What Agora Verkehrswende does

Agora Verkehrswende is a Berlin-based, non-partisan, non-profit think tank operating under the legal entity Agora Transport Transformation gGmbH. Founded on July 1, 2016 by Stiftung Mercator and the European Climate Foundation as their joint sole shareholders, the organization is dedicated to advancing climate-neutral mobility in Germany. It serves German federal and state policymakers, municipalities, the transport industry (including rail operators and public transport associations such as Deutsche Bahn and VDV), the scientific community, and civil society. Its team of approximately 25 staff from engineering, economics, urban planning, and political science disciplines produces scientific, politically implementable analyses across electromobility, public transport, freight, infrastructure financing, parking management, and digitalization.

The organization's core outputs are research publications, policy papers, practical guides for municipalities, online tools (including an Electric Vehicle Cost Calculator and Digital Parking Space Control Guide), webinars and discussion series (notably the AgoraStadtgespräch annual conference and the Verkehrswende-Werkstatt workshop series), and a podcast. The technical platform is a standard digital publishing stack using Matomo for web analytics and Mapbox for geographic visualizations, with no proprietary software product or SaaS offering. Distribution is entirely free of charge via the website, newsletter, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Mastodon, and YouTube, supported by an ecosystem of over 75 partner organizations including research institutes, consultancies, and international bodies.

The business model is grant-funded philanthropy rather than commercial revenue. All publications are provided at no charge; no licensing, subscription, or consulting fees are charged to end users. Operating funding flows from the two founding foundations and likely additional project-specific grants (implied by international cooperation programs and third-party collaborations with entities such as SLOCAT and EUKI). The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, relying on stakeholder convening, dialogue facilitation, and content distribution rather than sales activity, with the organization explicitly positioned as scientifically rigorous and politically independent.

Name

Agora Verkehrswende

Legal name

Agora Transport Transformation gGmbH

Website

https://agora-verkehrswende.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Agora Verkehrswende is a Berlin-based, non-profit think tank founded in 2016 by Stiftung Mercator and the European Climate Foundation that produces research, policy guidance, and stakeholder dialogue to advance climate-neutral mobility in Germany for federal and municipal policymakers, the transport industry, and civil society.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transport Policy Research / Think Tank Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Mitigation Programs (Energy, Industry, Transport) (BPADALAC), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Sustainable / Low-Emission Ground Transportation Programs (THACAIAL)

Keywords

• Climate-neutral transport
• Policy research
• Transport think tank
• Mobility transition
• Electromobility policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Funding: Funded by Stiftung Mercator and European Climate Foundation as a non-profit think tank initiative. No commercial revenue model.
2. Research and Policy Consulting: Produces scientifically grounded and politically implementable solutions for climate-neutral transport systems. Publications and analyses are provided free of charge.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Agora Verkehrswende is a non-profit think tank that produces scientifically grounded policy analyses, studies, practical guides, online tools, and stakeholder dialogue formats (webinars, conferences, podcasts) to advance climate-neutral transportation in Germany. Its work is offered free of charge to policymakers, municipalities, industry, science, and civil society, funded by Stiftung Mercator and the European Climate Foundation.

Product overview

Agora Verkehrswende is a policy think tank that functions as a knowledge platform, producing research publications, online tools, event series, and practical guides to advance climate-neutral transportation in Germany. The core offerings include publications and studies analyzing electromobility, parking management, public transport, and freight logistics; the interactive online EV cost comparison tool (Kostenrechner); webinar and discussion series such as the '10 Jahre Verkehrswende' anniversary series and Verkehrswende-Werkstatt format; the Agora podcast; and practical guides for municipalities on implementing digital parking control and other transport measures. The organization does not offer a traditional SaaS product but rather serves as a research and dialogue facilitator between politics, business, science, and civil society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital unterstützte Parkraumkontrolle: Von der Vorbereitung zum Regelbetrieb (Guide for digital parking space control)
• Kostenrechner für Elektrofahrzeuge (Electric Vehicle Cost Calculator)
• 10 Jahre Verkehrswende: Route neu berechnen? (Anniversary discussion series)
• Publikationen und Studien (Research publications and studies)
• AgoraStadtgespräch (Annual flagship conference)
• Verkehrswende-Werkstatt (Workshop discussion series)
• Agora Verkehrswende Podcast

Quantifiable outcome

• Established as primary voice for transport transition policy in Germany
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Becker Büttner Held (BBH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading legal advisory firm for energy and infrastructure companies. Collaborated on legal opinions regarding street traffic law reform and parking space control regulations.
• Stiftung KlimaneutralitätcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate foundation established 2020, working on pathways to climate neutrality. Collaborated on e-mobility promotion studies and expert surveys.
• Reiner Lemoine InstitutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent non-profit research institute focused on 100% renewable energy future. Collaborated on bidirectional charging studies.
• Öko-Institut e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading European independent research consultancy for sustainable future. Collaborated on fleet electrification, company mobility, and battery recycling studies.
• Prognos AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean consultancy advising decision-makers since 1959. Collaborated on comprehensive climate-neutral Germany study and transport transition cost analysis.
• Dezernat Zukunft – Institut für MakrofinanzenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank focused on macroeconomic finance. Participated in transport financing discussions.
• Stiftung KlimaWirtschaftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation of CEOs and executives promoting climate protection. Working on corporate climate strategies.
• Wuppertal InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementation-oriented research institute focused on transformation processes. Major contributor to Klimaneutrales Deutschland study.
• Umweltbundesamt (UBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGermany's central environmental agency. Collaborative partner on transport and environment topics.
• PTV Transport Consult GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGermany's leading transport consultancy. Collaborated on mobility guarantee studies and demand-responsive transport.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental research center. Former employer of Agora team member and collaboration partner.
• Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung (ISI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute for system and innovation research. Listed as research partner.
• Forum EnergiiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish energy think tank. Listed as international partner organization.
• Europäische Klimaschutzinitiative (EUKI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Climate Initiative. Listed as partner organization.
• Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr und KlimaschutzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin Senate Department for Environment, Transport and Climate Protection. Collaborated on bikesharing analysis.
• Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for around 600 public transport and rail freight companies. Key stakeholder in transport policy discussions.
• World Resources Institute (WRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal research organization focused on sustainable cities. Listed as international partner.
• World Economic ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization for public-private cooperation. Listed as partner.
• tippingpoints GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSustainability communication agency. Collaborated on parking space management communication guide.
• SLOCAT PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational multi-stakeholder partnership for sustainable low-carbon transport. Long-term project partner for NDC transport initiatives.
• The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational non-profit energy sustainability experts. Collaborated on distribution grid studies for e-mobility.
• Rechtsanwälte GüntherminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnvironmental and climate law firm. Provided legal assessments on climate protection law.
• RWI – Leibniz-Institut für WirtschaftsforschungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic research institute. Collaborated on vehicle taxation reform studies.
• Sachverständigenrat für Umweltfragen (SRU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental Advisory Council to German government. Collaborated on alternative drives and fuel studies.
• Stiftung GRS BatterienminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit battery recycling foundation. Partner for battery material loop studies.
• PtX Lab LausitzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink-and-do tank for power-to-X market ramp-up. Partner for sustainable shipping studies.
• Transport for Cairo (TfC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic consultancy for sustainable urban mobility. Partner for international mobility projects.
• Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal renewable energy policy network. Listed as international partner.
• Öko-Institut Consult GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary of Öko-Institut. Partner for battery material loop studies.
• PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH (PwC)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMajor consulting and audit firm. Partner for e-bus market studies.
• Rödl & PartnerminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational consulting firm. Partner for passenger transport law projects.
• Wurster Weiß Kupfer Rechtsanwälte (W2K)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInfrastructure law firm. Partner for social aspects of resident parking studies.
• Univ.-Prof. Dr. Viktor Steiner – Freie Universität BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity professor for empirical economic research. Partner for CO2 pricing studies.
• Finanzwissenschaftliches Forschungsinstitut an der Universität zu Köln (FiFo Köln)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic finance research institute. Listed as research partner.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Transport & Environment (T&E): European non-profit advocacy organization focused on cleaner transport policy at EU level. Comparable in mission (climate-neutral transport advocacy), output style (reports, events, media campaigns), and European policy-maker engagement, though T&E is broader geographically and Brussels-based.
• Climate Analytics: International climate science and policy institute. Agora Verkehrswende project leader Marion Vieweg previously led Climate Action Tracker at Climate Analytics; both organizations produce scientifically grounded policy advice for governments and operate at the climate-policy interface.
• Öko-Institut: Germany's leading independent environmental research institute. Agora Verkehrswende's deputy director and director both came from Öko-Institut; it is a documented research partner on fleet electrification, battery recycling, and company mobility studies, and competes for the same policymaker attention.
• Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH): German environmental and consumer protection NGO active in transport policy. Agora Verkehrswende's former freight transport project leader (Urs Maier) worked at DUH from 2011-2016; both engage on air quality, electromobility, and freight topics, and compete for German media and policymaker attention.
• Agora Energiewende: Sister organization under the same Agora Think Tanks umbrella and the same Stiftung Mercator / European Climate Foundation founders. Operates the same non-profit think tank model but focused on energy transition instead of transport; they share governance, branding, and convening approach, and frequently co-publish.
• Wuppertal Institut: German sustainability research institute focused on transformation processes. Co-author with Agora Verkehrswende on the flagship Klimaneutrales Deutschland study and a major contributor to joint transport analyses; operates as a peer in the same policy-research ecosystem.
• International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT): Global non-profit research organization providing technical analysis to regulators on transport decarbonization, especially aviation, shipping, and heavy-duty vehicles. Directly comparable mission, funding model (foundation-backed), and output (technical reports for policymakers).

Regional players

• Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft: German foundation of CEOs and executives promoting corporate climate action. Documented Agora Verkehrswende partner on corporate climate strategies; serves an adjacent mission (climate-policy advocacy) with a different stakeholder base (corporate executives rather than government).

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer ISI: Major German applied research institute covering system and innovation research including transport electrification and energy systems. Listed as an Agora Verkehrswende research partner and competing source of policy-facing research for German and EU institutions.

Emerging players

• SLOCAT Partnership: International multi-stakeholder partnership promoting sustainable low-carbon transport. Documented long-term project partner of Agora Verkehrswende on NDC transport initiatives; shares the climate-transport mission but operates through a coalition model rather than a single think-tank entity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@agoraverkehrswende
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agora-verkehrswende
• Xx.com/agoraverkehr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Agora Verkehrswende