Squarewise
Squarewise is a Dutch transition consultancy that helps public-sector and societal organizations accelerate sustainable transitions in the built environment and agriculture, using co-creation, productized tools (Wijkkompas, DoeTank), and ministry-funded programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Squarewise does
Squarewise is a Dutch transition consultancy (transitiebureau) headquartered in Amsterdam with an additional office in Arnhem, operating in the Netherlands since approximately 2000. The firm helps public-sector and societal organizations accelerate sustainable transitions, with primary focus on the built environment (energy transition, neighborhood-level decarbonization) and a secondary practice in agricultural transition. Squarewise works through co-creation processes with municipalities, regional authorities, and sector coalitions, embedding multi-disciplinary 'transitiemakers' drawn from government, energy, and civil-society backgrounds into client programs.
The firm's core offerings combine traditional advisory with productized methodologies and tools. Wijkkompas is a neighborhood energy planning instrument co-developed with Stroomversnelling; DoeTank Publieke Ontzorging is a public-sector unburdening program and tool co-developed with the Ministry of Interior (BZK) and now active in 10+ municipalities. Additional channels include workshops (priced around €675 per participant) and thought-leadership content such as the 'Operatie Eerlijke Energietransitie' podcast.
Squarewise generates revenue primarily through project-based fees and partnership-funded programs with Dutch ministries (BZK, RVO), provinces (Gelderland), metropolitan regions (Metropoolregio Amsterdam), and coalitions (Stroomversnelling, Energy Innovation NL). In early 2021 the firm transitioned to a steward-ownership, self-managing structure, eliminating external shareholders and directors and locking the enterprise to its mission. Headcount sits in the 11–50 band, and there is no disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or revenue figure.
Squarewise firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Squarewise
- Legal name
- Squarewise
- Website
- https://squarewise.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Squarewise is a Dutch transition consultancy that helps public-sector and societal organizations accelerate sustainable transitions in the built environment and agriculture, using co-creation, productized tools (Wijkkompas, DoeTank), and ministry-funded programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Squarewise industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainability and Transition Consulting
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Change Management & Transformation Consulting (BPAHAGAC), Democratic Governance & Public Administration Reform (BPADAGAJ), Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH), Governance, Public Financial Management & Service Delivery Reform (BPADAEAD)
Keywords
Where Squarewise is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Squarewise business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Consulting and Advisory Services: Squarewise generates revenue through consulting engagements with government organizations, municipalities, provinces, and ministries. As a steward-owned company, profits are reinvested exclusively into the company's mission rather than distributed to shareholders.
- Workshops and Training: The company conducts workshops and training programs for government professionals on topics like transformative government, transition skills, and agricultural transitions. Example: Workshop series 'Vooruit in het landelijk gebied' priced at €675 per person ex. VAT.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One-time | Workshop: 'Vooruit in het landelijk gebied' for government officials |
| Freemium | Monthly | Newsletter subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Squarewise product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Squarewise is a Dutch transition bureau founded in 2000 that advises and supports public-sector organizations on sustainability and societal transitions. The firm offers consulting engagements, workshops, training programs, and structured process tools to municipalities, provinces, ministries, and other organizations in the Netherlands. Delivery is grounded in two decades of transition methodology and facilitator-led engagements, with the firm operating from offices in Amsterdam and Arnhem.
Product overview
Squarewise operates as a transition consultancy offering a portfolio of consulting services, training programs, process tools, and knowledge-sharing products. Their core offering encompasses strategic consulting for sustainable transitions in energy, circular construction, food/agriculture, and new values. Key products include Wijkkompas (a process tool for gas-free neighborhoods), the DoeTank Publieke Ontzorging (municipality support tool for homeowner sustainability), and training workshops like 'Transformatieve Overheid' and 'Vooruit in het Landelijk Gebied.' They also produce content including the 'Operatie Eerlijke Energietransitie' podcast series and a monthly newsletter 'Grip op Transities.' Agricultural transition tools include BoerenBanner, BoerenBoom, BoerenPlan, and BoerenCampagne. The company also organizes co-creation sessions on topics like energy justice.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Transition Consulting Engagements Advisory engagements that help Dutch municipalities, provinces, ministries, and other organizations design, structure, and execute sustainability and societal transition programs. The service is aimed at public-sector clients needing external, impartial transition advice and facilitation support.
- Workshops and Training Programs Facilitator-led workshops and training programs that build internal capability within client organizations for sustainability and societal transitions. The offering is targeted at Dutch public-sector staff and program teams needing structured learning and stakeholder process support.
- Transition Process Tools Structured process instruments developed and applied by Squarewise to support the operationalization of sustainability and societal transitions within client organizations. The tools are deployed as part of consulting and facilitation engagements rather than sold as standalone software.
Quantifiable outcome
- 277 residents can now proceed with roof decarbonization after collective design process in Leusden
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Squarewise
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Squarewise technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Squarewise partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- RVO (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland)coreSquarewise works on behalf of RVO and Energy Innovation NL on energy justice, developing storylines and solution directions to firmly place energy justice on the agenda. This involves translating energy justice into recognizable, daily considerations and developing action perspectives for policymakers.
- StroomversnellingcoreStroomversnelling is an association of builders, suppliers, housing corporations, municipalities, financiers, grid operators and others focused on the energy transition of the built environment in the Netherlands. Squarewise supports development of Wijkkompas and programs like 'Wijken met Nieuwe Energie'.
- HuisfluisteraarminorPartner in the DoeTank Publieke Ontzorging consortium, working together on public support for homeowner decarbonization.
- Regionaal EnergieloketminorPartner in the DoeTank Publieke Ontzorging consortium, contributing to public support programs for energy transition.
- Regionale Ontwikkelmaatschappij Utrecht (ROM Utrecht)minorPartner in the DoeTank Publieke Ontzorging consortium, contributing to regional development aspects of public support for decarbonization.
- Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU Eindhoven)minorAcademic partner in the DoeTank Publieke Ontzorging consortium, contributing research and evaluation expertise.
- Energy Innovation NL (Topsector Energie)coreSquarewise works with Energy Innovation NL on energy justice, translating abstract concepts into practical daily considerations for policymakers and administrators at local and regional levels.
- Natuur en Milieu GelderlandminorCollaborates with Squarewise on organizing events for the agricultural transition, including minisymposia on 'Movement in the rural area'.
- Rik Braams (Transformatieve Overheid)corePolitical scientist and transition scholar whose work on 'Transformatieve Overheid' (Transformative Government) forms a core part of Squarewise's methodology. Regular collaboration on workshops and research.
- Ministerie van BZK (Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations)corePrimary funder of the DoeTank Publieke Ontzorging program, with whom Squarewise collaborates on public support structures for homeowner decarbonization.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Squarewise competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Huisfluisteraar: Dutch consultancy specializing in homeowner engagement and sustainable housing retrofits. Listed as a core partner in Squarewise's DoeTank Publieke Ontzorging consortium; directly comparable niche focus on Dutch residential decarbonization with municipalities.
- Circle Economy: Amsterdam-based impact organization providing circular economy advisory, data, and tooling to governments and corporates. Comparable to Squarewise as a Dutch-headquartered circular transition advisory serving public-sector clients with standardized tools and frameworks.
- Metabolic: Amsterdam-based consultancy advising governments and industry on circular economy, climate, and sustainability transitions. Directly comparable to Squarewise in offering transition advisory to Dutch public-sector clients with a similar mission-driven ethos and circular economy focus.
- NewForesight: Dutch strategy consultancy specializing in sustainable transitions and circular economy for corporates and governments. Comparable to Squarewise in mission, methodology (transition management), and Dutch public/private client base, with similar team sizes.
- DRIFT (Dutch Research Institute For Transitions): Dutch academic-practice hybrid specializing in transition studies and governance, based at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Highly comparable to Squarewise: both apply reflexive monitoring, transition methodology, and engage Dutch ministries and municipalities on societal transitions. Squarewise team member Dieke Schutjens co-developed the 'Ambtelijke Ruimte Bouwen' report with DRIFT, evidencing direct methodological overlap.
Broad incumbents
- KPMG Sustainability Services (Netherlands): Global Big Four firm with a sizable Netherlands sustainability and climate practice advising Dutch ministries and large corporates on energy transition, ESG, and circular economy. Increasingly competes with Squarewise for the same Dutch public-sector transition mandates, but with substantially deeper resources.
- Twynstra Gudde: Large Dutch management and organizational consultancy with significant public-sector practice. Comparable to Squarewise in advising Dutch ministries, provinces, and municipalities on organizational change, strategy, and transition challenges, but at much greater scale and broader scope.
- Berenschot: Major Dutch consultancy with a longstanding public-sector and sustainability practice. Comparable to Squarewise as a Dutch consultancy serving ministries and municipalities on governance, policy, and transition challenges, though with a vastly larger bench and broader service portfolio.
- Stroomversnelling: Dutch sector association and program organization for energy transition in the built environment, with a broad coalition of builders, housing corporations, municipalities, and grid operators. Comparable to Squarewise in its built-environment transition focus and Dutch government relationships, but with a much broader mandate and association structure.
Others
- Topsector Energie / Energy Innovation NL: Dutch public-private partnership and innovation program for the energy sector, with which Squarewise has a core strategic partnership on energy justice. Adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor; Squarewise operates as a delivery partner on Topsector Energie programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Squarewise social profiles
Digital presenceSquarewise financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Squarewise leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Squarewise funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Squarewise 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 Squarewise
What does Squarewise do?
Squarewise is a Dutch transition bureau founded in 2000 that advises and supports public-sector organizations on sustainability and societal transitions. The firm offers consulting engagements, workshops, training programs, and structured process tools to municipalities, provinces, ministries, and other organizations in the Netherlands. Delivery is grounded in two decades of transition methodology and facilitator-led engagements, with the firm operating from offices in Amsterdam and Arnhem.
Is Squarewise a public or private company?
Squarewise is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Squarewise founded?
Squarewise was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Squarewise based?
Squarewise is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Squarewise make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Consulting and Advisory Services are the primary driver. The others are workshops and Training.
Who are Squarewise's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Huisfluisteraar, Circle Economy, Metabolic, NewForesight and DRIFT (Dutch Research Institute For Transitions). Broad incumbents are KPMG Sustainability Services (Netherlands), Twynstra Gudde, Berenschot and Stroomversnelling. Topsector Energie / Energy Innovation NL is listed as an others.
Does Squarewise have an API?
No public API is recorded for Squarewise.
What industry is Squarewise in?
Squarewise's product category is Sustainability and Transition Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHACAB, Operations & Process Improvement Consulting, with a secondary code of BPAHAGAC, Change Management & Transformation Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54172 and its SIC code is 8742.