D64

What D64 does

D64 – Zentrum für digitalen Fortschritt e.V. is a Berlin-based nonprofit membership association (eingetragener Verein) that promotes progressive digital policy and digital transformation in Germany. Founded around 2011 and operating under the mission of realizing the values of freedom, justice, and solidarity through digital policy, D64 serves a community of 800+ members — including digital policy experts, technologists, activists, and engaged citizens — organized into 13 thematic working groups (Arbeitsgruppen) covering data protection, AI ethics, decentralization, e-health, digital education, and smart cities. Governance is led by two Co-Chairs, Erik Tuchtfeld and Svea Windwehr, supported by a Geschäftsstelle (office) and an advisory Beirat.

The organization's product surface is primarily media and knowledge-based rather than commercial software. It publishes the D64-Ticker, a daily digital-policy newsletter running since 2022-11-21; the D64 Quarterly, a quarterly summary; and the D64 Podcast (currently on hiatus). In addition, D64 develops several open research and guidance tools: the Deutschland-Stack (D-Stack) feedback analytics platform hosted on Streamlit; the Dezentralisierungs-Tool, an interactive guide for institutions implementing decentralized approaches; Das 1×1 des Datenschutzes, a foundational data-protection resource; and the Digital-Thesen-Check, an information platform used during elections. Operational channels include a HumHub-based Vereinsheim member platform, Mastodon, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and annual in-person events such as the Superklausur.

D64's business model is non-commercial and member-funded. Revenue streams consist of recurring membership dues from 800+ members, individual donations processed through the bcause platform (operated by bcause GmbH), and project-based grants, including funding from Just Open Source for the 2026 decentralization initiative. No commercial products are sold, membership fees are not publicly disclosed, and the association publishes transparency reports and annual financial statements on its website. Membership fees are the primary revenue source, with secondary support from donations and project grants.

Name

D64

Legal name

D64 – Zentrum für Digitalen Fortschritt e.V.

Website

https://d-64.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

D64 is a Berlin-based nonprofit membership association with 800+ members and 13 working groups that advocates progressive digital policy in Germany through daily newsletters, research tools, and policy positions on topics such as data protection, AI, and decentralized infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Policy Advocacy and Civic Technology Research

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy (BPAGAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Digital policy advocacy
• Civic technology research
• Policy working groups
• Nonprofit think tank
• Digital transformation strategy

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from over 800 members who join to support digital policy advocacy and participate in working groups
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations through the bcause platform (bcause GmbH, Berlin) for supporters who do not wish to become members
3. Project Funding: The decentralization project is funded by Just Open Source, indicating the organization receives grants for specific projects

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

D64 is a German nonprofit association that advocates for progressive digital policy through a member-driven network of more than 800 individuals organized into 13 working groups. The association sells recurring memberships, accepts donations, and delivers policy research, position papers, daily and quarterly newsletters, a podcast, and a portfolio of public-interest digital tools (including the Deutschland-Stack analytics platform, the Dezentralisierungs-Tool, and the Digital-Thesen-Check) covering topics such as data protection, AI regulation, e-health, digital education, and decentralized public infrastructure.

Product overview

D64 is a non-profit association (Zentrum für Digitalen Fortschritt) focused on digital policy advocacy and research, not a traditional software product company. Its offerings consist primarily of media and knowledge products: the D64-Ticker (daily digital policy newsletter), D64 Quarterly (quarterly overview newsletter), and the D64 Podcast (in-depth digital topics discussions). Additionally, D64 develops research tools including the Deutschland-Stack analytics platform for public digital infrastructure analysis, the Dezentralisierungs-Tool (decentralization guidance tool), the Digital-Thesen-Check for analyzing party positions on digital policy, and Das 1×1 des Datenschutzes (data protection resources). The organization operates through 13 working groups covering topics like data protection, e-health, and digital education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• D64-Ticker: Daily digital policy newsletter providing overview of current digital policy developments
• D64 Quarterly
• Dezentralisierungs-Tool
• White Paper on Decentralization
• D64-Podcast

Products and services

• D64-Ticker A daily digital policy newsletter distributed weekday mornings, providing an overview of current developments in digital politics and the tech sector for members and the interested public.
• D64 Quarterly A quarterly newsletter providing an overview of D64's most important topics, offering deeper insights into the association's work and digital policy positions for members and stakeholders.
• D64 Podcast A podcast series featuring in-depth discussions on digitalization topics, with episodes covering data protection, AI, digital education, e-health, and smart cities for digitally engaged citizens and policy-interested listeners.
• Deutschland-Stack (D-Stack) An interactive analytics tool providing feedback and analysis on Germany's digital stack (public digital infrastructure), built using Streamlit, for policy stakeholders, researchers, and the interested public.
• Dezentralisierungs-Tool An interactive guide with best practices and concrete steps to help institutions and organizations implement decentralized approaches, published as part of D64's decentralization project and accompanied by a white paper.
• Das 1x1 des Datenschutzes A collection of tools and tips providing foundational data protection guidance for members and the public, supporting the association's data protection working group outreach.
• Digital-Thesen-Check An information tool for elections that analyzes and checks digital policy positions of political parties, used during elections such as the European Parliament election and German federal elections for voters and policy researchers.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• bcause GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorbcause GmbH (Meinekestraße 26, 10719 Berlin) operates the donation platform through which D64 accepts charitable contributions. The bcause Treuhandstiftung issues donation receipts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chaos Computer Club (CCC): Europe's largest hacker association; comparable nonprofit membership model with working groups on digital rights, data protection, and infrastructure. Addresses an overlapping technical-expert membership base in Germany.
• Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (SNV / now interface): Berlin-based think tank producing policy analysis on AI, platform regulation, and digital infrastructure. Comparable to D64 in producing digital-policy working groups output, but with a more professionalised think-tank model.
• Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF): Berlin-based nonprofit using strategic litigation and advocacy to defend digital and civil liberties in Germany. Comparable to D64 in mission (digital rights), operating model (independent nonprofit), and Berlin policy ecosystem.
• AlgorithmWatch: German-originated nonprofit watchdog on automated decision-making and AI accountability. Directly comparable to D64's working-group approach on democratic AI and data protection policy, with similar EU-level digital policy focus.
• Open Knowledge Foundation Germany: German branch of the open knowledge/open data movement; nonprofit advocating for open data, transparency, and digital public goods. Overlaps with D64 on transparency (IFG) advocacy and digital rights themes.

Broad incumbents

• Wikimedia Deutschland: Large German nonprofit affiliate of the Wikimedia Foundation focused on free knowledge and open digital public infrastructure. Comparable to D64 on digital public infrastructure themes (Dezentralisierung) and on civic-society advocacy for open ecosystems.
• eco – Verband der Internetwirtschaft: German internet industry association with policy advocacy, working groups, and member services. Comparable structural model to D64 (membership association, working groups) but at much larger scale and industry-aligned.
• Bitkom: Germany's largest digital industry association representing thousands of member companies. Overlaps with D64's digital policy remit but operates from a pro-industry, broad-incumbent perspective rather than civic-society advocacy.
• Wikimedia Foundation (policy arm): International nonprofit advocating for free knowledge, open standards, and digital public infrastructure. Comparable to D64's digital-sovereignty and open-standards advocacy themes at global scale.

Emerging players

• European Digital Rights (EDRi): European umbrella of digital rights NGOs, with multiple German member organizations. D64 participates in similar EU policy debates on AI, data protection, and online platforms; relevant peer for coalition and EU-level scope comparison.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/d64ev
• Xx.com/d64ev
• Facebookfacebook.com/D64eV

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 D64