WHAT MAKES A BRAND Agency EXTRAORDINARY?
GLAD YOU ASKED.

In winemaking, only wines from the finest vineyards are given the distinguished classification of ‹Cru›. It’s a designation that the winemakers of France revere with grave significance and one that we also hold in the highest esteem. It stands for an unflinching dedication to extraordinary quality—and so do we. We call our branding agency ‹CRU›, and we create extraordinary brands.

Fixed Team of 16 2 Locations 100+ Projects Fixed Team of 16 2 Locations 100+ Projects

Stefanie Riedl

Account Manager

Deborah Sjoukes

Senior Brand Designer

Jan Erlinghagen

Creative Director / Co-Founder

Lasse Giese

CEO

Benjamin Clemens Nuebel

Liridona Salihi

Dorothea Baumann

Peter Rauh

Klara Hieronimus

Senior Account Manager

Nikola John

Brand Designer

Kevin Chow

Storyteller

Sandra Stäbler

Senior Brand Designer

Jonathan Robrecht

Head of Creative Technologies

Principles

Since 2018 we’ve been building brands in our brand agency. We do it in our own way and we’ve refined our approach.

Here are just a few of the ingredients that go into accomplishing the extraordinary:

You Say Problem,
We Say Challenge

We’re not just an execution unit; we’re here to shake things up and make a real impact. Accountability and professionalism are non-negotiables. At CRU, we treat each other—and our clients—as capable, responsible adults.

Always Curious,
Always Hungry

Curiosity keeps us sharp. We’re eager to learn and adapt, no matter how much we think we know about the industry and our clients. As the world evolves, so must we. By challenging the status quo and sharing what we learn, we keep the spark alive—for ourselves and those we work with.

We’re A Crew
Here At CRU

And that sentiment extends to our partnerships. Whether it’s celebrating each other’s successes or having each other’s backs, being a team player at CRU means: prioritizing people, learning from mistakes and recognizing that collective effort leads to extraordinary results. We have a strict ‹No-Dick-Policy›, meaning the best idea should always win—regardless of hierarchy or personal pride.

What It Means
To Be A Partner

At CRU, integrity is at the heart of every partnership. We stay true to our moral principles, even if it means turning away a client. If you do share our values, you can expect a relationship built on mutual respect and trust. Our motto: combining realistic expectations with high aspirations.

We’re Extra—More
Than Ordinary

We are committed to delivering extraordinary quality in everything we do, from our craft to our connections, impacting both our business and yours. Our dedication to excellence goes beyond surface-level satisfaction: we’re here to help you achieve tangible growth. That’s why we always (!) provide straightforward, expert advice. And as an added bonus, we actually love what we do.

project teams

We begin every branding project by selecting the right people out of our branding agency, that will be the perfect fit, and will work on it from start to finish.

By getting to know the inner workings of your organization this dedicated project team will be able to create something that’s distinct to your brand and with the greatest business impact.

The final, most crucial ingredient to extraordinary brand quality is quality time. Because at the end of the day we’re in the people business. The people you find in our branding agency are not only the finest people in their craft, but also fine people, full stop.

Our Clients

Here are the clients who have trusted our brand agency to guide them out of the ordinary sector.

Fintechs

Ultramarin
Ultrascope
Trade Republic
OWWN
Bitwala 2.0
Nuri (Strategy & Product)
FlatexDegiro
Shush
Bitvavo
Nelly

Hi-Techs

AppliedAI Institute
AI Campus
G2K Group
Merantix
Merantix Momentum
Kausa
One Thousand
Certif.ai
Signatrix
Pacta

Mittelstand

KMC Kroatien
Mondo Möbel
SDK Versicherungen
Monin
Landwärme
Symbioworld
Neumann

Public Sector

Science & Startups
GovTech Campus Deutschland
Deutsche Aidshilfe
Heimathafen Berlin
zlb — Zentrale Landesbibilothek Berlin
K.I.E.Z.

consultancies

LEAD Forward
Arieli & Company
pwc
Elaboratum
Management Partner
east Agency
WIN Creating Images

other

La Mæson
Monin
Micky Oye
LingoAce
Eykt
Ithaka
Valuecase
Dealcode
Careville
Die Unendliche

Invests

While we love working on branding projects for clients, we can’t help building a few brands ourselves. From tiny homes, to AI-assisted finances, here are a few ventures that we’ve been exploring for ourselves.

Out of Business

WHAT MAKES A BRAND Agency EXTRAORDINARY? GLAD YOU ASKED.