Durian

What Durian does

Durian GmbH is a full-service PR and communications agency headquartered in Duisburg's old town in the Ruhr region of Germany, founded in 2001 and operating as a privately held GmbH under founder and Managing Director Frank Oberpichler. With a headcount of 1-10 employees, the agency delivers classical public relations, editorial content creation, AV media production and live streaming, event management, website development, crisis communication, marketing concept development, corporate podcasting, and communication training. Its client base spans four primary segments: startups and SMEs, large corporations (including Siemens and DREES & SOMMER), public administration and government entities (Stadt Duisburg, Landeszentrale für politische Bildung NRW), and the healthcare sector (Herzzentrum Duisburg, MedEcon Ruhr, pulmonale hypertonie e.V., and multiple medical practices).

The agency's underlying technology stack is conventional professional-services tooling centered on editorial expertise, media contact networks, and event production capabilities rather than proprietary software platforms. Beyond client work, Durian has built several owned-media assets: the Ruhrpodcast (launched 2019), the annual Gesundheits.Messe.Duisburg health fair (since 2012, with thousands of annual visitors), and the gomed.NRW health portal. Strategic partnerships include regional broadcaster STUDIO 47, adult education center VHS Duisburg, and state media authority Landesanstalt für Medien NRW, the last of which provided EUR 250,000 in funding for the 'Quarta Parete' trimedia project.

The business model is sales-led and project-based, with custom pricing dependent on scope, complexity, and client size and a mix of project work and multi-year consulting engagements. The go-to-market motion relies on personal outreach, regional networking in the Ruhrgebiet, and ongoing client relationships. Geographic focus is the Ruhr region and broader NRW, with some national project reach. Awards include the Heimtex Star 2023, a Marken-Award 2021 nomination for the 'Duisburg ist echt' city branding campaign, and a 2018 Health Media Award nomination for gomed.NRW.

Name

Durian

Legal name

Durian GmbH

Website

https://durian-pr.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Durian GmbH is a Duisburg-based full-service PR and communications agency serving startups, SMEs, large corporations, government, and healthcare clients in Germany's Ruhr region with press relations, editorial content, event management, AV production, and podcasting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Duisburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. PR and Public Relations Services: Professional PR services including press work, media relations, and public communications for corporate clients
2. Editorial and Content Creation: Redaktionelle Auftragsarbeiten - writing content for social media, blogs, websites, and print media on behalf of clients
3. Event Management: Event conception and management services including health fairs, cultural events, and corporate events
4. Website Creation: Web development services including design, development, and content for client websites
5. AV Media Production: Audio-visual media production and live streaming services for events and broadcasts
6. Crisis Communication Consulting: Crisis PR and communication training services for corporate clients
7. Podcasting Services: Production of podcast series for corporate clients and own branded podcasts

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Durian GmbH is a full-service PR and communications agency offering classical press and public relations, editorial content creation, audio-visual media production with live streaming, event conception and management, website creation, crisis communication, marketing strategy, corporate podcasting, and communication training. The agency serves startups, SMEs, large corporations, public administrations, and healthcare organizations across the Ruhr region and beyond, complemented by its own media properties including the Ruhrpodcast, the Gesundheits.Messe.Duisburg health fair, and the gomed.NRW health portal.

Product overview

Durian is a PR and public relations agency based in Duisburg offering a comprehensive suite of communication services. The core offerings include classical PR and press work, editorial content creation, AV media production with live streaming, event management, website creation, crisis communication, marketing strategy, podcasting, and communication training. The agency has also developed proprietary products including the Ruhrpodcast (regional podcast), Gesundheits.Messe.Duisburg (annual health fair), and gomed.NRW (health portal). Client projects include Dialog Romantik (virtual educational platform) and Quarta Parete (trimedia media format).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Klassische PR | Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit Classical PR and press/public relations services for corporate clients, including media contacts, press strategy, and communications strategy execution.
• Redaktion | Content-Erstellung Editorial and content creation services for social media, blogs, corporate websites, and print media, written on behalf of clients.
• AV-Medienproduktion | Live-Streaming Audio-visual media production and live-streaming services for events, broadcasts, and corporate communications.
• Eventkonzeption | Eventmanagement Event conception, planning, and management services for corporate, public, and cultural events.
• Webseiten-Erstellung Website creation and development services including design, technical build, and editorial content for client websites.
• Krisenkommunikation | Krisen-PR Crisis communication and crisis PR services to help clients manage public relations during emergencies and reputation-threatening events.
• Marketingkonzeption Strategic marketing concept development and planning services to support clients' marketing and communications strategy.
• Podcasting Corporate podcast production and support services, including concept, recording, and publishing for clients.
• Kommunikationstraining | Unternehmensberatung Communication training and business consulting services to optimize clients' corporate communications capabilities.
• Ruhrpodcast Ruhrpodcast is the agency's own regional podcast, covering stories about people, markets, and motives from the Ruhr region, hosted by CEO Frank Oberpichler.
• Gesundheits.Messe.Duisburg Annual health fair organized by Durian since 2012, held at CityPalais in Duisburg, featuring health providers and offering free admission to attendees.
• gomed.NRW Health portal for North Rhine-Westphalia featuring medical and therapeutic offerings; nominated for the 2018 Health Media Award.

Quantifiable outcome

• Health fair series running since 2012 with thousands of annual visitors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• STUDIO 47coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional TV broadcaster for western Ruhr area and Lower Rhine; joint development of trimedial format 'Quarta Parete' combining TV, radio, and podcast; production of health TV format 'Visite'; collaboration on journalist training programs
• Landesanstalt für Medien NRW (LfM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState media authority NRW; provided 250,000 EUR funding for 'Quarta Parete' innovation project through Journalismus Lab 'Audio Innovation' program
• VHS Duisburg (Radio-Duisburg-Jugendredaktion)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdult education center; collaboration partner in 'Quarta Parete' trimedia project for youth journalism development
• MedEcon Ruhr e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth industry network in the Ruhr area; collaboration on health congress streaming and MeKidS.Best conferences
• Quinkert PR & RedaktionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic content partnership with freelance PR specialist for quality content delivery
• Henselowsky Boschmann VerlagminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional literature publisher; joint promotion of coal and mining literature; collaboration on regional cultural projects
• Weiße Flotte MülheimminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRiver cruise operator; ongoing support for cultural event programming including 'LiteraTouren' with authors and musicians

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Serviceplan Group: Europe's largest independent owner-managed communications group headquartered in Munich, with PR, digital, content, and media operations across Germany. Comparable as a Germany-based full-service communications partner, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach than Durian.
• Fischer Appelt: One of Germany's largest independent owner-managed PR and communications agencies with offices nationwide, offering PR, content, digital, and live communications. Comparable to Durian as a German-headquartered full-service communications firm, though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Edelman Germany: German operations of global PR firm Edelman, offering corporate communications, public affairs, and digital PR services to enterprise clients. Comparable to Durian's corporate and public-sector PR capabilities, though operating with global scale and significantly more resources.
• Ketchum Germany: German arm of global PR network Ketchum, providing corporate, consumer, healthcare, and technology PR services. Comparable to Durian's PR and healthcare communications work, though operating as part of an international network with much broader resources.
• Weber Shandwick Germany: German operations of global PR firm Weber Shandwick (Interpublic Group), offering corporate, consumer, and public affairs communications. Comparable to Durian's corporate and public-sector PR capabilities at a much larger scale.
• MSL Germany: German operations of MSL, Publicis Groupe's global PR and communications network, offering corporate, consumer, and healthcare PR. Comparable to Durian's PR service portfolio and healthcare sector involvement, though with significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Profilwerkstatt: Stuttgart-based German communications agency providing PR, content, and corporate publishing services. Comparable to Durian in editorial-focused PR approach and German mid-market agency positioning.
• Zum goldenen Hirschen: Berlin-based German creative communications agency with strong PR, content, and brand storytelling capabilities serving corporate and consumer clients. Comparable to Durian in its integrated communications approach combining classic PR with editorial and content production.
• Faktor 3: Hamburg-based German PR and communications agency offering classic PR, content, digital, and event services across consumer, tech, and corporate clients. Highly comparable to Durian in service mix (PR, editorial, events, digital) and German mid-market agency positioning.
• navos Public Dialogue: German PR and dialogue agency specializing in public affairs, corporate communications, and stakeholder engagement. Comparable to Durian's public-sector and corporate communications work, with similar mid-market German positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/durianpr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/2Durian
• Facebookfacebook.com/durianpr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/durian-pr
• Instagraminstagram.com/durianpr

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 Durian