EIF German Equity (formerly known as the ERP-EIF Facility) is a partnership between the German Federal Government and the EIF, providing venture and growth capital financing with a focus on high-tech early and later stage companies in Germany.
It has been mandated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE, formerly BMWK, BMWi) on behalf of the German ERP Special Fund (ERP Sondervermögen) in 2004 and it has been increased subsequently on several occasions. The mandate is managed by the EIF since its first launch.
Achievements and focus
The current volume of the EIF German Equity mandate is up to €5.8 billion following the recent announcement on additional €1.6 nillion in funding resources dedicate to innovation and start-ups.
This is complemented by additional € 0.4 billion co-invested alongside the GFF-EIF Growth Facility - also funded by ERP Special Fund resources - that are managed by the EIF including with contributions of own resources. Over time, the mandate has also covered co-investments alongside business angels (from 2012 until 2022) and investments in co-investment structures alongside VC funds (from 2016 until 2021).
EIF German Equity invests as a fund-of-funds and covers all technology areas including ICT, life sciences, energy related innovations, as well as emerging and converging technologies.
Commitments from EIF German Equity, often combined with other EIF mandates, aim to support the funding of portfolio companies based or active in Germany. Supported funds are, however, not restricted to investing solely in German companies, and a sizeable proportion of EIF German Equity is being invested through non-German fund managers, aiming to invest in the German venture capital market.
Insofar, EIF German Equity has formed, with more than 5,000 SME investments in Germany and across Europe through supported funds, a very relevant part of the pan-European venture capital ecosystem.
Serving as a blueprint
The success of EIF German Equity speaks for itself: this initiative has helped reignite the German VC industry and turn it into a leading ecosystem in Europe. Its model of developing and deploying local mandates to address specific gaps has been replicated at a regional level in Germany, and in other European markets.
Fund managers - apply here
The EIF selects funds and partners based on a standard process involving application and due diligence. Please use our EIF generic investment proposal form to send us your pitch via the link below. Should the investment opportunity meet our criteria, your team will be invited to present the investment proposal.