TRUMPF Venture

Shaping the industry of the future together!

TRUMPF is synonymous with innovation. We are driven by our enthusiasm for technical excellence that creates added value for our customers. With a pioneering spirit, we promote developments that alter or call into question existing business models. This is how we shape concepts such as Industry 4.0 from the very start and provide key impetus. As a corporate venture capital investor, TRUMPF Venture GmbH supports promising start-ups that wish to play a key part in shaping the industry of the future and allow them access to the world of TRUMPF.

About us

As the corporate venture capital unit of TRUMPF, we are both a strategic partner and a venture capital investor. With our network, our experience in industrial production, and our technology expertise, we help innovative company founders to get started on the market and to grow. As such, we are the ideal choice for technology-oriented start-ups who are looking for a strong partner who thinks about the long term. In addition, we network and find win-win ways of collaborating – be it with TRUMPF as a customer, development partner, or in a close cooperation.

Investment strategy

We invest internationally with a focus on early stage financing, both as lead and co-investor ideally in investor consortiums. Out of a first fund of 40 million euros we typically contribute 0.5 - 2 million euros initially and view ourselves as a stable partner to successful portfolio companies throughout future investment rounds. In addition to a strategic fit, a risk-adjusted return on the capital provided is also important to us. To that effect TRUMPF Venture strives for a minority interest between 5% and 25%, which enables start-ups to develop and, in cooperation with TRUMPF, grow to be successful.

Who we are looking for

As a corporate venture capitalist, we wish to offer strategic added value in addition to a financial investment. For this we look for high-tech companies which are complementary to, or adjoin the core areas of TRUMPF either in terms of market or technology. The requirement for an investment is a business model that is technology-based, innovative, and sophisticated due to unique selling points, ideally with initial turnover. Additional crucial criteria are an experienced management team, scalability, as well as potential for sustainable growth and added value as a result of the investment. We focus on start-ups which will shape the industry of the future in the following technological areas:

Areas of interest

Photonics & laser technology

New laser concepts
Optical systems
Optical computation & communication
Medical application
Vision improvement

Manufacturing technology

Advanced manufacturing technologies
Additive manufacturing
Materials

Sensors & automation

Sensor systems
LiDAR
Factory assistance systems
AR/VR
Robotics
Logistics

Connectivity & compute

Connectivity/IIoT
Cyber security
Quantum technologies
Electronics
New computing

Industrial software systems

Industrial business platforms
Industrial enterprise software

Our portfolio

Xarion

XARION Laser Acoustics has developed a unique sensor system, based on a new optical measuring principle: the influence of an acoustic pressure wave on the wavelength of light. This enables new applications such as in the area of process control, acoustic measuring, as well as non-destructive testing.

Find out more

3YOURMIND

3YOURMIND offers software platforms for optimizing 3D printing processes for companies and service providers. The digital workflows connect teams and production sites, optimize machine utilization rates, and enable better decisions.

Find out more

RSP Systems

RSP Systems is developing blood glucose monitors that use a laser pulse instead of needles. The technology is already being used as a prototype in Odense University Hospital to verify the accuracy of the measurements. As such, RSP Systems is one of the first companies to offer a non-invasive blood glucose monitor on the market.

Find out more

Eyeware

Eyeware is developing a 3D gaze-tracking software, which makes gaze-tracking using just 3D cameras and no glasses, possible. Eyeware's software records the interactions, attention, and interests of users, thereby closing the gap when it comes to the multi-modal human-machine interface for future applications.

Find out more

Peers

Peers Solutions have developed a cloud-based software platform to support industrial companies in managing their training of personnel. The software system identifies personnel training needs according to qualifications, development goals, time and financial budgets. It then uses artificial intelligence to create individualized learning paths based on modules from external providers, and includes continuous monitoring of learning progress and costs.

Find out more

Resistell

Resistell is developing a new procedure for the detection of reliable antibiotics. During this procedure, tiny light sensors measure the reactions of living microbes to antibiotics without the need to breed them artificially and to invest a considerable amount of time. This ensures that patients receive the correct medication very quickly.

Find out more

Cyr3con

CYR3CON™ has developed an AI software for accurately predicting future hacker attacks. Thanks to this technical innovation, CYR3CON™ is blazing new trails for predicting security vulnerabilities in IT systems. Customers use an SaaS platform provided by CYR3CON™ in order to prevent unauthorized data access and hacker attacks and the ensuing damage.

Find out more

Our team

Managing Director

Dr. Dieter Kraft

Dieter's many years of experience with venture capital, combined with his business excellence, allow him as Managing Director to lead TRUMPF Venture GmbH as a fair partner and investor. For him the criteria for success for shaping the joint success of TRUMPF and its portfolio companies are strategy development and implementation. He was previously a partner at Robert Bosch Venture Capital for 9 years, being responsible for the region of Europe, and having built up system development in the field of electric mobility worldwide. Dieter holds a doctorate in physics from the University of Frankfurt. Even in his free time he enjoys a dynamic environment, either riding his motorcycle or sailing.

Investment Manager

Franz Lehmann

With a broad understanding of technology as well as experience in business strategy, Investment Manager Franz shapes the industry of the future together with innovative company founders. He was previously a strategy consultant for international projects (in particular digitization and growth strategies) at McKinsey. In addition to a German computer science degree and a French engineering degree, he holds an MBA from the Collège des Ingénieurs. Franz worked as a ski instructor alongside his studies, coaching others to reach the finish line faster, and still likes to spend his free time up on the slopes.

Financial Professional

Christina Kotzur, CFA

Christina is fascinated by how companies are created and grow as a result of new ideas. She assists our start-ups on their path to success in her role as a financial professional, using her experience in the financial sector, right up to successful turnarounds when supporting portfolio companies. Over the past 10 years, Christina worked in the private equity field in Madrid, most recently as CFO at Everwood Capital. She studied International Business Administration and has also earned the CFA title. She is a visionary in her spare time, too – prior to hitting the ball on the golf course, she always imagines how the ball will go into the hole.

Investment Manager

Niklas Hering

Niklas possesses comprehensive expertise in operations and IT management by virtue of his roles as consultant and senior engineer at an RWTH Aachen University institute as well as head of company logistics at the TRUMPF Group. He takes these skills with him in his role as investment manager. Niklas studied industrial engineering and earned his doctorate in engineering sciences at the RWTH Aachen. He also holds an MBA from RWTH Aachen/University of St. Gallen. Niklas trains in Krav Maga in his free time – even here, coming out on top requires thoroughly evaluating situations and planning patterns of action in advance.

CEO advisor/assistant

Sabine Rother

With her great organizational skills, Sabine brings order to TRUMPF Venture as CEO advisor/assistant. Her outgoing manner makes her the first point of contact for all inquiries. Sabine ensures that meetings and trips run smoothly and is just about able to solve any problem. She provides support during the assessment of investment requests from start-ups, and sets up internal and external meetings. Sabine is also an all-rounder in her private life, searching for balance in nature, preferably through hiking, yoga or tennis.

You may also find these topics interesting

Managing Board

TRUMPF is an internationally active family business. Learn about our members of the Managing Board of the holding company.

Find out more

headquarters building of TRUMPF in Ditzingen, Germany

Company profile

Our company profile provides you with brief information in facts and figures, and a video about the TRUMPF Group.

Find out more

Annual report

If you would like to read our annual report online or order a printed copy, you can find the latest report here, as well as an archive for the last five years.

Find out more

Contact

Franz Lehmann

Investment Manager

E-mail

Service & contact