in 1997 in Kassel, Germany, operating from a three-floor headquarters in the Königs-Galerie building on Obere Königsstraße. The agency delivers end-to-end communication services spanning brand strategy, corporate design, visual identity systems, campaign development, editorial design, web and mobile app design, full-stack development (TYPO3 CMS), 3D character design and animation, AR/VR experiences, and game development. Its technical work has produced high-visibility outputs including the official 3D redesign of WDR's 'Die Maus' for its 50th anniversary and seven-figure-installation iOS/Android apps for the same brand. Client industries span broadcasting (WDR), musical instrument manufacturing (Sonor), IT and digitalization (Micromata, plenysystems), public-sector culture (Stadt Kassel / documenta), e-mobility (zwocar), and renewable energy (Energieverbund Nord).

The agency is structured around a small interdisciplinary team of approximately 15-20 staff — including three managing directors (Michael Heppe, Clemens Camphausen, Andreas Feischen), senior creative and art direction, senior software and web development, brand management, design, project management, and apprentices. Revenue is generated primarily through project-based professional services engagements with B2B clients, supplemented by retainer work and long-term brand maintenance contracts (e.g., Micromata 25+ years, WDR Die Maus since 2014). A secondary revenue stream comes from machbar.home, a 100m² event venue with rooftop terrace located on the top floor of the Königs-Galerie, rented for corporate events, workshops, and seminars on a booking basis.

Machbar's go-to-market is sales-led and direct, relying on portfolio-driven client acquisition through the machbar.de website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and earned visibility from industry awards (German Design Award, Grimme Online Award, Comenius EduMedaille). Pricing is custom and quote-based; no public price list exists. The agency reports no external investors, parent company, or funding rounds — operating purely on owner-managed terms with three founding Geschäftsführer at the helm. The company markets itself as an inhabergeführte (owner-managed) creative partner rather than a software product company, and currently has no public-facing API, SDK, or AI/ML capabilities disclosed.

Name

Machbar

Legal name

Machbar GmbH

Website

https://machbar.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Machbar GmbH is an owner-managed German brand and creative agency in Kassel, founded 1997, delivering end-to-end brand strategy, design, web/app development, 3D character animation, and AR/VR for B2B clients including WDR, Sonor, Micromata, and plenysystems, plus event venue operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kassel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Agency Services - Brand and Creative Work: Project-based professional services for brand strategy, design, campaigns, web development, and digital production. Revenue generated through fixed-price projects and retainer engagements with B2B clients.
2. Event Venue Rental (machbar.home): Rental income from the event location 'machbar.home' featuring indoor spaces, rooftop terrace, and fully equipped event kitchen for workshops, seminars, and corporate events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Machbar is a full-service brand and creative agency that develops brand identities, corporate designs, visual identity systems, and marketing campaigns for B2B clients. The agency also designs and programs websites, mobile applications, 3D character animations, and AR experiences, and operates machbar.home, an event venue in Kassel for corporate events and workshops.

Product overview

Machbar is a brand and creative agency offering a comprehensive suite of communication and design services. The agency operates as a project-based service provider rather than a software product company. Core service areas include brand creation and corporate design, campaign development, web and app design/programming, editorial design, visual brand identity systems, spatial design, and game development. The agency also operates machbar.home, an event venue in Kassel. Projects span diverse industries including media (WDR Maus), technology (Micromata, plentymarkets), industrial manufacturing (Sonor drums), culture (Kassel Kultur), mobility (zwocar), and energy (Nordschritt). Services are delivered on a client-by-client basis using various technology platforms including TYPO3 CMS for web development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• machbar.home: Event location operated by Machbar in the heart of Kassel's city center, located on the roof of Königs-Galerie with views over Friedrichsplatz. Offers 100 m² of usable space, 56-70 m² rooftop terrace, capacity for up to 60 guests, with professional workshop equipment, presentation technology, and a fully equipped event kitchen.

Products and services

• Brand Creation and Corporate Design Strategic brand development including logo design, visual identity systems, brand positioning, and messaging frameworks for B2B and B2C clients.
• Campaign Development Creation and execution of marketing campaigns including creative concepts, visual design, multi-channel deployment, and campaign animations.
• Web and App Design Design and prototyping of responsive websites and mobile applications with focus on UI/UX, interaction design, and digital experience.
• Web and App Programming Full-stack development of websites and applications, including TYPO3 CMS implementations, custom features, and AR applications.
• Visual Brand Identity Development of comprehensive visual identity systems including brand guidelines, logo applications, visual design systems, and brand experience materials.
• Editorial Design Design and production of magazines, publications, and corporate print materials with flexible layout systems and custom typography.
• 3D Character Design and Animation Creation of 3D character models and animations, including optimization for multiple rendering styles (with/without outline) and AR applications.
• Game Development Development of interactive games for children's apps including single and multiplayer formats with age-appropriate design.
• machbar.home Event Location Event venue rental in Kassel's city center with 100 m² indoor space, 70 m² rooftop terrace, capacity for up to 60 guests, professional workshop equipment, and catering facilities.
• Spatial Design Design of physical spaces and exhibition environments for cultural institutions and events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Die Maus app achieved seven-figure installations, making it one of Germany's most successful digital offerings for children.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DDB Germany: German arm of the global DDB creative network, offering advertising, brand, and digital services. Comparable in providing brand and creative services to enterprise clients, but as part of a global holding company network.
• Havas Germany: German operations of the global Havas creative and media network. Overlaps with Machbar in brand strategy, creative, and digital services, but at a much larger scale and with global network capabilities.
• Ströer: Major German media and advertising company with digital and out-of-home advertising operations. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but operates in the broader German marketing services ecosystem where Machbar competes for brand budgets.

Direct peers

• KMS Team: Munich-based brand consultancy offering brand strategy, design, and communications. Comparable in delivering integrated brand creation and roll-out services to enterprise clients, particularly in German-speaking markets.
• Kolle Rebbe: Hamburg-based creative agency known for brand strategy, campaigns, and digital experiences. Comparable as a German integrated creative agency focused on brand creation and activation, serving enterprise clients across industries.
• MetaDesign: German brand and design consultancy with deep expertise in brand strategy, visual identity, and corporate design. Highly comparable in focus on strategic brand creation and visual identity systems for B2B and cultural-sector clients.
• Heimat (TBWA): Berlin-based creative agency within the TBWA network, offering brand strategy, advertising, and digital production. Comparable as a German creative agency with similar full-service brand capabilities and enterprise client focus.
• Serviceplan Group: Largest independent German agency group, providing integrated brand, digital, and communications services. Comparable in offering a strategy-through-execution creative model, but at significantly greater scale and geographic reach than Machbar.
• Scholz & Friends: Germany-headquartered creative agency group offering brand strategy, advertising, and digital communications. Directly comparable in service mix and enterprise client focus, though it operates across multiple German cities and international markets.
• Jung von Matt: One of Germany's leading independent creative and brand agencies, offering integrated brand strategy, advertising, and digital production. Comparable as a German-speaking, full-service creative agency competing for similar enterprise brand mandates, though operating at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/machbar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/machbar-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/machbar.de/?hl=de
• Xx.com/Machbar_GmbH

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 Machbar