What Ermes does

E.R.M.E.S. srl (trading as Ermes Sapienza) is a private Italian management and ESG consulting firm founded as an innovative university startup within Sapienza Università di Roma and structured as a Società Benefit. It delivers research-based advisory in sustainability, corporate governance, enterprise risk management, turnaround, growth strategy, M&A and IPO valuation, project financing, and process optimization to enterprises, investors, and public institutions across Italy, with disclosed operations in Lazio and Campania (Rome headquarters and operations plus a Naples office).

The firm's core commercial product is the ESG Ability Score©, a proprietary two-step methodology that scores a company's ESG readiness through an online questionnaire and a structured advanced assessment, producing a maturity map, gap analysis, personalized report, external readiness checklist (EcoVadis, OpenES), and a 90-day operational roadmap. Underlying technology consists of proprietary ESG assessment frameworks and KPI architectures developed in collaboration with Sapienza's Department of Management, including the Osservatorio ESG-Ability Model and a 55-indicator validated ESG framework piloted in public healthcare; a separate tourist ecological-footprint measurement model has been co-developed with ENIT for sustainable tourism. Service lines also include ESG & Sustainability Measurement (CSRD/ESRS-aligned reporting, sustainability balance sheets, benchmarking), Engagement & Governance, Enterprise Risk Management & Corporate Evaluation, Compliance & Business Restructuring (D. Lgs. 231/2001 organizational models), and applied R&D including the ESG Strategy / ESG Pay report with Frontis Governance.

Commercially, Ermes operates a sales-led, project-based professional services model with no public pricing and no self-serve or product-led motion; clients engage directly via the firm's website or through professional and academic networks of the founding team, which is dominated by full and associate professors of corporate governance and business management at Sapienza. Customer acquisition is driven by the credibility of the Sapienza affiliation, the Osservatorio ESG-Ability thought-leadership platform, and participation in industry events (BIT 2026, ASI Salerno Awards, Premio Capitale Umano) and academic publications. Revenue derives from bespoke consulting engagements, executive training programs, and commissioned research, with named engagements at ASL Caserta, ASL Salerno, ASL Napoli 3 Sud, ENIT, and SMS S.p.A. Società Benefit.

Name

Ermes

Legal name

E.R.M.E.S. srl

Website

https://ermessapienza.it

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ermes (E.R.M.E.S. srl) is a Rome-based ESG consulting and research firm, founded as an innovative startup within Sapienza Università di Roma, serving Italian enterprises, investors, and public institutions with proprietary ESG assessment methodologies, sustainability reporting, governance, and risk advisory services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ESG & Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG Data, Ratings & Research (Providers, Methodologies, Analytics) (FSAAALAJ), ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ), ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

Keywords

• ESG consulting
• Sustainability advisory
• Enterprise risk management
• Corporate governance
• Sustainability reporting

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ESG & Sustainability Consulting: Core consulting engagements including ESG assessment (ESG Ability Score©), sustainability reporting (CSRD/ESRS-aligned), sustainability balance sheet preparation, ESG benchmarking, ESG Check, and sustainability certifications. Delivered as bespoke advisory projects to enterprises and public institutions.
2. Corporate Governance & Risk Management Advisory: Advisory services covering enterprise risk management, corporate turnaround, growth strategies, M&A valuations, IPO advisoring, project financing, process optimization, and CRM. Revenue generated through project-based consulting engagements.
3. Executive Training Programs: Advanced training programs on corporate governance, circular economy, green marketing, and ESG finance for professionals and companies. Offered as a standalone revenue stream alongside consulting engagements.
4. Applied Research & Publications: Contract research and commissioned studies in ESG and enterprise management, including the ESG Strategy and ESG Pay report. Funded through competitive grants and commissioned research partnerships with institutional clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

E.R.M.E.S. srl offers bespoke ESG and sustainability consulting, corporate governance and engagement advisory, enterprise risk management and corporate valuation, sustainability measurement and reporting (CSRD/ESRS-aligned), compliance and corporate restructuring services, and applied research to enterprises, investors, and public institutions. The offering is anchored by the proprietary ESG Ability Score© methodology and the Osservatorio ESG-ABILITY research platform developed with Sapienza Università di Roma, plus specialized models for tourism ecological footprint measurement and public healthcare ESG integration.

Product overview

Ermes is a university startup from Sapienza University of Rome offering a portfolio of ESG-focused consulting and research services. The core product is the ESG Ability Score©, a proprietary two-step assessment methodology for measuring and improving ESG readiness. This is supported by the Osservatorio ESG-ABILITY research platform developed in collaboration with Sapienza's Department of Management, which conducts annual ESG studies and conferences. The service lineup includes Engagement & Governance, Enterprise Risk Management & Corporate Evaluation, ESG & Sustainability Measurement, and Compliance & Business Restructuring services, complemented by applied R&D and business consulting. The company operates as a Benefit Corporation (Società Benefit) targeting enterprises, investors, and institutions seeking to improve organizational efficiency and sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ESG Ability Score©: Proprietary ESG assessment methodology that measures the ESG ability level of enterprises and translates it into operational priorities, measurable KPIs, and strategic choices.
• Osservatorio ESG-Ability

Products and services

• ESG Ability Score© A proprietary ESG assessment methodology that measures a company's ESG readiness level and translates it into operational priorities, measurable KPIs, and strategic decisions. The two-step process includes an online ESG Awareness questionnaire and an Advanced Assessment structured analysis of policies, practices, and results across environmental, social, and governance areas, producing a maturity map, gap analysis, personalized report, external readiness checklist (EcoVadis, OpenES), and a 90-day quick-wins operational roadmap. Targeted at enterprises seeking structured ESG improvement.
• Osservatorio ESG-ABILITY A research observatory created in collaboration with Sapienza Università di Roma's Department of Management for the study and analysis of ESG practices in public and private companies. Uses a proprietary advanced model to identify KPIs suited to each business reality and offers practical tools to improve economic, environmental, and governance sustainability performance. Includes annual conferences and seminars on ESG topics.
• Engagement & Governance Consulting services supporting shareholder and stakeholder engagement on ESG topics through tools such as collective engagement and materiality matrix creation, promoting responsible social and environmental culture. Targeted at enterprises and investors.
• Enterprise Risk Management & Corporate Evaluation Advanced solutions for mapping, evaluating, and managing business risks through custom Enterprise Risk Management models. Includes business valuation, investment project evaluation, and improvement plans for both crisis and growth situations. Targeted at enterprises and investors.
• ESG & Misurazione della Sostenibilità Consulting services guiding companies toward sustainable business models aligned with the European taxonomy. Includes sustainability certifications, impact measurement, sustainability reporting aligned with CSRD/ESRS, and ESG benchmarking. Targeted at enterprises and institutions.
• Compliance & Ristrutturazione Aziendale Consulting for corporate restructuring processes and regulatory compliance management, supporting companies in developing solid and resilient organizational structures. Includes anti-money laundering risk prevention models under D. Lgs. n. 231/2007, organizational models under D. Lgs. n. 231/2001 with supervisory body support, and crisis planning.
• Ricerca e Sviluppo (Applied Research) Applied research services in ESG and business management, producing scientific publications and specialized reports. Develops innovative models for risk-return analysis, cost of capital, and new valuation parameters. Includes commissioned studies such as 'ESG Strategy e ESG Pay' with Frontis Governance analyzing FTSE MIB companies.
• Consulenza Aziendale (Business Consulting) Business consulting services for sustainability, corporate governance, turnaround, growth strategies, risk management, M&A valuations, industrial plans for crisis or expansion, IPO advisoring, project financing, and process optimization and CRM. Targeted at enterprises.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ENIT SpA – Agenzia Nazionale del TurismoflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2025ERMES Srl entered a strategic collaboration with ENIT – the Italian National Tourism Agency – to develop an innovative model for measuring the ecological footprint of tourists in Italian destinations. The project integrates destination offering capacity, tourist behavior analysis, and post-experience feedback, aiming to create a scientifically rigorous tool replicable on a national scale to support sustainable tourism policy. The model was presented at BIT 2026 – Borsa Internazionale del Turismo.
• ASL CasertacoreOthersERMES Srl completed a high-impact project supporting ASL Caserta in the systematic integration of ESG criteria into the healthcare institution's management processes. The engagement included staff training, ESG KPI design and validation (55 indicators), pilot testing, and results reporting, forming the foundation for a future sustainability balance sheet.
• ASL SalernocoreOthersErmes SRL partnered with ASL Salerno for a multi-phase ESG integration project in the public healthcare sector. Phase 1 covered sustainability training for administrative and clinical staff including the One Health model and ESG KPI co-design. Phase 2 involved analysis of existing policies and practices. Phase 3 includes ESG surveys across hospitals and health districts to map maturity levels.
• ASL Napoli 3 SudcoreOthersFollowing the ASL Caserta and ASL Salerno engagements, ERMES extended its ESG framework for public healthcare institutions to ASL Napoli 3 Sud, further demonstrating adoption of its healthcare ESG model within the Italian public health system.
• SMS S.p.A. Società BenefitminorOthersERMES supported SMS S.p.A. Società Benefit in the preparation of its Sustainability Balance Sheet (Bilancio di Sostenibilità), including ESG assessment, KPI mapping, and objective-setting aligned with CSRD and ESRS European standards.
• G.R.A.L.E. RESEARCH AND CONSULTING S.R.L.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerERMES collaborates with G.R.A.L.E. Research and Consulting S.r.l. in the area of compliance and corporate restructuring. Specifically, G.R.A.L.E. partners with ERMES for anti-money laundering risk prevention models (D. Lgs. n. 231/2007) and support for Supervisory Bodies under D. Lgs. n. 231/2001, including the creation and implementation of organizational, management, and control models.
• Sapienza Università di Roma – Dipartimento di ManagementflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerErmes was founded as an innovative university startup within Sapienza Università di Roma. The company maintains a deep ongoing collaboration with the university's Department of Management, jointly operating the Osservatorio ESG-Ability. The partnership provides Ermes with academic credibility, research output, and access to faculty expertise, while the university benefits from applied research outcomes and real-world case studies.
• Confindustria CampaniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromoter of the Premio Capitale Umano at the Borsa Mediterranea della Formazione e del Lavoro, Confindustria Campania partnered with Ermes' Osservatorio ESG Ability for scientific evaluation of HR policies in ESG terms.
• Fondazione Super SudminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-promoter of the Premio Capitale Umano, Fondazione Super Sud partnered with Ermes' Osservatorio ESG Ability to provide scientific evaluation methodology for human capital and sustainability awards.
• Consorzio A.S.I. di SalernominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromoter of the ASI Salerno Awards, the Consorzio A.S.I. di Salerno engaged Ermes' Osservatorio ESG Ability as scientific partner to conduct the ESG survey component of the awards program, applying Ermes' proprietary ESG measurement model to participating companies.
• Frontis GovernanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerERMES collaborated with Frontis Governance on the research report 'ESG Strategy e ESG Pay: allineamento o disallineamento?' analyzing the alignment between CEO remuneration policies and sustainability strategies of FTSE MIB listed companies for the year 2024.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ALTIS - Alta Scuola Impresa e Società (Università Cattolica): Università Cattolica's school for sustainability and impact, providing applied research, executive education, and ESG advisory. Directly comparable as a university-anchored Italian ESG research and consulting platform with similar academic-spinoff DNA.
• Avanzi Sostenibilità: Italian sustainability and ESG consulting firm offering strategic advisory, reporting, and stakeholder engagement services to enterprises and public institutions. Closely comparable as a similarly sized Italian ESG advisory targeting the same CSRD-driven market.
• 4Sustainability: Italian sustainability advisory firm providing ESG strategy, non-financial reporting, and materiality analysis to listed and unlisted companies. Comparable as a domestic peer offering CSRD-aligned advisory and sustainability balance sheet services.
• Sustainability-lab: Italian boutique sustainability consultancy providing ESG advisory, training, and reporting services to corporates and financial institutions. Comparable as a similarly sized domestic peer operating in the same ESG advisory niche.
• RINA Consulting: Italian-headquartered certification and consulting firm providing sustainability advisory, ESG reporting, and management consulting services. Comparable as a domestic peer offering overlapping ESG assessment, certification, and corporate sustainability services.

Regional players

• Fondazione Sodalitas: Italian foundation promoting corporate sustainability and ESG practices, offering programs, research, and advisory for Italian enterprises. Comparable as an Italian-focused ESG thought leadership and engagement platform with overlapping enterprise and institutional audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte Italy (Sustainability & Climate): Big Four firm with a strong Italian sustainability and climate practice providing ESG strategy, non-financial assurance, and CSRD advisory. Comparable as a broad incumbent targeting the same CSRD-driven enterprise demand.
• KPMG Italy (Sustainability Services): Big Four firm offering a dedicated Italian sustainability practice covering ESG reporting (CSRD/ESRS), climate strategy, and governance advisory. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same Italian enterprise ESG mandate pool with deeper resources.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): Global environmental and sustainability consulting firm providing ESG advisory, impact assessment, and sustainability strategy across multiple sectors. Comparable as a broader incumbent operating in Ermes' sustainability/ESG space with significantly greater scale and geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Sphera: ESG-focused software and consulting firm offering sustainability performance management, ESG data, and reporting tools. Comparable as an emerging player offering scalable ESG data/methodology platforms that could substitute for parts of Ermes' advisory offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ermes-sapienza

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Ermes