Built

What Built does

Built (legal entity: thinkarella ag) is a German IT systemhaus founded in 1996 and headquartered in Mainz, operating eight offices across Germany through three wholly-owned subsidiaries — MetaComp GmbH, MetaComp Würzburg GmbH, and SERVION Service & Support GmbH. The company delivers bundled IT solutions spanning managed services, cloud computing, network optimization, security, document management, eBusiness/shop platforms, OEM hardware resale, and IT consulting/coaching, primarily to medium-sized German companies, public-sector clients, educational institutions, doctors' surgeries, law firms, and small IT companies. Its core technical offering is integration of third-party enterprise technologies rather than proprietary IP: it packages cloud-based document management from partner d.velop (DMS, invoice processing, contract management, employee app, digital post delivery, digital signature) with ERP integrations to DATEV, SAP, Sage, Infor, and GWS, and resells hardware and software under top-tier partner certifications from Microsoft (Gold), Dell (Platinum), HP (Partner First Gold), HPE (Silver), Lenovo (PC Partner Platinum, OEM Expert), Sophos (Platinum), and Fortinet.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: recurring managed services contracts, a SaaS/monthly rental model for eBusiness shop solutions, professional services for document management implementation and IT consulting, and transactional hardware/software sales through the built.de / built-direkt.de e-commerce storefront. Distribution operates via three channels — a direct enterprise field sales team (Team Projektvertrieb), an own e-commerce platform, and a nationwide partner and freelancer network — with product delivery available EU-wide while professional services remain Germany-focused. The firm holds no external investors or PE/VC backing and discloses no revenue, headcount, or ARR figures, positioning it as a privately held, mature, bootstrapped Mittelstand IT services provider.

Name

Built

Legal name

thinkarella ag

Website

https://built-direkt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Built (thinkarella ag) is a German IT systemhaus offering managed services, cloud, network, security, document management, eBusiness, and hardware resale to medium-sized companies, public sector, and education clients across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Managed IT Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

IT Procurement, Lifecycle & Asset Management Services (BPAEABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

ITIL/ITSM Process Consulting & Implementation (BPAEAJAB), Enterprise Architecture & Technology Roadmapping (BPAEAAAC), IT Asset Lifecycle Services (Procure-to-Retire) (BPAEAOAF)

Keywords

• Managed IT services
• Cloud computing services
• IT infrastructure services
• Document management services
• B2B ecommerce solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Mainz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Managed Services: Recurring managed services contracts providing flexible IT infrastructure and support services tailored to business requirements
2. eBusiness Solutions: Online shop development, design, implementation, and maintenance including SaaS/rental model options for B2B customers
3. Document Management: Implementation and support services for d.velop document management solutions including consulting, customization, integration, and ongoing support
4. IT Consulting & Coaching Services: Digital workouts, workshops, training, coaching, and project support services
5. Product Sales: Hardware and software products through e-commerce platform including OEM solutions from Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Built (thinkarella ag) is a German IT systemhaus providing managed IT services, cloud computing, network optimization, IT security, B2B eBusiness shop solutions, and cloud-based document management to medium-sized companies, public-sector clients, and educational institutions across Germany. Beyond services, the company resells OEM hardware (Lenovo, Hewlett-Packard) and supplies partner software (Microsoft, d.velop, DATEV) through its own e-commerce storefront and a project sales team, with additional offerings in IT consulting, workshops, and digitalization support. The company integrates these third-party technologies with its own managed-services platform and B2B eBusiness platform to deliver single-source IT solutions nationwide.

Product overview

Built (operated by thinkarella ag) is an IT systemhaus (technology services company) offering a portfolio of managed IT services rather than a single unified software product. The core offerings include Managed Services, Cloud Computing, Network Optimization, Security Check-Up, eBusiness/Shop Solutions, Document Management, Coaching/Services, and Workshops. Built provides these services as bundled solutions alongside specialized software products from partners—particularly d.velop for document management (including document management, invoice processing, contract management, employee app, digital mail delivery, and digital signature modules) and OEM hardware solutions from Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard. The company operates as a full-service provider, implementing and integrating these solutions for medium-sized businesses, public sector clients, educational institutions, and small IT companies across Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Managed Services Flexible and individually configured managed IT services for ongoing infrastructure management, IT support, and operational needs, tailored to the specific requirements of business customers across Germany.
• eBusiness Shop Solutions Design, implementation, hosting, and ongoing operation of B2B online shops, including product presentation, integration with merchandise management and sales channels, eProcurement workflows, and multi-channel marketing; offered via SaaS/rental model without upfront hardware or license costs.
• Document Management (DMS) Cloud-based document management services built on d.velop technology, enabling digital business processes, revision-secure archiving, automated invoice processing, contract management, digital mail delivery, digital signatures, and integration with DATEV, SAP, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Infor, and GWS systems.
• OEM Hardware Solutions Resale and configuration of long-life, industry-specific OEM hardware solutions from Lenovo (Campus Notebooks Platinum / OEM Expert Specialist) and Hewlett-Packard (Partner First Gold / long-life industry products), tailored for professional sectors requiring extended-lifecycle equipment.
• Cloud Computing Services Cloud infrastructure design, deployment, migration, and managed cloud operations supporting business customers' digitalization and workload transitions, leveraging Microsoft, HPE, and other partner cloud technologies.
• Network Optimization Services End-to-end network optimization services including server, network infrastructure, switch/router deployment, and infrastructure improvements, integrating Fortinet, Sophos, and Aruba HPE technologies for performance and security.
• IT Security Check-Up IT security assessment, hardening, and protection services covering vulnerability evaluation, security architecture review, and deployment of Fortinet, Sophos, and partner security technologies for medium-sized and public-sector customers.
• IT Coaching and Project Services IT consulting, project management, and coaching services supporting clients from initial rollout through outsourcing engagements, project execution, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Workshops and Training Educational workshops, digital workouts, and training programs covering IT topics for customer teams, accompanying technology rollouts and digitalization initiatives.
• Digital Workout (Client Devices and Conferencing) End-user-focused digitalization offering spanning client device provisioning, collaboration tooling, and conferencing/communication solutions (including Poly and partner technologies) for hybrid-work business customers.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationGold Microsoft Partner with comprehensive integration capabilities across Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and other Microsoft enterprise solutions
• Hewlett-Packard (HP)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartner First Gold certification and Silver Partner for Hybrid IT Solution Provider. OEM solutions provider for industry-specific long-life products
• Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE)coreTechnology or IntegrationSolution Provider Silver Partner for enterprise infrastructure solutions
• Dell TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum Partner status for hardware and infrastructure solutions
• LenovocoreTechnology or IntegrationCampus Notebooks partner, PC Partner Platinum, and OEM Expert Specialist for embedded solutions. Long-life industry-specific solutions provider
• FortinetcoreTechnology or IntegrationCybersecurity and network protection partner for security solutions
• SophoscoreTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum Partner for IT security solutions
• d.velopcoreTechnology or IntegrationDocument management partner providing cloud-based DMS, invoice processing, contract management, employee apps, digital post delivery, and digital signature solutions
• BrotherminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOffice equipment and printer partner for office hardware distribution
• SamsungminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElectronics and mobile devices partner for hardware distribution

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Avanade: Large global consultancy jointly owned by Accenture and Microsoft, focused on Microsoft ecosystem implementation and managed services. Comparable on Microsoft Gold-partner-led IT services and ERP integrations Built offers.
• Computacenter plc: Large European IT infrastructure provider with significant German operations offering managed services, workplace, security, and cloud — overlapping with Built's portfolio but at materially larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Controlware GmbH: German IT systemhaus and managed services provider focused on network, security, data center, and cloud solutions for mid-market and enterprise customers. Direct comparable to Built in vendor-partner-led service model.
• acmeo GmbH (a Theilmann Group company): German value-added distributor and cloud services broker offering managed services, Microsoft 365, and security — overlapping with Built's cloud and managed services offerings for the German Mittelmarkt and channel partners.
• msg group: German IT consulting and system integration group covering ERP, CRM, document management, and managed services for regulated industries. Direct overlap with Built's ERP integration (SAP/Sage/Infor) and d.velop DMS practices.
• Allgeier SE: German IT services group operating IT systemhäuser, software, and consulting businesses for mid-market and enterprise customers. Comparable in breadth of IT services portfolio and customer-segment focus.
• CANCOM SE: German IT systemhaus specializing in hybrid IT, managed services, cloud, and software/digitalization — serving mid-market and enterprise. Closely comparable business model, partner ecosystem, and customer base to Built.
• SVA System Vertrieb Alexander GmbH: Privately held German IT systemhaus offering enterprise hardware, data center, cloud, and managed services across multiple German offices. Comparable size, footprint, and vendor-partnership approach to Built.
• Bechtle AG: Germany-headquartered IT systemhaus and managed services provider with broad hardware resale, managed services, and software/consulting practices serving mid-market and enterprise. Direct comparable in product scope, customer segment, and partner model to Built.

Regional players

• Fiducia & GAD IT AG (part of Fiducia Bank): Large German IT services provider for the cooperative banking sector, offering IT infrastructure, managed services, and document management — comparable to Built on document management and managed services but with a narrower regulated-vertical focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 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 Built