Das NETTZ

What Das NETTZ does

Das NETTZ (Das NETTZ gGmbH) is a Berlin-based non-profit organization that serves as Germany's central Vernetzungsstelle (networking hub) against hate speech online. Founded as a legal entity on May 31, 2022 and spun off from betterplace lab gGmbH on August 1, 2022, the organization is a wholly-owned subsidiary of gut.org gAG and operates under the leadership of co-managing directors Nadine Brömme and Hanna Gleiß. Its purpose is to increase the visibility and effectiveness of civil society actors working against online hate by facilitating coordination, knowledge transfer, and cross-sector collaboration between civil society organizations, public institutions, academia, and technology companies.

Das NETTZ's service portfolio is structured around community-building rather than proprietary technology. Core offerings include the Akteur*innen-Datenbank (an online directory of organizations and experts filterable by geography, phase, and thematic area), annual Community Events (flagship in-person gatherings with 100–170+ participants since 2016, with the 10th anniversary event held June 11, 2026), NETTZ.Gespräche (digital expert discussions), a Magazin/blog, a newsletter (continuous publication since 2018), podcasts, workshops under "Gemeinsam für ein nettes Netz," and a free publication library including the "Machine Against the Rage" quarterly trend report produced by the BAG research unit. Collaborative sub-brands include the Kompetenznetzwerk gegen Hass im Netz (launched December 2021 with HateAid, jugendschutz.net, and Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen), the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft (BAG) "Gegen Hass im Netz" (launched June 2022), and since 2025 the toneshift alliance.

The organization is funded primarily through project-based grants under BMFSFJ's "Demokratie leben!" federal program, the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb), and major German foundations (Robert Bosch Stiftung, Stiftung Mercator, Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, Reset Tech). Project funding consistently represents over 90% of total revenue. Disclosed revenue was €560,493 (2022), €1,291,513 (2023), €1,436,434 (2024), and €934,123 provisional (2025), with the 2025 decline driven by a sector-wide government budget freeze. Headcount is 15 (5 full-time, 7 part-time, 2 working students, 1 Bundesfreiwillige) as of February 2026. All services are provided free of charge to civil society actors, affected individuals, and the general public.

Name

Das NETTZ

Legal name

Das NETTZ gGmbH

Website

https://das-nettz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Das NETTZ is a Berlin-based non-profit networking hub that coordinates Germany's civil society response to online hate speech, connecting 100+ organizations, public institutions, and researchers via an actor database, annual Community Events, publications, and the toneshift alliance. Founded 2022 as a gut.org gAG subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project Funding (Projektförderung): The dominant revenue stream. Das NETTZ receives project-based funding from government bodies and foundations as part of the 'Demokratie leben!' federal program and other initiatives. Funding supports networking coordination, the Kompetenznetzwerk, the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft (BAG) against hate speech, scientific monitoring, and civil society accompaniment.
2. Donations (Spenden): Individual and organizational donations received via a betterplace.org-integrated online donation form. Donation campaign 'Hass hasst das' (Hate hates this) encourages public support. Donations are a minor but growing revenue component.
3. Economic Business Operations (Wirtschaftlicher Geschäftsbetrieb): Revenue generated from fee-for-service activities, workshops, speaking engagements, and educational services delivered to external clients and partners. Varies year to year depending on project demand.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Das NETTZ operates as a Vernetzungsstelle (networking hub) that connects civil society initiatives, activists, public institutions, and researchers working against hate speech online. It increases the visibility and effectiveness of these actors through coordination, an actors database, an annual Community Event, NETTZ.Gespräche digital discussions, publications, workshops, and a funding programme. The organization also coordinates the Kompetenznetzwerk gegen Hass im Netz and the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft (BAG) 'Gegen Hass im Netz'.

Product overview

Das NETTZ (Das NETTZ gGmbH) is a non-profit networking and coordination organization — not a technology product company — serving as the central Vernetzungsstelle (networking hub) against hate speech in Germany. Its portfolio is a services-and-community platform comprising: an Akteur*innen-Datenbank (actors database) for listing and discovering organizations and experts; annual Community Events as its flagship convening format; NETTZ.Gespräche as an interactive expert discussion series; a Magazin (online magazine/blog) with articles and event reports; Publikationen (publications) including trend reports and position papers; a Förderprogramm (funding programme) supporting civil society projects; Workshops on counter-speech and digital civic courage; a Newsletter; Podcasts; and collaborative sub-brands including the Kompetenznetzwerk gegen Hass im Netz and the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft (BAG) 'Gegen Hass im Netz'. The organization does not offer a commercial software product or public API.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Akteur*innen-Datenbank (Actors Database)

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2017, the only dedicated networking hub (Vernetzungsstelle) against hate speech in Germany
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• toneshift – Netzwerk gegen Hass im Netz und DesinformationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Since 2025, Das NETTZ is part of toneshift — an alliance against hate online and disinformation. Alongside Das NETTZ, the alliance includes HateAid, Institut für Demokratie und Zivilgesellschaft (IDZ), Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen, and Gesellschaft für Medienpädagogik und Kommunikationskultur (GMK). The alliance serves as the central point of contact for comprehensive information, support, and counseling against online hate, particularly for young people. The alliance combines counseling, research, media competence, and networking expertise.
• HateAid gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHateAid is a core partner in both the Kompetenznetzwerk against hate speech (launched December 2021) and the toneshift alliance. HateAid provides specialized counseling and support for individuals affected by online hate. Das NETTZ coordinates the network and provides visibility to HateAid's services. The organizations co-published statements on the need for counseling centers and have collaborated on events including a discussion with Frances Haugen.
• Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Kompetenznetzwerk against hate speech (since December 2021) and the toneshift alliance. The organization focuses on how media coverage influences online hate and how hate migrates across platforms. Active collaborator on NETTZ events, NETTZ.Gespräche, and the Community Event.
• jugendschutz.netcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Kompetenznetzwerk against hate speech (since December 2021). jugendschutz.net focuses on automated procedures for detecting and evaluating online content, and contributes publications (e.g., the Antifeminismus online report). Collaborates with Das NETTZ on events and research.
• Institut für Demokratie und Zivilgesellschaft (IDZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the toneshift alliance. The IDZ contributes research expertise on democracy and civil society to the alliance's comprehensive support offerings.
• Gesellschaft für Medienpädagogik und Kommunikationskultur (GMK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the toneshift alliance. GMK brings media education and communication expertise to the alliance, supporting the network's goals around media literacy and hate speech prevention.
• betterplace lab gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDas NETTZ operated as a project of betterplace lab from 2017 to 2022. betterplace lab is a sister nonprofit in the gut.org family, sharing the same mission of using digital tools for social good. Das NETTZ spun off as an independent gGmbH on 1 August 2022, but maintains a close collaborative relationship. The organizations co-host the re:publica booth and share expertise on civil society coordination.
• gut.org gAG (parent/sister organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnergut.org gAG is the parent organization of betterplace.org (the donation platform) and the shareholder of Das NETTZ gGmbH (100% subsidiary). The governance structure includes a Supervisory Board (Vorstand): Björn Lampe, Timo Kladny, Felix Oldenburg. The family of organizations shares infrastructure, values, and a common mission around digital civic engagement.
• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft (BAG) 'Gegen Hass im Netz'coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA key project initiated by Das NETTZ, officially launched 30 June 2022. The BAG is a working group combining civil society practice with academic research. It features a Forschungsstelle (research unit) that conducts KI-based monitoring of online hate networks, themes, and narratives, publishing the quarterly 'Machine Against the Rage' trend report. The BAG has a Civil Society Forum (zivilgesellschaftliches Forum) with representatives from ~20 organizations, and a Scientific Advisory Board.
• Stiftung Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft (EVZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Das NETTZ on the 'Wirksam Widersprechen' (Effective Counter-Speech) joint project examining effective strategies against historical revisionist content online. The project combined Das NETTZ's hate speech expertise with EVZ's focus on historical-political education.
• Amadeu Antonio StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive collaborator in the civil society ecosystem against hate. The foundation and Das NETTZ co-signed multiple statements (e.g., on the need for counseling centers, the Offener Brief on civil society funding). The foundation participates in Community Events and the broader ecosystem.
• YouTube / GoogleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDas NETTZ hosted a NETTZ.Gespräch (unplugged) with Leslie Miller, Vice President of Political Communication and Strategy at YouTube, on topics of digital participation and protection from violence and disinformation. The event represented a direct dialogue between civil society and a major technology platform.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• JUUUPORT e.V. German peer-counseling platform by young people for young people facing online issues. Listed as a Das NETTZ contact and listed in its actor database; both organizations serve the affected-individual segment with complementary support offerings.
• Counter Extremism Project (CEP): Transatlantic policy organization combating extremist ideologies online. Listed as a Das NETTZ contact and operates in adjacent space of civil society responses to online radicalization and hate.
• betterplace lab gGmbH: Sister non-profit in the gut.org family that incubated Das NETTZ from 2017 to 2022. Continues to share digital civic engagement expertise, co-host re:publica presence, and collaborate on civil society tech topics.

Broad incumbents

• Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD): International counter-extremism and disinformation think tank active across Europe, including Germany. Operates at broader geographic and thematic scale than Das NETTZ but addresses overlapping hate speech, democracy, and platform-policy challenges.
• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb): Federal Agency for Civic Education, a major funder of Das NETTZ (>10% of budget) since April 2022. Operates the broader 'Demokratie im Netz' funding program that Das NETTZ coordinates the scientific monitoring for, making it both a funder and a programmatic counterpart.

Direct peers

• jugendschutz.net: Federal youth protection body analyzing harmful online content, including antifeminism and hate speech. Core partner in the Kompetenznetzwerk since 2021 and co-author of publications with Das NETTZ, serving the same civil society ecosystem.
• Gesellschaft für Medienpädagogik und Kommunikationskultur (GMK): German media education association joining toneshift in 2025 alongside Das NETTZ. Brings media literacy expertise to the alliance, addressing overlapping audiences and shared concerns around online discourse culture.
• HateAid gGmbH: Specialized German NGO providing counseling and legal support to victims of online hate. Co-coordinates the Kompetenznetzwerk and is a core toneshift alliance partner with Das NETTZ, sharing overlapping mission, funder base, and policy engagement.
• Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen: German media association promoting diversity in journalism and analyzing how media coverage drives online hate. Core Kompetenznetzwerk and toneshift partner with Das NETTZ, collaborating on events and research.
• Amadeu Antonio Stiftung: German foundation funding civil society initiatives against right-wing extremism, antisemitism, and antigypsyism. Active collaborator with Das NETTZ, co-signing policy statements and participating in Community Events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/das_nettz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/das-nettz-ggmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/das_nettz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Das NETTZ