pikselkraft

What pikselkraft does

Pikselkraft is a sole-proprietorship digital studio founded in 2018 and operated from Curtil-Vergy in Bourgogne, France, by designer-developer Derek Salmon. It designs and builds custom low-impact websites, delivers digital eco-design and accessibility audits, and provides training and conference sessions on responsible digital practices. The firm targets the Social and Solidarity Economy (associations, cooperatives, NGOs), viticulture operators, the Burgundy cultural and music sectors, and other small organizations seeking ethical, durable, GAFAM-independent web infrastructure.

The technical stack is deliberately minimal: Kirby CMS as the flat-file backbone; HTML/CSS; Shell scripts and Makefiles replacing conventional pre-processors; Markdown/YAML/TSV content files; static-site generation via the Staticache plugin; and targeted integrations with privacy-friendly analytics (Matomo, Plausible, GoAccess), no-code databases (Baserow), and the Kirby Kart e-commerce plugin. Two proprietary sub-products extend the offering: the SIMO system, a modular Kirby-based theme that produces 100–250 KB pages for ESS actors; and Ausillon, an offline-capable digital vineyard notebook that integrates with field sensors. Sites average 140 KB per page against a 2025 web average of 1,400 KB, and Pikselkraft reports zero GAFAM dependencies across its portfolio of 46 websites.

The business model is professional services and bespoke project work priced on a quote basis, with engagement initiated by direct email outreach ([email protected]). Revenue streams include one-off web design and development, recurring maintenance on 36 of 46 delivered sites (longest tenure: 7 years), consulting/audit engagements, and workshops. Distribution is direct-to-client, remote-first, with optional in-person meetings across Dijon, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, and broader Côte-d'Or. Marketing is content-led through the 'jardin numérique' digital garden, an RSS feed, a Mastodon presence on Mamot.fr, and earned coverage in ethical and low-tech media; no paid advertising is used. The firm is bootstrapped with no external funding and no headcount beyond the founder.

Name

pikselkraft

Legal name

Pikselkraft

Website

https://pikselkraft.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Pikselkraft is a Bourgogne-based sole-proprietorship digital studio that designs low-impact, GAFAM-independent websites, conducts eco-design audits, and delivers responsible-digital training for associations, cooperatives, winegrowers, and small organizations across France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Web Design & Development Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Graphic Design Services (541430), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical SEO (Audits, Crawl/Indexing, Site Architecture) (BPAFAJAA)

Keywords

• Eco-designed web development
• Low-impact websites
• Digital sustainability consulting
• Website accessibility audits
• Responsible digital training

Headquarters

HQ city

Curtil-Vergy

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Web design and development services: Custom website design and development using Kirby CMS, static site generation, and eco-design principles. Services include full project scoping, wireframing, design, development, and deployment. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
2. Digital consulting and audits: Digital strategy consulting, eco-design audits, and project management for organizations seeking to reduce digital environmental impact.
3. Training and workshops: Responsible digital practices workshops and training sessions for organizations, festivals, and businesses. Formats include conferences and hands-on workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pikselkraft designs and develops low-impact, accessible websites using Kirby CMS and eco-design principles, with an average page weight of 140 KB versus a 1400 KB web average. The studio also offers digital audits (accessibility, eco-design, SEO), training on responsible digital practices, and proprietary tools including the SIMO system for ESS actors and Ausillon, an offline-capable digital vineyard notebook.

Product overview

Pikselkraft is a digital artisan offering web design and development services with a focus on eco-design, accessibility, and longevity. The core offering consists of custom website creation services (core product), supplemented by audit and accompaniment services, training sessions, and conferences on responsible digital practices. The portfolio includes specialized sub-products: Ausillon (a digital vineyard notebook for offline wine production tracking) and the SIMO system (a Kirby-based template for eco-designed association websites). The company follows a philosophy of 'digital craftsmanship' emphasizing resilient, frugal software that lasts rather than constant technological turnover.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Web Design and Development Services Custom website creation with eco-design principles, accessibility compliance, and low environmental impact; built on Kirby CMS with static site generation for longevity, simplicity, and performance. Targeted at organizations seeking durable, GAFAM-independent websites.
• Audit & Accompagnement (Digital Concierge Services) Digital audit and accompaniment services including accessibility audits, eco-design analysis, SEO optimization, project management, technical consulting, and ongoing maintenance for digital transformation projects.
• Formation & Conférences (Training and Workshops) Training sessions and conferences on responsible digital practices, eco-design, low-tech approaches, and sustainable web development, delivered to organizations, festivals, and businesses in conference and hands-on workshop formats.
• Ausillon (Carnet de Vigne Numérique / Digital Vineyard Notebook) Digital vineyard notebook for recording and tracking all vineyard activities (treatments, work, observations); functions without internet connection, runs on simple files, designed to work on old computers, and integrates with field sensors for automated telemetry.
• SIMO System Kirby CMS-based modular theme system for creating more accessible and eco-designed showcase websites, targeting page weights of 100–250 KB for ESS actors and associations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average page weight of 140 KB compared to 1400 KB web average (2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gauthier RoussilhecoreTechnology or IntegrationGauthier Roussilhe is a researcher specializing in the environmental impact of digitization. He has co-authored publications with Derek Salmon (including the Low-tech Lab guide), collaborated on client website projects (ADEME, Bhallot, Commown, Fair Tec), and is acknowledged as a key inspiration in the colophon. The collaboration represents a deep technical and strategic alignment on eco-design principles.
• Kirby CMS (getkirby.com)coreTechnology or IntegrationKirby is a flat-file CMS at the core of Pikselkraft's website development practice. It is used to build all client projects (via the SIMO system) and powers Pikselkraft's own website. The CMS is central to the technical workflow and the eco-design approach.
• Low Tech LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLow Tech Lab is a non-profit promoting low-technology solutions. Pikselkraft co-authored a guide on low-tech websites with Gauthier Roussilhe and Sylvain Julé for Low Tech Lab. Derek also presented a conference on the MOOC Biorégion with L'Archipel du Vivant.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Low-tech Lab: French non-profit promoting low-technology solutions. Strategic co-development partner with Pikselkraft (co-authored guides) and a client — sits in the same ecosystem but as an ecosystem/community organization rather than a services competitor.
• Plausible Analytics: Privacy-friendly, lightweight web analytics SaaS recommended and integrated by Pikselkraft as an alternative to Google Analytics. Sits in the same ethical/sober digital ecosystem but operates a SaaS rather than a services model.
• Matomo: Open-source, privacy-respecting web analytics platform used in Pikselkraft's client projects (e.g., Low Tech Lab, Commown). Adjacent infrastructure provider in the ethical web stack rather than a competitor.
• Kirby CMS: Flat-file CMS at the core of Pikselkraft's technology stack and powering the SIMO system. Platform/ecosystem partner rather than a competitor — relevant as the technical foundation for the service offering.
• The Green Web Foundation: Non-profit directory and tooling for verifying whether a website runs on green hosting. Aligned with Pikselkraft's eco-design mission and a potential referral/ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Climate Action Tech: Community of tech workers addressing climate change; Pikselkraft is featured in its editorial coverage. Sits in the same values-aligned ecosystem but as a community/network organization rather than a services firm.
• Sustainable Web Design (Tom Greenwood / Wholegrain): Methodology and book by Tom Greenwood of Wholegrain Digital that defines the eco-design web practice Pikselkraft operates in. Reference framework and adjacent ecosystem rather than a direct service competitor.

Direct peers

• Wholegrain Digital: UK-based specialist web agency offering sustainable, low-carbon web design and development — the same eco-design, accessibility-first value proposition as Pikselkraft but at larger scale. Both target values-driven organizations and publish measurable page-weight / emissions data as a differentiator.
• Mightybytes: US-based sustainable web agency with a long-standing practice of eco-conscious UX and web design, including the 'Designing for Sustainability' book/framework. Comparable to Pikselkraft in offering eco-designed sites and thought leadership content on digital sustainability.
• GreenIT.fr: French community and reference site for digital eco-design (écoconception numérique), publishing methodology, training, and audit frameworks. Overlaps Pikselkraft on eco-design audits, training, and serving French organizations pursuing digital sobriety.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 pikselkraft