Lilienthal

What Lilienthal does

Lilienthal is a sole proprietorship (Einzelunternehmen) operating as Christian Lilienthal - Embedded Engineering, founded in October 2016 in Köln, Germany by Christian Lilienthal after 20 years as a development engineer at a major industrial sensor manufacturer. The practice delivers individualized embedded systems development services, spanning hardware design (analog/digital/RF circuits, PCB layout for THT/SMD/multilayer boards using Cadsoft EAGLE, Target 3001, and KiCad) and hardware-near firmware development (Assembler and C for 8/32-bit microcontrollers including Microchip PIC, Atmel ATtiny/ATmega, NXP Kinetis, STM32, ESP32, and legacy Z80/Intel MCS-51). A distinguishing capability is functional safety development compliant with the Machine Directive, EN ISO 13849 (PL a-e / Cat 2-4), IEC 62061, and IEC 61508 (SIL1-3), alongside an in-house EMC pre-compliance laboratory equipped with a spectrum analyzer (MS2601A), vector network analyzer (NanoVNA), LISN units, and signal generators.

The business serves industrial sensor and safety equipment manufacturers, CNC machine builders, and educational institutions with custom projects such as safety light curtains, safety light barriers, gate control systems, and sensor-actuator demonstrators with wireless (sub-GHz, GSM/GPRS/GNSS, RFID) interfaces. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct: customers initiate contact by phone or email for a free initial consultation, after which scope and cost are jointly defined on a custom project basis with no published pricing tiers or standardized packages. The principal works directly with TÜV Zert for safety certification, with EMC testing laboratories for formal compliance, and with an EMS provider for design-for-manufacturing optimization.

The firm is fully bootstrapped with no external funding, no employees, and no parent company. Christian Lilienthal retains sole ownership and operating control. The company has not raised capital, has not pursued acquisitions or partnerships beyond its three core operational relationships, and shows no expansion into software products, recurring revenue models, or geographic markets beyond Germany. Capacity is structurally bounded by the one-person model, which constrains growth absent a fundamental change in operating structure.

Name

Lilienthal

Legal name

Christian Lilienthal

Website

https://lilienthal-electronic.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lilienthal is a sole-proprietor embedded engineering practice in Köln, Germany, operated by Christian Lilienthal, delivering custom hardware and firmware design plus functional safety development for industrial sensor manufacturers, CNC builders, and educational institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Embedded Systems Engineering Consulting: Custom development of individual embedded systems including hardware development (circuits, PCB design) and hardware-near software programming for industrial applications.
2. Hardware Development Services: Circuit design, PCB layout (Cadsoft EAGLE, Target 3001, KiCad), simulation (LT-SPICE), and design for manufacturing (THT/SMD, multilayer boards) with EMS cooperation.
3. Software/Firmware Development: Firmware development for microcontrollers, functional safety software following V-Model, and test/data logging tools development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Lilienthal is a sole-proprietor embedded engineering consultancy that designs and develops individual embedded systems for industrial applications. The offering combines custom hardware development (circuits, PCB layout, EMC-compliant design) with hardware-near firmware programming in Assembler and C for 8/32-bit microcontrollers, including functional safety-compliant designs for industrial sensors and small control systems.

Product overview

Lilienthal is a solo embedded engineering practice operated by Christian Lilienthal, offering individualized embedded systems development services rather than a packaged software product. The core offering spans hardware design (circuits, PCB layout, EMC-compliant design) and near-hardware software programming (Assembler, C for microcontrollers). These services are organized around distinct capability areas: Hardware Development (custom PCB design with CAD tools), Software Development (embedded programming for industrial sensors), Functional Safety Development (ISO 13849/IEC 61508 compliant sensors), Wireless/RF Solutions (sub-GHz and GSM modules), and EMC Testing/Simulation (in-house lab capabilities). No unified software platform or modular product architecture exists—the company operates as a consulting practice delivering client-specific engineering solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hardware Development Custom hardware design services covering analog, digital, and RF circuits; PCB layout (THT/SMD/Multilayer) using Cadsoft EAGLE, Target 3001, and KiCad; impedance control; EMC-compliant design; SELV/PELV and low-voltage applications. Targeted at industrial manufacturers needing bespoke electronic modules.
• Embedded Software/Firmware Development Firmware development in Assembler and C for 8/32-bit microcontrollers (Microchip PIC, Atmel ATtiny/ATmega, NXP Kinetis, STM32, ESP32, Zilog Z80, Intel MCS-51). Delivered using agile or V-Model processes with IDEs including MCUXpresso, STM32CubeIDE, Atmel/Microchip Studio, MPLAB, and Atollic True Studio.
• Functional Safety Development Development of safety-critical sensors and small control systems compliant with the Machinery Directive and functional safety standards EN ISO 13849 (PL a-e / Cat 2-4), IEC 62061, and IEC 61508 (SIL1-3). Includes cooperation with TÜV Zert for certification.
• Wireless/RF Integration Integration of sub-GHz wireless modules and controllers with integrated transmitters for industrial control applications, including ISM 433 MHz solutions (Atmel ATA8742, Hope RFM12, Ti CC1310), Quectel MC60 GSM/GPRS/GNSS modules, and Hitag HTRC110 125 kHz RFID.
• EMC Pre-Compliance Testing and Circuit Simulation In-house EMC pre-compliance testing using a spectrum analyzer (MS2601A), vector network analyzer (NanoVNA), signal generator (HP 8656B), counter (HP 5328A), oscilloscopes (Agilent MSO-X 3024A, HP 54645D), and LISN (5µH + 50µH). Circuit simulation using LT-SPICE, Micro Cap, and Smith Chart tools.
• Custom CNC Control System Development

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TÜV ZertcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTÜV certification partner for functional safety assessments. Provides certification services for safety-related control systems developed according to ISO 13849 and IEC 61508 standards.
• EMV Prüflaboren (EMC Testing Laboratories)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClose cooperation with EMC testing laboratories for formal compliance testing. Laboratory collaboration has contributed significantly to EMC design expertise.
• EMS Dienstleister (Electronics Manufacturing Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose cooperation with EMS provider for optimal PCB design for production in terms of manufacturing, costs, and quality. Enables mixed THT/SMD assembly with selective wave soldering optimization.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• emlix GmbH: Embedded Linux and embedded systems engineering consultancy based in Germany. Comparable as a custom embedded engineering services firm, but with a Linux/Yocto focus rather than Lilienthal's safety-sensor depth.
• PLS Programmierbare Logik & Systeme: German provider of embedded development and debug tools with associated engineering services. Comparable in the embedded/industrial MCU space, but anchored on tooling rather than bespoke consulting.
• Ginzinger electronic systems GmbH: Austrian/German embedded hardware and firmware design house serving industrial customers. Direct comparable for custom electronics design services with manufacturing partnerships.
• SYS TEC electronic GmbH: German embedded systems provider offering hardware, firmware, and industrial communication solutions. Overlaps with Lilienthal in industrial embedded development, including functional-safety-adjacent work.
• MicroConsult GmbH: Embedded systems training and engineering consultancy in Germany. Comparable as a specialist embedded engineering services and training provider serving industrial customers.
• Hitex GmbH: German provider of embedded development tools, functional-safety services, and training. Closely comparable to Lilienthal in the embedded/safety niche, though larger and tool-vendor oriented.
• Glaser Engineering: Small German engineering office providing EMC, hardware, and embedded development services. Highly comparable in scale and offering profile to Lilienthal's solo practice.
• SSV Software Systems GmbH: German embedded systems and IoT solutions house. Comparable in providing embedded firmware/hardware engineering for industrial clients, but with a stronger IoT/connectivity emphasis.

Emerging players

• Accemic Technologies GmbH: Germany-based functional-safety and embedded monitoring specialist. Comparable in the functional-safety niche where Lilienthal operates, but focused on runtime monitoring products.

Broad incumbents

• Lauterbach GmbH: Established German vendor of embedded debug and trace tools. Adjacent rather than directly competing; serves many of the same industrial MCU developer customers that Lilienthal targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lilienthal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Lilienthal