What includi does

includi is a privately held Dutch design consultancy, headquartered at Boumaboulevard 65 in Groningen, that specializes in designing "third places" — inclusive, community-centered public spaces such as libraries, cultural centers, schools, theaters, government buildings, healthcare hubs, and hospitality venues. The firm was founded by architect Aat Vos and operates under a proprietary six-phase methodology called the INPACT model (Imagine, Navigate, Position, Artify, Construct, Test), which embeds end-user participation at every stage of project development. includi supplements this methodology with proprietary card-game-based engagement tools used in workshops to scale stakeholder input across hundreds of users, and with a published thought-leadership body, including the 2025 book "Come, Stay, Grow" and the includi Academy masterclass series.

The company's commercial offering is organized into three service pillars: 3rd Place Consultancy (Creative Guide, Plug-in tender-partner support, and Blueprint feasibility studies), 3rd Place Participation (user research, team and partner collaboration, and location/social-infrastructure analysis), and 3rd Place Design (Recycle renovations, Classic full execution, and Experience transformations). It also operates a direct-to-consumer product shop selling the book, card games, and merchandise. All services are delivered through direct B2B engagements with municipalities, library organizations, cultural institutions, government bodies, and a small number of enterprise clients.

Revenue is project-based professional services fees, with pricing set per engagement according to scope, size, and engagement model; no public pricing exists and no revenue figures are disclosed. Go-to-market is consultative and relationship-driven, supplemented by tender participation, project-portfolio showcasing, and educational content (blog, keynotes, newsletter, Academy). includi serves clients primarily across the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, with additional projects in Iceland, Palestine, and Bonaire, and operates through multi-firm consortia with architectural partners such as MARS Interieurarchitecten, Pell Architekten Köln, Lund + Slaatto Arkitekter, and Dok Architecten.

Name

includi

Legal name

includi

Website

https://includi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

includi is a Dutch design consultancy that designs inclusive "third places" — libraries, cultural centers, civic buildings, and schools — for European public institutions, using its proprietary INPACT methodology and card-game stakeholder engagement tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

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. Design Consultancy Services: includi generates revenue through professional design consultancy engagements, including interior design, spatial design, and art direction for public third places. Revenue is project-based, varying by scope, scale, and engagement model (Consultancy, Plug-in, or Blueprint).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

includi is a B2B design consultancy that creates inclusive 'third places' — public-facing spaces such as libraries, schools, theaters, offices, healthcare facilities, and mixed-use developments — for municipalities and public institutions across Europe. The company delivers three service pillars (Consultancy, Plug-in, Blueprint; Participation; Design) using its proprietary INPACT methodology, and also sells books and card games through its online shop.

Product overview

includi is a design consultancy specializing in 'third places' — spaces like libraries, schools, theaters, and offices where people feel welcome and connected. The company offers a portfolio of physical products including the 'Come, Stay, Grow' book (available in Dutch, English, and German) and proprietary card games used in workshops. Their service offerings are built around the INPACT Model methodology (Imagine, Navigate, Position, Artify, Construct, Test) and include three core service pillars: 3rd Place Consultancy Services (spanning Creative Guide, Plug-in, and Blueprint offerings), 3rd Place Participation Services (covering user research, team collaboration, and location analysis), and 3rd Place Design Services (including Recycle, Classic, and Experience approaches). They also operate an Academy providing training in third place design. The company works across multiple typologies including libraries, museums, government/civic spaces, healthcare, hotels, and mixed-use developments, primarily serving clients in the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, and other European countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3rd Place Consultancy Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Libraries redesigning as third places saw 73% increase in visitors coming to relax; 125% average rise in visitor numbers; 89% more diversity among visitors
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MARS InterieurarchitectencoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerincludi partners with MARS Interieurarchitecten on several public library projects, including OBA Bijlmerplein (Amsterdam) and Bibliotheek Alphen Centrum. MARS provides architectural interior design expertise while includi contributes third-place design methodology and participatory design processes.
• Artisan Tech AScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtisan Tech AS built the bespoke, experience-driven interior elements for the Data Lab University of Stavanger, including submersible deep-water diving chambers and Victorian-style control room features. Their craftsmanship is essential to realizing includi's experiential design vision.
• Lund + Slaatto ArkitektercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLund + Slaatto Arkitekter (Oslo) won the architecture contest for the Ulstein Library building; includi was brought in as co-creator for the interior design, collaborating closely with the architects and library staff to shape the interior vision.
• Dok Architecten (Dok Delft)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerincludi collaborated with Dok Architecten Studio Noun on the DOK Delft OPEN project, which merged library, art school, and music school under one roof. includi had previously designed DOK's award-winning interior in 2008.
• Julia Bergmann Training & ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJulia Bergmann worked with includi and the Kinderbibliothek Gütersloh team, providing Design Thinking training to help the library team gain deeper insight into their users during the design process.
• Remke Partner Innenarchitekten mbBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRemke Partner Innenarchitekten mbB (Lena Dohrmann B.A.) handled the tender process and job site coordination for the Bibliothek Weyhe project, executing includi's interior design concept.
• Pell Architekten KölncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPell Architekten Köln is the architecture firm collaborating with includi and MARS Interieurarchitecten on the 6,500 m² Stadtbibliothek Köln renovation project, elaborating implementation plans for the interior concept.
• FAR (architect)minorStrategic or Co-development Partnerincludi worked with FARO, the architect of the Bibliotheek Uithoorn building, during a workshop week to define the library's vision and design direction.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: Norwegian-headquartered international architecture practice with a strong cultural and library portfolio (e.g., Alexandria Library, Deichman Bjørvika, Oslo). Broad incumbent operating in the same civic/cultural space.
• SHoP Architects: US-based architecture firm with cultural and civic projects including library work. Broad incumbent in public-architecture with overlapping cultural-civic client base.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Danish-headquartered international architecture firm with cultural and civic commissions globally. Broad incumbent with library-adjacent work (e.g., Helsinki Central Library Oodi), competing for the same high-profile civic mandates.

Direct peers

• John McAslan + Partners: UK-based architecture practice with an established library and cultural-civic portfolio (e.g., The Hive Worcester, Borough Market). Directly comparable as a specialist in public-library architecture serving civic clients.
• Mecanoo: Dutch architecture firm internationally renowned for library design (e.g., Library of Birmingham, Delft University Library). Most directly comparable peer — same Dutch base, same public-library specialism, similar third-place philosophy.
• Pell Architekten Köln: German architecture firm collaborating with includi on the Stadtbibliothek Köln flagship renovation. Comparable German peer focused on public-cultural architecture, often in delivery-partner roles.
• KAAN Architecten: Dutch architecture firm with strong public-building and cultural-institution portfolio (e.g., Museum of Ethnography, Amsterdam Court of Appeal). Directly comparable Dutch peer operating in the same public-civic segment.
• MARS Interieurarchitecten: Dutch interior-architecture firm partnering with includi on OBA Bijlmerplein and Bibliotheek Alphen Centrum. Closely comparable peer offering public-sector interior design for libraries and civic spaces.
• Lund + Slaatto Arkitekter: Norwegian architecture firm that has collaborated with includi on the Ulstein Library project. Directly comparable for Norwegian civic and cultural architecture, often in partnership roles similar to includi's position.
• Schmidt Hammer Lassen: Danish architecture firm (now part of Perkins&Will) with a globally recognized library portfolio including the Aarhus Dokk1 and Halifax Central Library. Directly comparable for public-library and civic design at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aatvos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 includi