Volksverpetzer

What Volksverpetzer does

Volksverpetzer is a German non-profit fact-checking and civic education organization, legally constituted as Volksverpetzer VVP gUG (gemeinnützige Unternehmergesellschaft) with a registered office in Augsburg and an additional office in Berlin. Founded in 2019 and operating with a small team of 11–15 people, the organization produces German-language fact-checks, analyses, and educational content focused on right-wing extremism, AfD-linked disinformation, and political misinformation in German media, alongside a structured documentation project (Demokarten) tracking pro-democracy protests.

Its product portfolio spans a WordPress-based content website, a mobile app with push notifications and a user-driven fake-reporting feature, a podcast series (reaching its 25th episode in 2026), and an educational workshop program offered in 60- and 120+ minute formats to organizations and schools. Adjacent sub-brands include the Prüfpunkt knowledge platform on research and media literacy, the #Stell Dir Vor poster campaign, and a printed 10 Fakten brochure countering right-wing myths. Distribution is digital-first across 14 social and messaging platforms, supplemented by a merchandise shop.

The organization is 100% funded through community donations and crowdfunding, with no government or institutional investment, and a 2026 court judgment confirmed this independently-financed status. Its go-to-market is community-led: content is provided free without advertising, reach is built organically through social media and educational programming, and supplementary revenue comes from merchandise sales and a modest workshop program.

Name

Volksverpetzer

Legal name

Volksverpetzer VVP gUG

Website

https://volksverpetzer.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fact-Checking & Civic Education

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929), Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press (MPAJADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

News & Content Aggregation Portals (BPAMAAAI), Social Media & Community Moderation (BPAAALAA)

Keywords

• Fact-checking journalism
• Disinformation analysis
• Media literacy education
• Civic education content
• Democracy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Augsburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Crowdfunding/Donations: 100% crowdfunded through donations and supporter contributions. The organization explicitly states they receive no government funding. Legal proceedings confirmed they are entirely financed through their community.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise through their shop (volksverpetzer-shop.de) including brochures, hoodies, bags, cups with political messaging.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Volksverpetzer is a German civic education and fact-checking organization that publishes free online articles, analyses, and video/podcast content debunking political misinformation with a focus on right-wing extremism, AfD disinformation, and media manipulation. It complements this core content with a portfolio of educational workshops on fake news and disinformation strategies, a mobile app, a knowledge sub-brand (Prüfpunkt), and a merchandise shop to sustain its 100% donation-funded, advertising-free operations.

Product overview

Volksverpetzer is a German civic education and fact-checking organization offering a portfolio of educational products: a core website with fact-checking articles and analyses, a podcast series, an app with push notifications and fake-reporting features, and an educational workshop program. The workshops include a foundation module on understanding fake news and specialized modules on right-wing campaigns, with a new workshop on resilience in development. Related offerings include the Demokarten project documenting pro-democracy demonstrations, the Prüfpunkt knowledge platform, the #Stell Dir Vor poster campaign, printed brochures like 10 Fakten against right-wing myths, and a merchandise shop for supporters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Prüfpunkt: Knowledge platform covering research, media, and disinformation topics

Products and services

• Faktenchecks (Fact-Checks) Core fact-checking articles and analyses that debunk misinformation, disinformation, and false claims in German media, focusing on topics such as migration, climate, politics, and extremism. Free to read, aimed at the general German-speaking public.
• Workshops (Fake News verstehen / Rechte Kampagnen) Educational workshops teaching participants how to understand disinformation, recognize fake news, and respond to right-wing media campaigns. Sold to organizations, schools, and institutions as bookable training sessions.
• Volksverpetzer Podcast Podcast series featuring discussions on current events, disinformation analysis, and interviews, hosted by Thomas and Leonie. Distributed via Podigee and YouTube; Episode 25 was released in July 2026.
• Volksverpetzer App Mobile application for iOS and Android that lets users receive push notifications about new fact-checks and report suspected fake news directly to the editorial team.
• Prüfpunkt Knowledge Platform Sub-brand knowledge platform providing accessible articles and explainers on research, media literacy, and disinformation strategies for general audiences, including the "Desinformations-Strategien" series.
• Demokarten (Demo-Cards) Documentation project tracking the scale of pro-democracy protests against right-wing extremism in Germany, including a 2024 map of over 1,331 registered demonstrations with millions of participants, plus related "Orgakarten" organizing resources.
• Volksverpetzer Merch Shop Online shop selling branded merchandise including the "10 Fakten gegen rechte Fakes" brochure, books ("Das stimmt so nicht!"), hoodies, bags, and mugs with political messaging, used to support the organization's work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won court case against Nachdenkseiten for falsely claiming state funding - confirmed as 100% crowdfunded

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Correctiv: German investigative journalism and fact-checking nonprofit that has exposed far-right networks and is funded largely through donations and foundations. Direct competitor in the German fact-checking/civic journalism space with a similar non-profit funding model.
• ZDF heute+ / ZDF fact-checks: German public broadcaster ZDF's fact-checking and explainer journalism, frequently covering right-wing and political misinformation. Similar audience and editorial mission to Volksverpetzer, supported by public-broadcaster funding.
• dpa fact-checking: German press agency's dedicated fact-checking desk covering political misinformation and disinformation, including AfD claims. Operates as a wire-service-integrated fact-checker with broader distribution than Volksverpetzer but overlapping topic focus.
• Correctiv.Faktencheck: Correctiv's dedicated fact-checking section focusing on disinformation and political misinformation in Germany. Closely mirrors Volksverpetzer's editorial scope with an alternative/independent funding model.
• ARD-faktenfinder: Fact-checking vertical of German public broadcaster ARD, debunking misinformation across politics, health, and society. Comparable in mission and German-language output, but with public-broadcaster funding rather than donations.

Emerging players

• Bellingcat: Dutch-based open-source investigative journalism nonprofit, internationally renowned for fact-based investigations including on extremism. Comparable mission and nonprofit structure, though geographically broader and more investigation-led than Volksverpetzer's commentary/fact-check format.
• Snopes: Pioneer English-language fact-checking platform covering politics, misinformation, and viral claims. Strong model comparator for Volksverpetzer's editorial structure and brand-led fact-check approach, though larger and English-only.
• Maldita.es: Spanish independent, donation-funded fact-checking and media literacy nonprofit covering political disinformation. Comparable mission, community funding model, and educational workshop program aimed at schools and citizens.

Broad incumbents

• AFP Fact Check: Global fact-checking operation of Agence France-Presse, an IFCN-certified signatory providing multilingual fact-checks including German-language coverage. Comparable fact-checking output with significantly broader geographic reach and institutional funding.

Regional players

• Pagella Politica: Italian fact-checking platform focused on political claims and disinformation, part of the IFCN-certified fact-checker network. Similar editorial mission to Volksverpetzer but operating in a different (Italian) market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Volksverpetzer
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Volksverpetzer
• Facebookfacebook.com/volksverpetzer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/volksverpetzer
• Instagraminstagram.com/volksverpetzer
• TikToktiktok.com/@volksverpetzer

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 Volksverpetzer