(DGAP-Media / 14.01.2014 / 13:00)
Berlin, 14.01.2014: The German Startups Group Berlin AG, provider of
venture capital for the booming startups scene in Germany with its head
office in Berlin, has invested in seven additional companies within the
last few months. Just one a half years after its launch, the German
Startups Group has created a portfolio of 24 investments. At the same time
it has extended the previous investment focus on early stage companies with
established German startups ('growth stage').
'We have broadened our investment focus within the last 6 months
consciously with the purchase of so called secondary shares that we are
buying from founders and business angels who want to sell some of their
shares for good reasons. The portfolio of German Startups Group is thus
offering to its shareholders an even higher diversification and the chance
to participate in German start-ups that operate internationally', says
Christoph Gerlinger, CEO of German Startups Group.
The seven new portfolio companies of German Startups Group in short
summary:
Growth Stage
- Delivery Hero is a worldwide network of online food ordering sites
(among others Lieferheld.de) with around 50,000 restaurants connected
to its service. On its mission to provide better takeaway food to the
people globally, Delivery Hero operates in Germany, UK, Russia,
Australia, Switzerland, South Korea, China, Mexico and India. The
company has more than 650 employees around the world with 300 staff
working from its Berlin headquarters.
- Mister Spex is Europe's largest online retailer for branded eyewear.
Mister Spex is selling in Germany, Sweden, Spain and France. Through
the Internet, the company offers an extensive range of high quality
prescription glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses at competitive
prices. In addition to the broad product range, price transparency and
price savings, customers also benefit from free services such as eye
tests and the adjustment of glasses thanks to local partner opticians
in Germany. Half of the staff in the customer service team are trained
opticians. The company also has its own optician workshop in Berlin
with final assembly and quality control.
- reBuy is one of the German market leaders within Re-Commerce and is
also selling in Austria. reBuy.de is an easy online shop for buying and
selling on the internet. Users can buy easy, fast and secure electronic
and media articles for fixed prices. The input of ISBN-, EAN-number or
name of the article is enough to get the buying price. The user sends
the goods in a package to reBuy.de and gets the selling price directly
transferred on his account. reBuy.de operates from its headquarter in
Berlin-Rudow, a 10.000 m² big logistic center and employed 400
employees.
Early Stage
- With hundeland.de and katzenland.de, ePetworld runs two vertical online
shops for pet supplies. Based on the increasing online revenues in the
pet supply industry, the two online shops provide two significant
advantages for their customers: Convenience - home delivery of weighty
products like pet food and cat litter as well as a much wider product
range compared to the local drug store. In differentiation to online
competitors, ePetworld is focused on offering 'advice and guidance' for
its customers.
- In the area of e-commerce, German Startups Group has empowered itself
with Amorelie, a sensual lifestlye online shop that offers a selective,
high quality portfolio, a compelling functionality as well as friendly
customer service. You find all of the above in a life-loving, friendly
and exclusive environment which attracts confident, modern women and
couples. The product range covers not only toys but also exclusive
lingerie as well as sensual products, such as erotic literature.
Passion, physical well-being, sex and happiness are the main focus of
Amorelie why it shows a stylish, innovative and accessible
Lovestyle-world. Amorelie wants to inspire people who have waited for a
new shopping experience of sensual lifestyle. With this concept
Amorelie is unique on the German market.
- Funanga is the first provider of digital prepaid cards and was launched
in June 2013. Conceptionally and technically innovative, the new
Funanga model means significant cost savings compared to traditional
prepaid cards for all online shops, more value for money for its users
and incremental revenues at no extra cost in combination with an
increase in customer traffic for all points of sale.
- eWings is a new online booking platform for business and first class
flights. eWings is planning to launch within 2014 with over 350
airlines and about 100.000 daily flights. With eWings.com, professional
travelers and frequent flyers are able to book a flight in less than 2
minutes. eWings.com was founded in August 2013 by Thilo Hardt,
co-founder of Mister Spex and Entrepreneur in Residence of DN Capital
London.
Furthermore, the German Startups Group intensified its cooperation with
Cooperativa Venture Services regarding portfolio administration and
controlling. With the company builder Venture Stars, the German Startups
Group started a cooperation regarding co-investments. The German Startups
Group also became member of EVCA (European Venture Capital Association),
EBAN (European Trade Association for Business Angels, Seed Funds, and other
Early Stage Market Players) as well as BVK (Bundesverband deutsche
Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaften).
Press contact
German Startups Group Berlin AG
Christoph Gerlinger
Tel +49 (0)30-610900730-0
Mail info@german-startups.com
Web www.german-startups.com
German Startups Group - We love Startups!
We are a venture capital provider for young and innovative companies. We
focus on the German startup scene and are looking for passionate young
entrepreneurs, who have a disruptive product or business model with high
scalability and who bring great entrepreneurial talent. We are investing in
promising startups following our motto: smart, fast and friendly money.
With its investments in early stage and established German startups, German
Startups Group is offering an alternative asset class where their investors
participate in the value creation of 'startups made in Germany'. Therefore
the investors don't have to invest high amounts nor have to take care about
time-consuming portfolio selection or supervision. Internet:
www.german-startups.com
End of Media Release
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Issuer: German Startups Group Berlin AG
Key word(s): Enterprise
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 14, 2014 06:59 ET (11:59 GMT)
