Pier9 Gmbh & Co. Kg

What Pier9 Gmbh & Co. Kg does

Pier9 GmbH & Co. KG is a Kiel, Germany-based B2B marketing agency that serves exclusively the IT industry. Founded in 2008 and operating as a German GmbH & Co. KG, the firm provides strategy consulting, full-service marketing, channel marketing, search engine and AI-search visibility services (SEO, AIO/GEO), lead generation, high-performance website development, and content production to IT manufacturers, distributors, and channel partners. Delivery is executed by a hybrid team of six core staff members plus a network of more than ten freelance senior consultants who collectively represent over 100 years of IT marketing experience. The company does not develop or sell any proprietary software product; service delivery relies on standard industry tools such as WordPress, Google Analytics, and LinkedIn Campaign Manager.

Revenue is generated entirely through professional services engagements priced either on a time-and-materials (hourly) basis or as agreed fixed project fees, billed monthly with VAT charged separately. The go-to-market is sales-led and consultative — anchored by direct outreach, strategy workshops, and long-term key-account relationships — and supplemented by inbound demand generated through the pier9.de website, regularly published SEO-optimized content, and an active LinkedIn presence. Pier9 does not operate a self-serve, marketplace, or channel reseller motion.

The customer base spans mid-market and enterprise IT organizations. Named references include Microsoft, Adobe, Bechtle, TD SYNNEX, Mirakl, NFON, PROS, ADN, webhostone, primeone business solutions, IF-Tech AG, IT Improvement, and OTE GmbH. The company cites 565+ cumulative customers over its 15+ year operating history. Pier9 is led by Managing Shareholder Annika Ballies, with Jördis Erich as a member of management, alongside four senior marketing managers covering strategy, AI/SEO, and online marketing disciplines.

Name

Pier9 Gmbh & Co. Kg

Legal name

Pier9 GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://pier9.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pier9 is a Kiel, Germany-based B2B marketing agency specializing exclusively in IT companies, delivering strategy consulting, SEO and AI-search optimization, channel marketing, lead generation, and content services to manufacturers, distributors, and channel partners in the German-speaking market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

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

Revenue model

1. Marketing Consulting and Agency Services: Pier9 generates revenue through billable consulting hours and project-based fixed fees for marketing strategy, web development, SEO, campaign management, and content creation services. According to their AGB (§7), compensation is calculated either by time invested or as an agreed fixed price. Additional services such as revisions and ancillary work are billed separately at prevailing hourly rates. Prices are stated exclusive of VAT.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pier9 is a B2B marketing agency that delivers strategy consulting, full-service marketing, channel marketing, high-performance websites, SEO and AI-search visibility, and lead generation specifically for IT companies (manufacturers, distributors, and IT partners) in the German-speaking market. The agency supplements its campaign work with structured training through the Pier9 Academy covering strategy, LinkedIn, and SEO.

Product overview

Pier9 GmbH & Co. KG is an IT-Marketing agency offering a comprehensive suite of marketing services for IT companies. The core offerings include Full-Service Marketing (strategy consulting, website development, lead generation, and campaigns), Channel Marketing (partner support with co-funding concepts), and specialized IT-Marketing services. Supporting these are dedicated services for performante Webseiten (high-performance websites), Sichtbarkeit in Google und KI (SEO and AI-ready content), Lead-Generierung (lead generation), and Strategieberatung (strategy consulting). The company also offers an Academy with training programs in Strategy, LinkedIn marketing, and SEO. This is a service-based business model, not a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers13 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Verena SzillatminorOthersPart of the extended Pier9 expert network. Over 100 years of combined IT marketing experience across all freelance partners.
• Stefan BihlminorOthersPart of the extended Pier9 expert network. Over 100 years of combined IT marketing experience across all freelance partners.
• Anja PetersenminorOthersPart of the extended Pier9 expert network. Over 100 years of combined IT marketing experience across all freelance partners.
• Bettina GrossminorOthersPart of the extended Pier9 expert network. Over 100 years of combined IT marketing experience across all freelance partners.
• Niko ChotosminorOthersPart of the extended Pier9 expert network. Also credited as the web designer of pier9.de. Over 100 years of combined IT marketing experience across all freelance partners.
• Anja von HöörstenminorOthersPart of the extended Pier9 expert network. Over 100 years of combined IT marketing experience across all freelance partners.
• Kerstin Trümper-KumausminorOthersPart of the extended Pier9 expert network. Over 100 years of combined IT marketing experience across all freelance partners.
• Sabrina WalterminorOthersPart of the extended Pier9 expert network. Over 100 years of combined IT marketing experience across all freelance partners.
• Eva FranzminorOthersPart of the extended Pier9 expert network. Over 100 years of combined IT marketing experience across all freelance partners.
• Nadine KellermannminorOthersPart of the extended Pier9 expert network. Over 100 years of combined IT marketing experience across all freelance partners.
• Maren PokroppaminorOthersFreelance photographer credited for professional photography on pier9.de. Website: www.marenpokroppa.de

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Scholz & Friends: Major German full-service agency with B2B experience. Comparable only at the broad level — overlapping capabilities but not specialized in IT-channel marketing like Pier9.
• Jung von Matt: Large, well-established German creative agency network with broad B2B and B2C capabilities. Represents the scale incumbent Pier9 competes against for larger IT budgets.
• IBM iX (Aperto) Germany: Global digital experience agency with German operations (formerly Aperto), serving enterprise technology clients. Broad incumbent with comparable B2B tech execution capabilities.
• TLGG (Serviceplan Group): Berlin-based digital and technology marketing agency within Serviceplan Group. Larger incumbent with overlapping digital and B2B tech capabilities.

Direct peers

• C3 Creative Code and Content: German B2B marketing and content agency serving enterprise and technology clients. Comparable on integrated strategy, content and digital delivery to mid/large IT buyers.
• Hotzbrand: Germany-based B2B marketing agency focused on IT and technology clients with strategy, content and lead-generation services. Closely comparable to Pier9 on vertical specialization and service mix.
• Sympra: Germany-based PR and B2B content agency with technology clients. Comparable on content-driven B2B tech marketing, though heavier on PR than Pier9.
• moreum GmbH: Germany-based B2B marketing agency with strong IT and channel-marketing focus. Directly comparable on IT-channel specialization and German mid-market client base.
• Palmer Hargreaves (Germany): International B2B marketing agency with a German operation focused on technology and industrial clients. Comparable on B2B tech specialization and project-based consulting model.
• PIA Group: German B2B marketing and communications agency serving technology and industrial clients with strategy, content and digital execution. Comparable mid-size German B2B/tech agency peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pier9

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Pier9 Gmbh & Co. Kg