MCR Unternehmensberatung GmbH

What MCR Unternehmensberatung GmbH does

MCR Unternehmensberatung GmbH is a privately held management consultancy based in Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, founded and led by managing shareholders Gerhard Gieschen and Alexander Frank. The firm serves small and medium-sized enterprises (KMU), family-owned businesses, and self-employed professionals across Baden-Württemberg and other DACH markets, addressing strategy, growth, digitalization, marketing, sustainability, crisis/turnaround, M&A, and government funding access. A distinctive feature is its BAFA authorization, which lets clients recover up to 80% of eligible consulting costs, lowering the barrier for SMB buyers. The firm also acts as a TÜV Austria-certified personnel certification body under ISO/IEC 17024 and delivers ISO 9001 and ISO 21001 certified training programs from the Neue Akademie Tübingen venue.

MCR's revenue mix spans three streams: billable consulting engagements (project or hourly, with BAFA subsidy overlay), certified training and coaching programs (including the Systemischer Business Coach Ausbildung, KI-Beraterausbildung, and Nachhaltigkeitsmanager tracks), and paid events/workshops such as Strategy Workshops and Denkraum.Werkstatt. The go-to-market is sales-led and community-driven, combining direct outreach to KMU with regularly scheduled open-space events (Tübinger Business-Treff, Tübinger Kamingespräche) that double as lead-generation and brand-building channels. Distribution is enhanced by a self-service training portal (ausbildung.mcr-gmbh.de), multi-channel social and SEO marketing, and a recently added partnership with BBW Bildungswerk Berlin-Brandenburg for Berlin-based delivery of TÜV-certified AI consulting training.

On the technology side, MCR maintains proprietary digital assets including the MCR DigiCheck mobile app (customizable checklist/audit tool for QM, ISO 9001, MDR), the MCR Fördermittelatlas (a subsidy program finder supporting BAFA, KfW, Digitalisierungsprämie, and other EU/federal/state programs), and the MCR Tandem Power coaching format. The firm also resells/recommends the firstaudit platform of partner reinstil GmbH & Co. KG for audit and checklist solutions. Headcount is reported at six employees, and the firm is privately financed with no institutional investors or parent company disclosed.

Name

MCR Unternehmensberatung GmbH

Legal name

MCR Unternehmensberatung GmbH

Website

https://mcr-unternehmensberatung.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MCR Unternehmensberatung GmbH is a Tübingen-based, BAFA-authorized management consultancy serving Baden-Württemberg KMU and self-employed clients with strategy, digitalization, marketing, funding, sustainability, and crisis advisory, plus TÜV Austria-certified training programs delivered from the Neue Akademie Tübingen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tübingen

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. Consulting Fees: Billable consulting engagements for strategy, growth, digitalization, crisis management, M&A, and other business advisory services. Fees are project-based or hourly, typically quoted individually. As a BAFA-approved consulting firm, they can deliver subsidized consulting services where clients cover only a portion of costs.
2. Training and Coaching Programs: Revenue from certified training courses and coaching programs including Systemischer Business Coach Ausbildung (TÜV Austria certified), KI-Beraterausbildung, Unternehmensberater-Ausbildung (ISO/IEC 17024), Nachhaltigkeitsmanager, and other professional development programs. Offered both in-person at Neue Akademie Tübingen and online.
3. Event and Workshop Fees: Revenue from paid workshops including Strategy Workshops, Denkraum.Werkstatt, Tübinger Business-Treff (though some events are free), Steuerworkshops, and other community events. Some events are offered free-of-charge as lead-generation tools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MCR Unternehmensberatung GmbH is a certified BAFA management consulting firm based in Tübingen, Germany, that delivers strategic, marketing, digitalization, sustainability, funding/subsidy, and crisis-management consulting to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and self-employed professionals. The firm complements its advisory work with professional qualification/training programs, executive events (e.g., Tübinger Business-Treff), and proprietary tools such as the MCR DigiCheck digital-maturity app and the MCR Fördermittelatlas funding database.

Product overview

MCR Unternehmensberatung GmbH is a certified management consulting firm based in Tübingen, Germany, offering a comprehensive portfolio of advisory services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and self-employed professionals. The company operates as a single integrated consulting practice organized around core service pillars: Strategic Consulting (covering company founding, growth, turnaround, innovation, digitalization, and change management), Marketing Services (customer acquisition, positioning, pricing), Funding Advisory (BAFA grants, Digitalisierungsprämie, climate funding programs), Digital Transformation, Sustainability/ESG Consulting, and Crisis Management. Complementing its advisory services, MCR provides professional qualification programs through its training arm (Neue Akademie), including the Systemischer Business Coach Ausbildung certified by TÜV Austria, sustainability management courses, and the KI (AI) training series called MCR Easy KI. The firm also offers event-based networking formats such as the Tübinger Business-Treff and Denkraum.Werkstatt workshops. Its digital product offerings include the MCR DigiCheck checklist management app. The company holds ISO 9001 and ISO 21001 certifications and operates as a BAFA-approved consulting firm, with additional locations partnerships through the Neue Akademie Tübingen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MCR Tandem Power: A coaching format where experienced consultants Gerhard Gieschen and Alexander Frank alternate in accompanying MCR customers and organize the implementation of developed strategies.
• Tübinger Business-Treff
• Tübinger Kamingespräche

Products and services

• Managementberatung (Management Consulting) BAFA-accredited strategic and operational consulting engagements for SMEs and self-employed professionals across Germany.
• Marketingberatung (Marketing Consulting) Advisory on marketing strategy, positioning, and go-to-market execution for small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Fördermittelberatung (Government Funding Advisory) Advisory on identifying, applying for, and managing German government funding and subsidy programs, supported by the MCR Fördermittelatlas database.
• Digitalisierungsberatung (Digitalization Consulting) Consulting on digital transformation strategy, supported by the MCR DigiCheck digital maturity assessment app.
• Nachhaltigkeitsberatung (Sustainability Consulting) Consulting on sustainability strategy, ESG positioning, and sustainable business models for SMEs.
• Krisenberatung (Crisis Consulting) Restructuring and crisis-management advisory for SMEs facing business discontinuance or turnaround situations.
• DSGVO / Datenschutz-Beratung (Data Protection Consulting) Advisory on DSGVO (GDPR) compliance and data protection for SMEs.
• MCR DigiCheck App Proprietary application that performs a digital maturity assessment for SMEs, used within digitalization consulting engagements.
• MCR Fördermittelatlas Proprietary structured database of German government funding and subsidy programs used to identify eligible Fördermittel for SME clients.
• MCR Qualifizierung (Qualification & Training Programs) Multi-day qualification and training programs for managers, entrepreneurs, and self-employed professionals, including the MCR Easy KI series.
• MCR Easy KI Series Modular training series focused on practical applications of artificial intelligence for small businesses and self-employed professionals.
• Denkraum.Werkstatt Facilitated workshop/think-tank format for SMEs and executives to work through strategic, digitalization, or transformation topics.

Quantifiable outcome

• For energy consulting, clients can recover up to 80% of eligible costs, maximum €6,000, from BAFA subsidy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TÜV AustriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTÜV Austria is MCR's primary certification and accreditation partner. MCR is certified under ISO 9001 and ISO 21001 by TÜV Austria, and serves as an authorized examination body for ISO/IEC 17024 personnel certifications (consultants, trainers, coaches, speakers). They co-develop and deliver training programs under TÜV Austria's certification framework. Gerhard Gieschen teaches at TÜV-certified programs.
• BBW Bildungswerk Berlin-BrandenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCR and BBW (Bildungswerk Berlin-Brandenburg) have entered a strategic partnership to deliver MCR's TÜV-certified AI consulting training program at Haus der Wirtschaft in Berlin. This partnership extends MCR's geographic reach from Baden-Württemberg to Berlin and represents a significant expansion of their training business.
• Neue Akademie TübingencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCR operates from and co-uses the Neue Akademie Tübingen venue at Rittweg 3/1 in Tübingen-Hirschau. The academy serves as MCR's headquarters, training venue, and event space for workshops, coaching sessions, Tübinger Business-Treff, and other community events. MCR describes it as a shared-values community hub.
• Proesler Kommunikation GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMCR owner Gerhard Gieschen appeared in conversation with Martin Prösler, Managing Director of Proesler Kommunikation GmbH, discussing practical recommendations for companies seeking subsidies and political assessments of funding developments. This appears to be a media/content partnership for thought leadership.
• Internationale Akademie der Freien Universität BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerhard Gieschen teaches in the coaching program of the International Academy of Freie Universität Berlin. This is an academic partnership where MCR's expertise contributes to university-level coaching education programs.
• Baden-Württembergisches BildungswerkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerhard Gieschen teaches the coaching format at the Baden-Württembergisches Bildungswerk (BWW), contributing to regional continuing education programs for entrepreneurs and professionals.
• Steinbeis Business AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerhard Gieschen teaches in the Master program in Entrepreneurship at Steinbeis Business Academy, sharing practitioner knowledge with advanced academic students.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Homburg & Partner: Mannheim-based management consulting firm focused on pricing, marketing, and sales effectiveness for industrial and B2B clients. Comparable to MCR's marketing strategy and Mittelstand positioning, but at a larger scale and with a more specialized pricing/IP focus.
• zeb.rolfes.schierenbeck.associates: Münster-based European strategy and management consultancy with strong DACH financial services and Mittelstand presence. Overlaps with MCR on strategy and transformation engagements for German-speaking mid-market clients.
• Horváth & Partners: Stuttgart-based international management consultancy with strong German industrial and Mittelstand roots. Overlaps with MCR on performance improvement, controlling, and transformation work for DACH mid-market clients.
• Roland Berger: One of the largest European-origin management consultancies with deep German Mittelstand exposure. Overlaps with MCR on strategy, M&A, and digitalization advisory but operates at a vastly different scale and serves a much broader portfolio of clients.

Emerging players

• Berylls Strategy Advisors: Munich-based boutique consultancy combining strategy, digital, and AI advisory for European mobility and industrial clients. Comparable to MCR in its boutique scale and focus on transformation topics, though oriented to a different industry vertical.

Direct peers

• Dr. Wieselhuber & Partner: Munich-based management consultancy specialized in German family-owned Mittelstand firms. Comparable to MCR in serving owner-managed SMEs across strategy, M&A, turnaround, and digitalization, with deeper resources but a similar customer archetype.
• Haufe Group: Freiburg-based provider of professional services, training (Haufe Akademie), and software for German SMEs and tax/accounting professionals. Highly comparable to MCR in combining consulting-style advisory with certifiable training programs and recurring digital subscriptions for the same Mittelstand customer base.
• TÜV SÜD Akademie: Major German certification body's training division delivering TÜV-certified professional development across business, technology, and sustainability. Comparable to MCR's TÜV Austria partnership and ISO/IEC 17024 examiner role in monetizing certified training for professionals and consultants.
• RKW Kompetenzzentrum: National competence center providing consulting, qualification, and innovation support specifically for German SMEs. Closely comparable to MCR in mission, target customer (KMU/Self-employed), and bundling of consulting with subsidized training and certification programs.
• Staufen AG: German lean-management and operational excellence consultancy focused on Mittelstand industrial clients. Directly comparable to MCR in targeting German KMU for transformation, digitalization, and supply-chain improvement, and similarly offers structured training alongside consulting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcr-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 MCR Unternehmensberatung GmbH