31M

What 31M does

31M Agentur für Kommunikation GmbH is a privately held, full-service design and advertising agency headquartered in Essen, Germany, founded in 2005 and operated from the historic Bredeneyer Wasserturm (water tower) whose 31-meter height inspired the firm's name. The agency delivers brand strategy consulting, corporate design development, corporate websites, marketing collateral, online and offline campaigns, photography, video, 3D and animation, and an AI-enabled creative services line launched in 2024. Its client base spans DAX-listed corporations (including Vonovia SE and MAN), large non-profit and religious institutions (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, Bistum Essen, Caritas Oberhausen), mid-market companies, and startups across both B2B and B2C segments, with a geographic concentration in the Ruhrgebiet (Ruhr area) and North Rhine-Westphalia.

The agency is led by two Managing Directors — Dieter Rehmann (Geschäftsführer [Managing Director]) and Daniel Bürger (Geschäftsführender Gesellschafter und Leiter der Kreation [Managing Partner and Head of Creative], a former NRW-year-best media designer whose diploma thesis won a Red Dot Award) — and runs an interdisciplinary in-house team of approximately 10 to 15 professionals covering strategy, design, copywriting, web development, and 3D/animation. Technical capabilities include LLM-based text workflows, diffusion-model image generation with brand-consistent model training, AI-generated music and sound, and CRM/ERP/marketing automation integration delivered inside client website and digital projects, alongside WordPress-based CMS development. The agency's work is consistently recognized by the German Brand Award, the German Design Award (including a 2026 Gold), and the Red Dot Award (2009 and 2020).

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees for branding, design, web, marketing, and campaign engagements, with pricing custom and quote-based per mandate and no public pricing schedule. The firm holds no external investors, no parent company, and no disclosed funding; ownership rests with the Managing Directors. Customer acquisition relies on direct outreach, the agency's portfolio website, journal/blog content, and reputational signals from recurring design awards. The operating model is a single-region, owner-led creative agency rather than a scaled platform business.

Name

31M

Legal name

31M Agentur für Kommunikation GmbH

Website

https://31m.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advertising & Design Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising Agencies (54181)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer Journey Orchestration & Campaign Management (BPAFAFAF)

Keywords

• Corporate design services
• Brand strategy consulting
• Advertising campaign design
• Creative agency services
• Website design agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Essen

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. Design and Advertising Services: Professional services revenue from brand strategy consulting, corporate design development, campaign creation, website development, print and digital media production, photography, video production, and related creative services. Revenue is generated through project-based fees and potentially retainer arrangements for ongoing client relationships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

31M is a full-service design and advertising agency that develops brands, corporate identities, 360° online and offline campaigns, websites, magazines, brochures, annual reports, and related marketing materials. Its core deliverables include brand strategy consulting, corporate design systems, website design and relaunch, campaign conception and execution, photography/video/3D production, and AI-enabled creative services such as strategic AI consulting, LLM text workflows, and diffusion-model image generation. Services are sold as project-based or retainer engagements to corporate, non-profit, SME, startup, and public-sector clients in Germany.

Product overview

31M is a full-service design and advertising agency based in Essen, Germany, operating from a former water tower since 2005. The agency offers a comprehensive suite of creative services centered on brand strategy and corporate design, with additional capabilities in digital marketing, website development, and AI-powered creative tools. Their core offerings include Brand Consulting (Markenberatung), Corporate Design development, Corporate Website design and relaunch, Marketing services, and Campaign development. The agency has expanded its capabilities to include AI Services (Künstliche Intelligenz) covering strategic AI consulting, LLM text workflows, image generation with diffusion models, and AI-powered data analysis. Their service architecture is organized as a unified creative agency offering rather than a software platform, with services delivered through interdisciplinary teams combining strategic and creative thinking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brand Consulting (Markenberatung) Strategic brand consulting including target-group analysis, competitive analysis, SWOT analysis, positioning, brand architecture, brand language, mission & vision, storytelling, and employer branding strategy for organizations seeking to define or redefine their brand.
• Corporate Design Full corporate identity development including logo design and relaunches, product brands, typography, color palettes, imagery, grid systems, illustrations, brand icons, design systems, presentation templates, and corporate design guidelines for enterprises and organizations.
• Corporate Website Website design, development, and relaunch services covering web design, user guidance, usability, CMS development and maintenance (including WordPress), landing pages, and conversion rate optimization for corporate clients.
• Website Relaunch Comprehensive website relaunch service covering strategic analysis and concept, UX/UI design and prototyping, technical implementation, SEO and content migration, performance optimization, and launch support, with integration into existing CRM, ERP, and marketing automation systems.
• Campaigns (Kampagnen) Campaign development including brand, image, and product campaigns, target-group and customer analysis, production and creative direction, media planning and execution, success measurement, online advertising, print ads, and digital/out-of-home advertising across 360° online and offline channels.
• Marketing Marketing services including image and product marketing, customer magazines, employee magazines, annual reports, advertising design, photography, content marketing, SEO, and SEA, supporting ongoing client brand and demand-generation needs.
• AI Services (Künstliche Intelligenz) AI-powered creative and strategic services including strategic AI consulting, workshops, creative prompting, LLM text workflows, image generation with diffusion models, on-brand model training for brand-consistent visuals, music and sound generation, and AI-driven business process automation and data analysis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65%+ customer growth for Yareto (from 6,000 to 10,000 car dealers in one year)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability7 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• kempertrautmann: Independent Hamburg creative agency delivering brand strategy, corporate design, and integrated campaigns for corporate clients. Similar full-service scope and size, with comparable DAX-tier client work.
• MetaDesign: German-founded brand consultancy specialized in corporate design, brand strategy, and design systems for large enterprises. Directly comparable to 31M's Corporate Design and Markenberatung offerings.
• Kolle Rebbe: Hamburg-based independent brand and advertising agency known for award-winning corporate design and campaign work. Closely comparable in size, full-service positioning, and design-led brand transformation projects.
• Strichpunkt Design: Stuttgart-based brand and design agency delivering corporate identity, brand strategy, and digital design. Comparable mid-size German full-service design agency competing for similar enterprise brand mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Jung von Matt: Larger German creative network with full-service brand, advertising, and digital capabilities across multiple offices. Comparable to 31M in offering brand strategy, campaigns, and corporate design, but at materially greater scale and geographic reach.
• Serviceplan Group: Europe's largest owner-managed agency group with full-service brand, marketing, and digital communications offerings. Operates in the same full-service creative-agency category as 31M but at a significantly larger scale.
• Scholz & Friends: Established German creative agency group offering brand strategy, corporate design, advertising, and digital services. Overlaps directly with 31M on integrated brand and campaign work for enterprise clients.

Emerging players

• Loved: German creative agency offering branding, content, and campaign work with a strong digital focus. Overlaps with 31M on brand and campaign execution; represents a newer-generation positioning of the same agency category.

Regional players

• Wirz Communications: Swiss-based independent advertising and corporate communications agency with full-service brand and campaign capabilities. Comparable service mix to 31M, but primarily serves the Swiss market.
• Pink Studios: German design and branding studio providing corporate design and brand identity services. Operates in the same niche creative-agency category but typically with a different geographic focus and smaller client roster than 31M.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/31M.Agentur
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/31m

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 31M