Rotpunktverlag
Rotpunktverlag AG is an independent Swiss publisher founded in 1975 and headquartered in Zurich, producing fiction, critical political non-fiction, and ecologically oriented hiking guidebooks for German-speaking readers in Switzerland and the broader EU market.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Rotpunktverlag does
Rotpunktverlag AG is an independent Swiss publishing house headquartered at Hohlstrasse 86A in Zurich, operating since 1975. The company publishes across three program areas: Belletristik (fiction, including Swiss authors and translations, with the literary sub-label Edition Blau), Sachbücher (critical non-fiction on politics, contemporary history, and social/environmental themes), and Wanderbücher (ecologically oriented hiking and outdoor guidebooks covering Swiss and Alpine regions, with roughly 80 active hiking titles). The catalog features individual authors such as Christoph Keller, Linard Bardill, Flurina Badel, Marcel Hänggi, and Kurt Marti, with book prices ranging from EUR 19 to EUR 45.
The business model combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce through rotpunktverlag.ch, bookstore distribution across Switzerland, the specialized Wanderweb platform for hiking content, and EU distribution via Prolit Verlagsauslieferung GmbH in Germany. Since 1997 the publisher has operated a distinctive shareholder model in which readers subscribe to CHF 500 shares (nominal CHF 50), attracting over 600 shareholders and over CHF 2 million in cumulative equity capital; shareholders receive an annual free book and 25% discount. In 2025, the nonprofit association Verein proBuch was established to provide tax-deductible patronage, and for 2026-2028 the company receives structural contributions from the Swiss Federal Office of Culture. Marketing is conducted via website content, a Mailchimp newsletter, and a book-events circuit across Switzerland.
The technology footprint is conventional for a small publisher: a web e-commerce storefront, Mailchimp newsletter with double opt-in and engagement tracking, and Google Analytics with IP anonymization. The company is privately held with 1-10 employees, has no parent corporation or subsidiaries, and shows no M&A activity, IPO plans, or restructuring events. A 2026 leadership hiring process for the Verlagsleitung role is currently active.
Rotpunktverlag firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rotpunktverlag
- Legal name
- Rotpunktverlag AG
- Website
- https://rotpunktverlag.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Rotpunktverlag AG is an independent Swiss publisher founded in 1975 and headquartered in Zurich, producing fiction, critical political non-fiction, and ecologically oriented hiking guidebooks for German-speaking readers in Switzerland and the broader EU market.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rotpunktverlag industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure Books Publishing (MPAJAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Biography, Memoir & Narrative Nonfiction Publishing (MPAJAAAI)
Keywords
Where Rotpunktverlag is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Rotpunktverlag business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Sales of physical books through direct online orders, bookstore distribution, and events. Books available in German language, with pricing ranging from EUR 19 to EUR 45 depending on format and edition.
- Share Capital: Shares offered to readers for CHF 500 per share (nominal value CHF 50). Over 600 shareholders have invested over CHF 2,000,000 since 1997. Shareholders receive annual free book and 25% discount on purchases.
- Donor Support Programs: The proBuch association (founded 2025) collects donations to support book projects. Supporters can contribute to specific author projects or general publishing activities.
- Structural Funding: Rotpunktverlag receives structural contributions from the Federal Office of Culture for 2026-2028, supporting the independent Swiss publisher.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Book Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Rotpunktverlag product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rotpunktverlag is an independent Swiss book publisher based in Zürich that publishes literary works under the Edition Blau imprint, critical non-fiction on politics and contemporary history, and ecologically-focused hiking and travel guides. The publisher operates a curated catalog of approximately 80 hiking guidebook titles covering Swiss and Alpine regions, alongside Swiss and translated international fiction and non-fiction.
Product overview
Rotpunktverlag is an independent Swiss book publisher based in Zurich, operating for 50 years. The company publishes three main product categories: literature and fiction, non-fiction and political/current affairs books, and hiking/walking guidebooks. The publishing house offers approximately 80 hiking guidebook titles covering Swiss and Alpine regions, literary works by Swiss and translated international authors, and critical non-fiction on politics and environmental topics. The company is supported by a non-profit association (Verein proBuch) and offers shareholder participation opportunities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hotel Roma Novel by Pierre Adrian, a literary homage to Cesare Pavese featuring Italian landscape and culture. Priced at EUR 25.
- Der Verlag Non-fiction book about the Rotpunktverlag publishing house, written by Romana Ganzoni, Samuel Herzog, Lis Künzli, and Karin Rey. Priced at EUR 25.
- Das Schöne, das verloren geht Non-fiction book by Marcel Hänggi exploring themes of loss and change. Priced at EUR 24.
- A13 - Geschichten vom Eilen und Verweilen Collaborative non-fiction work by Linard Bardill and Lorenzo Custer exploring the A13 motorway through philosophical conversations and discoveries. Priced at EUR 32.
- Nennt mich Wellenkamm Futuristic novel by Christoph Keller about desirable and feasible changes for nature, climate, and people to achieve equilibrium. Priced at EUR 29.
- Rund um die Adula Hiking guidebook covering the Blenio Valley, Calanca Valley, and Misox region with 19 day and multi-day hikes. By Bernhard Herold. Priced at EUR 39.
- Unterengadin Hiking guidebook to the Engiadina Bassa region with 28 routes and background topics on geology, flora, and local culture. By Regula Bücheler. Priced at EUR 39.
- Nebelflüchtige Novel by Flurina Badel about a woman returning to her hometown in the Lower Engadine, dealing with themes of alienation and belonging. Priced at EUR 25.
- Reden, um nicht zu ersticken Non-fiction book by Silvia Süess documenting the life story of Uschi Waser, a Jenisch woman whose children were taken by the Pro Juvenile foundation. Priced at EUR 32.
- Eine verfahrene Welt Travel book by François-Henri Désérable documenting a 40-day journey through Iran in late 2022. Priced at EUR 25.
- Tal des Schweigens Non-fiction book by Kurt Marti exposing corruption and political dysfunction in Valais canton. Priced at EUR 29.
- Schmuggellandschaften Walking and reading book exploring historical smuggling routes along the Swiss-Italian border from 1861 to 1975. Priced at EUR 45.
- Afrika fluten Novel by Christoph Keller about the Atlantropa utopia and Swiss colonial practices in the Mediterranean region.
- Benzin aus Luft Reportages and essays by Christoph Keller exploring ideas for an unburned climate future. Priced at EUR 21.
- Übers Meer Novel by Christoph Keller about revolts, biographical ruptures, migration, and love around the turn of the millennium.
- Mein Meister und Bezwinger Novel by François-Henri Désérable, a love story set in Paris involving literature and poetry.
- Winterspuren Guide to winter hiking in Switzerland, exploring threatened landscapes with tour skis, snowboard, or on foot.
- Landschaft Erlebnis Reisen Collection on near-natural tourism in Swiss parks and UNESCO sites, exploring nature-based travel opportunities. Priced at EUR 33.
Companies that use Rotpunktverlag
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Rotpunktverlag technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Rotpunktverlag partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Prolit Verlagsauslieferung GmbHcoreGerman distribution partner handling book distribution within the European Union. Located at Siemensstraße 16, 35463 Fernwald, Germany. Contact: [email protected]
- SWIPS – Swiss Independent PublishersminorRotpunktverlag is a member of SWIPS, the association of Swiss independent publishers.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rotpunktverlag competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Diogenes Verlag: Long-established independent Swiss publisher known for literary fiction and crime novels. Comparable independent-publisher model and author-driven literary programming, though at a larger scale.
- Droschl Verlag: Austrian independent publisher of contemporary literature, non-fiction, and translations. Comparable independent small-publisher model serving the German-speaking literary market.
- Nagel & Kimche: Swiss independent literary publisher based in Zurich publishing fiction, non-fiction, and translations. Direct comparable on the literary/belletristik side of Rotpunktverlag's catalog.
- Wagenbach Verlag: Independent German publisher focused on literature, political essays, and non-fiction. Highly comparable editorial profile, including politically engaged non-fiction and translated literary works.
- Rotbuch Verlag: Berlin-based independent publisher of political non-fiction, essays, and literary fiction. Comparable politically engaged, independent editorial profile and German-language market focus.
- edition text + kritik: Independent German publisher specializing in critical non-fiction, music, and cultural theory. Closely matches Rotpunktverlag's political and critical non-fiction programming.
- Limmat Verlag: Zurich-based independent Swiss publisher of political non-fiction, contemporary history, and literary works. Closely comparable profile to Rotpunktverlag's non-fiction and fiction programs, operating in the same cultural and political niche.
- Bergverlag Rother: German-language specialist in hiking and mountaineering guidebooks. The most direct comparable to Rotpunktverlag's Wanderbücher program, sharing the German-language Alpine hiking-guide category.
Broad incumbents
- Carl Hanser Verlag: Established German-language publisher of literary fiction, non-fiction, and technical works. Overlaps with Rotpunktverlag on literary and non-fiction titles but at significantly larger scale and with a broader portfolio.
- Verlag Klaus Wagenbach: Independent Berlin publisher with a broader cultural, literary, and political catalog. Larger and more established than Rotpunktverlag, but shares the independent left-of-center cultural-publisher identity.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rotpunktverlag social profiles
Digital presenceRotpunktverlag compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Rotpunktverlag financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rotpunktverlag leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Rotpunktverlag funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rotpunktverlag M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rotpunktverlag
What does Rotpunktverlag do?
Rotpunktverlag is an independent Swiss book publisher based in Zürich that publishes literary works under the Edition Blau imprint, critical non-fiction on politics and contemporary history, and ecologically-focused hiking and travel guides. The publisher operates a curated catalog of approximately 80 hiking guidebook titles covering Swiss and Alpine regions, alongside Swiss and translated international fiction and non-fiction.
Is Rotpunktverlag a public or private company?
Rotpunktverlag is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Rotpunktverlag founded?
Rotpunktverlag was founded in 1975. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Rotpunktverlag based?
Rotpunktverlag is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Rotpunktverlag make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are share Capital, donor Support Programs and structural Funding.
Who are Rotpunktverlag's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Diogenes Verlag, Droschl Verlag, Nagel & Kimche, Wagenbach Verlag, Rotbuch Verlag, edition text + kritik, Limmat Verlag and Bergverlag Rother. Broad incumbents are Carl Hanser Verlag and Verlag Klaus Wagenbach.
Does Rotpunktverlag have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rotpunktverlag.
What industry is Rotpunktverlag in?
Rotpunktverlag's product category is Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAH, Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure Books Publishing, with a secondary code of MPAJAAAI, Biography, Memoir & Narrative Nonfiction Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.