What Werk21 does

Werk21 is a Berlin-based, owner-operated German digital agency founded in 2000 that builds and operates open-source web infrastructure for civil-society, NGO, government, and political-organization clients. Its core stack is Drupal, delivered alongside complementary open-source platforms including BigBlueButton (video conferencing), Nextcloud (collaboration), and open-source geospatial services. The firm operates as a Drupal Gold Partner and Acquia partner, and maintains BSI IT-Grundschutz and ISO 27001 certifications that qualify it for German public-sector and regulated institutional tenders.

Werk21's product surface spans implementation and maintenance of Drupal sites, dedicated hosting of 350+ servers, SEO and design services, and — more recently — a dedicated AI server product and a DrupalAI offering built on RAG and vector database patterns. In January 2025 the firm aligned its service catalog to Drupal CMS (the Starshot-era out-of-the-box distribution), targeting mid-market public-sector refresh cycles. The team is led by three managing directors — Johannes Stahl (CEO), Jan Kellermann (CTO/founder), and Susanne Fritsche (project management and graphics) — with a developer base of approximately 15.

The business model is a hybrid of project-based implementation work, recurring managed hosting, and long-tail support and maintenance contracts, sold primarily into German civic and public-sector buyers. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the firm is privately held (GmbH) and bootstrapped. Pricing is anchored on institutional RFPs and multi-year hosting agreements rather than standardized self-serve tiers.

Name

Werk21

Legal name

werk21 GmbH

Website

https://werk21.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Werk21 is a Berlin-based, owner-operated digital agency that builds and hosts Drupal and open-source web, collaboration, and AI-infrastructure solutions for German NGOs, government, and civil-society organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Web Development and Open-Source Hosting Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

DevOps Consulting & Transformation (BPAEAKAA)

Keywords

• Drupal web development
• Open source hosting
• Drupal agency Berlin
• Managed server operations
• Digital sovereignty solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Website Development and Hosting: Custom Drupal website development, migration, and ongoing hosting services on proprietary servers in Germany. Long-term client relationships with maintenance and support contracts.
2. BigBlueButton Video Conferencing: Data protection compliant video conferencing with share packages (€29/month) and dedicated server options (from €120/month). Recurring subscription revenue with monthly billing.
3. AI Server Solutions: Dedicated AI servers with chat, RAG search, and vector database. Entry price from €385/month. Professional services for configuration and integration.
4. Nextcloud Hosting: Self-hosted Nextcloud collaboration platform hosting in Germany with data protection compliance.
5. Server Operation and Maintenance: Complete server management including web servers, mail servers, DNS, backups, security monitoring with SLAs from 8/5 to 25/7.
6. Drupal Update Service: In-house update team evaluating and deploying security updates for Drupal core and modules with monitoring.
7. Geo & Map Services: Self-hosted map servers, routing services, and geocoding based on OpenStreetMap data.
8. Professional Services (Design, SEO, Support): UX/UI design, SEO optimization, support services, and consulting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

werk21 designs, develops, hosts, and maintains Drupal-based websites, portals, and digital platforms for civil society organizations, political institutions, government agencies, and NGOs. The offering combines custom Drupal development with a portfolio of self-hosted open-source solutions (BigBlueButton video conferencing, Nextcloud collaboration, Geo/Map services, AVideo, and a Dedicated AI Server) running on the company's own servers in Germany, delivered as a full-service agency engagement plus ongoing managed hosting and support contracts.

Product overview

Werk21 is an open-source service provider offering online solutions for civil society, politics, and government. The portfolio centers on Drupal as the core CMS platform (including Drupal CMS launched Jan 2025 for rapid implementation), complemented by collaboration and communication tools (Nextcloud for file sharing, BigBlueButton for video conferencing, AVideo for video hosting), digital sovereignty infrastructure (own servers in Germany, geo/map services), and AI capabilities (Dedicated AI Server, DrupalAI integration, Workflow Automation). Services span the full lifecycle including Development, Hosting/Server Operation, Maintenance, SEO, Design/UX-UI, and Support. The offering is characterized by digital sovereignty, data protection (GDPR), accessibility (BITV/WCAG), and security (BSI Grundschutz) as core principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drupal Web Development Open-source CMS and framework for building content-driven websites with networking of content across pages, optimized for politics, government, associations, and NGOs and supporting enterprise-scale deployments with extensive module ecosystems. Werk21 uses Drupal plus the Symfony framework to deliver custom websites, relaunches, and platform builds.
• Drupal CMS Quick-Implementation Solution Quick-implementation Drupal CMS solution using pre-configured Recipes in a modular building block system, designed for rapid, cost-efficient deployment by associations, NGOs, and small organizations.
• BigBlueButton Data-Protection-Compliant Video Conferencing GDPR-compliant hosted BigBlueButton video conferencing with live chat, screen sharing, presentations, video, whiteboard, polls, and breakout rooms, operated on werk21's own servers in Germany, with monthly subscription Share (€29/month) and Dedicated (from €120/month) options.
• Nextcloud Hosting Self-hosted Nextcloud collaboration platform hosted on werk21's own servers in Germany with multi-layered encryption, file access control, and authentication protection, including extensions for document collaboration, chat, audio/video, task management, and group calendars.
• Geo & Map Services Self-hosted mapping services based on OpenStreetMap data offering tile servers (bitmap/vector), routing services for cars, bicycles, and pedestrians, and geocoding, operated on werk21's own servers in Germany for digital sovereignty.
• AVideo Hosting Open-source AVideo video hosting platform with features comparable to major video platforms, installed on dedicated servers and configured to customer requirements, including website integration.
• Dedicated AI Server Dedicated server with user interface for chat, RAG search, and vector database operated in Germany on AI-optimized hardware, with starting price of €385/month. Features include chat, document upload, vector databases, LLM support, API interfaces, GPU support, and GDPR-compliant operation.
• Drupal Update Service Subscription service in which werk21's in-house team evaluates and deploys all Drupal core and module updates, using proprietary centralized monitoring software to detect problems early and reconstruct system changes when necessary.
• Hosting and Server Operation Managed hosting and exclusive server operation for web servers, mail servers, DNS, backups, and security monitoring in ISO 27001 certified, BSI-Grundschutz-compliant data centers, with SLAs from 8/5 to 24/7.
• Drupal Development Services Custom Drupal development services including new module development, customizations to existing modules, BITV-compliant frontend solutions, and backend feature development.
• SEO Services Search engine optimization using latest technology, editorial SEO experience, and clean coding to achieve strong organic rankings for client websites.
• UX/UI Design Services Modern UX and UI web design focused on intuitive, user-friendly, and aesthetically appealing interfaces with clear navigation, consistent layouts, and responsive designs across devices.
• Support Services Ongoing in-house support delivered by Acquia-certified Drupal administrators and experts, with SLA options from 8/5 to 24/7 and response times under one hour.

Quantifiable outcome

• Complete migration of umweltbundesamt.de with 29 content types, 24,000+ nodes, 42,000+ media objects - possibly largest Drupal system in German-speaking region
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

AI capability9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Studio GOODcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCooperation partner for full website relaunch projects, particularly for German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and Umweltbundesamt projects. Studio GOOD develops the graphic concept while werk21 handles technical implementation.
• Drupal e.V. (German Drupal Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWerk21 is a member of Drupal e.V., the German Drupal community association. Managing director Johannes Stahl serves on the board. The association promotes Drupal use and development and creates networks of users and developers.
• Drupal AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified Gold Partner supporting the permanent existence of Drupal. Active community member maintaining several modules in the Drupal ecosystem.
• Allianz für Cybersicherheit (Cybersecurity Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipant in the Cybersecurity Alliance of the Federal Office for Security in Information Technology (BSI). Part of efforts to strengthen cybersecurity in Germany.
• Open Source Business Alliance (OSB Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember alongside 240+ companies promoting open source as standard in public administration. Open source and open standards are fundamental for digital sovereignty.
• Erfolgsfaktor Familie (Family Success Factor)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork for family-friendly workplaces. werk21 participates in the program offering company tickets for Berlin public transport and Germany tickets for employees.
• IHK Berlin (Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaging director Jan Kellermann is actively engaged in IHK Berlin as part of commitment to Berlin's creative economy.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Acquia: Largest commercial Drupal platform company offering managed cloud hosting, professional services, and the full Drupal ecosystem. While Werk21 staff hold Acquia certifications, Acquia is a broader incumbent whose hosted SaaS competes indirectly with Werk21's self-hosted model.

Direct peers

• Amazee Labs: Switzerland-based Drupal and open-source digital agency with global footprint. Comparable in technology stack (Drupal/TYPO3), hosting capabilities, and enterprise client focus, with broader geographic reach than Werk21.
• Lemberg Solutions: Drupal and web development agency with delivery centers in Eastern Europe. Comparable in Drupal development services, though competes more on cost-arbitrage delivery model than on sovereign-infrastructure positioning.
• Annertech: Ireland-based Drupal agency with strong open-source credentials and Drupal Association involvement. Comparable in Drupal-first positioning and digital sovereignty narrative, though operating primarily in Ireland/UK rather than DACH.
• Promet Source: US-based Drupal agency specializing in large-scale enterprise and government Drupal implementations. Comparable in technical depth and enterprise focus, though primarily serving North American public sector clients.
• CTI Digital: UK-based Drupal agency serving enterprise, government, and NGO clients. Comparable in client verticals (public sector, associations) and Drupal-led service model, though substantially larger in headcount.
• Open New Media: Munich-based Drupal agency providing custom Drupal development, consulting, and support. Directly competes with Werk21 in the German Drupal services market, particularly for enterprise and association clients.
• FFW (Five for the Future): Drupal and open-source digital agency with strong Drupal community ties and large-scale enterprise deployments. Comparable in Drupal expertise, hosting capabilities, and customer profile, operating across US and Europe.
• MD Systems: German Drupal agency offering custom Drupal development, hosting, and consulting. Directly competes with Werk21 for German-speaking enterprise and government Drupal engagements and shares similar open-source and digital-sovereignty positioning.

Emerging players

• TYPO3 Association Service Partners: Network of European open-source CMS agencies (predominantly Germany-based) using TYPO3 rather than Drupal. Comparable in serving German public sector and digital sovereignty buyers, often as the main TYPO3 alternative to Drupal in German government procurements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/werk21
• Facebookfacebook.com/werk21

Compliance12 records

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 Werk21