The NODE Institute
The NODE Institute is a Berlin-based, bootstrapped education provider offering online and in-person courses in visual programming (TouchDesigner, VVVV gamma) and creative computation, serving a global long tail of artists, freelancers, students, and studios via tiered fair pricing and a Discord-driven community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The NODE Institute does
The NODE Institute is a Berlin-based private educational institution, legally organized as Brüll & Kraus GbR and run by co-founders David Brüll and Stefan Kraus. The institute delivers structured online and in-person education in visual programming and creative computation, built around two anchor platforms — TouchDesigner (by Derivative) and VVVV gamma — and extended by a "Toolkit" track covering ComfyUI, Cables.GL, Chataigne, Wekinator, and VCV Rack. The curriculum spans beginner through professional levels and addresses topics including real-time graphics, generative art, projection mapping, GLSL shader programming, audio-reactive visuals, modular synthesis, and data visualization. Courses are delivered live via Zoom with recordings retained for at least one year, supplemented by per-course Discord channels and a monthly community meetup (TouchDesigner Roundtable Berlin, currently in its 36th edition).
The business model is a tiered, self-serve direct-to-consumer course catalog. Pricing is structured as a fair-pricing model with three self-selected tiers — Student (35-130 EUR per module), Professional (55-250 EUR), and Company (100-400 EUR) — with seasonal bundles offering 10-25% discounts and comprehensive beginner-to-professional packages reaching 400-3,200 EUR. Ancillary revenue comes from Roundtable Berlin supporter tickets (8-64 EUR), Creative Masterclasses, and a small number of in-person workshops at the Berlin headquarters (Wipperstr. 13) and external venues (Piemont retreat). Distribution is entirely direct via thenodeinstitute.org, with PayPal as the payment processor including a Pay Later option.
The customer base is a long tail of individual creators, freelancers, students, and design studios across global markets, with named strategic partnerships concentrated among platform vendors (Derivative, VVVV), creative technology studios (Refik Anadol Studio), festivals (The Sixth Sense Festival, Bright Festival Connect), and academic institutions (St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig). The institute is bootstrapped with no disclosed funding, parent company, or external ownership, and operates without proprietary technology — its competitive position rests on its content library, instructor network, and community ecosystem rather than on a defensible technology stack.
The NODE Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The NODE Institute
- Legal name
- Brüll & Kraus GbR
- Website
- https://thenodeinstitute.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The NODE Institute is a Berlin-based, bootstrapped education provider offering online and in-person courses in visual programming (TouchDesigner, VVVV gamma) and creative computation, serving a global long tail of artists, freelancers, students, and studios via tiered fair pricing and a Discord-driven community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The NODE Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative Technology Education
- NAICS
- Computer Training (611420), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coding & Programming Learning Platforms (EDAFANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Project- & Inquiry-Based Digital Learning Modules (EDAFACAD), Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD), Text-Based Programming (Python, Java, C/C++) (EDAMACAB)
Keywords
Where The NODE Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The NODE Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Online Course Sales: The primary revenue stream comes from selling individual online courses and seasonal course bundles. Courses are priced with tiered options (Student, Professional, Company) ranging from free workshops to 1,440 EUR for comprehensive beginner classes. Individual modules typically range from 35-250 EUR, with professional-level courses and bundles reaching 400-3,200 EUR. All courses are delivered via Zoom live sessions with recordings available for at least one year.
- Event Tickets and Meetup Support: Revenue is generated from TouchDesigner Roundtable Berlin events, with supporter tiers ranging from 8-64 EUR. These community events also serve as a marketing channel for course enrollment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Student tier - Full-time students and personal project learners |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Professional tier - Freelancers using tools professionally |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Company tier - Employer-sponsored participants |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Professional tier - Intermediate TD course (Biological Data Visualization) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | VVVV MIDI & Sequencing Tools course |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Interactive Sketches with VVVV self-paced course |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Modular Sound & VCV Rack course (2 sessions) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Seasonal Bundle Packages with Discounts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
The NODE Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The NODE Institute delivers live and self-paced online courses, in-person workshops, and community events teaching visual programming and creative computation using platforms such as TouchDesigner and VVVV. Programs span beginner through professional levels and are supplemented by Discord-based community support, recording archives, and instructor-led creative masterclasses targeting creators working in real-time graphics, interactive installations, and audiovisual performances.
Product overview
The NODE Institute offers a multi-tiered educational platform focused on applied creative computation through visual programming. The core offerings center on two primary platforms: TouchDesigner and VVVV (both available as Beginner, Intermediate, and Professional levels), supplemented by the NODE Toolkit track covering complementary creative tools like ComfyUI, Cables.GL, Chataigne, and Wekinator. The institute also offers Creative Masterclasses for intensive project-based learning and community events including TouchDesigner Roundtable Berlin. Courses are delivered through live Zoom sessions with recordings, supported by Discord community access, and are available at student, professional, and company pricing tiers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TouchDesigner Beginner Class
- TouchDesigner Intermediate Class An advanced course for participants with TouchDesigner experience, offering specialized modules on audio reactivity, data sonification, projection mapping, and GLSL shader programming.
- TouchDesigner Professional
- VVVV Beginner Class
- VVVV Intermediates Advanced VVVV sessions covering rendering, GPU programming, Stride game engine, FUSE library, shader programming, and real-time graphics techniques for students with basic VVVV knowledge.
- Modular Sound & VCV Rack for Visual Artists A two-session course teaching modular audio synthesis fundamentals using VCV Rack 2 and demonstrating real-time audio-visual connections with TouchDesigner and VVVV, covering signal flow, oscillators, filters, envelopes, and cross-platform integration.
- NODE Toolkit A supplementary course track exploring complementary tools including ComfyUI (generative AI), Cables.GL (web visual programming), Chataigne (unified control environment), Wekinator (gesture control with ML), and Spatial Audio workflows.
- Creative Masterclasses Intensive programs led by experienced artists combining technical skill teaching with design and creation guidance, including topics like Generative Choreography and Content Creation for Immersive Art Spaces.
- TouchDesigner Intermediates Bundle A bundle of 16 weekly online sessions covering advanced TouchDesigner topics including motion tracking, GLSL shaders, physics simulation, sensor integration, LED mapping, particle systems, and projection mapping, with a 20% discount compared to individual modules.
- TouchDesigner Roundtable Berlin Monthly community meetup bringing together TouchDesigner users and interactive media art professionals for presentations, networking, and knowledge exchange in Berlin, with supporter ticket tiers of 8-64 EUR.
Quantifiable outcome
- Participants develop skills to create real-time graphics, interactive installations, and audiovisual performances
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The NODE Institute
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The NODE Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The NODE Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.
- Fachhochschule St. Pölten (St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences)minorSponsored the free 'Mastering Transformations and Spaces in Computer Graphics' workshop by Matthias Husinsky. Collaboration with vvvv and The NODE Institute for this educational offering.
- NODE ForumcoreNODE Forum is listed as one of The NODE Institute's main partners. NODE Forum appears to be a community organization related to visual programming, likely the broader community initiative supporting vvvv and related technologies.
- VVVV (Visual Programming)coreVVVV is listed as one of The NODE Institute's main partners. VVVV is the visual programming environment that forms one of the core teaching platforms for the institute, alongside TouchDesigner.
- TouchDesigner (Derivative)coreDerivative (creator of TouchDesigner) is listed as one of The NODE Institute's main partners. TouchDesigner is the primary teaching platform for the institute. The partnership may include discounts on TouchDesigner licenses for students.
- The Sixth Sense FestivalminorListed as one of The NODE Institute's main partners. This appears to be a festival focused on creative technology or media art.
- Refik Anadol StudiomajorRefik Anadol Studio is listed as one of The NODE Institute's main partners. The studio is a prominent creative technology practice known for data-driven installations and artworks. This connection positions NODE as connected to top-tier creative technology work.
- Derivative (TouchDesigner)majorDerivative offers a $200 discount on TouchDesigner commercial/professional licenses for students who complete NODE Institute courses, recognizing individuals who have invested in their TouchDesigner education.
- Bright Festival ConnectminorCollaborated with Stefan Kraus (NODE co-founder) and Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig for the 'Content Creation for Immersive Art Spaces' Creative Masterclass in Winter 2023/24.
- Kunstkraftwerk LeipzigminorCollaborated for the 'Content Creation for Immersive Art Spaces' Creative Masterclass, providing venue and partnership for hands-on immersive content creation education.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The NODE Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Domestika: Large online creative courses marketplace launched originally in Spain with strong illustration/design coverage. Peer because both operate creator-led online learning for creative professionals with cohort-style courses and global reach; Domestika sits at a much larger scale.
- Coursera: Large-scale online education platform with university-affiliated and partner-led courses spanning computer programming, data visualization, and creative tech. Peer because Coursera represents the scale end of the same computer-training/coding-education category where NODE competes.
- Skillshare: Subscription-based online learning marketplace for creative and tech skills (illustration, animation, coding). Peer because both serve self-paying creative lifelong-learners with structured video courses and instructor-led projects at overlapping price points.
Direct peers
- Kadenze: Online learning platform offering creator-led courses in creative arts and technology (music, visual art, programming). Direct peer because both monetize cohort/cohort-style creator-led creative-tech courses with a community dimension, addressing the same overlap of artists and programmers that NODE targets with TouchDesigner/VVVV.
- CGMA (Computer Graphics Master Academy): Online school offering mentor-led courses in animation, VFX, and games. Peer because both are practitioner-led online schools serving CG/real-time artists with structured courses and a seasonal catalog model aimed at working creatives.
- Gray Area: San Francisco-based nonprofit that runs short courses, workshops, and a cultural program in creative coding and technology-driven art (Processing, openFrameworks, ML). Peer because both operate at the intersection of art, code, and education with hands-on, instructor-led formats.
- fxphd (fxguide Training): Online training platform for high-end visual effects and production tools. Peer because both sell practitioner-led subscription/online courses to professionals and aspiring pros in niche creative software categories with similar pricing and cohort/community structures.
- School of Machines Making & Make Believe: Berlin-based independent school running short-format, artist-led programs and residencies around creative technology, critical code, and media arts. Highly comparable to NODE because it is a small Berlin-based alternative education operator serving an artist/programmer audience with project-based formats and a strong community angle.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The NODE Institute social profiles
Digital presenceThe NODE Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The NODE Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The NODE Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The NODE Institute 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 The NODE Institute
What does The NODE Institute do?
The NODE Institute delivers live and self-paced online courses, in-person workshops, and community events teaching visual programming and creative computation using platforms such as TouchDesigner and VVVV. Programs span beginner through professional levels and are supplemented by Discord-based community support, recording archives, and instructor-led creative masterclasses targeting creators working in real-time graphics, interactive installations, and audiovisual performances.
Is The NODE Institute a public or private company?
The NODE Institute is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The NODE Institute founded?
The NODE Institute was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The NODE Institute based?
The NODE Institute is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does The NODE Institute make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Online Course Sales are the primary driver. The others are event Tickets and Meetup Support.
Who are The NODE Institute's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Domestika, Coursera and Skillshare. Direct peers are Kadenze, CGMA (Computer Graphics Master Academy), Gray Area, fxphd (fxguide Training) and School of Machines Making & Make Believe.
Does The NODE Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for The NODE Institute.
What industry is The NODE Institute in?
The NODE Institute's product category is Creative Technology Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFANAA, Coding & Programming Learning Platforms, with a secondary code of EDAFACAD, Project- & Inquiry-Based Digital Learning Modules. Its NAICS code is 611420 and its SIC code is 8200.