riva

What riva does

riva (legally riva solutions GmbH) is a Germany-based company founded in 1992 that develops and delivers computer-based business simulation games (Planspiele) for corporate training and higher education. Its portfolio centers on five core simulations: iMove weWin (leadership impact for executives), SysTeamsChange and SysTeams LEAD (change management and transformation), TellingChange (a podcast-based change management approach), and the Iris Insurance Game (a vertical-specific simulation for the insurance industry), supplemented by preview products SysTeamsBusiness and iMove LEAD. The underlying platform combines a real-time computer simulation engine with the iMove mobile app, QR-coded game cards, integrated audio/video sequences, and physical haptic game boards, structured around group work, challenges, and reflection rounds scientifically grounded in established theories on leadership, change management, and organizational development.

The company's revenue model rests on three streams: (1) multi-year licensing of simulation games to enterprises, consulting firms (Accenture, Deloitte, MHP), and universities (LMU Munich, TU Munich, KIT, FH Köln, Hochschule Luzern, JKU Linz, others); (2) Academy seminar delivery through riva-certified trainers via open seminars and on-site sessions (in-person and online); and (3) custom consulting and project engagements with Basic, Advanced, and Expert customization tiers. Distribution is largely DACH-centric (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) with regional channel partners extending into Poland and Asia. Customer concentration is pronounced in the insurance sector, with named users spanning Munich Re, Swiss Re, Zurich Versicherung, Allianz, ERGO, Generali, ARAG, Barmenia, HDI Bancassurance, Vienna Insurance Group, WWK, Die Bayerische, Winterthur, LV1871, and Wiener Städtische. The core team comprises ~6 employees including founders Dr. Herbert Schmidt and Dr. Ralf Klotzbücher, managing directors Verena Patricia von Dehn and Lars Moormann, academic advisors Prof. Dr. Willy Kriz and Prof. Dr. Helmut Wittenzellner, and Dr. Marcin Wardaszko as partner for Poland and Asia. The business is privately held as a German GmbH with three related but legally independent entities (riva solutions GmbH, riva training & consulting GmbH, riva Academy GmbH) and no external investment, private equity, or venture capital backing.

Name

riva

Legal name

riva solutions GmbH

Website

https://riva-online.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

riva (riva solutions GmbH) is a Germany-based company founded in 1992 that develops and licenses computer-based business simulation games (iMove weWin, SysTeamsChange, TellingChange, Iris Insurance Game) for executive development, change management, and insurance industry training, serving enterprises, consulting firms, and universities primarily across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Training and Business Simulation Services

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (51321), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Simulation, Scenario & Serious Games Design (EDAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise) (MPAFAAAH)

Keywords

• Business simulation games
• Change management training
• Leadership development programs
• Experiential learning solutions
• Organizational transformation training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirchseeon

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Simulation Game Licensing: riva licenses its simulation games (iMove weWin, SysTeamsChange, SysTeamsBusiness, SysTeamsLead, TellingChange, Iris Insurance Game) to corporate clients, consulting firms, and universities. Licensees qualify their own trainers through riva certification to deliver games in-house.
2. Academy Seminar Delivery: The riva Academy delivers open seminars and on-site training sessions for organizations. Trainers certified by riva conduct simulation games in face-to-face or online formats for participants.
3. Customization and Consulting Services: riva offers customized simulation configurations (Basic, Advanced, Expert tiers) tailored to individual client organizations, including company-specific topics, challenges, and impact network elements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

riva develops, licenses, and delivers business simulation games (Planspiele) used for experiential corporate training in change management, leadership development, and organizational transformation. Games such as iMove weWin, SysTeamsChange, TellingChange, and the Iris Insurance Game combine a real-time computer simulation engine with a mobile app (QR code game cards, audio/video) and haptic game board elements, delivered via the riva Academy in person or online, or licensed to organizations that qualify their own trainers.

Product overview

riva offers a portfolio of business simulation games and training services focused on active learning methodology. The core offerings include iMove weWin (leadership simulation), SysTeamsChange/SysTeams LEAD (change management), TellingChange (podcast-based change approach), and the Iris Insurance Game (industry-specific simulation). Products are delivered through the riva Academy with both in-person and online options, supported by a digital app, QR code game cards, and haptic game board elements. Three customization tiers (Basic, Advanced, Expert) allow organizations to tailor simulations to their specific needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iMove weWin: Innovative and mobilizing management simulation game for executives focusing on leadership impact, customer relationships, and organizational development.
• iMove LEAD
• SysTeamsChange
• SysTeamsBusiness
• SysTeams LEAD
• TellingChange
• Iris Insurance Game

Quantifiable outcome

• Sustainable learning success through active, experiential methods combining group work, challenges, and reflection rounds

Named customers31 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered regional.

• Sandra FinksteinregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSandra Finkstein serves as riva's partner for Austria, facilitating distribution and delivery of riva simulation games in the Austrian market.
• Dr. Marcin WardaszkoregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDr. Marcin Wardaszko serves as riva's partner for Poland and Asia, facilitating distribution and delivery of riva simulation games in these international markets.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cesim: Finland-based provider of business simulation games used by business schools and corporations worldwide for strategy, operations, and service management courses — overlapping with riva's higher education and corporate training footprint.
• Marketplace Simulations: Provider of business simulations for universities and corporate training, including custom simulations for industries such as insurance — a direct peer in the licensed simulation-for-education space.
• Celemi: Swedish serious-games and business simulation company offering board- and digital-based learning experiences for change, strategy, and sustainability — closely mirrors riva's Planspiel portfolio and target buyer (corporates and consultancies).
• Smartsims: New Zealand-based developer of business strategy simulations (e.g., Markstrat, StratSim) used in business schools and corporate training — comparable to riva in product type and B2B/B2E customer mix.
• BTS Group: Swedish-founded global firm building business simulations and experiential learning programs for enterprise leadership, strategy, and transformation — directly comparable to riva's simulation-game methodology and corporate customer base.

Emerging players

• Stratx Simulations: Provider of management and strategy simulations for business schools and executive education — an emerging peer in the same simulation-based active learning category.
• Mursion: US-based provider of AI- and VR-powered simulation training for leadership, sales, and customer service, sold to enterprise L&D buyers — an emerging peer attacking the same experiential learning category as riva with newer technology.

Broad incumbents

• Harvard Business Publishing Education: Large incumbent publishing case studies, simulations, and online courses used in business education and corporate learning — competes for the same enterprise and university training budget as riva, though via a much broader content portfolio.
• Cegos Group: Global training and development group offering leadership, change, and project management programs with blended learning and business games — a broad incumbent overlapping with riva's change management and leadership offerings.

Others

• Rostrum (Kluwer): Dutch training and simulation firm historically known for business games used in corporate training; thematically adjacent to riva's serious-games business and sometimes referenced as a historical European peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/riva
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riva-online

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 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 riva