Seventure Partners, 4Tree Capital, Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg and four business angels jointly invest three million euros in the fast-growing FinTech startup Flexvelop. In addition to the institutional investors, the four business angels - all former investment bankers - are of strategic value by providing their expert knowledge and personal networks to help raise additional debt capital for equipment funding on an ongoing basis.
The investment will be used to expand into further online stores and partner retailers, where the new form of B2B equipment leasing can be integrated directly as a clickable payment solution.
„Despite a difficult economic environment in 2022, the team of Flexvelop convinces with a mature platform, strong traction and hanseatic charme. We see great potential in the B2B equipment leasing space and are excited to actively support the next growth steps with our know-how and network.“ - Dr. Andreas Schenk, Venture Partner DACH at Seventure Partners (Lead Investor)
Flexvelop gives business customers the ability to rent even small business-critical equipment in seconds. This gives young, small and medium-sized companies
the advantage of being able to work with professional equipment immediately. Furthermore, they can later flexibly decide if and when the best time to buy or return the equipment will be.
When a customer „flexes“, the Hamburg-based company takes over the invoice and thus the customer‘s investment risk. In this way, Flexvelop combines the classic leasing advantages with the flexibility of a continuously variable rental and the convenience of an online purchase. If the customer decides to return a device, a specialized service provider processes the returned equipment in a sustainable manner and forwards it into the circular economy.
Flexvelop is already available at retailers for hospitality equipment, office IT and professional tools. At partner vendors such as Notebooksbilliger.de, WMF or the electronics retailer EXPERT, “Flexing” is already a recommended payment solution for businesses. In the future, the fully automated payment solution will be integrated into the check-out process of online shops to take advantage of the scaling potential.
Having developed its own technology and successfully entered the market in 2020, the start-up was able to convince several institutional investors to invest in Flexvelop‘s team and innovative business model despite the difficult market environment.
With the fresh capital, the team is to be doubled this year from the current ten employees to around 20 people while the in-house technology is to be further developed.
„Since the founding of Flexvelop, we have followed the startup‘s development with great interest. The team has convinced us, having demonstrated the agility to adapt the direction of the business model quickly and purposefully to the new market needs. We see a huge demand in B2B equipment leasing and look forward to supporting the team as they continue to grow.“ - Stefanie Hoehn, Sen. Investment Manager of Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg
With the move to new office space, the foundations were laid for further growth. In the city-famous „Halbmondhaus“ on the Elbchaussee, the company has found a new home.
„With a full tank and broad backing, we can now tap further credit lines, meet the high demand and pursue our growth targets smoothly. In particular, the additional strategic value of our new shareholders makes this round so valuable for us.“ - Dr. Hans-Christian Stockfisch, CEO Flexvelop GmbH
About Seventure Partners
Seventure Partners is a long term equity investor who actively supports innovative companies with positive impacts on Humankind, Society, Sustainability and the Planet. With EUR 950m net commitments under management as of the end of 2021, Seventure is a leading venture capital firm in Europe investing since 1997 in innovative businesses with high growth potential in 2 main fields: Life sciences (Health & digital Health, Foodtech, Blue Economy, Animal & Agriculture, Sport & Wellness ...) across Europe, Israel, Asia and North America and Digital technologies (FinTech, RetailTech etc...) in Europe.
Investments can range between EUR 500k and EUR 10m per round, or up to €20m per company, from early to late stage, growth, pre-IPO and IPO.
Digital Opportunities FundTM launched in 2016 and 2021are institutional venture capital funds supporting Fintech, RetailTech and other innovative digital solutions. Seventure Partners is a subsidiary of Natixis Investment Managers, which ranks among the world‘s largest asset management companies. Natixis is the corporate finance, management and financial services bank of BPCE, the second largest banking group in France.
About 4Tree Capital
4Tree Capital GmbH invests in direct and indirect assets for clients and partners within the framework of a multi-family office. In the case of direct company investments, 4Tree takes on the role of a strategic investor and promotes successful and sustainable company development in close cooperation with the management.
About the Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg
The Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg invests venture capital in innovative companies in order to strengthen the Hamburg start-up scene and contribute to the development of promising companies. Investors in the fund are the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The fund is managed by the IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH.
The investment will be used to expand into further online stores and partner retailers, where the new form of B2B equipment leasing can be integrated directly as a clickable payment solution.
„Despite a difficult economic environment in 2022, the team of Flexvelop convinces with a mature platform, strong traction and hanseatic charme. We see great potential in the B2B equipment leasing space and are excited to actively support the next growth steps with our know-how and network.“ - Dr. Andreas Schenk, Venture Partner DACH at Seventure Partners (Lead Investor)
Flexvelop gives business customers the ability to rent even small business-critical equipment in seconds. This gives young, small and medium-sized companies
the advantage of being able to work with professional equipment immediately. Furthermore, they can later flexibly decide if and when the best time to buy or return the equipment will be.
When a customer „flexes“, the Hamburg-based company takes over the invoice and thus the customer‘s investment risk. In this way, Flexvelop combines the classic leasing advantages with the flexibility of a continuously variable rental and the convenience of an online purchase. If the customer decides to return a device, a specialized service provider processes the returned equipment in a sustainable manner and forwards it into the circular economy.
Flexvelop is already available at retailers for hospitality equipment, office IT and professional tools. At partner vendors such as Notebooksbilliger.de, WMF or the electronics retailer EXPERT, “Flexing” is already a recommended payment solution for businesses. In the future, the fully automated payment solution will be integrated into the check-out process of online shops to take advantage of the scaling potential.
Having developed its own technology and successfully entered the market in 2020, the start-up was able to convince several institutional investors to invest in Flexvelop‘s team and innovative business model despite the difficult market environment.
With the fresh capital, the team is to be doubled this year from the current ten employees to around 20 people while the in-house technology is to be further developed.
„Since the founding of Flexvelop, we have followed the startup‘s development with great interest. The team has convinced us, having demonstrated the agility to adapt the direction of the business model quickly and purposefully to the new market needs. We see a huge demand in B2B equipment leasing and look forward to supporting the team as they continue to grow.“ - Stefanie Hoehn, Sen. Investment Manager of Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg
With the move to new office space, the foundations were laid for further growth. In the city-famous „Halbmondhaus“ on the Elbchaussee, the company has found a new home.
„With a full tank and broad backing, we can now tap further credit lines, meet the high demand and pursue our growth targets smoothly. In particular, the additional strategic value of our new shareholders makes this round so valuable for us.“ - Dr. Hans-Christian Stockfisch, CEO Flexvelop GmbH
About Seventure Partners
Seventure Partners is a long term equity investor who actively supports innovative companies with positive impacts on Humankind, Society, Sustainability and the Planet. With EUR 950m net commitments under management as of the end of 2021, Seventure is a leading venture capital firm in Europe investing since 1997 in innovative businesses with high growth potential in 2 main fields: Life sciences (Health & digital Health, Foodtech, Blue Economy, Animal & Agriculture, Sport & Wellness ...) across Europe, Israel, Asia and North America and Digital technologies (FinTech, RetailTech etc...) in Europe.
Investments can range between EUR 500k and EUR 10m per round, or up to €20m per company, from early to late stage, growth, pre-IPO and IPO.
Digital Opportunities FundTM launched in 2016 and 2021are institutional venture capital funds supporting Fintech, RetailTech and other innovative digital solutions. Seventure Partners is a subsidiary of Natixis Investment Managers, which ranks among the world‘s largest asset management companies. Natixis is the corporate finance, management and financial services bank of BPCE, the second largest banking group in France.
About 4Tree Capital
4Tree Capital GmbH invests in direct and indirect assets for clients and partners within the framework of a multi-family office. In the case of direct company investments, 4Tree takes on the role of a strategic investor and promotes successful and sustainable company development in close cooperation with the management.
About the Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg
The Innovationsstarter Fonds Hamburg invests venture capital in innovative companies in order to strengthen the Hamburg start-up scene and contribute to the development of promising companies. Investors in the fund are the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The fund is managed by the IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH.
