Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin
Hacking Gutenberg (p98a) is a Berlin-based nonprofit letterpress workshop producing custom prints, typefaces, and limited-edition books on traditional presses, serving designers, publishers, and corporate clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin does
Hacking Gutenberg (p98a) is an experimental letterpress workshop in Berlin Tiergarten, operated since 2014 by the nonprofit Erik Spiekermann Foundation gGmbH. Its core activity is physical letterpress printing on a 1954 Heidelberg Cylinder and other platen and proof presses, using hot-metal and wood type supplemented by CNC routing, 3D printing, a Glowforge laser, Risograph, and a custom-built direct-to-plate laser that produces polymer plates from digital data without negatives. The workshop holds an extensive physical archive of more than 500 cases of poster type and roughly 450 cases of lead/metal type, functioning as both a production environment and a curated typographic collection.
The business operates multiple revenue streams: hands-on workshops for individuals and corporate teams, custom letterpress and Risograph print jobs for clients, sale of posters, postcards, books, calendars, and paper goods via shop.p98a.com, limited-edition publishing through the sister imprint TOC The Other Collection (in partnership with Suhrkamp Verlag), and a Freunde membership subscription. Notable customers and collaborators include Adobe, EdenSpiekermann, Hering Berlin, Kreuzwerker, and Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum. The workshop combines a nonprofit charitable structure with commercial craft production and is intentionally positioned against the displacement of tactile, manual knowledge by digital and AI-mediated content.
In March 2025 the workshop relocated to a smaller studio next door to its original Camaro-Haus space, retaining the same address, equipment, and team size (reported at 5 employees). It also extends its footprint into open digital type through collaborations such as the AG57 open-source release with Berlin cultural institutions and the HWT-Artz wood type project distributed via P22 Type Foundry.
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin
- Legal name
- Erik Spiekermann Foundation gGmbH
- Website
- https://hackinggutenberg.berlin
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hacking Gutenberg (p98a) is a Berlin-based nonprofit letterpress workshop producing custom prints, typefaces, and limited-edition books on traditional presses, serving designers, publishers, and corporate clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Letterpress Printing Services
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bindery & Finishing Services (Binding, Laminating, Cutting, Folding, Collating) (EDAEAJAE)
Keywords
Where Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Workshop Fees: Hands-on letterpress workshops for individuals and corporate teams, providing introduction to typography and printing techniques
- Membership Subscriptions: Monthly or annual 'Friends' subscriptions at EUR9.80 (individual) or EUR98 (design firms) with benefits including workshop discounts and exclusive editions
- Custom Print Jobs: Bespoke letterpress and Risograph printing services for clients including postcards, business cards, posters, and greeting cards
- Product Sales: Sale of letterpress products including posters, postcards, books, calendars, and paper goods through online shop
- Publishing (TOC Books): Limited edition, signed and numbered books published in partnership with TOC The Other Collection, featuring contemporary literature with sophisticated letterpress printing
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Individual Friend membership at EUR9.80/month or EUR98/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Design firm Friend membership at EUR98/month or EUR980/year |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hacking Gutenberg is an experimental letterpress workshop in Berlin offering custom letterpress and Risograph printing services, hands-on typography workshops for individuals and corporate teams, limited edition book publishing (TOC The Other Collection and Suhrkamp Letterpress Edition), and a Freunde membership program. The workshop combines a 1954 Heidelberg Cylinder press and historic type collection with proprietary direct-to-plate laser technology and CNC-based custom type manufacturing to deliver bespoke printed products, educational experiences, and fine art publishing.
Product overview
Hacking Gutenberg (p98a) is an experimental letterpress workshop in Berlin operating as a non-profit foundation (Erik Spiekermann Foundation gGmbH). The company offers a portfolio of physical and publishing products centered around traditional letterpress printing, including custom printing services (postcards, business cards, posters, bespoke projects), educational workshops, and their own typefaces. Their type collection spans historic and contemporary designs: AG57 (Akzidenz Grotesk 1957 redesign), HWT-Artz, Intermezzo, Banco, Erbar Grotesk, Akzidenz Grotesk, Fanfare, Friedrich-Bauer-Grotesk, Bernhard Fraktur, Reklame Grotesk 'Pallas', Mistral, Shadow Type, and Reporter. The workshop also publishes P98a Paper journal and operates TOC (The Other Collection) for limited edition letterpress books in partnership with Suhrkamp. The Freunde membership program supports the workshop with tiered benefits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TOC The Other Collection: A sister publishing company launched out of P98A in 2020, producing limited edition books combining contemporary typography with letterpress printing techniques.
- P98a Paper
- Suhrkamp Letterpress Edition
Products and services
- Letterpress Printing Services Bespoke letterpress and Risograph printing services producing high-quality postcards, business cards, greeting cards, posters, and custom projects for corporate clients, designers, and individuals. Jobs are quoted per request and delivered via pickup, DHL, Berlin courier, or FedEx.
- Letterpress Workshops Hands-on educational workshops teaching letterpress printing fundamentals, typesetting, and press operation. Offered both as open individual sessions bookable via shop.p98a.com and as private group or corporate team sessions arranged by email inquiry.
- Freunde (Friends) Membership Recurring monthly or annual membership program with two tiers: individual members at EUR9.80/month or EUR98/year, and design firm members at EUR98/month or EUR980/year. Benefits include certificate, permanent 10% shop discount, discounted workshops (e.g., half-price workshop up to EUR98 value for individuals, or an annual free workshop for up to 10 people for firms), and an exclusive annual special edition poster. Membership fees are tax-deductible donations to the Erik Spiekermann Foundation gGmbH.
- P98a Paper Journal An in-house journal published by the workshop featuring stories, opinions, and illustrations from contributors whose work the studio admires, exploring different printing techniques including letterpress, offset, post-digital letterpress, and digital printing.
- TOC The Other Collection Limited Edition Books A sister publishing imprint launched out of p98a in 2020, producing limited edition, signed and numbered books that combine contemporary literature with sophisticated letterpress printing. Distributed through toc.berlin and the p98a shop.
- Suhrkamp Letterpress Edition Limited edition book series produced in collaboration with Suhrkamp Verlag, printed by Daniel Klotz at p98a on the 1954 Heidelberg Cylinder press. The series produces literary works intended to satisfy senses beyond reading.
- Letterpress Printed Products (Shop) Direct sales of letterpress-produced goods — posters, postcards, books, calendars, paper goods, and related merchandise — through the e-commerce storefront shop.p98a.com, with international shipping available.
Quantifiable outcome
- Direct-to-plate process enables efficient digital-to-analog workflow for letterpress printing
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, significant and minor.
- TOC The Other Collection (toc.berlin)corePartnership established in 2020 to produce limited edition books combining contemporary literature with sophisticated letterpress printing. TOC focuses on texts that will form the canon of the future, printed in limited, signed and numbered editions with individual design appropriate to each text. The collaboration bridges digital typography with analog letterpress craftsmanship.
- Suhrkamp VerlagmajorCollaboration to produce the Suhrkamp Letterpress Edition, producing literary works that satisfy senses beyond reading. Daniel Klotz prints books for this edition at p98a on the Heidelberg Cylinder press.
- Erik Spiekermann Foundation gGmbHcoreThe workshop is operated by the Erik Spiekermann Foundation, a nonprofit organization (gGmbH) registered in Berlin (HRB 187813B). The foundation promotes science, research, art, culture, and education, and is eligible to issue donation receipts.
- Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin (SDTB)significantCollaboration in digiS project for digitization of type specimens. Partnered with Kunstbibliothek and Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin to digitize AG57 typeface from lead type and create open-access digital font.
- Kunstbibliothek - Staatliche Museen zu BerlinsignificantPartner in digiS digitization project for type specimen digitization and AG57 typeface creation.
- Staatsbibliothek zu BerlinsignificantPartner in digiS digitization project for type specimen digitization and AG57 typeface creation.
- Hamilton Wood Type and Printing MuseumsignificantManufactured Artz wood type using pantographs based on Erik Spiekermann's digital designs. Located in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.
- P22 Type FoundryminorDigital distribution partner for Artz typeface designed by Erik Spiekermann for Hamilton Wood Type.
- Rainer GerstenbergsignificantType caster in Darmstadt who has cast multiple versions of Akzidenz Grotesk and custom characters (including # and @ symbols) for p98a over seven years, shipping type from Darmstadt to Berlin.
- neue foundry / Alex RothsignificantDeveloped AG57 digital typeface from scans of lead type and specimens as part of digiS project.
- Drucken3000minorCollaboration partner for Adobe letterpress/Risography poster project.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Monotype: Global leader in type design and font technology, holding many of the historical typefaces referenced in p98a's work (including Akzidenz Grotesk family). Overlaps with p98a through shared type IP but at vastly greater scale and broader digital focus.
- Berthold (URW++): Historical German type foundry whose Akzidenz Grotesk family is central to p98a's collection. Indirect peer as the original producer of much of the type that p98a digitizes and re-casts via Rainer Gerstenberg.
Direct peers
- Koninklijke Enschedé: Historic Dutch type foundry and printer combining metal type production with bespoke printing services. Comparable to p98a in fusing foundry heritage, custom letterpress work, and an educational/preservation mission.
- Hatch Show Print: Iconic letterpress poster print shop in Nashville, TN. Closely comparable business model combining custom letterpress print services, retail/visitor workshops, and limited-edition branded merchandise for design and music clients.
- Commercial Type: Independent type foundry with educational programming and a strong foundry culture. Comparable to p98a in combining type design, foundry services, and educational outreach to design professionals.
- P22 Type Foundry: US-based digital type foundry that distributes the Artz typeface designed for Hamilton Wood Type. Direct partner of p98a for digital distribution, comparable as a niche independent foundry with analog-printing heritage.
- Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum: Letterpress museum and type foundry in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Direct manufacturing partner for the HWT-Artz wood type at p98a, with overlapping focus on type preservation, custom wood type production, and typographic education.
- TypeMedia (KABK): Masters program in type design at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague whose students visit p98a for hands-on letterpress training. Comparable as a typography education provider with deep analog-printing pedagogy.
- Typotheque: Dutch type foundry that combines type design with educational programs and design research. Comparable to p98a in pairing type development, foundry services, and an educational/cultural mission.
- Stempel Foundry (D. Stempel AG): Historic German type foundry that historically produced Akzidenz Grotesk and related grotesques represented in p98a's collection. Directly comparable as a foundry specializing in German type heritage and typographic craft.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin social profiles
Digital presenceHacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin 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 Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin
What does Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin do?
Hacking Gutenberg is an experimental letterpress workshop in Berlin offering custom letterpress and Risograph printing services, hands-on typography workshops for individuals and corporate teams, limited edition book publishing (TOC The Other Collection and Suhrkamp Letterpress Edition), and a Freunde membership program. The workshop combines a 1954 Heidelberg Cylinder press and historic type collection with proprietary direct-to-plate laser technology and CNC-based custom type manufacturing to deliver bespoke printed products, educational experiences, and fine art publishing.
Is Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin a public or private company?
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin founded?
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin based?
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Workshop Fees are the primary driver. The others are membership Subscriptions, custom Print Jobs, product Sales and publishing (TOC Books).
Who are Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Monotype and Berthold (URW++). Direct peers are Koninklijke Enschedé, Hatch Show Print, Commercial Type, P22 Type Foundry, Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum, TypeMedia (KABK), Typotheque and Stempel Foundry (D. Stempel AG).
Does Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin.
What industry is Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin in?
Hacking Gutenberg p98a.berlin's product category is Letterpress Printing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAJAE, Bindery & Finishing Services (Binding, Laminating, Cutting, Folding, Collating). Its SIC code is 2731.