WeLoveApps

What WeLoveApps does

WeLoveApps GmbH is a German software services firm founded in 2013 in Erfurt, specializing in mobile and web application development for municipal, public sector, and enterprise clients. The company's portfolio centers on Smart City apps — mobility (Erfurt mobil), municipal services (SWE für Erfurt, Stadt App Norderstedt), smart metering (E.ON Smart Control), tourism/heritage (Klimaweg Geraberg, Elephantine museum), and citizen-science platforms (AIRforschen for DLR). The longest-running products include Erfurt mobil (since 2014) and E.ON Smart Control (since 2017), with the Erfurt mobil app reaching over 30,000 monthly active users. Technically, WeLoveApps builds native iOS/Android apps, cross-platform implementations via Flutter/React Native/Kotlin Multiplatform, and PWAs, layered on open-source Smart City frameworks (Open Smart City App, smartVillageApp, HEIDI), a proprietary natourio product platform, and backend integrations via Node.js and Directus CMS, with sensor-data ingestion (climate, parking, energy, traffic) and AI features backed by the parent NT.AG KI-Cluster.

Since 2020, WeLoveApps has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NT Neue Technologie AG, leveraging the parent's ISO 27001/BSI-certified Rechenzentrum Mitteldeutschland data center, AI compute infrastructure, and enterprise network. The firm's go-to-market is primarily sales-led and event-driven, anchored by exhibition at Smart Country Convention (Berlin) and Kommunale (Nuremberg), direct outreach to municipalities, and a quasi-channel partnership with EDIH Thuringia that provides 50% EU co-financing for consulting, workshops, and prototyping for KMUs and public-sector clients. Revenue derives from bespoke professional-services contracts (analysis, concept, development, maintenance), grant-funded research project partnerships (e.g., Bauhaus.MobilityLab, AIRforschen), and recurring app maintenance on long-running client installations. The firm is led by Managing Directors Daniel Böhme and Maximilian Schirmer, with a stated team of 15 employees spanning development, UX/UI design, project management, QA, and AI integration.

Name

WeLoveApps

Legal name

WeLoveApps GmbH

Website

https://weloveapps.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WeLoveApps GmbH is an Erfurt-based software firm building native and cross-platform Smart City, mobility, energy, and tourism apps for municipalities, public sector, and enterprise clients across Germany, leveraging open-source frameworks and parent NT Neue Technologie AG's AI and data-center infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Erfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services (Consulting & Development): The primary revenue stream consists of bespoke consulting, concept development, usability engineering, and custom app/web development services for municipalities, public sector clients, and enterprise customers. Services are sold as project-based contracts, typically with phases for analysis, concept, development, and ongoing maintenance. Revenue is recognized over the project delivery timeline. Workshops are offered at 50% discounted rates via EDIH Thuringia EU subsidy.
2. Research Project Partnerships: WeLoveApps participates as consortium partner or consortium leader in nationally and internationally funded research projects (e.g., Bauhaus.MobilityLab, AIRforschen), receiving grant funding for R&D activities alongside commercial development work.
3. Ongoing App Maintenance & Support: Long-term support and evolution of deployed applications (e.g., Erfurt mobil since 2014, E.ON Smart Control since 2017), providing recurring maintenance revenue as clients continue to update, redesign, and extend their apps.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WeLoveApps is a German software services firm that designs, develops, and maintains custom mobile and web applications for municipalities, public utilities, energy providers, research institutions, museums, and tourism organisations. Its core focus is Smart City apps (mobility, citizen services, parking, waste, energy consumption, sensor-based environmental monitoring, museum and hiking experiences) delivered through native iOS/Android, cross-platform frameworks, and open-source Smart City frameworks. The company also sells its own proprietary product, natourio, an interactive visitor/tourist-experience platform with integrated CMS, gamification, and sensor connectivity.

Product overview

WeLoveApps GmbH is a German software company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Erfurt, specializing in app and web development for Smart City solutions, public administration, and private sector clients. Their portfolio centers on the natourio product (interactive visitor/tourist experience app with CMS) and the Smart City Apps brand covering municipal applications. Core products include mobility apps (Erfurt mobil, SWE für Erfurt), energy apps (E.ON Smart Control), and specialized apps for museums (Elephantine) and hiking trails (Klimawanderweg). The company offers professional services including usability engineering, UX/UI design, sensor integration, AI/ML integration via NT.AG's AI cluster, research project support, and custom development. Services are available at 50% subsidy through the EDIH Thuringia partnership. Technical approaches include native app development (iOS/Android), cross-platform frameworks (Flutter, React Native, Kotlin Multiplatform), Progressive Web Apps, and Open Source frameworks (Open Smart City App, smartVillageApp, HEIDI). The company operates as a subsidiary of NT Neue Technologie AG, leveraging its certified data center infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smart City Apps: A brand launched in 2023 representing the company's expertise in developing apps and web applications around sensorics, data, and artificial intelligence for Smart City and Smart Region solutions.

Products and services

• natourio Proprietary product platform offering interactive visitor and tourist experiences that combine nature and technology. Enables municipalities, museums, and leisure parks to deliver digital tours with gamification elements and sensor integration, managed through an integrated content management system.
• Beratung & Konzeption (Consulting and Conception) Strategic consulting service for app and Smart City projects, including requirements analysis, technology recommendations, mockups, click dummies, and roadmaps for municipalities, regions, and enterprises.
• Methodische Workshops (Methodical Workshops) Structured workshop services including vision development, Design Thinking, rapid prototyping, user journey mapping, and EDIH-subsidised workshops (50% discount) for municipalities and KMUs.
• Smartes Design für App und Web (UX/UI Design) UX/UI design services for apps and web solutions covering native iOS and Android, cross-platform frameworks (Flutter, React Native, Kotlin Multiplatform), and Progressive Web Apps.
• Forschungsbegleitung (Research Project Support) Research project support service as consortium partner or consortium leader, covering idea development, proposal writing, and practical implementation that connects scientific findings with market-ready solutions.
• Individuelle Beratung und Entwicklung (Custom Consulting and Development) Custom consulting and development service for municipalities and regions, covering needs analysis, participatory workshops, agile development, and long-term support.
• Stadt-Apps auf Open-Source-Basis (Open-Source City Apps) Open-source city app service using frameworks such as Open Smart City App (Digitalstadt Solingen), smartVillageApp, and HEIDI, offering transparency, cost efficiency, and vendor independence for municipalities.
• Anbindung von Sensorik (Sensor Integration) Sensor integration service connecting environmental sensors, smart meters, traffic sensors, and IoT devices to applications for Smart City data visualisation and analysis.
• KI mit angebundenem KI-Cluster (AI with KI-Cluster) AI integration service leveraging NT.AG's high-performance KI-Cluster in Rechenzentrum Mitteldeutschland, including predictive models, chatbots, and decision support systems for Smart City applications.
• Usability Engineering Comprehensive usability service including usability testing with 5-7 participants (identifying 85% of problems), accessibility testing per WCAG 3.0, eye tracking, and UX questionnaires (UEQ).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30,000 monthly active users for Erfurt mobil app, making it one of the most successful regional apps in Thuringia
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NT Neue Technologie AG (NT.AG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Since 2020, WeLoveApps is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NT Neue Technologie AG, also based in Erfurt. NT.AG operates the Rechenzentrum Mitteldeutschland data center (ISO 27001 certified, BSI certified) and specializes in digitizing corporate processes for the finance and real estate sectors. WeLoveApps benefits from access to IT infrastructure, the KI-Cluster AI computing facility, IT-security services, and cross-selling within the NT enterprise network. In turn, NT.AG benefits from WeLoveApps' Smart City and mobile app expertise.
• Bauhaus.MobilityLab Consortium (13 Partners)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020WeLoveApps participated as a key software development partner in the Bauhaus.MobilityLab research project (April 2020 – September 2023), funded by BMWK (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action). The consortium included 13 partners: Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (lead), Bosch, BPV, Stadt Erfurt, EAH Jena, Fraunhofer IOSB, Fraunhofer IOSB-AST, Fraunhofer ISST, Fraunhofer ITWM, highQ, Innoman, NT.AG, and Siemens. WeLoveApps led the software tools work package and delivered the web portal and mobile app for the real-world laboratory.
• E.ON Energie Deutschland GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017WeLoveApps has developed and maintained the E.ON Smart Control smart metering app since 2017 (initially under innogy SE brand). The long-term engagement covers native iOS/Android apps and a WebApp for energy consumption visualization, demonstrating an 8+ year product partnership.
• Erfurter Verkehrsbetriebe AG (EVAG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Long-standing client relationship (since 2014) for the Erfurt mobil mobility app. EVAG provides real-time public transport data, ticketing integration, and Deutschlandticket support. WeLoveApps provides full app development, maintenance, and accessibility compliance. The app has 30,000+ monthly active users.
• Rechenzentrum Mitteldeutschland (by NT.AG)coreTechnology or IntegrationWeLoveApps leverages the Rechenzentrum Mitteldeutschland for hosting client applications. The data center, operated by parent NT.AG since 2003 and rebuilt in 2015, provides BSI-certified, ISO 27001-compliant hosting with TÜV Level Tek3 Plus certification, 24/7/365 support, green energy (own photovoltaic), and GDPR compliance.
• European Digital Innovation Hub Thuringia (EDIH Thuringia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeLoveApps is an official service provider within the EDIH Thuringia, a EU-co-financed digital innovation hub supporting KMUs and public sector organizations with subsidized digitalization services. WeLoveApps extends the EDIH's focus areas (mobility, infrastructure) with comprehensive Smart City services. In return, EDIH provides a qualified lead channel and co-financing that makes WeLoveApps' services affordable for smaller municipalities.
• Thüringer Tourismus GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for integrating OpenData from ThüCAT (Thuringian tourism data catalog) into WeLoveApps' tourist applications. This partnership enables real-time tourism data in visitor and hiking apps such as natourio and Klimaweg Geraberg.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Aperto (IBM iX): Berlin-based digital agency acquired by IBM, now part of IBM iX, with deep public-sector and enterprise client work. Comparable as a major German digital incumbent with overlapping capability in custom app development, UX, and digital transformation for government and corporate clients.
• T-Systems International: Deutsche Telekom's enterprise and public-sector IT services arm, providing large-scale digitalization and Smart City solutions to German municipalities and public administrations. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving the same public-sector digitalization buyer with significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• SinnerSchrader (Accenture Song): Long-established Hamburg digital agency now part of Accenture Song, offering end-to-end digital product development, UX, and platform engineering at scale. Comparable as a much larger incumbent offering similar app and platform services with broader portfolio and deeper enterprise reach.

Direct peers

• denkwerk GmbH: Cologne-based digital agency specializing in custom web and mobile application development for enterprise clients. Comparable as a German full-service digital agency competing for similar mid-sized enterprise and public-sector project work with custom development, UX design, and agile methodologies.
• nexum AG: Cologne-based digital agency offering consulting, concept, and custom digital product development for mid-market and enterprise clients. Comparable as a German agency competing for similar B2B project engagements with custom software, UX, and digital strategy offerings.
• mindspace GmbH: Munich-based digital agency focused on custom app and web development with strong UX and agile delivery. Comparable as a German digital agency of similar size competing for enterprise digital product work in the same DACH market.

Regional players

• AKDB (Anstalt für Kommunale Datenverarbeitung in Bayern): Munich-based municipal IT service provider delivering software, digitalization platforms, and citizen services for Bavarian municipalities. Comparable as a regional public-sector IT specialist serving a different German state but addressing the same municipal digitalization buyer with overlapping service categories.

Emerging players

• Komoot GmbH: Hannover-based outdoor and hiking app developer with a globally scaled consumer platform combining tour planning, sensor/elevation data, and content management. Comparable for the Klimawanderweg and natourio-style interactive outdoor and tourism experiences, but operating at vastly greater scale on a pure consumer B2C model.
• Outdooractive GmbH: Immenstadt-based outdoor platform offering hiking, biking, and nature experience apps with CMS-driven content, tour planning, and POI/sensor data integration. Comparable to WeLoveApps' natourio tourism and Klimawanderweg hiking trail products as a more mature outdoor/tourism platform with similar content-driven architecture.
• Fraunhofer IAO: Stuttgart-based Fraunhofer institute researching and prototyping urban digitalization, mobility, and Smart City solutions, often in public-funded consortium projects. Comparable as a research partner/competitor working on the same Smart City, mobility, and AI topics and frequently collaborating with the same municipal clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/weloveapps_gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 WeLoveApps