Summiteer
Summiteer is a venture capital and private equity firm based in Southern Germany that invests in companies creating sustainable value through innovative business models. They act as a strong partner, providing ambition, expertise, and passion to drive meaningful change and achieve significant goals. Summiteer aims to support ambitious entrepreneurs with experience, know-how, and capital, enabling them to initiate real changes with their innovative business models and develop them successfully. They prioritize a shared understanding of values with their portfolio companies, emphasizing commitment, target-oriented action, high-quality standards, respectful interaction, and sustainable, profitable, and responsible economic activity. Their entrepreneurial and strategic competence is based on years of successful business activity in the economy and capital markets, built under the umbrella of the Family Holding Schulz Group GmbH. Summiteer's experience through various growth phases allows them to guide and support portfolio companies effectively.
Sunfish Partners
Sunfish Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on investing in deep tech startups originating from Eastern Europe (CEE). Their core mission revolves around bolstering Europe's autonomy through strategic investments in the space and defense sectors, alongside hardware and software startups. They provide pre-seed funding with ticket sizes between €150k to €300k. The firm's investment strategy targets companies that contribute to technological advancement and independence within Europe, particularly within the space and defense industries. They invest in both hardware and software, acknowledging the critical intersection of these domains in fostering impactful innovation. Geographically, they prioritize founders based in Eastern Europe (CEE). Sunfish Partners emphasizes providing early-stage capital and expertise to support the growth of promising startups. They actively engage with the space and defense tech ecosystem, participating in events and sharing insights through articles and videos. They are dedicated to fostering the next generation of deep tech companies in the region.
Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen (TGFS)
Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen (TGFS) is a venture capital firm that invests in knowledge-based, technology-oriented startups in Saxony, Germany. It focuses on providing capital and management support to teams in both the seed and startup phases. TGFS aims to be the leading early-stage financier in Saxony and helps its portfolio companies access international investors. The firm invests in companies across various technology sectors, providing equity financing and leveraging its experience to support founders. TGFS is active in early phases, backing ideas and teams they believe. The fund's investment strategy is centered around supporting the growth and scalability of its portfolio companies, as evidenced by recent investments in areas such as HR tech (clarait), Deep-Tech (Last Mile Semiconductor), and quantum computing (SaxonQ). Established in 2008, TGFS has evolved through three fund generations, demonstrating a long-term commitment to the Saxon startup ecosystem. The current fund generation has a total volume of €241.2 million, reflecting the firm's significant resources and capacity to support promising startups in the region. Their focus is heavily geared towards firms with strong technology underpinnings, and the ability to scale globally.
Tokentus
Tokentus is a venture capital firm focused on investing in the blockchain market. They believe blockchain technology is at a similar stage to the internet and telecommunications industries in the early 1990s, presenting a significant financial opportunity. They have evolved from a startup investor to a growth and later stage investor. They emphasize a distinctive focus and a successful track record. Their investment decisions are guided by six core rules: focusing on equity and selected tokens for best multiples, investing in growth and later stages for sensible risk/opportunity ratios, targeting classic sectors where blockchain is the means and not the end, investing globally with top co-investors for reaching top targets as a team, offering transparency to all partners as a stock-listed company, and prioritizing the business side first due to the professional seniority of tokentus shareholders. They aim to partner with targets that strive to change business from scratch, offering competence and experience to support them on their path to success. As a German stock corporation, the supervisory board supports the executive board in an advisory and auditing capacity, composed of elected representatives of the shareholders. Blockchain know-how, entrepreneurship, start-up support, and finance knowledge are equally represented. Tokentus sees blockchain as an opportunity that they want to take advantage of. Oliver Michel and his team aim to play a significant role as investors in the emerging blockchain market by investing in companies and tokens. They look for targets that strive to change business from scratch. As investors, tokentus looks for solid future-proofed partners. Their investment targets can benefit from the company's competence and experience; tokentus supports portfolio companies' visions and helps them on the path to success. Their investment decision-making is razorsharp.
TruVenturo
TruVenturo operates as a company builder and venture investor, strategically partnering with promising small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They focus on identifying, building, and supporting companies that shape the future of technology. Their approach involves hands-on support from the initial idea to market leadership, focusing on strategy, talent acquisition, capital allocation, and operational excellence. They also make strategic investments in high-potential companies operating in internet, B2B software, neuroscience, and longevity biotech sectors. The firm's vision is to build companies with real impact by developing ventures that redefine industries and create lasting value. They combine deep sector expertise with hands-on execution to empower founders and teams to build market leaders. Their in-house team covers technology, product development, sales, marketing, human resources, finance, and legal aspects, guiding ventures towards sustainable success. TruVenturo emphasizes building alongside founders, offering extensive experience, a global network, and deep sector knowledge in technology, healthcare, and B2B. They prioritize creating real-world impact and long-term value. Founded by Nils Regge, a serial entrepreneur with experience in health and biotech, TruVenturo emphasizes a strong collaborative relationships with industry leaders. Nils has a track record of founding businesses and successful exits including taking HomeToGo public via SPAC IPO.
VR Equitypartner
VR Equitypartner specializes in tailored financing solutions for German mid-sized companies, focusing on succession, growth, and internationalization. They provide flexible capital structures (e.g., mezzanine, direct equity) to support strategic transitions, expansion, and operational scaling across diverse sectors.
Vito Ventures
Vito Ventures, part of the Viessmann Generations Group, focuses on making majority investments in regional market leaders with a strong local presence and diversified offerings. Their investment strategy centers around businesses built for long-term growth, particularly those that are key enablers of the green energy transition. They aim to build a more livable, sustainable planet through efficient, low-carbon systems. The firm's primary investment platforms include Grid Infrastructure, District Heating & Cooling (Pipes, Stations & Controls), and Clean & Cold solutions in both the US and EU. They partner with companies that share their values and provide operational expertise to unlock their full potential. Their investments are aligned with global sustainability goals, including greenhouse gas reduction, air quality improvement, and overall environmental health. Vito Ventures identifies and supports companies that directly contribute to a low-carbon future. For example, Gritec, a portfolio company, is pivotal in enabling decentralized renewable grids and delivering climate-resilient infrastructure. Similarly, Isoplus Group is revolutionizing heat distribution with high-performance pre-insulated piping systems, connecting renewable energy sources to district heating networks. aqotec implements regenerative heating solutions in multiple countries. The "Viessmann Way" serves as their guiding principle, emphasizing responsibility, innovation, and purposeful growth. Their approach is characterized by conviction, care, and a long-term perspective, reflecting a commitment to future generations. Vito Ventures aims to create scalable energy transition solutions and enhance system-wide resilience by leveraging specialized solutions within their ecosystem.
Wayra Germany
Wayra Germany invests in startups to drive innovation for Telefónica, transforming ideas into profitable growth. Focuses on enabling startups to scale by connecting them with Telefónica’s resources, networks, and corporate partnerships.
Wellington Partners
Investing in disruptive healthcare innovations with scalable potential to improve patient outcomes at scale. Focus on translating cutting-edge research and medical advancements into market-ready solutions.
Yttrium
Yttrium is a growth equity investment firm specializing in B2B technology companies. Their investment strategy centers around partnering with exceptional management teams to scale their businesses globally. With an exclusive focus on growth-stage B2B technology investing, Yttrium aims to provide targeted, high-impact support to enable their portfolio companies to grow faster and more efficiently. The firm emphasizes its role as a trusted partner, indicating a collaborative approach to working with management teams.
bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen
bm|t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen is the investment company of the Free State of Thuringia, Germany. They invest in innovative and growth-oriented companies with substantial future potential, across Venture Capital and Private Equity stages. bm|t manages multiple funds and actively supports its portfolio companies through their growth journey.
bmp Ventures
bmp Ventures, established in 1997, is a venture capital firm that invests in outstanding teams with innovative and scalable business models, primarily in tech companies. They position themselves as 'partners in crime' for early-stage and growth startups, providing not only financial resources but also strategic advice and access to an international network, from seed phase to exit. With 25 years of experience, bmp Ventures has managed 11 funds, made over 250 investments, achieved over 120 exits, and had more than 15 IPOs. Their approach focuses on supporting entrepreneurs with big ideas and innovative companies in growing markets, emphasizing sustainable growth, strong teams, and entrepreneurial substance. They are known for providing hands-on support, strengthening key areas of their portfolio companies, and acting as sparring partners in the development process. They also heavily weigh ESG criteria in their investment process, aiming to be CO2 neutral and prioritize sustainability.
bmp Ventures AG
bmp Ventures AG invests venture capital in outstanding teams with innovative business models, empowering tech companies. Since 1997, they have partnered with early-stage and growth startups. With 25 years of experience, they have managed 11 funds, invested in over 250 companies, achieved 120 exits, and more than 15 IPOs. Their investment strategy focuses on strengthening the founding team and providing them with expertise and a network for building technology companies. They invest in companies with sustainable growth, strong teams, and entrepreneurial substance. They aim to support companies in several financing rounds to enable solid company building in multiple stages. Often acting as the lead investor, bmp Ventures focuses on innovative and scalable companies with clear USPs. Their sweet spot lies between EUR 1.5-5 million per financing round, with total investments of up to EUR 15 million. They invest in the Pre-Seed stage (up to 500.000 EUR), Seed (1-3M EUR), Series A (2-5M EUR), and Growth stages.
bmt
bm|t is the investment company of the Free State of Thuringia, Germany. They invest in innovative and growth-oriented companies with significant future potential. Their approach involves providing venture capital and private equity to support companies at various stages of development. bm|t manages multiple funds, investing in a diverse portfolio of companies primarily within the Thuringia region, aiming to foster a robust regional innovation ecosystem. The firm's investment strategy includes supporting established, medium-sized Thuringian companies to strengthen their equity base for further growth, evidenced by the launch of the Mittelstands-Fonds Thüringen II (MFT II). They also focus on early-stage disruptors, offering follow-on financing to their investee partners, indicating a long-term commitment to building successful companies. The firm emphasizes collaboration within the Thuringian innovation ecosystem, working with partners and stakeholders to drive economic growth. They actively participate in financing rounds and support companies beyond the initial investment, fostering a supportive environment for their portfolio companies. bm|t seeks to enable long-term value creation, exemplified by successful exits like Spleenlab to Quantum Systems. Overall, bm|t's strategy is centered on strengthening the Thuringian economy by providing financial and strategic support to innovative companies across various stages, leveraging their expertise and network to foster growth and create value.
capiton
Capiton is a private equity firm based in the DACH region, investing in mid-sized companies since 1999. They partner with companies seeking to reposition themselves for the future, providing capital, expertise, and commitment. Capiton focuses on creating sustainable value and driving growth within its portfolio companies. They invest in innovative, profitable mid-sized companies with a turnover between 50 and 300 million euros and an average annual EBITDA growth of 18 percent. Capiton emphasizes a deep understanding of the challenges faced by mid-sized businesses, gained through long-term partnerships with portfolio companies. They aim to identify and capitalize on new opportunities through professional competence and a holistic perspective. Their investment approach is characterized by taking responsibility, and pursuing opportunities with courage and determination, ensuring the long-term success of their portfolio companies, employees, and investors. Capiton leverages a strong network, including the Global PE Alliance, to share best practices, provide access to international markets, and connect portfolio companies with specialists and advisors. This network facilitates international expansion and provides access to international investors. The firm builds dedicated partner teams for each investment, ensuring consistent support and a deep understanding of the specific challenges faced by each company. Capiton manages a fund volume of approximately 1.6 billion euros. They focus on future-oriented companies in the High-Tech Industrials and Healthcare & Life Sciences sectors. Their approach combines market experience with entrepreneurial thinking, enabling them to be a partner at eye level with the Mittelstand.
e&Co.
e&Co. AG is an entrepreneurial office that orchestrates a broad asset portfolio consisting of corporate holdings and tangible assets. They support the growth of companies in the manufacturing industry through entrepreneurial consulting expertise. They aim to provide sparring on an equal footing, offering experience, authenticity, and challenging perspectives, driven by curiosity and the passion to think big. They connect modern organizational concepts, data-driven decision-making processes, classic optimization, agile product development, radical experimentation, and maximum traction. With a holistic understanding of organizations, they combine agile approaches with elements of classic project management, including human relationship components and addressing taboos within companies. Their service portfolio focuses on complex organizational transformations, revitalization of sales in structure and processes, integration of top talent, and targeted use of technology and tools. They manage their own investment portfolio consisting of small/mid/large cap Private Equity Engagements, real estate and Start-ups. They partner with competence leaders in their relevant disciplines, such as sales agencies, HR service providers, automotive software project specialists, succession finders for SMEs and mobile apps & web experiences agencies. e&Co. also has a focus on the Biopharma-Industrie, offering together with selected experts a broad spectrum of management consulting services and acts as an entrepreneurial sparring partner to instigate impactful change. Through inspiring theses and forward-looking publications, they have positioned themselves as a reflective partner for industry, science, and society. They also look to invest in promising SMEs and scale them through entrepreneurial advisory.
exist
exist is a program by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) designed to foster a thriving startup ecosystem within universities and research institutions. Their core strategy revolves around supporting students, graduates, and scientists in developing technology and knowledge-based ventures. They provide funding through various programs like the exist Start-up Grant and exist Research Transfer, specifically targeting individuals and projects with significant research and development components. A key element of their strategy is to increase the number and success rate of technology-oriented and knowledge-based companies emerging from academic environments. exist's approach encompasses various initiatives aimed at establishing a vibrant and sustainable startup culture. This includes competitive programs to incentivize universities, model projects to explore innovative approaches to startup support, and resources like the Global Certification and Consulting Center (GCCC) to assist international founders. Their involvement since 1998 demonstrates a long-term commitment to developing the German startup ecosystem. The program actively encourages universities and research institutions to integrate startup support into their teaching, research, and administration. This holistic approach aims to create an environment that naturally cultivates entrepreneurial thinking and action. By focusing on knowledge-based and technology-driven ventures, exist contributes to the German economy's growth and competitiveness in high-tech sectors. Ultimately, exist strives to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercial application by providing the necessary resources, guidance, and ecosystem support for researchers and students to transform their ideas into successful businesses. Their focus on early-stage, research-intensive ventures positions them as a crucial player in fostering innovation and technological advancement in Germany.
leAD Sports & Health Tech Partners
leAD Sports & Health Tech Partners is a global venture corporation focused on shaping the future of the sports and health tech industries. They operate with two business units: an institutional asset manager that builds a global family of funds, and an advisory arm specializing in strategic innovation and investment initiatives. Their investment strategy involves deploying capital across various stages, from Pre-Seed to Opportunistic, through their diverse fund portfolio, including LEAD ONE, Lake Nona Fund, ADvantage, and Locker Room. They actively seek to partner with companies that have bold visions, and the stamina to build future-oriented businesses, aiming to improve health and democratize coaching, demonstrating belief in the power of play. Their approach emphasizes a global ecosystem, leveraging their distributed team, shareholders, portfolio companies, and network partners to impact the industry worldwide. They prioritize impact over ego and are committed to offering more than just capital, providing thoughtful introductions, strategic advice, and support in various ways to their portfolio companies. This hands-on approach is evident in their engagement with portfolio companies like Bitewell, TAPPP, and Mustard, where they have played crucial roles in strategic initiatives and athlete recruitment. leAD distinguishes itself through a combined approach of investment funds and strategic advisory services. This enables them to offer portfolio companies a combination of capital investment and strategic guidance, from M&A to Venture Capital as a Service. This comprehensive approach positions them not only as financial backers but as active partners in the growth and development of their portfolio companies. Their value proposition is underscored by testimonials from founders within their portfolio, which reflect the transformative difference their investment and advisory expertise have made to businesses. This illustrates leAD's commitment to fostering long-term growth and impact, creating a supportive ecosystem for innovation and development within the sports and health tech sectors.
saas.group
saas.group focuses on acquiring SaaS companies, particularly those with a 'bootstrapper mindset'. They aim to provide founders with a founder-friendly exit, financial freedom, and the opportunity to start new ventures. Their strategy involves improving the acquired product, scaling the team, and maintaining the original company identity that drove its success. They view acquisitions as a platform for founders to become part of something bigger, take risk off the table, and take business processes to a new level. saas.group values companies with a strong product-market fit and ARR between $2M and $10M. They are drawn to companies with product-led growth strategies, self-service models with limited operating costs, remote-first cultures, and international teams. They also consider VC-backed companies where there's potential for a bootstrapped "reboot". The firm emphasizes a transparent and streamlined due diligence process respecting the founder's time. They're interested in information about product, user base, financials, and legal status, and often gain direct access to key tools such as Stripe, Intercom, and Chargebee for deep-dive analysis. They champion a 'no jerk' policy, respecting the hard work of acquired companies and wanting to preserve their cultures. They aim to keep the acquisition process simple, supporting autonomy and mastery within acquired teams. They believe a successful exit goes beyond financial metrics, focusing on the founder’s happiness and future plans.
torq.partners
torq.partners specializes in providing flexible, expert-led finance support to startups and companies, focusing on operational efficiency, investor readiness, and strategic financial guidance. Their team of 60+ finance professionals offers interim and fractional CFO services, finance operations setup, M&A advisory, fundraising support, and financial due diligence. They cater to diverse industries, helping companies optimize cash flow, improve reporting, and scale finance functions without long-term commitments.
vent.io
Vent.io is a corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of Deutsche Leasing AG that aims to accelerate the growth of the German Mittelstand by investing in and building digital solutions. They focus on strengthening Deutsche Leasing AG's position as the financial backbone of the German Mittelstand by driving digitalization and innovation and creating long-term value for its customers. They operate two business areas: product engineering, which builds data-driven digital solutions, AI-powered products, and customer-centric portals for Deutsche Leasing Group, and corporate venture capital (CVC), which invests in B2B startups and connects them with the Deutsche Leasing ecosystem and customers through strategic partnering and pilot projects. Vent.io's investment strategy centers around data-driven B2B startups from seed to Series A. They leverage Deutsche Leasing AG's 60+ years of experience in the leasing business, its €40+ billion assets under management, and its extensive distribution network to benefit their portfolio companies. This network includes 341 savings banks and over 100 top-tier OEM partners. The firm emphasizes strategic relevance, long-term value creation, and strengthening the future of asset finance and asset-related services. They also prioritize venture partnering, assisting startups in developing needs-based strategies and identifying strategic customer fit within the Deutsche Leasing ecosystem. This includes facilitating access to customers and partners and helping startups expand their customer base through pilot projects with clear KPIs to validate business potential.
āltitude
āltitude focuses on investing in the future of SME Tech, backing exceptional founders digitalizing Europe's 26 million small and medium enterprises from day 0. They are Europe's only SME Tech VC fund, dedicated to supporting software startups that accelerate the digital transformation of SMEs across Europe and beyond. They believe the next decade will be dominated by SME Tech, recognizing that SMEs form the backbone of the economy and are increasingly reliant on technology for survival, growth, and competitiveness. While B2B enterprise has had the lion's share of investment, āltitude believes SME Tech is undercapitalized, representing a significant opportunity. The firm sees advancements in AI, ML, LLMs, and cloud computing as key drivers lowering costs and complexities of serving SMEs, making the market more attractive. The digital transformation accelerated by events like COVID-19 and regulatory pressures further fuel the need for sophisticated tools within this segment. āltitude invests in companies with a go-to-market edge, clear ICP segmentation, multi-revenue playbooks with high margin combinations, and potential to become industry leaders. They look for scalable and international setups with high capital efficiency and unit economic profitability. āltitude adds value through pricing strategy refinement, GTM strategy development, ICP refinement, unit economics improvements, and support with follow-on financing. They leverage their network of veteran VCs, super angels, and ex-founders to connect portfolio companies with the right follow-on investors. Their SME Tech Manifesto outlines that SMEs represent 99% of businesses, and digitalisation is a priority for 76% of European SMEs. The firm highlights that only 15% of all B2B investments went into SME Tech startups, indicating a substantial opportunity. They focus on startups that have the potential to sell to mid-market or large enterprises, emphasizing the scalability and international potential of their investments.
Acton Capital
Acton Capital is a growth equity firm that invests in internet and mobile communications companies, focusing on consumer-oriented business models in e-commerce, media, and marketplaces. They target companies ready to scale and built to last. They aim to partner with startups at Series A and beyond, providing them with the capital and support needed to achieve rapid growth and long-term success. Their approach appears to be entrepreneur-oriented, aiming to enable founders to focus on high-value tasks and leverage their expertise. The firm emphasizes a rational, data-driven approach to investment decisions. Acton Capital's investment strategy includes both geographic expansion, as seen with investments like Henchman, and innovative partnerships, like that with Maple and SE Health, to improve healthcare access and delivery. They seem to look for companies that demonstrate rapid adoption, strong revenue growth, and a product that seamlessly integrates into existing workflows. The firm's earlier strategy, as indicated by the Heureka Growth Fund, involved providing financial resources and operational expertise to support the growth of internet-based businesses. The firm places emphasis on selecting companies with a clear value proposition and potential for international success. Overall, Acton Capital looks to invest in companies that are technologically innovative and quickly gain user traction and revenue to later be acquired by larger companies or be sustainable on their own.
DB1 Ventures
DB1 Ventures is the venture capital arm of Deutsche Börse Group. Based on the limited information available, it appears their investment thesis centers around strategic investments in companies that enhance or complement Deutsche Börse Group's existing financial infrastructure and market services. This includes companies involved in electronic trading platforms, data analytics, and the digitization of capital markets processes. They seem to seek out businesses with validated product-market fit and the potential to scale across regulated markets. A key aspect of their strategy likely involves leveraging Deutsche Börse Group's expertise, network, and market access to accelerate the growth of their portfolio companies. The focus appears to be on investments that can contribute to the overall innovation and efficiency of the financial ecosystem. The portfolio companies indicate a focus on businesses operating within trading, market intelligence, and capital markets infrastructure. By investing in these areas, DB1 Ventures aims to capitalize on emerging trends and technologies transforming the financial industry. They likely prioritize companies with strong management teams and scalable business models that align with Deutsche Börse Group's long-term strategic objectives. The firm's investment decisions appear to be driven by the potential for synergistic relationships between the portfolio companies and Deutsche Börse Group's existing businesses. This suggests a preference for investments that can generate strategic value beyond pure financial returns. Given Deutsche Börse Group's global presence, DB1 Ventures may also target companies with international expansion potential. Overall, the investment thesis seems to be rooted in supporting innovation and driving efficiency across the financial markets landscape, with a particular emphasis on strategic alignment with the parent company's broader goals.