re:thinc
re:thinc is a Bern-based, founder-owned custom software consultancy of ~5-6 generalist engineers serving exclusively Swiss clients with iterative, budget-based bespoke development across web, mobile, embedded, cloud, and AI/LLM applications, plus two minor own-product lines.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersBern, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What re:thinc does
re:thinc GmbH is a Bern-based custom software development consultancy founded in 2017, operating with a team of approximately 5-6 generalist engineers. The firm serves exclusively Swiss clients across education, insurance, media, watchmaking, logistics, and automotive certification, building bespoke web, mobile, embedded, cloud, and game applications. Its technology stack spans Vue.js/TypeScript on the front end, Spring Boot/Kotlin on the back end, Firebase, Godot Engine, and messaging infrastructure (Kafka, RabbitMQ), with integration expertise in SSO (SAML/OpenID Connect), accounting platforms (Bexio, Lexoffice, Xero), and Bluetooth/hardware protocols.
The firm's commercial model centres on a distinctive iterative, budget-based engagement: rather than fixed-price contracts, projects are scoped via shared vision and delivered in iterations with transparent three-scenario cost estimates, with clients approving budget incrementally per iteration. Core revenue comes from professional-services consulting engagements, with selective own-product investments including Lernjournal.app (AI-supported vocational learning coaching, co-developed with eduworks) and Appolino 2.0 (children's learning app for Lehrmittelverlag St.Gallen). Marketing is content-led through a regularly published blog and LinkedIn, with no formal sales team; client acquisition relies on referrals and inbound email. The company is founder-owned, has no external funding, and operates from a single office in Bern.
re:thinc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- re:thinc
- Legal name
- re:thinc GmbH
- Website
- https://rethinc.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- re:thinc is a Bern-based, founder-owned custom software consultancy of ~5-6 generalist engineers serving exclusively Swiss clients with iterative, budget-based bespoke development across web, mobile, embedded, cloud, and AI/LLM applications, plus two minor own-product lines.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where re:thinc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bern
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
re:thinc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Software Consulting and Development: Primary revenue stream from bespoke software development projects for Swiss clients. re:thinc uses an iterative, budget-based engagement model rather than fixed-price contracts. Projects are scoped and delivered in iterations with transparent cost control.
- Own Product Revenue (Lernjournal.app): re:thinc co-develops and sells the Lernjournal.app in partnership with eduworks. The product is subscription-based for vocational training companies and coaches. Revenue from product sales is growing but resource allocation remains a challenge.
- Own Product Revenue (Appolino): Appolino app (developed for Lehrmittelverlag St.Gallen) generates revenue via annual licenses available in App Store and Google Play for CHF 9.00 per year.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Appolino Annual License (consumer) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Software Development |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
re:thinc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
re:thinc GmbH is a Bern-based custom software development consultancy that designs, builds, and operates bespoke digital products for Swiss clients across web, mobile, embedded, and cloud platforms. They deliver work through an iterative, budget-based engagement model rather than fixed-price contracts, and additionally co-develop a small number of own products such as the AI-supported Lernjournal.app and the open-source re:visit registration tool.
Product overview
re:thinc GmbH is a Bern-based (Gutenbergstrasse 31, 3011 Bern) custom software development consultancy. Their offering is a portfolio of client-built products and a small number of own products, not a unified platform. They provide generalist software development services spanning web (Vue, TypeScript), mobile (iOS/Android), backend (Spring Boot, Kotlin), and game development (Godot). Client products include: Lernjournal.app (AI-powered vocational learning coaching, co-developed with eduworks); Appolino® 2.0 (educational gaming app for Lehrmittelverlag St.Gallen); viaVelo (logistics platform for bicycle delivery); CCM-Cockpit (document pipeline monitoring for GVB); ChronoMaster Air (iPad app for watch measurement); Green Car Repair (audit management web app); and Learn4Life Verwaltungssoftware (school administration platform). Own products include: re:visit (open-source restaurant registration). They integrate accounting tools (Bexio, Lexoffice, Xero) in client projects and deploy AI features (LLM chatbots, AI coaching) across products. Their development methodology is iterative/agile without fixed-price contracts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lernjournal.app: Digital learning coaching application for vocational education and training (Berufsbildung), developed in partnership with eduworks. Features AI-supported learning coaching, reflection tools, and competence portfolio building.
- viaVelo
Products and services
- Generalist Software Development Services
- Lernjournal.app
- re:visit
Quantifiable outcome
- Learn4Life reduced operational administrative work by 60-70% after deploying re:thinc's administration software, enabling near-doubling of organisational size without proportional overhead increase.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use re:thinc
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
re:thinc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability5 records
Feature11 records
re:thinc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CH Mediacorere:thinc rebuilt 20 native mobile apps for 10 CH Media radio and TV brands (iOS and Android). The engagement involved creating a shared codebase architecture and automated CI/CD deployment pipeline. CH Media manages the brands; re:thinc handles all technical development and delivery.
- eduworkscorere:thinc co-developed the Lernjournal.app with eduworks (formerly Bildungswerke Blank) starting from a 2-week hackathon in August 2022. eduworks provides domain expertise in vocational education (Berufsbildung) while re:thinc handles technical development. The product is sold jointly to vocational training organisations. BeLEARN (Berner Innovationsplattform für Digitalisierung in der Bildung) also supports the product.
- BeLEARNminorBeLEARN (Berner Innovationsplattform für Digitalisierung in der Bildung) supports the Lernjournal.app product in certain areas, providing credibility and reach within the Bernese educational ecosystem.
- Lehrmittelverlag St.Gallencorere:thinc served as the exclusive technical development partner for Appolino 2.0, a child-friendly learning app developed for Lehrmittelverlag St.Gallen. The project ran from September 2022 to October 2024, with re:thinc developing the mobile apps using Godot Engine and handling all technical delivery.
- Ajila AGminorAjila AG manages the CCM (Customer Communication Management) system for Gebäudeversicherung Bern. In the CCM-Cockpit project, Ajila collaborated with re:thinc and GVB to build a document pipeline monitoring system. Ajila handled the CCM system side while re:thinc built the cockpit visualisation.
- Gebäudeversicherung Bern (GVB)minorGVB (Gebäudeversicherung Bern) is both a client and a collaborator. They initiated the CCM-Cockpit project and worked alongside re:thinc and Ajila AG to define requirements and validate the solution in production.
- Verein Velo-Lieferdienste Schweizminorre:thinc developed and operates the viaVelo platform for the Swiss Bicycle Delivery Association. The platform digitises bicycle-based home delivery services across multiple Swiss cities. re:thinc maintains and continuously develops the platform.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
re:thinc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Elca Informatique SA: One of the largest independent Swiss IT service providers, offering custom software development alongside system integration. Functions as a broad incumbent that re:thinc's clients (e.g., GVB, CH Media) could alternatively procure from.
- Accenture: Global IT services incumbent with a large Swiss delivery footprint. Represents the upper bound of competition for enterprise engagements like CH Media and GVB, where scale and global delivery matter.
- Noser Engineering AG: Established Swiss IT services firm with embedded, mobile, and cloud engineering capabilities. Overlaps with re:thinc on custom development but operates across a broader portfolio and at significantly larger scale.
Direct peers
- Bitforge AG: Swiss custom software development shop serving SMEs with full-stack web and mobile projects. Comparable in geography, scope of services, and client segment focus.
- Thoughtbot: Smaller US-headquartered product and development consultancy with iterative, design-driven methodology and published thought leadership. Comparable in size band and engagement philosophy, though geographically distinct.
- Puzzle ITC: Swiss open-source-focused software consultancy with iterative engagement model and SME/non-profit client base. Highly comparable in operating geography, team size, and methodology.
- Thoughtworks: Global software consultancy famous for its iterative/agile methodology and engineering excellence. Closely matches re:thinc's philosophy of delivering value through incremental, outcome-oriented engagement rather than fixed-price contracts.
- Liip AG: Bern-headquartered Swiss custom software agency with a comparable agile/iterative philosophy and similar mid-market focus. Closely matches re:thinc in geography, size band, and GTM approach.
Regional players
- Iso (Iso.ch): Swiss IT consultancy covering digital transformation, custom development, and managed services. Comparable Swiss regional player serving similar mid-market and public-sector clients.
- Unic AG: Swiss IT consultancy with Microsoft and custom development practices serving mid-market and enterprise. Comparable in geography but operates at a larger scale than re:thinc.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
re:thinc social profiles
Digital presencere:thinc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
re:thinc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
re:thinc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
re:thinc 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 re:thinc
What does re:thinc do?
re:thinc GmbH is a Bern-based custom software development consultancy that designs, builds, and operates bespoke digital products for Swiss clients across web, mobile, embedded, and cloud platforms. They deliver work through an iterative, budget-based engagement model rather than fixed-price contracts, and additionally co-develop a small number of own products such as the AI-supported Lernjournal.app and the open-source re:visit registration tool.
Is re:thinc a public or private company?
re:thinc is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was re:thinc founded?
re:thinc was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is re:thinc based?
re:thinc is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does re:thinc make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Software Consulting and Development is the primary driver. The others are own Product Revenue (Lernjournal.app) and own Product Revenue (Appolino).
Who are re:thinc's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Elca Informatique SA, Accenture and Noser Engineering AG. Direct peers are Bitforge AG, Thoughtbot, Puzzle ITC, Thoughtworks and Liip AG. Regional players are Iso (Iso.ch) and Unic AG.
Does re:thinc have an API?
No public API is recorded for re:thinc.