CreateOceans
CreateOceans is a 13-person full-service digital and creative agency in Emsdetten, Germany, offering websites, online marketing, apps, branding, print, and social media services plus its proprietary OCEANSITES CMS to regional SMBs and selected mid-market clients across German-speaking markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersEmsdetten, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CreateOceans does
CreateOceans (legal entity: CREATEOCEANS GmbH & Co.KG) is a full-service digital and creative agency headquartered in Emsdetten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, founded on July 1, 2004 by Richard Gervink. The firm operates across four service pillars — Digital (websites, online marketing, web/native apps), Brand (corporate design, photography, videography, communications), Print (print media, promotional items, advertising technology), and Social Media (marketing, editorial, workshops) — serving primarily regional German small and medium-sized businesses with selected mid-market accounts in sports, healthcare, legal, government, and NGO sectors.
The company's core technology assets are two proprietary products developed and maintained in-house. OCEANSITES, launched in February 2012, is a closed-source PHP-based content management system positioned as a lower-security-risk alternative to open-source CMSs such as WordPress, TYPO3, Contao, and Joomla; it has been deployed across approximately 130 customers and roughly 200 websites as of 2017. TeamApp, launched in 2017, is a hybrid iOS/Android internal employee-communication platform with chat, calendar, project/task overview, and HR request features integrated with the company's internal management system. Web development uses HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript with mobile-first responsive design, and hosting is bundled with .de domain, webspace, email, and Alpha SSL certificates. The agency is Google Ads certified (Search Advertising) and offers paid campaign management with budgets starting from €1/day.
CreateOceans operates a sales-led, direct-to-client project-based professional services model with quote-by-quote pricing and multi-year hosting contracts. Revenue streams are categorized as Digital, Social Media, Print, and Google Ads Management services. Go-to-market is predominantly regional within Münsterland, with project reach extending to Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and Curaçao; client acquisition is driven by referrals, project portfolio/case studies, workshops, social media, and SEO (including Google My Business). The 13-person in-house team is structured to deliver end-to-end engagements without outsourcing, and the firm is recognized as an IHK Nord Westfalen training company supporting an apprenticeship pipeline. Ownership remains founder-controlled with no external institutional investment, no parent company, and no disclosed revenue figures.
CreateOceans firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CreateOceans
- Legal name
- CREATEOCEANS GmbH & Co.KG
- Website
- https://createoceans.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CreateOceans is a 13-person full-service digital and creative agency in Emsdetten, Germany, offering websites, online marketing, apps, branding, print, and social media services plus its proprietary OCEANSITES CMS to regional SMBs and selected mid-market clients across German-speaking markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CreateOceans industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Marketing and Web Development Services
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (541810), Graphic Design Services (54143), Graphic Design Services (541430), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Software Publishers (5132), Media Buying Agencies (54183)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Creative & Brand Campaign Development (BPAFAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)
Keywords
Where CreateOceans is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Emsdetten
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CreateOceans business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Digital Services: Project-based professional services including website development, online marketing, app development, and hosting services. Billed per project with transparent pricing.
- Social Media Services: Social media marketing, content creation, editorial services, and social media workshops for businesses.
- Print Services: Design and production of print media, promotional items, and advertising technology solutions.
- Google Ads Management: Certified Google Ads agency offering campaign management with individual budget starting from 1 Euro per day.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
CreateOceans product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CreateOceans is a full-service digital agency (Werbe-/Digitalagentur) that designs, develops, and markets websites, online marketing campaigns, mobile apps, brand/corporate design, print media, and social media content for German businesses and institutions. The agency differentiates with OCEANSITES, a proprietary non-open-source CMS, and TeamApp, a hybrid employee communication app, sold and supported alongside agency services. All engagements are project-based, quote-driven, and delivered by a 13-person in-house team.
Product overview
CreateOceans is a full-service digital agency offering a portfolio of proprietary and service-based products. The core product is OCEANSITES, their proprietary content management system (CMS) launched in 2012, which differentiates itself from open-source alternatives like WordPress, TYPO3, Contao, and Joomla by not being open source, reducing security risks while offering professional support. The agency also offers TeamApp, a hybrid employee communication app compatible with iOS and Android. Supporting services include web hosting packages (with Alpha SSL certificates), digital services (websites, online marketing, apps), brand services (corporate design, photography/videography), print services (print media, promotional items), social media services (marketing, editorial, workshops), and social media workshops. The offering operates as an agency-plus-products model where the CMS and app serve as proprietary products while development, design, and marketing services are the primary service offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OCEANSITES: Proprietary content management system (CMS) developed and maintained by CREATEOCEANS for client websites. Launched February 2012, used by approximately 130 customers with nearly 200 websites.
- TeamApp
Products and services
- Digital Services (Websites, Online Marketing, Apps) Full-service digital agency offering for businesses and institutions: modern responsive websites (HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript), online marketing (SEO, SEA, Google Ads), and native and hybrid mobile applications for iOS and Android.
- Brand Services (Corporate Design, Photography, Videography, Communications) Brand and identity services for businesses including corporate design, photography and videography, and communications strategy.
- Print Services (Print Media, Promotional Items, Advertising Technology) Design and production of print media, promotional items, and advertising technology (Werbetechnik) for businesses, in partnership with printing specialists such as SIGMA DRUCK for high-end finishes.
- Social Media Services (Marketing, Editorial, Workshops) Social media marketing, editorial content creation, and social media workshops for businesses operating across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
- Social Media Workshops Group workshops (max 5 companies) and intensive individual workshops covering social media strategy, channel selection, and content planning for German businesses.
- OCEANSITES CMS Proprietary, in-house developed, non-open-source Content Management System for client websites. Features include individual layouts, blog, FAQ, landing pages, intranet, newsletter, contact forms, and image galleries. Distributed and supported exclusively by CreateOceans.
- TeamApp Hybrid mobile application for internal employee communication. Features include app-internal chat, business calendar, project and orders overview, and vacation/sick leave requests, integrated with the company's internal management system.
- Web Hosting (Basic Package) Web hosting package including 1 .de domain, 1 GB webspace, email mailbox (1 GB), and Alpha SSL certificate setup, offered as a recurring subscription to agency clients.
- Google Ads Management (Certified Search Advertising) Certified Google Ads agency offering search advertising campaign management with individual budgets starting from 1 Euro per day.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 130 customers using nearly 200 websites on OCEANSITES CMS since 2012
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CreateOceans
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CreateOceans technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
CreateOceans partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- SIGMA DRUCKminorPartnership with SIGMA DRUCK printing company in Steinfurt-Borghorst for specialized print production. Collaboration on high-end print products including 3D effects, special folding, and partial varnish finishing for client projects.
- Bloofusion (Markus Hövener)minorFormer co-tenant partner and long-term collaborator. Markus Hövener from Bloofusion served as moderator for CreateOceans annual strategy days, providing industry experience and input.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CreateOceans competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bergmann & Koch Digitalagentur: Full-service German digital agency providing web design, online marketing, social media, and corporate design — closely overlapping CreateOceans' service portfolio for SMB and mid-market clients.
- web-netz GmbH: Northern German digital agency offering web development, online marketing, hosting, and CMS solutions — directly comparable to CreateOceans in size, scope, and regional agency model.
- dkd Internet Service GmbH: Frankfurt-based full-service agency offering web development, online marketing, CMS, and design — comparable in service breadth and target market to CreateOceans.
Broad incumbents
- nexum: Cologne-based digital agency with broader portfolio including strategy, technology, and content — overlapping CreateOceans in digital marketing and web services but at significantly larger scale.
- denkwerk: Cologne-based full-service digital agency offering web, online marketing, and brand services — comparable function but operates at larger scale with national clients.
- Saint Elmo's: German multi-location agency offering brand, digital, and social media services — comparable in service breadth but with national reach and larger scale than CreateOceans.
- Kolle Rebbe: Hamburg-based creative agency covering brand, digital, and social media — comparable service categories but larger brand-led agency with national/international clients.
- Jung von Matt: Major German creative/digital agency with broad capabilities across digital, brand, and content — much larger incumbent competing in the same overall category as CreateOceans.
- TLGG: Berlin-based digital agency focused on digital communication, content, and technology — comparable service categories but at significantly larger enterprise scale.
Regional players
- Bloofusion: Münsterland-based SEO/online marketing agency and former co-tenant of CreateOceans — directly comparable in regional positioning and German SMB/mid-market focus, with strong SEO specialization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CreateOceans social profiles
Digital presenceCreateOceans financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CreateOceans leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CreateOceans funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CreateOceans 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 CreateOceans
What does CreateOceans do?
CreateOceans is a full-service digital agency (Werbe-/Digitalagentur) that designs, develops, and markets websites, online marketing campaigns, mobile apps, brand/corporate design, print media, and social media content for German businesses and institutions. The agency differentiates with OCEANSITES, a proprietary non-open-source CMS, and TeamApp, a hybrid employee communication app, sold and supported alongside agency services. All engagements are project-based, quote-driven, and delivered by a 13-person in-house team.
Is CreateOceans a public or private company?
CreateOceans is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CreateOceans founded?
CreateOceans was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CreateOceans based?
CreateOceans is headquartered in Emsdetten, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does CreateOceans make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Digital Services are the primary driver. The others are social Media Services, print Services and google Ads Management.
Who are CreateOceans's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bergmann & Koch Digitalagentur, web-netz GmbH and dkd Internet Service GmbH. Broad incumbents are nexum, denkwerk, Saint Elmo's, Kolle Rebbe, Jung von Matt and TLGG. Bloofusion is listed as a regional player.
Does CreateOceans have an API?
No public API is recorded for CreateOceans.
What industry is CreateOceans in?
CreateOceans's product category is Digital Marketing and Web Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAAAB, Creative & Brand Campaign Development, with a secondary code of BPAFAAAF, Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio). Its NAICS code is 541810 and its SIC code is 7311.