What COOL does

COOL is a cloud-based digital learning and work platform developed by Cloudwise GmbH, headquartered in Georgsmarienhütte, Germany, and serving educational institutions across the DACH region. The platform is structured as a core identity-and-access-management suite (Sync for data provisioning, Admin for user management, and Login for SSO/MFA) extended by four optional modules (Start as a central homepage, Manage for cross-platform device management of Chromebooks, Windows laptops, and iPads, Check for secure digital examinations, and Focus for real-time classroom screen control). Its technical architecture is built around federated identity and automated data provisioning, connecting school administration systems (LAS) and HR systems with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace for Education, and Dutch educational portals such as Basispoort, Entree Föderation, and EDU-IX. COOL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Odin Groep, a Dutch education-technology conglomerate, and was rebranded from Heutink ICT to Cloudwise GmbH in 2024 as part of group-level consolidation.

The business operates on a subscription-recurring revenue model, selling platform access directly to schools and educational institutions through a sales-led go-to-market that combines a website contact form, toll-free phone support (0800 240 46 06), email, and bundled hardware deals with HP and Lenovo. The customer base is entirely within education — primary, secondary, and higher-education institutions — with no disclosed enterprise or SMB diversification. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based per institution. COOL was originally developed under the Heutink ICT brand beginning in 2013 and now operates under Cloudwise, with the corporate parent Odin Groep providing strategic and likely capital backing; no standalone venture funding rounds, M&A activity, or leadership changes are disclosed in available data.

Name

COOL

Legal name

Cloudwise GmbH

Website

https://cloudwise.cool

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

COOL, by Cloudwise GmbH, is a subscription-based digital learning and identity-management platform sold to schools in Germany, federating Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Dutch education identity systems into a single SSO and device-management environment for K-12 institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Technology Software

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Work, Breakout & Collaborative Document/Workspace Tools (EDAFAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Student Online Safety Monitoring & Self-Harm/Risk Detection (EDAFALAF)

Keywords

• Education technology platform
• Single sign-on solutions
• Identity access management
• Device management software
• Digital classroom management

Headquarters

HQ city

Woerden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Platform Subscription: COOL operates as a subscription-based digital learning platform for educational institutions. The platform is sold to schools with various modules including core (Sync, Admin, Login) and optional extensions (Start, Manage, Check, Focus). Schools pay for access to the complete digital learning and work environment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

COOL is a cloud-based digital learning and working platform for the education sector that connects the entire education chain through a unified online environment. It provides identity and access management, single sign-on, device management, secure digital testing, and classroom screen control for schools, teachers, students, and parents. The platform integrates with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace for Education, and Dutch/Belgian educational identity federations.

Product overview

COOL is a platform-plus-modules digital learning and working environment for education, developed by Cloudwise GmbH. The core platform consists of Sync (Identity and Access Management for data provisioning), Admin (user and platform administration), and Login (secure Single Sign-On). Optional modules extend functionality: Start provides a central homepage for accessing educational software; Manage enables cross-platform device management for Chromebooks, Windows laptops, and iPads; Check enables secure digital testing in an isolated environment; and Focus provides real-time classroom screen control and student monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COOL: Digital learning and working platform connecting the entire education chain, automating administrative processes for teachers, IT administrators, and learners
• Sync
• Admin
• Login
• Start
• Manage
• Check
• Focus

Products and services

• COOL Platform Primary digital learning and working platform connecting the entire education chain, automating administrative processes and providing identity management, single sign-on, device management, secure digital testing, and classroom control for teachers, IT administrators, and learners in educational institutions.
• Sync Identity and Access Management module providing data provisioning along the entire education chain. Connects school administration systems (LAS) and HR systems with COOL apps, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace for Education, and digital learning tools, enabling single account access across devices and cloud applications.
• Admin Cross-platform administration solution for IT managers in education. Centralizes administrative tasks including user management, software settings, rights allocation, and cloud environment structure.
• Login Secure single sign-on solution for teachers, students, and parents. Supports Microsoft, Google, or COOL as the leading account provider, including picture login and QR code for younger students, with Single Sign-On and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) capabilities.
• Start Central homepage providing teachers and students direct access to all educational software and files. Organizes all programs, systems, and apps in one place for a smooth start to lessons.
• Manage Cross-platform device management module controlling Chromebooks, Windows laptops, and iPads from a single environment. Manages devices, apps, settings, and remote control without requiring separate Microsoft, Google, or Apple consoles.
• Check Secure digital testing and examination application running in an isolated environment where students have no access to other device functions. Test deployment in under 10 seconds with tamper-proof results and optional integration with existing exam software.
• Focus Classroom control and screen management tool enabling real-time monitoring of student screens, closing distracting tabs, locking screens for instruction, sending messages, and sharing content with individual or multiple students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Test deployment in under 10 seconds
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Microsoft 365coreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft 365 is integrated as a key component of the COOL platform ecosystem. Students and teachers access Microsoft 365 applications through COOL's single sign-on functionality. The platform provisions user data and manages access to Microsoft services.
• Google Workspace for EducationcoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Workspace for Education is integrated into the COOL platform, providing an alternative to Microsoft 365. Users can choose between Google or Microsoft accounts as the leading identity provider.
• BasispoortcoreTechnology or IntegrationDutch educational portal platform integrated with COOL for single sign-on access. Part of the secure chain integration for Dutch-language education.
• Entree FöderationcoreTechnology or IntegrationEducational identity federation platform enabling cross-institution authentication. Integrated with COOL's login module for seamless user access.
• EDU-IXcoreTechnology or IntegrationDutch educational internet exchange and identity provider integrated with COOL for network-based authentication and access management.
• Odin GroepcoreOthersParent company of Cloudwise GmbH. Odin Groep is a Dutch educational technology group that owns Cloudwise operations across multiple countries including Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• LogineoNRW: LogineoNRW is the state-provided education platform for North Rhine-Westphalia schools, competing with COOL in the German market with similar SSO and learning-environment functionality for the largest German Bundesland.
• iSchulfit: iSchulfit is a German school-IT platform offering device and user management for German schools, directly comparable to COOL's Manage and Admin modules within the same German market.

Direct peers

• itslearning: itslearning is a European-headquartered learning platform widely used in DACH and Nordic schools, providing LMS, classroom and collaboration features that overlap with COOL's Start and Focus modules.
• ClassLink: ClassLink is a leading provider of single sign-on, identity management and rostering for K-12 schools, directly mirroring COOL's Sync/Admin/Login core modules and the same identity-federation integrations in the education market.
• Lightspeed Systems: Lightspeed Systems delivers school-filtering, device management and classroom management software, overlapping closely with COOL's Focus (classroom control) and Manage (device management) capabilities.
• Impero Software: Impero provides classroom management, device management and online safety tools to schools, directly comparable to COOL's Focus classroom-control and Check secure-testing offerings.
• Jamf School: Jamf School provides MDM and classroom management for Apple, Windows and Chromebooks in education, directly comparable to COOL's Manage and Focus modules for device and screen control in schools.
• Securly: Securly offers student safety, filtering, classroom management and device monitoring for K-12 schools, mirroring COOL's Focus classroom control and the safety/security positioning of Login.

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft 365 Education: Microsoft 365 Education is the dominant productivity and identity layer COOL sits on top of, and continues to expand its own classroom and school-IT management features that compete with COOL's modules.
• Google Workspace for Education: Google Workspace for Education provides the alternative identity and classroom ecosystem integrated with COOL, and Google Classroom directly competes with elements of COOL's Start and Focus modules.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cool-cloudwise
• Instagraminstagram.com/cloudwise_gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 COOL