What Tanktank Gmbh does

TankTank GmbH is a Hamburg-based independent creative advertising agency founded in 2017 that operates a 'ProjectTank' model delivering integrated creative, media, and production services to mid-to-large German consumer brands. The agency is organized around cross-functional expert teams assembled per project, combining strategy, campaign creation, social media, design, film/video production, media planning/buying, and AI-assisted content creation under a flat hierarchy with no traditional agency management layers. Revenue is generated on a professional-services basis through project fees, production fees, and retainer mandates. Named clients span sustainable food brands (followfood, Bioland, Neumarkter Lammsbräu), insurance (Allianz Direct, HUK24), healthcare (DrAnsay, USG, DGU), retail (Reformhaus, EAT HAPPY), loyalty programs (DeutschlandCard), and adjacent categories such as automotive (BMW Motorrad) and pet food (Schnauze & Co.).

The agency's core technology stack centers on its ProductionTank unit, which uses generative AI tools (Higgsfield, Krea, Gemini, Artlist, Nano Banana, Midjourney, Firefly, ChatGPT) integrated with traditional film and photography production. TankTank evaluates AI versus traditional production on a per-brief basis, using hybrid or fully synthetic methods where they best serve the idea. ProductionTank has produced self-promotional showcase projects (Alkenvogel, Bonaparte) demonstrating state-of-the-art AI video generation. The agency co-develops proprietary brands with clients (Schnauze & Co., CoverMyAss, Wildwood), introducing an equity-adjacent revenue line.

TankTank is privately held with no external institutional investors. The founding partners Stefan Zschaler (Strategy/Creation) and Patrick Plogstedt (Client Services) are Geschäftsführer per Handelsregister Hamburg HRB 144618; Alex Butaud joined as third Partner in 2019. The leadership team has expanded materially through 2025-2026 with the additions of Florentin Hock as Partner Creative (July 2025, ex-CCO KNSK), Lara von Kroge as Client Service Director (June 2025, ex-Philipp und Keuntje), Leonard Albino as Head of Media (October 2025, ex-TLGG), and Frank Lotze as Partner (April 2026, ex-CEO BBDO Group Germany and Vorstand Jung von Matt). The company operates from a single Hamburg office (Lehmweg 10b, Eppendorf) serving DACH-region clients and has accumulated a strong award track record including ADC Rookie Agency of the Year 2021/2022, Effie Bronze, DDA Gold 2023, and Max Award Gold & Best in Show 2026.

Name

Tanktank Gmbh

Legal name

TankTank GmbH

Website

https://tanktank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TankTank is a Hamburg-based independent creative agency founded in 2017 that delivers integrated brand, campaign, and AI-assisted production services to mid-to-large German consumer brands across sustainable food, insurance, healthcare, and retail verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Creative Agency Services (Project Fees): TankTank operates as a full-service creative agency billing clients on project fees for campaigns, social media management, brand development, design, production, and AI-assisted content creation. Clients include sustainable brands (followfood, Bioland), insurers (Allianz Direct, HUK24), healthcare platforms (DrAnsay, Reformhaus), breweries, and others. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts, retainer arrangements for ongoing mandates (e.g., Herforder social media), and production fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TankTank GmbH is a Hamburg-based full-service creative advertising agency that develops brand strategy, advertising campaigns, design, social media content, film/video production, and AI-assisted content for German consumer and corporate brands. The agency operates on a project-tank model, assembling cross-disciplinary expert teams (strategy, creation, media, social media, design, production, AI) for each client engagement.

Product overview

TankTank is a Hamburg-based creative advertising agency founded in 2017 by Stefan Zschaler (Strategy/Creation) and Patrick Plogstedt (Client Service). The agency operates under the 'Let's Impact' philosophy and offers integrated communications services that break traditional agency silos by combining strategy, creation, design, social media, media, film/production, and AI production under one roof. The agency organizes work around 'ProjectTanks' — multidisciplinary teams assembled for each project. Core service offerings include Brand Development & Strategy, Campaign Creation, Social Media Services, Design Services, Film & Video Production, ProductionTank (AI Production), and Media Services. The agency also co-develops proprietary brands with clients. Current clients include sustainable brands (followfood, Bioland, Lammsbräu, Reformhaus), digital health platforms (DrAnsay), insurance brands (Allianz Direct, HUK24), loyalty programs (DeutschlandCard), and others. The agency employs approximately 20 people and has won multiple industry awards including ADC Rookie Agency of the Year, German Digital Award Gold, Effie Bronze, and Max Award Gold & Best in Show.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TankTank Creative Agency Services Full-service creative advertising agency mandate covering strategy, campaign development, brand design, social media, film/video production, media planning and buying, and AI-powered content creation for B2C and B2B clients in Germany.
• Brand Development and Strategy Brand strategy, positioning, and identity development delivered as a standalone mandate combining strategy with creation, media, and production under one roof.
• Campaign Creation End-to-end advertising campaign concept and execution across digital, social, OOH, TV, and PR channels for client brands.
• Social Media Services Social media content strategy, creation, and management across Instagram, YouTube, Meta, and other platforms, available as retainer mandates (e.g., Herforder brewery).
• Design Services Visual design, layout, brand identity, and packaging design services spanning campaign visuals, branded content, and retail packaging (e.g., followfood 130+ SKU redesign).
• Film and Video Production Video production for commercials, social content, branded entertainment, and documentaries, including AI-assisted and hybrid production methods.
• ProductionTank (AI Production) AI-powered content production unit specializing in generative video, image, and text content creation using Higgsfield, Krea, Gemini, Artlist, Nano Banana, and other AI tools, with demonstrated campaigns including Alkenvogel and Bonaparte self-promotional spots.
• Media Services Integrated media planning and buying combining creative strategy with media execution across digital, social, and traditional media channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• TankTank ranked 15th in ADC Germany creative ranking (2022)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FC Schalke 04minorOthers · 1 January 2026Frank Lotze, who joined TankTank as Partner in April 2026, is additionally engaged as Aufsichtsrat (supervisory board member) and Gesellschafter (shareholder) of FC Schalke 04. This is not a TankTank partnership per se but reflects Frank's advisory role.
• cherrypicker GmbHminorOthers · 1 January 2026cherrypicker GmbH acted as pitch advisor (Hamburger Pitchberatung) in the EAT HAPPY new agency selection process, advising on the pitch structure before TankTank won the account.
• Bayer AGcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Bayer AG supported the Urologische Stiftung Gesundheit 'Wunder Punkt' prostate cancer awareness campaign (as a pharmaceutical company with relevant therapeutic interest) and also supported the 2026 'Dämme dein Krebsrisiko' USG prostate cancer awareness campaign.
• Astellas PharmaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Astellas Pharma supported the Urologische Stiftung Gesundheit 'Wunder Punkt' campaign for prostate cancer awareness.
• Johnson & JohnsoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Johnson & Johnson supported the 2026 'Dämme dein Krebsrisiko' USG campaign targeting men aged 45+ for prostate cancer screening, with OOH placements in OBI and hagebaumarkt DIY stores.
• OBI (Baumarkt)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025OBI, Germany's leading DIY retailer, served as the campaign environment for the USG 'Dämme dein Krebsrisiko' prostate cancer campaign — targeting men in DIY mode with OOH and digital screens in OBI stores and parking lots.
• hagebauminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025hagebau, a German DIY retailer chain, served alongside OBI as the campaign environment for the USG prostate cancer awareness campaign targeting DIY-affine men.
• Jan FrodenocoreOthers · 1 January 2025Olympic triathlon champion Jan Frodeno serves as ambassador for the Desjoyaux Pool School campaign, helping the brand refresh its image while addressing the decline in children's swimming education in Germany.
• @das.leben.des.brian (Brian Jakubowski)minorOthers · 1 January 2025YouTube influencer Brian Jakubowski (@das.leben.des.brian) is the Bioland 'Influencer-Dummie' translating the seven Bioland principles to a broad social media audience as part of the Die 7 Prinzipien campaign.
• Tanja Bülter, Curly, Herzensdoc Nana, Paula LambertminorOthers · 1 January 2025Media personalities and influencers supporting the DrAnsay 'Einfach so gesund' campaign with edukative content, adding credibility and reach across health and lifestyle audiences.
• CAPO (Cem Anhan)minorOthers · 1 January 2025German rapper CAPO (brother of Haftbefehl) starred in the DrAnsay CANNABE documentary, moderating conversations about medical cannabis with an apothecary, doctor, historian, grower, and patient, bridging music culture with medical education.
• Sharky SchwimmschuleminorOthers · 1 January 2025Sharky Schwimmschule (swimming school) partnered with Desjoyaux and Jan Frodeno in the Pool School initiative to teach children to swim across Desjoyaux's 64 German locations.
• Hamburg School of Ideas (Texterschmiede)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Hamburg School of Ideas (Texterschmiede) is a creative education institution where TankTank partner Stefan Zschaler previously trained, and which he now serves as Vorstand (board member). The institution served as a pipeline for talent and creative inspiration for TankTank.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• kempertrautmann GmbH: Hamburg-based independent creative agency of similar size, offering integrated brand strategy, creation, and digital work for German mid-to-large brands. Highly comparable on geography, independence, and integrated-service positioning to TankTank.
• Thjnk AG: Hamburg-based independent creative agency offering integrated brand strategy and campaigns. Directly comparable on geography, independence, and mid-to-large brand target segment.
• HEIMAT: Berlin-based independent creative agency known for integrated campaigns and production work for German consumer brands. Comparable on independence, integrated offering, and similar mid-market brand targets.
• Grabarz & Partner: Hamburg-based independent creative agency with integrated brand strategy, campaign creation, and design work for major German brands. Comparable on city, independent ownership, and integrated-service model.
• KNSK GmbH: Hamburg-based independent creative agency where TankTank's Florentin Hock was previously CCO and shareholder. Directly comparable on city, scale, and independent-creative positioning; KNSK serves as the natural reference point for TankTank's talent pipeline.
• Scholz & Volkmer GmbH: Independent German creative agency offering brand strategy, design, and digital work for mid-to-large German clients. Comparable on integrated service offering and independent positioning.
• Philipp und Keuntje GmbH: Hamburg-based independent creative agency where TankTank's Lara von Kroge previously led consulting for nearly 10 years (Audi, LinkedIn, Henkel). Comparable on geography, mid-market positioning, and integrated creative offering.
• Antoni: Berlin-based independent creative agency with integrated brand, campaign, and production work for major German and European brands. Comparable on independent ownership, integrated service model, and creative-award positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Jung von Matt: Major Hamburg-headquartered creative network and former employer of TankTank Partner Frank Lotze (CEO JvM 1999–2009) and Florentin Hock (Group Creative Director 7+ years). Directly comparable on city, talent DNA, and creative reputation; substantially larger in scale.
• Scholz & Friends: Established German creative agency network and former employer of Florentin Hock. Comparable on German market footprint and integrated campaign capability; larger scale and broader geographic reach than TankTank.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tanktankcreativity
• Facebookfacebook.com/TankTankCreativity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tanktankfilm
• Instagraminstagram.com/tanktankcreativity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Tanktank Gmbh