PowderGuide UG (haftungsbeschränkt)

What PowderGuide UG (haftungsbeschränkt) does

PowderGuide UG (haftungsbeschränkt) is a privately held German media and community platform headquartered in Freiburg im Breisgau (HRB 705926, Amtsgericht Freiburg), operating the website powderguide.com and related sub-properties (map.powderguide.com, app.powderguide.com, shop.powderguide.com). The company builds and operates a specialized information portal for freeride skiing and snowboarding, combining a meteorological weather service, an interactive snow/weather map, an editorial magazine, event coverage, and a community-driven ConditionsReport (CR) system where users submit and rate snow conditions globally. Content is produced in 6 languages (German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Czech) and covers 10 mountain regions worldwide, including the Alps, Andes, Japan, Scandinavia, the Rockies, Pyrenees, Balkans, Caucasus, Kashmir, and New Zealand. The magazine features gear testing, adventure travel, safety content, and a sustainability strand ("Schnee von Morgen"), with named meteorologists (Sebastian Müller, Michael Steger, Lea Hartl) and an editorial team led by Resi Schraner (editorial director) and Klara Stang (deputy editorial director).

The company's commercial model is a multi-revenue-stream media operation: (1) advertising and sponsored content across the website, weather page, article pages, and a seasonal newsletter reaching over 9,000 subscribers per edition (October–May), (2) partnership sponsorships with 35+ outdoor industry brands (Atomic, Mammut, HEAD, Ortovox, Patagonia, Arcteryx, POC, Black Crows, Dynafit, Elan, Pieps, Sweet Protection, EVOC, etc.) that provide financial and product support in exchange for editorial visibility, and (3) a small e-commerce shop selling outdoor gear and merchandise. Distribution is digital-first, including a 6-language self-serve website, a seasonal newsletter, an Instagram channel, and event-based marketing (e.g., Freeride Testivals, Patagonia Movie Nights, Atomic Ski Tour). The corporate form is a UG (haftungsbeschränkt) — a German private limited company — and the company self-describes as a nonprofit-oriented project on certain language versions. Headcount is 8, with no disclosed funding, M&A, or parent-company ownership.

Name

PowderGuide UG (haftungsbeschränkt)

Legal name

PowderGuide UG (haftungsbeschränkt)

Website

https://powderguide.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PowderGuide is a Germany-based community media platform serving freeride skiers and snowboarders with weather forecasts, user-submitted snow condition reports, an interactive map, editorial magazine, and advertising/sponsorship partnerships with 35+ outdoor brands across 10 global regions in 6 languages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Sports Media and Weather Services

akta.pro primary industry

Ski Touring / Backcountry & Avalanche Safety Retail (AT Gear, Skins, Beacons, Probes, Shovels, Airbags) (CRAMAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ski & Snowboard Apparel Retail (Outerwear, Base Layers, Gloves, Socks) (CRAMAJAB)

Keywords

• Snow conditions reporting
• Freeride community platform
• Weather forecasting service
• Outdoor sports media
• Backcountry ski portal

Headquarters

HQ city

Freiburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising: Sponsored content, banner advertising, and logo placements on website, newsletter (over 9,000 subscribers), and various page sections (homepage, weather page, article pages). Seasonal coverage October to May with year-round weather service.
2. E-commerce Shop: PowderGuide operates an online shop (shop.powderguide.com) selling outdoor gear and merchandise.
3. Partnership Sponsorships: Partnership program with outdoor industry brands (Atomic, Mammut, HEAD, Ortovox, Patagonia, etc.) providing financial and product support in exchange for brand visibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PowderGuide operates a freeskier and snowboarder information portal that combines a proprietary weather forecasting service with a community-driven snow condition reports system and an editorial magazine. The platform delivers real-time snow depth, new snowfall, sunshine hours, cloud cover, and temperature data across 10 global ski regions (Alps, Andes, New Zealand, Kashmir, North America, Scandinavia, Pyrenees, Japan, Balkans, Caucasus), supplemented by user-submitted condition reports, gear tests, safety content, and event coverage. Revenue is generated through advertising, sponsorship partnerships with outdoor industry brands, and a merchandise e-commerce shop.

Product overview

PowderGuide is a comprehensive freeskier and snowboarder information portal built as a unified digital platform. The core offering combines a weather forecasting service with community-driven snow condition reports and an editorial magazine. Key products include the Wetterservice for meteorological data across global ski regions, the ConditionsReport system for user-submitted snow reports via the CR-App, the interactive PowderGuide Map for visualizing conditions, the Magazin featuring gear tests, adventure travel, and safety content, plus supplementary tools like PowderAlarm for powder alerts and SnowChase for tracking optimal conditions. The platform serves the freeride community with seasonal content from October to May, offering both editorial and crowdsourced information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PowderGuide Magazine and Website Main editorial platform and magazine providing news, adventure travel articles, gear of the week, material tests, events, safety topics, weather blog, snow chase reports, and interviews for freeride skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.
• Wetterservice (Weather Service)
• ConditionsReport (Schneebericht)
• PowderGuide Map
• CR-App (Conditions Report App)
• PowderGuide Shop
• Events Coverage Platform
• PowderAlarm

Quantifiable outcome

• Newsletter reaches over 9,000 users per monthly edition during ski season

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AtomiccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor ski manufacturer and one of PowderGuide's primary partners. Atomic supports PowderGuide with sponsorship and product for testing. PowderGuide provides editorial coverage and advertising visibility.
• MammutcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss outdoor apparel brand partnership. Mammut supports PowderGuide with sponsorship and products for editorial content and gear testing.
• HEADcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSki and tennis equipment manufacturer partnership providing sponsorship support to PowderGuide.
• OrtovoxcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSafety equipment and apparel brand partnership. Ortovox provides support for avalanche safety content and safety academy programs.
• PatagoniacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor apparel brand partnership including Patagonia Movie Nights event series and Worn Wear Repair Tour coverage.
• ArcteryxcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnical outdoor apparel brand supporting PowderGuide with sponsorship.
• POCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSafety equipment brand partnership.
• Black CrowsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSki brand partnership.
• PiepsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAvalanche safety equipment brand partnership.
• Sweet ProtectionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSafety and outdoor protection gear brand partnership.
• EVOCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBackpack and protection gear brand partnership.
• DynafitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSki touring equipment brand partnership.
• ElanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSlovenian ski manufacturer partnership.
• PenguincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss outdoor apparel brand featured in multiple gear tests including insulation jackets, shorts, and base layers.
• KohlaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian ski skin and pole manufacturer.
• Contour SkinsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSki skin manufacturer partnership.
• Alpenverein (Austrian Alpine Club)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafety and mountain education partnership.
• StantonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSki brand partnership.
• Stubaier GletscherminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSki resort partnership.
• Silvretta MontafonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSki resort partnership with Freeride Testival event.
• SaalbachminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian ski resort partnership.
• ObertauernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian ski resort partnership.
• Warth-SchröckenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian ski resort partnership.
• KaunertalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian ski resort partnership.
• KitzsteinhornminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian glacier ski resort partnership.
• Valhalla SkisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSki brand partnership.
• Valhalla SkisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSki brand partnership.
• Freeride Days EngelbergminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partnership for freeride festival.
• ProWinterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSafety protection zone initiative in South Tyrol.
• Alpine Safety AustriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvalanche safety education partnership.
• crooxcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital design and web development agency responsible for website design and digital infrastructure.
• Oak Skiing PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSki app partnership.
• SKIDAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSki apparel app partnership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bergzeit: Leading German online retailer for ski touring, freeride, mountaineering, and outdoor apparel. Comparable to PowderGuide on the shop.powderguide.com e-commerce side and on its German-speaking audience of ski touring consumers.
• Outside: Large multi-discipline outdoor media platform covering skiing, cycling, climbing, and adventure travel. Comparable to PowderGuide as an editorial-led outdoor media business but with much broader category scope and significantly larger scale.
• Ski Magazine: Established North American ski media publication. Comparable to PowderGuide as an editorial ski content brand with an advertising-supported model, though broader in scope (alpine racing, resorts, gear).

Direct peers

• Skiinfo: European ski conditions and resort information portal. Comparable to PowderGuide as a multi-region snow conditions platform with a similar advertiser-supported model targeting European ski travelers.
• Bergfex: Austrian mountain weather, snow conditions, and ski resort information platform serving German-speaking Alpine markets. Directly comparable to PowderGuide as a multi-language community/conditions platform for ski touring and freeride enthusiasts.
• Snow-forecast.com: Global snow forecasting and resort conditions website serving skiers worldwide. Closely comparable to PowderGuide's Wetterservice and ConditionsReport offerings, with overlapping audience of powder-chasing skiers.
• OnTheSnow: Snow conditions reports and ski resort information portal primarily serving North American resorts. Comparable to PowderGuide as a destination for user-submitted ski conditions and resort-level reporting.
• Fatmap: 3D mountain mapping platform for outdoor enthusiasts, used extensively by backcountry skiers and freeriders. Comparable to PowderGuide's map.powderguide.com in serving the same audience with terrain and condition visualization.

Others

• Freeride World Tour: International freeride skiing competition series. Comparable to PowderGuide in targeting the same niche freeride audience and partner brand ecosystem (Atomic, Black Crows, etc.), though as an event organizer rather than a media platform.

Emerging players

• Skitourenguru: Austrian ski tour routing and conditions application. Already a listed technology partner of PowderGuide and directly comparable as a niche backcountry/ski touring app with overlapping audience and conditions-data focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/powderguide
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/powderguide-ug-haftungsbeschr%C3%A4nkt-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 PowderGuide UG (haftungsbeschränkt)