BID Equity
BID Equity is a Luxembourg-domiciled, Hamburg-headquartered private equity firm that invests exclusively in European B2B software companies, executing a Buy & Build strategy with approximately €800M of AUM and 50+ acquisitions since 2016.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BID Equity does
BID Equity is a Luxembourg-domiciled, Hamburg-headquartered private equity firm that invests exclusively in B2B software companies across Europe, with a strong DACH concentration. Founded in 2013, the firm targets profitable, growing software businesses with €0.5–5M of EBITDA, proprietary IP, and recurring revenue, executing a Buy & Build strategy to consolidate niche providers into market-leading software groups. Its operating model combines capital with hands-on operational support delivered through its own Value Creation Playbook (covering Buy & Build, Internationalization, Digitization, AI enablement, and post-merger integration) and through its strategic partner PMI Advisory.
Across its lifetime the firm has executed more than 50 acquisitions, building platforms in verticals such as social welfare software (myneva, exited to Summa Equity in 2021), energy management (eSight, exited to MRI Software in 2021), cybersecurity (Nextron, exited to Eurazeo in 2026), travel management (Midoco, partially exited to LEA Partners in 2019), CRM/CMS/CPQ/DXP (JustRelate), professional services automation (everii), CAD for construction (MegaCAD), clinical research (EvidentIQ), mobile device management (TinyMDM), insurance broker software (Insurgo), 3D aesthetic simulation (Crisalix) and local marketing (Local Brand X), among others.
The firm earns revenue through management fees and carried interest on its fund vehicles — Fund II (€125M, 2019), Overflow Fund II (€50M, 2021), Fund III (€310M, July 2023, oversubscribed) and Continuation Fund I (€300M, June 2025), aggregating to approximately €800M of AUM. Capital is sourced from a diversified European and US institutional LP base, with AXON Partners acting as exclusive placement agent across multiple vintages and institutional investors such as Five Arrows Secondary Opportunities and StepStone Group anchoring the continuation fund. Deal sourcing combines direct origination by an in-house investment team with intermediary relationships and a structured, fast-cycle process designed to issue indicative offers in under two weeks.
BID Equity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BID Equity
- Legal name
- BID Equity S.à r.l.
- Website
- https://bidequity.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BID Equity is a Luxembourg-domiciled, Hamburg-headquartered private equity firm that invests exclusively in European B2B software companies, executing a Buy & Build strategy with approximately €800M of AUM and 50+ acquisitions since 2016.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BID Equity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity (B2B Software Buy & Build)
- NAICS
- Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Platform Buy-and-Build / Roll-Up Buyout (FSANABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Lower Mid-Market Buyout (FSANABAC), Family/Founder Succession Buyout (FSANABAK), Mid-Market Buyout (FSANABAB)
Keywords
Where BID Equity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
BID Equity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Private Equity Management Fees and Carried Interest: BID Equity generates revenue through management fees on committed capital across its fund vehicles (Fund I, Fund II, Fund III, Overflow Fund, Continuation Fund) and carried interest on investment returns. The firm has raised approximately €800M across multiple fund vehicles since 2016.
- Fund Management: As advisor to BID Equity Funds, the firm manages €700M+ across three main funds, with Fund III closed at €310M hard cap in 2023 and Continuation Fund I at €300M in 2025.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
BID Equity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BID Equity is a software-focused private equity firm that invests in European B2B software companies with €0.5-5M EBITDA, acquiring majority stakes and applying a Buy & Build methodology to scale them into market leaders. The firm manages multiple fund vehicles (over €800M AUM) and provides hands-on operational value creation across sales, product, pricing, AI, cloud enablement, and post-merger integration. Revenue is generated through management fees on committed capital and carried interest on investment returns.
Product overview
BID Equity is a software-focused private equity firm, not a software product company. The organization provides investment advisory and fund management services to institutional investors seeking exposure to European B2B software companies. Their core offering is managing private equity funds that acquire and scale software businesses through buy-and-build strategies. BID Equity does not develop or sell its own software products; instead, it invests in and operationaly supports portfolio software companies. The firm operates across multiple funds (Fund II, Fund III, Overflow Fund II, Continuation Fund I) and has made 50+ acquisitions since 2016, managing approximately €800M in assets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BID Equity Investment Advisory Services
- BID Equity Fund Management Platform
- Buy & Build and Operational Value Creation Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 50+ acquisitions since 2016 with 6x average growth to exit
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use BID Equity
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
BID Equity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
BID Equity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- ORBIT | FUND BOUTIQUEminorLegal advisor for BID Equity Fund III closing, providing fund structuring and legal counsel.
- PMI AdvisorycorePMI Advisory is BID Equity's strategic partner for operational value creation. Together they support portfolio companies in implementing sustainable growth strategies across all critical business functions including Sales & Marketing, Product Management, Pricing, AI Enablement, and Process Excellence.
- AvoltaminorTech M&A Director Victor Ebersold provided testimonial endorsement of BID Equity's software expertise and buy-and-build approach, indicating advisory relationship.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BID Equity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
Direct peers
- LEA Partners: German mid-market PE firm focused on software and technology companies, with deep DACH roots and Buy & Build approach. Most directly comparable peer given similar target segment (€0.5-5M EBITDA software), geography, and strategy. Acquired Midoco from BID Equity in 2019.
- AFINUM: Munich-based PE firm investing in mid-sized technology companies in German-speaking countries. Joint investor with BID Equity in Midoco acquisition (2016); competes directly for DACH software mid-market opportunities with comparable check sizes and Buy & Build playbook.
- Main Capital Partners: Dutch PE firm exclusively focused on B2B software companies in Northwestern Europe. Closest geographic peer with similar vertical specialization (software-only) and Buy & Build strategy; comparable fund size and operational support model.
- Paragon Partners: Munich-based PE firm specializing in mid-sized software and technology buyouts in DACH and Benelux. Comparable target segment (lower mid-market software), Buy & Build orientation, and operational value creation approach.
- Hg Capital: UK-based PE firm exclusively focused on software and services businesses across Europe. Direct strategic peer given software-only mandate, Buy & Build methodology, and similar portfolio company profiles; operates at a larger scale (£20B+ AUM) but pursues identical thesis.
- Bregal Unternehmerkapital: Munich-based PE firm focused on mid-market technology companies in DACH region. Comparable target segment, operational approach, and software/technology thesis; competes in similar deal auctions.
- AUCTUS Capital Partners: Munich-based PE firm with strong German mid-market presence including technology investments. Comparable in fund size and target EBITDA range, though less exclusively software-focused than BID Equity.
Broad incumbents
- Thoma Bravo: Largest US software-focused PE firm with $130B+ AUM. Applies a Buy & Build playbook to enterprise software assets; while the geography and deal scale differ, they define the strategic template BID Equity operates within and increasingly compete at the larger end of European software mid-market.
- Vista Equity Partners: US-based software-focused PE giant ($90B+ AUM) with deep operational playbook similar in concept to BID Equity's Value Creation Playbook. Operates globally at much larger scale but provides the strategic reference point for software PE institutional capital allocation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BID Equity social profiles
Digital presenceBID Equity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BID Equity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
BID Equity subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries15 records
BID Equity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BID Equity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A21 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BID Equity
What does BID Equity do?
BID Equity is a software-focused private equity firm that invests in European B2B software companies with €0.5-5M EBITDA, acquiring majority stakes and applying a Buy & Build methodology to scale them into market leaders. The firm manages multiple fund vehicles (over €800M AUM) and provides hands-on operational value creation across sales, product, pricing, AI, cloud enablement, and post-merger integration. Revenue is generated through management fees on committed capital and carried interest on investment returns.
Is BID Equity a public or private company?
BID Equity is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was BID Equity founded?
BID Equity was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BID Equity based?
BID Equity is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does BID Equity make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Private Equity Management Fees and Carried Interest is the primary driver. The others are fund Management.
Who are BID Equity's main competitors?
Insight Partners is listed as an others. Direct peers are LEA Partners, AFINUM, Main Capital Partners, Paragon Partners, Hg Capital, Bregal Unternehmerkapital and AUCTUS Capital Partners. Broad incumbents are Thoma Bravo and Vista Equity Partners.
Does BID Equity have an API?
No public API is recorded for BID Equity.
What industry is BID Equity in?
BID Equity's product category is Private Equity (B2B Software Buy & Build). Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANABAI, Platform Buy-and-Build / Roll-Up Buyout, with a secondary code of FSANABAC, Lower Mid-Market Buyout. Its NAICS code is 5259 and its SIC code is 6282.