Youse

What Youse does

YOUSE GmbH is a Berlin-based human-centered innovation and transformation consultancy founded in 2009 by Dr. Sebastian Glende. The firm sells professional services — not software products — across four service lines: User Experience Research, Change & Transformation Management, Technology Ethics (built on the proprietary ELSA framework and the MEESTAR model), and Transformation & Participation. Its interdisciplinary team of approximately 13–15 professionals spans psychology, engineering, design, and futures research, supporting enterprise, government, and applied-research clients across Germany.

The firm combines billable consulting engagements with publicly funded research projects. Commercial clients include Siemens (Energy and AG), Miele, Sartorius, Deutsche Presse Agentur, Berliner Sparkasse, and Aucoteam; government and research partners include the Robert Koch-Institut, DFKI, Fraunhofer, DLR, TU Berlin, and several German federal ministries (BMBF, BMWK, BMFSFJ). Funded research outputs span VR surgical training (Dynamic Hips), AI-assisted rare-disease diagnosis (SEPE), immersive cultural VR (SocialStage-VR), socially assistive robotics (MORPHIA), and organizational change tools (EvoFrame). These projects double as marketing assets and feed the firm's publication record in IEEE, JMIR, Frontiers in Virtual Reality, and International Journal of Social Robotics.

Commercially, YOUSE operates a project-based, B2B consulting model with undisclosed, contact-based pricing. Distribution is direct enterprise sales within Germany; marketing relies on content (website case studies, academic publications) and organic social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, podcast), with no disclosed paid acquisition. The firm is privately held, founder-led, has no external institutional investors, and has not raised funding rounds or completed M&A. Its revenue model is therefore professional services anchored by long-tail enterprise relationships and a recurring stream of federal research funding rather than a software-subscription business.

Name

Youse

Legal name

YOUSE GmbH

Website

https://youse.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YOUSE is a Berlin-based human-centered innovation consultancy providing UX research, change management, technology ethics, and participation services to enterprise, government, and research clients across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

UX and Innovation Consulting Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Enterprise Application UX, Portals & Low-Code Extensions (BPAEAGAM)

Keywords

• UX research services
• Change management consulting
• Technology ethics assessment
• Innovation consulting
• Human-centered design

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services Revenue: YOUSE generates revenue through project-based consulting engagements focused on human-centered innovation, UX research, change management, technology ethics, and transformation services. Projects are typically commissioned by enterprise clients, research institutions, and government bodies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Youse (YOUSE GmbH) is a Berlin-based human-centered innovation and transformation consulting agency. It sells UX research, change and transformation management, technology ethics assessment (ELSA/MEESTAR), and participation/transformation services to enterprise, research, and government clients, with a particular focus on healthcare, Industry 5.0, and emerging technologies (XR, AI, robotics).

Product overview

Youse is a human-centered innovation and transformation consulting company founded in Berlin in 2009, not a traditional software product company. Their offering consists of UX research and consulting services, primarily: User Experience Research (status quo analysis, context analysis, acceptance analysis, participatory ideation, usability testing), Change & Transformations Management, Technology Ethics (ELSA analysis using MEESTAR model), and Transformation & Participation services. Additionally, Youse participates as a research partner in publicly funded research projects including Dynamic Hips (haptic VR surgical training), SEPE (AI-assisted rare disease diagnosis), SocialStage-VR (immersive virtual theater), MORPHIA (robotic communication for elderly care), OrthoMiniGames (gamified orthopedic training), ProFit MRO 2.0 (digital twin for manufacturing), EvoFrame (organizational change tools), and Crisis Utopias (design fiction for crisis preparedness). Their work spans healthcare, Industry 5.0, and emerging technologies including XR, robotics, and AI.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• User Experience Research Comprehensive UX research services including status quo analysis, context analysis, acceptance analysis, participatory ideation, and usability testing, designed to surface user needs, expectations, values, and life realities for product and service development. Sold to organizations developing new products, services, or digital platforms.
• Technikethik (Technology Ethics) ELSA-based technology ethics evaluation services using the self-developed MEESTAR model to examine ethical, legal, and social aspects of technology development, including stakeholder interests and value conflicts. Sold to organizations developing or deploying new technologies that require ethical assessment.
• Change- & Transformationsmanagement Change management consulting including needs analysis, foresight, acceptance analysis, and user-centered change approaches that use participatory methods to help organizations navigate transformation processes. Sold to enterprises undergoing organizational or digital transformation.
• Transformation & Partizipation (Transformation & Participation) Services for societal transformation including values work, futures design, participatory workshops, and technology ethics to involve diverse stakeholder groups in transformation processes. Sold to government agencies, municipalities, and organizations facilitating societal change and citizen participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• VR training simulators validated with 60+ participants for surgical skills training
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Robert Koch-Institut (RKI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on public health research projects including nationwide quantitative studies on HPV vaccination reminder systems and optimization of the STIKO@rki mobile application.
• Siemens EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership within ProFit MRO 2.0 research project for digital transformation of maintenance, repair and overhaul processes using digital twins and worker assistance systems.
• Siemens AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EvoFrame project developing systemic organizational change methodology using system landscape mapping.
• SartoriuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in TeamIn project developing concepts for digital leadership and team interaction in digital transformation.
• AucoteamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in TeamIn project for digital leadership and team interaction concepts.
• Werner-von-Siemens Centre for Industry and Science (WvSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Unboxing Technikethik' technology ethics workshop series, quarterly events discussing ethical implications of technology trends with citizens.
• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding and research partnership for GeMeKI project on human-centered AI development in production and Dynamic Hips VR surgical training project.
• Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partnership for OrthoMiniGames project developing gamified orthopedic training systems.
• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) - WissenschaftsjahrminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Wünsche an Morgen' citizen participation project collecting wishes for future living.
• Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding for Youth Parliament Hennstedt project for participatory municipal youth participation.
• Technisches Innovationsmanagement des rbbminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on ResKriVer project developing crisis utopias as interactive design fiction exhibition.
• Deutsche Presse Agentur (dpa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUser research and requirements analysis for new digital platform development including O-Ton portal and photo editorial system.
• Miele & Cie. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-design partner in GeMeKI project for AI-based quality control integration in manual assembly production.
• Berlin RealitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-moderation partner for 'Unboxing Technikethik' technology ethics workshop series.
• PTKA (Projektträger Karlsruhe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject management agency for EvoFrame research projects.
• IBOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for EvoFrame adapted future scenarios workshop development.
• pi4minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for EvoFrame adapted future scenarios workshop development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fjord (Accenture Song): Global design and innovation consultancy (part of Accenture Song) specializing in service design and human-centered transformation. Overlaps with Youse's UX research and change management offerings at global scale.
• IDEO: Globally recognized design and innovation consultancy offering human-centered design, UX research, and transformation services. Closest large-scale analog to Youse's model but operating at much greater scale and geographic reach.
• Designit: Global design consultancy (part of Wipro) delivering UX research, service design, and innovation strategy. Comparable methodology-based consulting model serving enterprise clients across industries.
• frog design: Design and innovation consultancy (part of Capgemini Invent) specializing in human-centered design, product strategy, and transformation. Direct conceptual peer for UX research and emerging technology adoption work.

Direct peers

• Ustwo: Digital product studio combining UX research, design, and engineering for enterprise and consumer clients. Comparable methodology-led boutique model with strong thought leadership credentials.
• SinnerSchrader (Accenture Song): German digital agency specializing in UX, digital product development, and transformation — now part of Accenture Song. Closest German peer in scale and heritage to Youse, serving similar DACH enterprise clients.
• Nielsen Norman Group: UX research and training firm offering usability testing, UX research services, and practitioner education. Comparable UX-research-first service model, though more training-and-content oriented than transformation consulting.
• IXDS (Porsche Digital): Berlin-based service design consultancy now part of Porsche Digital, focused on human-centered innovation and digital transformation. Most direct German peer by location, methodology, and industry verticals served.
• HYPE Innovation: Innovation management consultancy providing innovation strategy, technology scouting, and transformation services to enterprise clients. Comparable methodology-led, project-based engagement model.
• Dark Horse Innovation: German innovation consultancy specializing in corporate innovation, transformation, and new business building. Comparable DACH market focus and methodology-driven transformation engagements.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/youse
• Instagraminstagram.com/youse_gmbh
• Xx.com/youse_gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Youse