With the acquisition of a majority stake in the Capture Media Group, a consortium made up of Syz Capital AG and its operating partner Saturnus Capital AG is expanding its portfolio to the digital advertising market in Switzerland. The Stuttgart strategy consulting boutique FOSTEC & Company advised the buyers as part of the commercial and technical due diligence.

Stuttgart, 21.12.2023: Syz Capital AG and Saturnus Capital AG have successfully completed the acquisition of a majority stake in the Capture Media Group. The Capture Media Group is a data-driven and technology-supported engagement advertising provider that offers its customers high-quality user engagement and engagement tracking services. The group of companies, founded in 2016, has a strong presence in the Swiss home market and began expanding into Austria in 2022.

The group is led by highly qualified professionals who have outstanding expertise in this rapidly developing Swiss market niche. The founders will continue to have a significant stake in the company and, together with Syz and Saturnus, want to initiate the next growth step with increased expansion into Austria and market entry in Germany.

A team from the strategy consulting boutique FOSTEC & Company, led by Managing Partner Markus Fost, provided the customers with comprehensive support in the transaction. The advice included commercial and technical due diligence, which included an in-depth analysis of the business model, competitive landscape, technology and future prospects. The technical due diligence revealed that the chosen technology stack and software architecture meet the requirements for the future development of Capture Media Group’s digital business.

“FOSTEC advised us as part of the commercial and technical due diligence of the Capture Media Group. The team’s market and technology expertise helped us greatly to understand the full range of market specifics and to formulate the value creation strategy for the transaction. We appreciate the openness of the team, the high speed of execution and the willingness to discuss even the most sensitive aspects of the business model. We will be happy to work together on further transactions.“ says Philip Schweizer, Saturnus Capital AG Partner about the cooperation with FOSTEC & Company.

E-Commerce platform econvy is strengthening its market position through strategic acquisitions in Germany and the USA

• econvy massively expands e-commerce reach
• Acquisition of 3 S GmbH & Co KG in Cologne and SolRide Inc. in Miami/USA

Stuttgart, November 15, 2023 Shortly after its launch, the Stuttgart-based e-commerce platform econvy announced the successful acquisition of two important companies: 3 S GmbH & Co. KG, based in Cologne, and SolRide Inc. in Miami/USA.

This strategic milestone solidifies the young company’s position as an aspiring investor in the e-commerce sector right from the start.

econvy is more than just an e-commerce platform. econvy is a dynamic ecosystem that specializes in the development, expansion and growth of relevant direct-to-consumer brands (D2C).

The defined goal is to develop econvy into the leading platform for fast-growing D2C brands in Europe and the USA. The focus is on developing high-quality brands and efficient processes to offer the products internationally in the best open and closed marketplaces. Years of experience in e-commerce, good access to capital and high technical standards paired with operational excellence form the solid company foundation.

Strategic acquisitions

The econvy family is launching with two fast-growing and profitable companies:

3 S GmbH & Co KG from Cologne, which, in addition to established brands such as Apollo, Ocean 5 and Pink Papaya Toys, also has many years of experience in e-commerce, as well as SolRide Inc. from Miami, which opens the door to the high-growth US market opens. The company’s strong presence ensures European brands the opportunity to present themselves to a wide audience and reach new target groups.

The two acquisitions are evidence of the Stuttgart-based e-commerce company’s planned global growth. Another guarantee of success is the cooperation between Finexx GmbH Unternehmens Beteiligungen and the consulting firm FOSTEC & Company as a strategic partner. It forms a symbiosis of many years of experience in private equity and first-class e-commerce know-how, which econvy can rely on.

econvy begins its business with a clear focus on organic growth, coupled with a focused acquisition strategy for further acquisitions. The optimized use of software and an excellent team form a solid starting point. “Here, new D2C brands benefit from all the necessary tools to successfully develop internationally and stand out from the competition. I’m looking forward to embarking on a new chapter with the econvy group,” says Sven Kraft, founder of 3 S GmbH & Co KG in Cologne. As an important shareholder in econvy Holding, he will continue to advise the group. Till Andernach and Thomas Mehlitz, founders of SolRide Inc. and current shareholders of econvy Holding, remain managing directors of SolRide and are responsible as a team for the growth of the platform in the USA.

* * *

You can also find this press release on the Internet at

Mediaroom

About econvy Holding GmbH

econvy Holding GmbH is a pioneering global e-commerce platform for fast-growing direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands. With a strategic focus on growing product categories, maximum customer satisfaction and long-term value creation, the company enriches the e-commerce environment. econvy buys and develops leading D2C brands and distributes them via relevant e-commerce channels using a multi-channel approach. With locations in Stuttgart, Cologne and Miami, econvy orients its innovative business model internationally and serves both the European and US markets. The company generates around EUR 20 million in sales per year. Thanks to the support of Finexx corporate investments and Fostec & Company strategy consulting, econvy has both many years of expertise in e-commerce and in-depth know-how in private equity. www.econvy.com

Press contact:

econvy Holding GmbH
Bolzstraße 3
70173 Stuttgart
Phone: +49 (0)711 252985-40
Fax: +49 (0)711 252985-51
info@econvy.com

One of the largest German software companies think-cell is closing the purchase of 100% shares of AskBrian GmbH. FOSTEC Ventures invested in AskBrian in 2021 and now successfully exits from this project.

Stuttgart, September 2023: Founders of AskBrian, a Munich-based start-up, founded in 2018 by Pavol Sikula, a former-Vice-President at Stern Stewart & Co and Matthias Ruppel have agreed to sell 100% shares of their venture to think-cell, a German based software company. FOSTEC Ventures became an investor of AskBrian in 2021, right in the period of its early start, and witnessed the huge results of the team, who managed to turn AskBrian into one of the most handful AI powered tool in management consulting industry.

“That is a bright example of successful exit for a AI start-up in Germany. We are happy to have invested at the early stage, believed in the future of AI-powered tool Brian as well as in the founder’s-team and now we are certain that good fortune is coming AskBrian way in hands of think-cell which is a perfect match in terms of synergies.” says Markus Fost, Managing Director of FOSTEC Ventures.

You can also find this press release on the Internet following the link
http://www.fostec-ventures.com/.

About FOSTEC Ventures

FOSTEC Ventures is a private investment company which focuses as a Company Builder on start-ups und SMEs in Europe. We operate across sectors with a special affinity to the digital economy. As “Entrepreneur-Investor“, we don’t just provide the finance, we also actively use our long experience as entrepreneurs and business managers. FOSTEC Ventures portfolio includes more than 10 successful digital start-ups mainly based in Germany with track of several successful exits.

About AskBrian

AskBrian is a German start-up founded in 2018 by Pavol Sikula, experienced Management Consultant. AskBrian develops narrow AI technologies to build products that connect humans with services and information via natural language. Brian, the AI assistant, communicates via email and performs time-consuming tasks that reflect the needs of management consultants and similar knowledge workers.

About think-cell

think-cell is a German computer software company founded in April 2002, which has become the world’s leading productivity software for creating data-driven presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint, enabling users to generate sophisticated charts with ease while saving substantial time. In 2021 Cinven Ltd., the U.K. buyout house, agreed to buy a controlling stake in think-cell under in the form of a MBO transaction.

Press contact:

FOSTEC Ventures GmbH
Markus Fost
Marienstraße 17
D-70178 Stuttgart

Telefon: +49 (0) 711-995857-10
Telefax: +49 (0) 711-995857-99
markus.fost@fostec-ventures.com

One of the largest German software companies think-cell is closing the purchase of 100% shares of AskBrian GmbH. FOSTEC Ventures invested in AskBrian in 2021 and now successfully exits from this project.

Stuttgart, September 2023: Founders of AskBrian, a Munich-based start-up, founded in 2018 by Pavol Sikula, a former-Vice-President at Stern Stewart & Co and Matthias Ruppel have agreed to sell 100% shares of their venture to think-cell, a German based software company. FOSTEC Ventures became an investor of AskBrian in 2021, right in the period of its early start, and witnessed the huge results of the team, who managed to turn AskBrian into one of the most handful AI powered tool in management consulting industry.

“That is a bright example of successful exit for a AI start-up in Germany. We are happy to have invested at the early stage, believed in the future of AI-powered tool Brian as well as in the founder’s-team and now we are certain that good fortune is coming AskBrian way in hands of think-cell which is a perfect match in terms of synergies.” says Markus Fost, Managing Director of FOSTEC Ventures.

You can also find this press release on the Internet following the link
http://www.fostec-ventures.com/.

About FOSTEC Ventures

FOSTEC Ventures is a private investment company which focuses as a Company Builder on start-ups und SMEs in Europe. We operate across sectors with a special affinity to the digital economy. As “Entrepreneur-Investor“, we don’t just provide the finance, we also actively use our long experience as entrepreneurs and business managers. FOSTEC Ventures portfolio includes more than 10 successful digital start-ups mainly based in Germany with track of several successful exits.

About AskBrian

AskBrian is a German start-up founded in 2018 by Pavol Sikula, experienced Management Consultant. AskBrian develops narrow AI technologies to build products that connect humans with services and information via natural language. Brian, the AI assistant, communicates via email and performs time-consuming tasks that reflect the needs of management consultants and similar knowledge workers.

About think-cell

think-cell is a German computer software company founded in April 2002, which has become the world’s leading productivity software for creating data-driven presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint, enabling users to generate sophisticated charts with ease while saving substantial time. In 2021 Cinven Ltd., the U.K. buyout house, agreed to buy a controlling stake in think-cell under in the form of a MBO transaction.

Press contact:

FOSTEC Ventures GmbH
Markus Fost
Marienstraße 17
D-70178 Stuttgart

Telefon: +49 (0) 711-995857-10
Telefax: +49 (0) 711-995857-99
markus.fost@fostec-ventures.com