Jens & Ralf
ESL
»Tobias trusted that we would make it, and he was there when we needed him.«
Tobias
EKK & Co.
»Since our entry in 2001, I have always firmly believed that Jens, Ralf, and their team will succeed in filling stadiums with the ESL.«
Stefan
EKK & Co.
»We know how important a strong sales team is, and Mario certainly sets the benchmark here.«
Mario
Data Collect
»EKK & Co. broadens our perspective right where we might also have blind spots ourselves.«
Sebastian
XPLN
»With Roman, I can be completely open. We work together on the issues that matter, and often, they are not just numbers.«
Roman
EKK & Co.
»We've helped Sebastian shape the company according to his vision. He is passionate about what he does, and that enthusiasm is contagious for everyone involved.«
Moritz
EKK & Co.
»Making complex acquisitions simple is a rather complex task. Christian, Gary, and Marc are a unique trio.«
Christian, Gary & Marc
tradingtwins
»Having a partner in equity who supports us not only financially but also in terms of content and on a personal level makes a huge difference.«
Holistic Growth Investing
Success can indeed be measured through metrics, but not exclusively so. Experienced entrepreneurs often define success holistically. It requires various elements that ideally complement each other well. Personal growth, financial success, economic significance, and societal relevance are success components for us, and they may not always carry the same level of importance at all times. However, in a fulfilling entrepreneurial career, these elements mutually reinforce one another. We support our portfolio companies in keeping an eye on all the essential dimensions of success and, above all, in developing them.
Personal Growth
Personal growth is definitely a success factor to which, in our opinion, not enough attention can be devoted. Building or further developing a company brings various challenges, and for many, it requires experience and interpersonal qualities, such as when dealing with negotiations and conflicting goals. However, the task of managing one's own resources and capabilities as an entrepreneur also demands a high degree of reflection. Personal growth is the prerequisite for business growth.
Financial Success
Financial success is not everything, but without financial success, everything is nothing. At least in the business context, this is undoubtedly true. Being in the black not only provides the company with more room to maneuver but also benefits the entrepreneurs and investors responsible for it. Considering the collective investment of time, energy, and money, a correspondingly motivating return is a prerequisite and the result of our actions for all parties involved.
Economic Impact
To witness how a company leaves its mark on its industry, shifts established benchmarks, delights its customers, and even outpaces the competition... all of this leads to moments of well-deserved entrepreneurial pride that many founders remember throughout their lives. Investment successes can also be achieved on the world's stock exchanges, but experiencing the growing economic significance of one's own actions and ideas in "real life" is a dimension of success that is truly priceless.
Societal Relevance
We live in a time when corporate success is no longer discussed independently of its social consequences and impacts. While such goals and regulations do introduce complexity in many areas, they also create numerous opportunities to make a positive difference. Through ecologically, socially, and economically more sustainable products or services. In the service of all of us.
Portfolio
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Focus
Outstanding teams can be found in every industry. We therefore do not limit our focus to individual industries. For us, passion and ambition, coupled with hard work and talent, are the basis for cooperation. We see the teams behind the companies as more than just a decision-making factor in our investment selection. Rather, they are the target of our investment throughout the entire investment cycle. Personal growth leads to company growth. We also apply the following criteria to our investments.
Company Stage
We invest in companies that have found the Product Market Fit and are ready for further scaling. Here, we assist in taking the next significant growth step.
Capital Needs
With our investments, we assist in generating growth and achieving profitability. We don't think in Series A, B, C, etc., or simply finance for x months, only to rely on further funding afterward.
Growth Potential
As an Early Growth Investor, we finance the next major growth phase. We are particularly interested in business models that can scale rapidly and have high market growth potential.
Shareholder Structure
We aim for the founders to maintain the majority not only at the time of our investment but also during the company sale. We want shared interests not only in the business but also in the investment case.
Some describe EKK & Co. as a 'professional family.' We like this image. We see confirmation of it in the extremely high percentage of entrepreneurs who remain closely connected with us years after the end of our investment. As co-investors who explore new opportunities with us. Or as capable partners to support our current investments. Is there a more beautiful display of trust?
News
From our portfolio companies and within our organization, there are regular updates to share. We are happy to highlight the key points here. To stay informed, we also recommend subscribing to our quarterly newsletter.
October 1, 2024
Daniela Glöckle becomes part of the management board.
Daniela has been advising EKK & Co. as a lawyer for many years.
As of October 1st, 2024, Daniela Glöckle has joined the management board of EKK & Co. Daniela is a qualified lawyer and tax advisor. For the past 15 years, she has worked for a major mid-sized law firm in Stuttgart. Her focus has been on corporate law, M&A, private equity, and tax law. In this role, she has already supported EKK & Co. in numerous transactions. She was also a member of the advisory board of EKK & Co. Daniela will be responsible for all legal matters as well as for investment management.
We are delighted to have Daniela on board as a permanent member of our executive team.
July 15, 2024
"Spread Happiness" - Happy Sprinkles secures the ticket for growth with EKK & Co.
With colorful sprinkles, everything looks better and actually tastes much better. To spread this colorful, delicious happiness even further, EKK & Co. is investing a seven-figure sum in the Hamburg-based start-up Happy Sprinkles.
Baking remains a popular trend. Extraordinary baking ideas are spreading not only through well-known shows like "The Great British Bake Off" on linear TV or "Nailed It" and "Is it cake" on streaming platforms. Social media is also full of innovative and colorful ideas. With the right accessories, you can get creative at home and professionally decorate your baked goods with colorful drizzles or rescue any attempt with decorative sprinkle mixes.
Happy Sprinkles is one of the biggest newcomers when it comes to offering sprinkle mixes in Germany that are otherwise only known from the US or UK. CEO and founder Lilli Merks can use the seven-figure investment to take further strategic steps on the company's growth path. Not only the development of new products and the expansion of the marketing reach are on the agenda. The expansion of the B2B business, especially abroad, can now be driven even more comprehensively.
Founded in 2018, Happy Sprinkles offers a wide range of innovative and colorful baking decorations, from sprinkles and toppings to glazes, food colors, and baking accessories. Currently still available in a few stationary stores, Happy Sprinkles primarily sells through its online shop with rapidly growing success.
"The partnership with EKK & Co. enables us to carry our creative ideas into the world with real momentum," says Lilli Merks of Happy Sprinkles. "We look forward to sharing the joy and colorful happiness that our products spread even further, creating exciting new products and expanding our business internationally. Now the real fun can begin!"
"Happy Sprinkles as a company and Lilli as a founder are a great addition to our portfolio," says Moritz Reck, Investment Manager at EKK&Co. "We are firmly convinced that we can continue the success story of Happy Sprinkles together. True to the motto "Spread Happiness", we want to put a smile on our customers' faces."
About Happy Sprinkles We are a Hamburg-based startup with the goal of making the world more colorful and sweet. And what's the best way to do that? That's right - with lots of colorful and delicious sprinkles.
Our joyful journey through the world of baking has only just begun and we are super excited about all the exciting innovations that await us on our sprinkle-filled path! Our motto on the road to success is "Spread Happiness".
November 11, 2023
freshtaste secures growth capital: Healthy and tasty meals in the office
EKK & Co. invests 1.2 million euros in the Heidelberg-based startup freshtaste.
Heidelberg/Stuttgart
A compelling idea: fresh food in the workplace. With freshtaste from WeLoveFresh GmbH, a smart fridge moves into the office, creating an innovative canteen alternative for small and medium-sized enterprises. EKK & Co. is now supporting the startup's further growth through an investment in the company and extensive know-how.
The promise of the Heidelberg-based team: 24/7 fresh meals are available in the freshtaste Smart Fridge. Handmade, balanced and varied with a weekly changing offer and more than 20 choices. Employees can select and pay for their desired food at the fridge via the freshtaste app. This offers a particular advantage for medium-sized companies to become more attractive as employers and to provide real added value for their employees.
"Since our founding, our goal with freshtaste has been to bring people together at the table. This works best in a relaxed atmosphere while eating! With us, the lunch break becomes as easy as possible: fresh, healthy and delicious food straight from the Smart Fridge to the table. We have experienced ourselves how this positively develops the overall team culture and how teams connect with each other in a new way: quite casually with good food," says Alexander Stupp from freshtaste.
Moritz Reck from EKK & Co.: "We were immediately impressed by the idea and the team. We are convinced that the freshtaste concept is right on trend and that office catering needs new impulses. We look forward to working together and the journey ahead!"
Already more than 100 companies in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region rely on the innovative solutions for employee catering of the future. With the investment from EKK & Co., an expansion into other areas is planned. The Stuttgart and Frankfurt regions in particular will be expanded even further in the next step.
Learn more about freshtaste - click here -