Investments

Many investors provide capital. However, what comes next is crucial for building a sustainable business model: access to the right decision-makers, a robust market positioning and operational support during the initial critical growth phases. FOSTEC Ventures combines equity capital with entrepreneurial experience and the network of FOSTEC & Company, the leading strategy consultancy for e-commerce, AI and digitalisation.

Capital is the starting point, not the end goal

Early-stage founders face a structural challenge: capital alone does not open doors with corporate clients, validate a business model or accelerate sales development. Traditional venture capital funds provide financing, but rarely the operational access that determines success or failure in B2B markets.

FOSTEC Ventures operates differently: as an entrepreneur-investor with 100 per cent equity, no predetermined holding period (evergreen approach) and direct access to FOSTEC & Company’s network of consultants and decision-makers. This access is not an abstract promise, but a proven lever: in previous investments, it has accelerated product-market fit, sharpened market positioning and opened up initial sales contacts at decision-maker level.

Our approach

FOSTEC Ventures operates across three levels of impact, which together define the investment case:

I Capital with evergreen approach

FOSTEC Ventures invests exclusively from its own capital. There is no fund term, no external pressure to generate returns and no forced exit dates. The investment is guided by the company’s stage of development, not by fund cycles. Investment size: EUR 200,000 to EUR 2 million. For in-house incubation projects from the seed phase onwards; for external investments, generally from Series A onwards.

II Network as an operational lever

Privileged access to the FOSTEC & Company network is the key differentiating factor. FOSTEC & Company advises leading companies in the DACH region on digitalisation, e-commerce and AI. Portfolio companies benefit from this on three levels: validation of product-market fit through direct market feedback, sharpening of market positioning based on project experience in relevant target markets, and access to decision-makers as a starting point for securing initial reference clients.

III Active involvment in business operations

FOSTEC Ventures is not a passive investor. Where required, the team provides targeted operational expertise: in corporate strategy, go-to-market, commercial management and organisational development. The extent of this involvement is determined by the specific needs of the portfolio company, not by a standardised support model.

Investment criteria

FOSTEC Ventures assesses potential investments against six criteria:

• Product-market fit: Proven market demand, ideally with the first paying customers.
• Sustainable and defendable business model: A sustainable competitive advantage and above-average growth potential.
• Excellent team: In-depth specialist knowledge, a passion for excellence and intellectual humility within the founding and management team.
• Investments with significant impact: Investment where FOSTEC Ventures actively contributes its expertise, network and capital, rather than acting as a passive investor.
• Ecosystem fit: Companies based in Europe in the focus sectors of B2B services, B2B technology, platform economy, AI deep tech and prop tech.
• Investment framework: Ticket size from 200 Tsd. to 2 Mio. EUR. Seed stage for our own incubation projects; otherwise, generally from Series A onwards.

Further details on the investment criteria can be found on the Investment Criteria page.

Investment focus

FOSTEC Ventures invests in sectors where the FOSTEC & Company network creates a measurable advantage:

• B2B Services: Highly specialised, scalable service models in the field of strategy and implementation consultancy.
• B2B Technology: Cloud-native software models with recurring revenue streams, particularly SaaS solutions with a B2B focus.
• Platform Economy: Platform business models with network effects and an established ecosystem.
• AI Deep Tech: Applied AI products and agents for specific business processes.
• Prop Tech: Technology-driven solutions for the property sector.

Results and impact

Founders who enter into a partnership with FOSTEC Ventures receive more than just capital. The demonstrable contribution is based on three key areas: access to the FOSTEC & Company network shortens the path to securing initial customers and decision-makers; and entrepreneurial support refines the business model based on project experience from comparable markets. The evergreen approach provides planning certainty, as decisions are guided by the company’s best interests rather than fund deadlines.

Previous investments have demonstrated how effective this approach is: factor-a achieved a value increase of more than 400x in less than three years and was sold to DEPT. Following FOSTEC Ventures’ investment, PrimeUp developed into a company ready for an exit within two years.