KAUF Leaders & Ventures

What KAUF Leaders & Ventures does

KAUF Leaders & Ventures is a Munich-based executive search consultancy founded in 2015 by Andreas Kauf, a former 14-year Partner at Heidrick & Struggles, focused on placing C-level and senior executives (CEO, CDO, CSO, CTO, CMO, COO, CPO, Group CIO, VP/Director) for companies undergoing digital transformation, primarily in the DACH region. The firm differentiates through its proprietary KL | Diagnostic Suite (KL | DS) — KNOW HOW (online knowledge testing), POTENTIAL (aptitude diagnostics), and PERFORMANCE (psycholinguistic analytics on social media and survey data) — deployed internally to reduce placement risk and sold to investors and supervisory boards.

The business operates on a retained, quote-based professional-services model with no public pricing. Revenue comes primarily from executive search fees plus secondary assessment and diagnostics revenue. Go-to-market is high-touch direct enterprise engagement, supplemented by a nine-partner referral ecosystem spanning healthcare, CFO advisory, IT, blockchain, venture clienting, digital marketing, eCommerce, and strategic management. The firm is founder-led, privately held, bootstrapped with no disclosed funding, headquartered in Munich's Ludwigpalais with team presence in Frankfurt and Cologne. Recurring surveys of 1,000+ managers and roundtable publications on AI, mobility, and innovation drive top-of-funnel demand.

Name

KAUF Leaders & Ventures

Legal name

Andreas Kauf Management- und Personalberatung GmbH

Website

https://kauf-leaders.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KAUF Leaders & Ventures is a Munich-based executive search consultancy founded in 2015 that places C-level and senior executives for companies undergoing digital transformation, leveraging a proprietary KL | Diagnostic Suite of assessment tools to reduce placement risk.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO) (BPACAAAC), Innovation Leadership & Leading Growth (EDABAAAO)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Leadership consulting
• Digital transformation advisory
• Aptitude diagnostics
• Transformation analytics

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Executive Search / Retained Search: Retained executive search services placing C-level, VP, Director, and other senior management positions for companies undergoing digital transformation. The firm identifies, assesses, and matches managers to specific roles using its proprietary diagnostic tools (KL | DS). This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Assessment & Diagnostics: Revenue from deploying proprietary assessment tools (KL | KNOW HOW, KL | POTENTIAL, KL | PERFORMANCE) to evaluate managers' knowledge, potential, and performance. These tools are also used internally to reduce matching risks in search mandates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KAUF Leaders & Ventures is a Munich-based executive search consultancy that identifies, assesses, and places senior executives (CEO, CDO, CSO, CTO, CMO, COO, CIO, CPO, CSA, VP, Director levels) for companies undergoing digital transformation. The firm pairs retained search mandates with its proprietary KL | Diagnostic Suite (KL | KNOW HOW, KL | POTENTIAL, KL | PERFORMANCE) to evaluate transformation and innovation competence of candidates and organizations.

Product overview

KAUF Leaders & Ventures is an executive search consultancy founded in 2015 that offers a unified diagnostic platform (KL | DS) plus executive search services and thought leadership programs. The KL | DS platform consists of three integrated modules: KL | KNOW HOW (online knowledge assessment), KL | POTENTIAL (aptitude testing for transformation competence), and KL | PERFORMANCE (social media and digital analytics). The company also provides Go to Market executive search services, optimization consulting, and regular thought leadership surveys and roundtables. The diagnostic suite analyzes and improves transformation readiness using psycholinguistic analytics developed in exclusive partnership with a German technology leader.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KL | DS (Diagnostic Suite): Diagnostic Suite combining KNOW HOW, POTENTIAL, and PERFORMANCE modules to analyze transformation and innovation competence of companies and managers.
• KL | KNOW HOW
• KL | POTENTIAL
• KL | PERFORMANCE

Products and services

• KL | DS (Diagnostic Suite) Overarching proprietary diagnostic platform analyzing and improving the transformation and innovation competence of companies and managers, integrating the three modules KL | KNOW HOW, KL | POTENTIAL, and KL | PERFORMANCE. Compiles static and dynamic scores considering both emotion and ratio, and differentiates between management, organizational unit, employees, and culture levels. Sold to enterprise clients undergoing digital transformation in Germany.
• Executive Search Bespoke retained executive search service placing C-level and senior leaders (CEO, CDO, CSO, CTO, CMO, COO, CIO, CPO, CSA, SVP, VP, Director) for companies in Germany undergoing digital transformation, covering go-to-market mandates, optimization of matching processes via KL | DS analytics, and references including placing Group CIOs, Chief Digital Officers, and other transformation leadership roles across industries.
• KL | KNOW HOW Standalone online knowledge assessment application with Self Evaluation, Transfer Evaluation, and Case Study modules that assess managers' understanding of innovative technologies, digital business models, market ecosystems, agile management, and project-based organizations. Reports are auto-generated within one hour, usable for benchmarks, audits, and training. Sold to enterprises for management audits and capability assessment.
• KL | POTENTIAL Standalone online aptitude test assessing transformation and innovation competence of managers through an online questionnaire and business case. Combines scientifically validated elements of management potential analysis, personality diagnostics, and leadership research, differentiating between will and skill. Outputs individualized reports with development areas and benchmarks for managers and enterprises.
• KL | PERFORMANCE Standalone analytics solution using crawlers to aggregate data from digital sources including social media listening and employee survey free-text fields, applying psycholinguistic analytics in major languages in exclusive cooperation with a German technology leader. Generates dashboards on employer brand, transformation readiness, innovation capacity, leadership styles, and performance including motivation, loyalty, and commitment.
• Thought Leadership - Surveys Regular surveys with at least 1,000 managers per round on topics related to leadership in digital transformation, including transformation readiness, distance leadership, and management challenges. Used as thought leadership content and market intelligence to position KAUF Leaders & Ventures as an authority on transformation leadership for enterprises and executives.
• Thought Leadership - Roundtables Exclusive roundtable discussions on themes including Artificial Intelligence, Mobility, and Innovation published as downloadable brochure PDFs to establish thought leadership and engage enterprise decision-makers and senior executives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of managers cite digitization and technological change as key success drivers; 58% cite innovation ability; 75% see in-house operations as key to success
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• passion4health (Peter Herrmann)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeter Herrmann, founder of passion4health, is a specialist in digital transformation for healthcare. He provides consulting to healthcare facilities, healthcare IT companies, and healthcare startups. KAUF refers clients needing complementary healthcare transformation expertise to passion4health, and vice versa. Key credentials include digitization strategy for Klinikum Braunschweig and market entry support for MACH7 Technologies.
• Andreas Melbaum (CFO Advisory)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCFO and Interim CFO specialist with 18 years of advisory experience, including work with KPMG Germany, Deutsche Telekom, and major private equity funds. Specializes in performance improvement, turnaround, change management, PMI, and finance digitization. KAUF refers clients needing financial leadership advisory to Melbaum.
• PKA Advisory (Peter Albrecht)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPeter Albrecht is an expert in modern IT management covering digitization, big data, data governance, SIAM, and DSGVO compliance. Has served as interim CIO for M-DAX companies and led large outsourcing projects. KAUF refers clients needing IT leadership or compliance advisory to PKA Advisory.
• CHAINSTEP GmbH (Frank Bolten)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHAINSTEP, founded in May 2017 and headquartered in Hamburg, specializes in training, consulting, and implementation of blockchain technologies. Focus sectors are transport logistics and supply chain management. Clients include ROSEN AG, KWS Saat SE, Bundesvereinigung Logistik, and DLR Projektträger. Referred by KAUF for blockchain transformation mandates.
• 27pilots (Gregor Gimmy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner27pilots, an independent spin-off of BMW Group, helps corporations build and operate internal Venture Client units. Gregor Gimmy, inventor of the Venture Client model at BMW Startup Garage, leads strategy and partnerships. Clients include BMW Startup Garage and BSH Startup Kitchen. Referred by KAUF for venture client and open innovation advisory mandates.
• Dr. Burkhard Henn (Digital Marketing)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDr. Burkhard Henn is a digital marketing and growth expert with 20+ years of experience including senior roles at eBay Germany, AutoScout24 (VP Marketing), and Verivox (CMO). Specializes in B2C digital scaling, demand generation, and marketing investment optimization. Referred by KAUF for digital marketing leadership mandates.
• Walter Hildebrandt (Transformation Expert)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBobby Hildebrandt is a transformation expert and founder with 20+ years of experience at Cisco Systems and T-Systems. Specializes in customer journey mapping, ecosystem building, go-to-market design, and rapid prototyping for future mobility. Awards include safety and mobility award from AutoMotorSport. Referred by KAUF for transformation advisory.
• SchwarzGold Consulting (Nicolas Speeck)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNicolas Speeck is a digital commerce expert with nearly 20 years of experience, including co-founding Germany's largest online shopping club brands4friends (sold to eBay) and building the eCommerce business for Street One and Cecil. Serves as Managing Director of CBR eCommerce and SchwarzGold Consulting. Referred by KAUF for eCommerce and digital marketing advisory.
• Barbara Siebert (Strategic Management Consultant)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBarbara Siebert is a strategic and organizational development consultant with 20+ years of experience in digitization, strategy, and change management. Has led digital programs at Allianz, Volkswagen, PwC, APCOA, and others. Specializes in data-led growth and change management across automotive, technology, media, insurance, and healthcare.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Spencer Stuart: Global retained executive search firm with a strong board and CEO practice and well-developed technology officer and digital leadership practices. Competes for the same senior transformation and digital leadership mandates that KAUF targets at enterprise clients.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global retained executive search firm where founder Andreas Kauf spent 14 years as Partner. Operates in the same C-suite and senior executive search market with a global footprint that exceeds KAUF's boutique scale, making it the most directly comparable peer and the historical template for KAUF's service model.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global retained executive search firm with dedicated technology, digital, and transformation officer practices. Competes for the same CDO, CTO, and C-suite mandates in Germany and across Europe.
• Odgers Berndtson: International retained executive search firm with a strong DACH presence. Targets the same enterprise C-suite, technology, and digital leadership mandates as KAUF, often with a similar mid-sized boutique-style operating model in each market.
• Egon Zehnder: Global retained executive search firm with significant presence in DACH and established technology, digital, and CEO practices. Directly comparable on the same enterprise retained search value proposition and on the priority German market.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Larger organizational consulting firm with an executive search division that serves enterprise clients across functions. While its portfolio is broader than KAUF's boutique offering, it competes for senior digital and transformation leadership mandates and brings assessment and analytics capabilities that overlap with the KL | DS suite.
• Robert Half: Global staffing and consulting firm with senior-level placement capabilities. While primarily focused on interim and project-based finance and technology staffing, it competes for senior technology and transformation appointments in the German enterprise market.
• PageGroup (Michael Page): Global recruitment group covering mid-to-senior and executive search via its Michael Page and Page Executive brands. While its primary model is contingency and hybrid search rather than retained, it competes for senior appointments in the same digital and transformation functions, particularly in Germany.
• Hays: Global recruitment group with a strong DACH presence and dedicated technology and transformation practices. Competes for senior digital and technology leadership appointments, though typically at a slightly more contingent or hybrid fee model than KAUF's retained model.

Others

• Arthur D. Little: Global management consultancy that frequently interfaces with executive search work for transformation leadership and advises on technology and innovation strategy. While not a direct search competitor, it is a comparable advisory firm serving similar enterprise clients on transformation mandates, and intersects with KAUF's partner ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KAUF Leaders & Ventures