Independent. Owner-managed. Entrepreneurial.
As an independent, owner-managed investment company from Cologne, we support companies with capital, entrepreneurial experience and a reliable network.
Investment model
Two ways we bring capital and companies together
We independently take stakes in companies and projects and support them with capital as well as entrepreneurial experience. Up to €500,000 we invest directly from our own portfolio, between €500,000 and €10 million jointly with internal partners and private investors, and from €10 million with external partners.
In addition, we provide venture capital to selected companies and manage our own as well as entrusted assets with a long-term investment horizon.
Whether direct investment or venture capital – we think in long-term partnerships
Focus
We review companies of all kinds and decide case by case where an investment makes sense
Acquiring and holding stakes in corporations and partnerships across different industries.
Providing risk capital for companies in high-growth phases.
Managing our own and third-party assets with a focus on preserving substance and long-term value growth.
Cologne Venture Capital GmbH was founded in Cologne in 2000 and has been led by Eugen Schäfer as managing director since 2002. Out of this continuity, an investment company has emerged that combines entrepreneurial thinking with a calm, long-term investment approach.
As an owner-managed company, we make decisions independently and without the pressure of short-term quarterly targets. We review every investment carefully and support the companies we invest in with entrepreneurial experience rather than mere capital provision.
Our aspiration is a partnership-based, discreet and long-term collaboration – with clear structures and short decision-making paths.
Principles
Seven principles that shape our work.
We think in years, not quarters.
We know entrepreneurial decisions from first-hand experience.
Trust is built away from the public eye.
Our network opens doors.
Clear words, clear structures.
We stand by what we promise.
Every investment is carefully reviewed.
Our experience is built on more than two decades of entrepreneurial practice – from founding and managing our own investments to supporting third-party companies.
From Cologne, we maintain a network of contacts that reaches beyond the region and helps us identify suitable investment opportunities early.
Short decision-making paths and a lean structure allow us to act swiftly and with commitment once we have decided on an investment.
Company investments offer opportunities for attractive, entrepreneurially driven value development – however, they always involve significant risks, including the risk of a complete loss of capital.
Key risks include market risks, operational risks of individual investments, financial risks and regulatory changes.
We address these risks through careful review before every investment, active support and deliberate diversification. Losses cannot be ruled out; past performance does not allow reliable conclusions about future results.
Our roots
Our home is Cologne, our thinking reaches beyond. We maintain contacts with companies, co-investors and partners across the D-A-CH region.
“Reliable on the ground, attentive to opportunities beyond – that is how we see our role as an investment company.”
Our starting point and economic foundation since 2000.
Our preferred sphere of activity for investments and venture capital.
Well-established contacts that open up additional investment opportunities.
We connect capital and companies, creating sustainable value for our portfolio companies and partners.
As an owner-managed investment company, we think in long-term partnerships rather than individual transactions.
Long-term thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, discretion, connectedness, transparency, reliability and thoroughness shape our actions.