Offcourse
Offcourse Studio is a Rotterdam-based custom technology consultancy that designs bespoke AI tools, knowledge infrastructure, and value-driven development solutions for academic, cultural, and public-sector clients. Founded in 2013 by Jan Hein Hoogstad, it operates as a solo-founder boutique studio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersRotterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Offcourse does
Offcourse Studio is a custom technology consultancy based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, that designs bespoke AI and knowledge infrastructure solutions for academic, cultural, and public-sector clients. Founded in 2013 by Jan Hein Hoogstad—a self-taught software architect with a PhD in Philosophy and Media Studies—the studio operates through a three-phase methodology (Map, Strategize, Intervene) that involves inventorying clients' knowledge ecosystems, designing tailored data models, and embedding custom tools into client workflows. The company delivers project-based engagements with disclosed budget tiers ranging from under €25,000 to €75,000 or more, and its product portfolio includes 'Bots With An Attitude' (personalized AI assistants for artistic researchers), 'Public Badges' (an evidence-based trust infrastructure developed with Public Spaces and Waag, open-sourced on GitHub), and the 'Coding the Humanities' initiative for digital scholarship.
The studio has established strategic collaborations with the University of Amsterdam (including co-founding the Data Drive research group in 2013), Waag, Rijksmuseum, Public Spaces, Bocoup, and UncInc, spanning academic, nonprofit, and cultural-institution clients. Its revenue model is professional services-based, with each engagement built around a custom deliverable rather than standardized software products, and its go-to-market relies on direct project engagement supplemented by thought-leadership content published through its company blog covering topics such as Value Driven Development, trust, machine learning, and online learning.
Offcourse Studio is a founder-owned private company with a team of 1–10 people, currently operated as a solo consultancy with Hoogstad as the principal architect. The company maintains no disclosed external funding, no subsidiary structure, and no standardized product distribution channels, positioning it as an independent boutique studio serving niche clients in the digital humanities, cultural, and ethical-technology spaces.
Offcourse firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Offcourse
- Legal name
- Offcourse Studio
- Website
- https://offcourse-studio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Offcourse Studio is a Rotterdam-based custom technology consultancy that designs bespoke AI tools, knowledge infrastructure, and value-driven development solutions for academic, cultural, and public-sector clients. Founded in 2013 by Jan Hein Hoogstad, it operates as a solo-founder boutique studio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Offcourse industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Technology Consulting
- NAICS
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- iBPMS (Intelligent BPM Suites) & Process Automation Suites (HDAEAHAG)
Keywords
Where Offcourse is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rotterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Offcourse business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Technology Development: Project-based custom development of technology solutions tailored to client needs. Engagement starts with discovery and strategy, followed by infrastructure development. Pricing tiers suggested on website: Less than €25,000, €25,000-€75,000, €75,000 or more, indicating significant project variation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Entry-level projects under €25,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Offcourse product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Offcourse Studio is a custom technology development consultancy that builds bespoke AI, machine learning, and knowledge infrastructure solutions for academic, cultural, and artistic organizations. The studio follows a three-phase Map/Strategize/Intervene methodology to inventory client knowledge ecosystems, design tailored data models, and embed purpose-built tools such as personalized AI assistants, ethical validation systems, and interactive exhibition technologies directly into client practices.
Product overview
Offcourse Studio is a technology consultancy offering a unified portfolio centered on custom AI and knowledge infrastructure development. The core offering consists of consulting services delivered through their three-phase methodology (Map, Strategize, Intervene), supplemented by product modules including 'Bots With An Attitude' (AI-powered personal assistants for artistic researchers) and 'Public Badges' (a value communication and trust-building tool developed in partnership with Waag). The company specializes in developing bespoke tools and services that transform client practices rather than offering off-the-shelf software products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bots With An Attitude: A project developed with Waag for Planet B mission. Support system for artistic researchers working with machine learning and AI. Personal assistant bots with character that help gather information or publish artists' work.
- Public Badges
- Coding the Humanities
Products and services
- Offcourse Studio Custom Technology Development
- Bots With An Attitude
- Public Badges
Companies that use Offcourse
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Offcourse technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Offcourse partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of AmsterdamcoreLong-standing research partnership dating back to 2013. Jan Hein Hoogstad co-founded the Data Drive research group at UvA and proposed online education initiatives. The partnership involved developing approaches to digital humanities, knowledge infrastructure, and Coding the Humanities.
- WaagcoreOngoing collaboration on multiple projects including the Bots with an Attitude project for Planet B, and Public Badges initiative development. Waag is a key implementation partner for ethical technology projects.
- RijksmuseumminorPartnership for creating online and offline spaces using digital technologies. Part of a network of private and public partners developing digital solutions for cultural institutions.
- Public SpacescorePublic Badges initiative is a joint effort with Public Spaces. The organization focuses on online safety and trust, and Public Badges enables organizations to communicate their values with users through evidence-based trust building.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Offcourse competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tellart: Amsterdam/Providence-based design and technology studio that creates bespoke interactive experiences, IoT, and AI-enabled products for cultural, public, and commercial clients — overlapping with Offcourse's beacon-based exhibits, custom bots, and ethical-tech positioning.
- Local Projects: New York-based experience design studio that designs and builds custom digital installations, interactive exhibits, and tools for museums and cultural institutions — directly comparable to Offcourse's Rijksmuseum and public-sector work and its Map/Strategize/Intervene custom methodology.
- Ustwo: Global digital product studio that designs and engineers custom apps, AI products, and digital services for enterprise and public-sector clients — a strong comparable in project-based, design-led custom technology development with a values-driven brand.
- Random Studio: Amsterdam creative technology studio building bespoke digital experiences, immersive installations, and branded tools for cultural and commercial clients — a regional peer with similar bespoke development model and client mix.
- Studio Drift: Amsterdam-based art and technology studio that develops custom installations combining software, hardware, and AI — comparable in Amsterdam footprint, founder-driven studio model, and intersection of ethics, art, and emerging technology.
- thoughtbot: Product design and development consultancy that delivers bespoke software, AI-enabled products, and design sprints for startups and enterprises — a strong comparable on boutique consultancy model, methodology-driven delivery, and values-led brand.
- The Bakery (Amsterdam): Amsterdam-based creative technology studio developing custom interactive installations, AI experiments, and digital products — directly comparable on geography, scale, and custom-AI-for-cultural-clients work.
Broad incumbents
- IDEO: Global design and innovation consultancy delivering custom technology, strategy, and product work for cultural, public, and enterprise clients — a much larger incumbent offering overlapping services in custom digital development and design research.
Others
- Waag Futurelab: Amsterdam research and design lab focused on ethical technology, public values, and inclusive innovation — not a commercial peer but a direct collaboration partner on Public Badges and Bots With An Attitude, operating in the same niche from a nonprofit angle.
Emerging players
- Mindfire (technology studio): European technology studio building custom AI, computer vision, and software products for research, enterprise, and public-sector clients — an emerging boutique player overlapping with Offcourse's custom AI/ML development and knowledge-infrastructure work.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Offcourse social profiles
Digital presenceOffcourse financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Offcourse leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Offcourse funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Offcourse 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 Offcourse
What does Offcourse do?
Offcourse Studio is a custom technology development consultancy that builds bespoke AI, machine learning, and knowledge infrastructure solutions for academic, cultural, and artistic organizations. The studio follows a three-phase Map/Strategize/Intervene methodology to inventory client knowledge ecosystems, design tailored data models, and embed purpose-built tools such as personalized AI assistants, ethical validation systems, and interactive exhibition technologies directly into client practices.
Is Offcourse a public or private company?
Offcourse is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Offcourse founded?
Offcourse was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Offcourse based?
Offcourse is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Offcourse make money?
One revenue line is on record: custom Technology Development.
Who are Offcourse's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tellart, Local Projects, Ustwo, Random Studio, Studio Drift, thoughtbot and The Bakery (Amsterdam). IDEO is listed as a broad incumbent. Waag Futurelab is listed as an others. Mindfire (technology studio) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Offcourse have an API?
No public API is recorded for Offcourse.
What industry is Offcourse in?
Offcourse's product category is Custom Technology Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAKAC, Corporate Learning & Training Content Development, with a secondary code of HDAEAHAG, iBPMS (Intelligent BPM Suites) & Process Automation Suites. Its NAICS code is 54169 and its SIC code is 8742.