Ecodev Sarl

What Ecodev Sarl does

Ecodev Sàrl is a privately held Swiss web agency and IT services company headquartered in Neuchâtel, operating since 2004–2005 with a team of approximately 8–9 people. The company delivers bespoke web and mobile applications, managed hosting (web, email, Nextcloud, Claris FileMaker), and a portfolio of vertical SaaS products including OKpilot (multilingual compliance/self-assessment for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ESR, and EcoEntreprise, used by 700+ organizations), Epicerio (participatory grocery cooperative management), Ecolock (smartphone-based IoT access control with cloud API), CentralProd (solar photovoltaic plant lifecycle management), Theodia (mass schedule directory covering 13,000+ worship locations), myCUSO (doctoral program administration for 35 programs), Dilps-Tiresias (academic image management with 230,000+ records), Club Ichtus (nautical club management for 1,800 members and ~10,000 annual outings), and Ludik (eLearning). The underlying stack is a self-developed Angular + PHP/Laminas + MariaDB + GraphQL ecosystem published as the open-source Natural library, deployed on Ecodev's own ISO 27001:2013-certified Swiss data centers.

The company serves French-speaking Switzerland and France across four primary segments: universities and academic institutions, solar energy producers and municipalities, participatory cooperatives and associations, and Swiss SMEs requiring data-sovereign hosting. Its business model blends project-based professional services, recurring SaaS subscriptions (OKpilot, Epicerio), managed services (hosting, server management), annual maintenance contracts (hourly credit books), and Ecolock hardware/software licensing. Distribution is both direct and partner-led: AFNOR Editions is the exclusive distributor of OKpilot in France (since 2011), AFNOR Certification adopted it in 2022 for the Label Engagé RSE program, and Globalité Management handles commercial development of OKpilot in Switzerland.

Ecodev operates under a holacracy-inspired horizontal structure with a needs-based salary model, has no external investors or parent company, and positions itself within the CHATONS collective as a non-GAFAM alternative for Swiss data hosting. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company relies on direct sales for bespoke projects and on partner channels for product distribution, supplemented by organic SEO, open-source developer relations via GitHub, and earned media coverage in Swiss outlets (Le Temps, RTS, Canal Alpha).

Name

Ecodev Sarl

Legal name

Ecodev Sàrl

Website

https://ecodev.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ecodev Sàrl is a privately held Swiss web agency in Neuchâtel building bespoke web applications and vertical SaaS products (OKpilot, Epicerio, Ecolock, CentralProd) for universities, cooperatives, municipalities, and SMEs in Switzerland and France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Neuchâtel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Web Application Development: Bespoke web and mobile application development services for clients. Projects include websites, e-commerce platforms, and full-stack management applications. Pricing is project-based with a defined scope, timeline, and quote.
2. SaaS - Epicerio: Epicerio is a SaaS product for managing participatory epiceries. Ecodev originated and owns this product, providing governance, commercialization as SaaS, and ongoing maintenance. Revenue is recurring through subscription fees from epiceries in Switzerland and France.
3. Web Hosting and Infrastructure Services: Managed hosting of websites, email, Claris FileMaker, and Nextcloud on company-owned Swiss infrastructure. Revenue from recurring hosting fees and data center certifications (27001:2013 compliant).
4. Annual Maintenance Contracts: Post-delivery support (6 months included) and annual maintenance contracts covering ongoing work, SEO, and software updates. Offered as 'carnets d'heures' (hourly credit books) at preferential rates.
5. Ecolock Hardware and Software Licensing: Ecolock is offered as a standalone access control solution and via API for third-party app integration. Revenue includes hardware controller sales and software/API licensing fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ecodev Sàrl is a Swiss web agency that designs and develops custom web and mobile applications, manages Swiss-hosted infrastructure (web, email, Nextcloud, Claris FileMaker), and operates proprietary SaaS products including OKpilot (compliance/performance management for 700+ organizations), Epicerio (participatory grocery cooperative management), Ecolock (IoT access control), and vertical applications such as Ichtus, Theodia, CentralProd, myCUSO, Dilps-Tiresias, and Ludik.

Product overview

Ecodev Sarl is a Swiss web agency offering custom web application development and hosting services. Their product portfolio includes both managed hosting services (web, email, FileMaker, Nextcloud, server management) and custom-built web applications. Key products include OKpilot (compliance and performance management for 700+ organizations), Epicerio (participatory grocery cooperative management for multiple stores), Club Ichtus (nautical club management), Theodia (mass schedule directory with 13,000+ locations), CentralProd (solar plant lifecycle management), Ecolock (smartphone-based electronic access control), myCUSO (doctoral program management), Dilps-Tiresias (university image management), and Ludik (driving course eLearning). The company follows a custom, tailored approach rather than offering a unified platform, building bespoke solutions for each client's specific needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OKpilot: A multilingual web application for self-assessment using compliance checklists in environment, health, social, and other domains, with tools for managing actions, objectives, and certification reporting.
• Epicerio
• Ecolock
• Ichtus
• Theodia

Products and services

• Theodia Centralized web application for consulting mass schedules across 13,000+ worship locations worldwide. Features searchable mass times by criteria or geolocation and embeddable widgets for parish websites; serves thousands of users globally.
• Club Ichtus Web application for nautical club management handling 6,500+ members and approximately 10,000 water outings annually. Features member management, household shared balance accounts, resource booking (boats, courses), double-entry accounting, and electronic door access via Ecolock.
• Epicerio Multi-tenant SaaS management application for participatory grocery cooperatives. Features member management, household shared balance accounts, shopping (on-site, remote, self-service), shift/task planning, and shared supplier catalog across multiple stores in Switzerland and France.
• Ecolock Complete IoT access control system for smartphone-based door unlocking, comprising Wi-Fi-connected controller hardware (supporting up to 4 doors per site), a web app for users/administrators, a cloud API for third-party integration, optional NFC card reader, and access logging. Controls motorised locks and electric strikes at 12-24VDC.
• OKpilot Multilingual web application for organizational self-assessment using compliance checklists (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ESR, EcoEntreprise). Includes action/objective management, risk assessment, document management, equipment maintenance tracking, dynamic PDF report generation, and reporting tools for auditors. Used by 700+ organizations in France and Switzerland.
• CentralProd Web application for managing the lifecycle of solar photovoltaic power plants, from initial contact through commissioning and ongoing operation. Features dashboard, project tasks, Gantt charts, production monitoring, cost tracking, and customizable PDF/CSV reports. Used by SI-REN, Local Energy, and Sinergy Infrastructure.
• myCUSO

Quantifiable outcome

• OKpilot manages over 700 organizations for compliance evaluation across France and Switzerland
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AFNOR CertificationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022AFNOR Certification uses OKpilot since 2022 as part of the Label Engagé RSE certification program, integrating OKpilot's evaluation capabilities into their certification process.
• Chez EmmycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Chez Emmy participatory epicery (St-Blaise) partnered with Ecodev in 2019 to create the Epicerio application. The success of this initial implementation led Ecodev to generalize Epicerio into a multi-tenant SaaS product used by dozens of epiceries.
• SVGW (Association for Water, Gas and Heat)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018SVGW required a web tool for their members (gas, water, and heat distributors) to self-assess against the W12 water quality directive. The OKpilot Maintenance Plan module was developed specifically for this partnership and is used by water technicians throughout Switzerland for drinking water network quality control.
• Globalité ManagementcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobalité Management, a sustainability consulting firm, ensures the commercial and functional development of OKpilot. They listen to market needs, financially support development, distribute OKpilot in the Swiss market, integrate new referentials, and provide user support.
• AFNOR EditionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAFNOR Editions (the French standards organization) adopted OKpilot in 2011 as a web evaluation tool for their published standards. After adapting French referentials to OKpilot, a long-term collaboration began and AFNOR Editions became the exclusive distributor of OKpilot for France.
• SI-REN (Ville de Lausanne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSI-REN (municipal energy service of Lausanne) mandated Ecodev to develop CentralProd in 2018. The application has since been improved for use by other Swiss solar energy producers.
• hemmer.chcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe agency hemmer.ch commissioned Ecodev for the technical development of Theodia and provided the long-term vision. This partnership established the foundation for the mass schedule consultation platform now serving thousands of users worldwide.
• CHATONS (Collectif des Hébergeurs Alternatifs, Transparents, Ouverts et Non-Marchands)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcodev follows the CHATONS principles as a commitment to open, transparent, and solidarity-based digital services, positioning their hosting as an alternative to GAFAM services.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Greenlight Guru: Cloud QMS platform with ISO 13485/9001 support and audit management workflows. Comparable to OKpilot in the broader compliance/quality management space with focus on regulated industries.
• Tedee Sp. z o.o. Polish smart lock company producing IoT door controllers with smartphone app and API for third-party integration. Comparable to Ecolock's hardware/software hybrid model in the European smart access market.

Direct peers

• Liip AG: Swiss digital agency based in Zurich/Lausanne specializing in custom web development and open-source technologies, with similar flat/holacratic organizational values and Drupal/TYPO3 expertise. Closest comparable to Ecodev's bespoke development arm.
• Adfinis AG: Swiss open-source software and infrastructure company offering managed services, hosting, and custom development. Comparable on Swiss data sovereignty positioning, open-source ethos, and managed hosting business.
• Puzzle ITC GmbH: Swiss open-source IT services company with strong employee-ownership cooperative structure and values alignment. Comparable to Ecodev on both open-source tech stack and alternative ownership/governance model.
• Ergon Informatik AG: Swiss software company specializing in bespoke custom development and complex enterprise applications, with similar client base in Swiss finance, government, and healthcare. Comparable to Ecodev's custom development practice at slightly larger scale.
• Qualio Inc. Cloud-based quality management and compliance platform (QMS) supporting ISO 9001/13485/etc. Direct competitor to OKpilot in compliance/self-assessment SaaS, with VC funding and broader pharma/life sciences focus.
• Nuki Home Solutions GmbH: Austrian smart lock and smartphone-based access control company with consumer/prosumer hardware and API for third-party integration. Direct competitor to Ecolock in the smartphone door-unlocking category with significantly larger scale and VC backing.

Broad incumbents

• Elca Informatique SA: One of Switzerland's largest independent IT services firms (~1,500 employees) providing custom software development, IT consulting, and managed services. Comparable in custom software and managed hosting but at vastly greater scale and broader service portfolio.
• Zühlke Engineering AG: Swiss-founded technology consultancy with custom software development and IoT/digital product capabilities across Europe. Overlaps Ecodev's bespoke development and IoT (Ecolock) service lines, with much larger scale and global presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/Ecodev

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Ecodev Sarl