What GRÜNSTATTGRAU does

GRÜNSTATTGRAU Forschungs- und Innovations-GmbH is an Austrian competence center for building greening (Dachbegrünung, Fassadenbegrünung, Innenraumbgrünung) headquartered in Vienna and owned by the Verband für Bauwerksbegrünung (VfB), a non-profit industry association. Founded in 2017 with a team of 1–10, the firm operates across five interlocking service lines: (1) subscription-based network partnerships with industry visibility through an online portal, (2) professional consulting built on a freemium GREENGING CHECK feasibility analysis that funnels into paid advisory work, (3) modular training and qualification programs for greening advisors, (4) expert product certification under VfB criteria (twice yearly), and (5) events and excursions. It also develops proprietary physical assets — notably the BeRTA modular green facade system and the MUGLI mobile exhibition unit — and publishes the Green Market Report Austria and a searchable database of experts, projects, and products.

The technology stack centers on applied building greening know-how rather than software: green roof and facade systems, substrate/drainage/irrigation integration, and PV+green roof combinations (e.g., Optigrün-Solar systems deployed at scale by Graz Holding at 3,600 m² and at Kindergarten Neulengbach at 924.65 m²). Business model mechanics combine annual recurring partnership subscriptions, per-project consulting fees, training enrollment fees, certification fees, and event ticket revenue, supplemented by grant-funded research through the BMK 'Stadt der Zukunft' (City of the Future) program and FFG. Customer segments are diversified across B2B greening professionals, property owners/developers, industry suppliers, municipalities (15+ Austrian city partners including Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck), and research institutions including BOKU Wien.

The firm's growth is structurally anchored to public funding cycles, association governance under VfB, and regulatory integration rather than venture capital or external equity, with 15+ Austrian city partnerships, international visibility through the Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform (2,000+ members, 90+ countries), and a recent CO2-Countdown-Award (2026) reinforcing its position as Austria's designated knowledge hub in the building greening sector.

Name

GRÜNSTATTGRAU

Legal name

GRÜNSTATTGRAU Forschungs- und Innovations-GmbH

Website

https://gruenstattgrau.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GRÜNSTATTGRAU is Austria's designated competence center for building greening, offering consulting, training, certification, and a network partner portal to architects, municipalities, property owners, and greening industry firms across 15+ Austrian cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Green Building Consulting and Urban Greening Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH), Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)

Keywords

• Building greening consulting
• Green roof advisory
• Facade greening services
• Urban greening research
• Green infrastructure training

Headquarters

HQ city

Breitenfurt Bei Wien

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Network Partnership Fees: Annual subscription-based network partnership packages. Partners pay yearly fees for visibility on the GRÜNSTATTGRAU portal, access to training, events, and the network community. Prices are net prices with annual billing.
2. Consulting Services: Individual advisory services for greening projects, including Greening Check follow-up consultation, project planning support, and implementation guidance. Fees based on project scope and duration.
3. Training and Continuing Education: Qualification programs for building greening advisors. Professional training courses delivered as packages of modules, with enrollment-based fees.
4. Certification Services: Expert certification reports for green roof products and systems. Assessment against Association for Building Greening criteria, with certification terms provided twice yearly. Fee-based professional services.
5. Event Services: Seminars and workshops on building greening topics. Ticket-based revenue with specific cancellation terms (free up to 4 weeks before, 50% later, full fee within 1 week).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

GRÜNSTATTGRAU is Austria's competence center for building greening, providing advisory services (Greening Check feasibility analysis), professional training and qualification programs, certification of green roof and facade products/systems through the VfB association, network partnership for industry visibility, and project support for urban greening initiatives. The company also operates the MUGLI mobile exhibition space and develops research-based solutions such as the BeRTA modular green facade system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MUGLI: Mobile experimentation and exhibition room - a mobile container showcasing building greening technologies, available as rental event location
• GREENING CHECK
• BeRTA
• GREEN MARKET REPORT
• VfB-Betriebsgütesiegel

Quantifiable outcome

• 9% annual market growth for building greening in Austria
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform (CNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020International platform launched under Horizon 2020 Connecting Nature project. GRÜNSTATTGRAU participates as nature-based enterprise platform member, connecting with 2000+ members from 90+ countries working on nature-based solutions.
• BOKU Wien - Institut für Ingenieurbiologie und LandschaftsbaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner contributing expertise in engineering biology and landscape architecture. Collaborates on multiple R&D projects including BeRTA development, '50 Green Houses', and various greening research initiatives. Provides technical expertise and research capabilities.
• MA 22 - Wiener UmweltschutzabteilungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVienna Municipal Environmental Protection Department is a key municipal partner. Collaborates on urban greening projects, provides funding through Wiener Ökostromfonds for green roofs and PV, and supports development of greening guidelines and standards.
• tatwort Nachhaltige Projekte GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable projects company leading consortium projects including '50 Green Houses'. Specializes in project management, communication, participation, and innovation coordination for sustainability-focused greening initiatives.
• klimaaktivminorOthersAustrian climate protection initiative of the Federal Ministry. GRÜNSTATTGRAU is listed as a klimaaktiv partner, indicating collaboration on climate protection and building greening awareness.
• ANKÖ (Arbeitsgemeinschafteder Non-Profit-Organisationen)minorOthersListed partner organization providing networking and visibility within the Austrian non-profit sector. GRÜNSTATTGRAU is listed in the ANKÖ directory.
• DIE UMWELTBERATUNG NPOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental advisory organization collaborating on '50 Green Houses' project. Provides consumer advisory services for building greening.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sempergreen: International supplier of green roof, green facade, and ground cover systems with consultancy and project support for architects and developers across Europe. Comparable in combining product manufacturing with greening advisory services.
• ZinCo GmbH: Leading European manufacturer of green roof and rainwater management systems with consulting, planning services, and partner training programs — directly comparable in offering integrated greening solutions plus professional education to architects and installers.
• Optigrün international AG: Major German/Austrian manufacturer of green roof systems and drainage solutions, also a MUGLI exhibitor and GRÜNSTATTGRAU partner. Directly operates in the same building greening market with overlapping customer base of architects, contractors, and municipalities.
• Paul Bauder GmbH & Co. KG: Germany-based manufacturer of green roof systems and waterproofing, offering technical consulting, planning tools, and training for building greening. Highly comparable DACH-market peer with overlapping professional services and product portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC): North American industry association offering training, accreditation (GRP credentials), conferences, and policy advocacy for green infrastructure. Comparable in mission (industry development via education, certification, and networking) but operates at continental scale rather than single-country.
• Baumit GmbH: Major Central European building materials manufacturer offering the KlimaschutzFassade greening-on-EIFS system. MUGLI exhibitor and GRÜNSTATTGRAU partner with overlapping commitment to facade greening solutions and broad market reach.
• Verband für Bauwerksbegrünung (VfB): Austrian non-profit industry association for building greening — the parent entity of GRÜNSTATTGRAU. Operates the VfB-Betriebsgütesiegel certification, runs partner programs, and convenes the same network of professionals and municipalities.
• International Green Roof Association (IGRA): International network promoting green roof research, guidelines, and best practices globally. Comparable thought-leadership and standards-development role, though with less direct commercial service delivery than GRÜNSTATTGRAU.

Emerging players

• Alchemia-nova research & innovation gem. GmbH: Vienna-based R&D company developing nature-based solutions including the GRETA facade greening system (greywater-integrated). MUGLI partner with overlapping focus on innovative urban greening technology and applied research collaboration with GRÜNSTATTGRAU.

Others

• European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations (EFB): European umbrella body coordinating national green roof and wall associations and certification standards. Operates in an adjacent ecosystem role to GRÜNSTATTGRAU's national competence-center positioning and is relevant to standard-setting and policy advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gruenstattgrau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 GRÜNSTATTGRAU