DR. SCHWARZ-SCHILLING & PARTNERS

What DR. SCHWARZ-SCHILLING & PARTNERS does

Dr. Schwarz-Schilling & Partners (SSP) is a boutique corporate finance and M&A advisory firm founded in 1993 in Germany and headquartered in Bonn, with a secondary office in Munich. The firm specializes exclusively in mergers, acquisitions, and strategic transactions within the digital and technology sectors, including software, cloud, IoT, e-commerce, cybersecurity, online marketing, and digital commerce. SSP operates as a true equity-owning partnership led by three senior partners—Arno Nonnen (Managing Director), Dr. Ingo Hattendorf, and Volker Köllmann—supported by Associate Partner Dr. Jörg Rupp, analysts, and business support staff. Over its 30-plus year history, the firm has completed 150+ M&A transactions representing €8.5bn+ in total transaction volume, alongside 100+ strategic assignments.

The firm's core offering is integrated sell-side and buy-side advisory, equity funding process management, bilateral transaction negotiation, and full deal execution support, delivered exclusively through direct, partner-level engagement from initial contact to closing. Revenue is generated through professional advisory fees tied to M&A mandates, with bespoke pricing per engagement and no public fee schedule. Distribution occurs entirely through senior partner relationships and a curated international network of industry experts and regional partners, including dedicated coverage in Singapore/Southeast Asia (Claus J. Karthe) and Shanghai/China (Stephan Guerin), enabling cross-border deal execution for German and European tech sellers and buyers. Customer segments span entrepreneurs, shareholders, managers seeking exits or capital, and international investors and strategic acquirers, with named mandates including matrix technology AG, HOTSPLOTS, COREDINATE, INFOnline, picdrop, Quiply, expertcloud, DORUCON, HRZN (sold to HAVAS), and Dr. Herwig GmbH (sold to Asolvi).

Name

DR. SCHWARZ-SCHILLING & PARTNERS

Legal name

Dr. Schwarz-Schilling & Partner GmbH

Website

https://schwarz-schilling.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dr. Schwarz-Schilling & Partners (SSP) is a Bonn-based boutique M&A advisory firm founded in 1993, serving entrepreneurs, shareholders, and international investors in the digital and technology sector through partner-led sell-side, buy-side, and corporate finance mandates, with 150+ completed transactions totaling €8.5bn+.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. M&A Advisory Fees: SSP generates revenue through advisory fees for M&A transactions, corporate finance mandates, and strategic assignments. Services include running sell-side M&A processes, equity funding processes, bilateral transaction discussions, and buy-side advisory for investors and strategic buyers seeking opportunities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Dr. Schwarz-Schilling & Partners (SSP) is a boutique corporate finance and M&A advisory firm that provides full-service merger and acquisition advisory, corporate finance, and strategic transaction support for digital and technology companies. Services include sell-side and buy-side mandates, equity funding processes, due diligence support, negotiation, deal structuring, and cross-border transaction execution through an international partnership network.

Product overview

Dr. Schwarz-Schilling & Partners (SSP) is a boutique corporate finance and M&A advisory firm specializing in the digital and technology space. The firm operates as a unified advisory service rather than a modular software product, offering integrated M&A advisory, corporate finance, and deal execution services. The core offering combines sell-side and buy-side advisory capabilities, supported by an international partnership network and a team of industry experts covering sectors including online marketing, data analytics, FinTech, software/RPA, and digital commerce. Services are delivered through direct partner engagement throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M&A Advisory Services End-to-end merger and acquisition advisory for digital and technology companies, covering sell-side and buy-side mandates from target identification and buyer/investor sourcing through due diligence, negotiation, structuring, and closing. Buyers are tech entrepreneurs, shareholders, family-owned tech firms, portfolio companies, and strategic or financial acquirers in the digital sector.
• Corporate Finance Advisory Corporate finance advisory for digital and technology companies covering growth capital, private equity transactions, equity funding processes, and strategic assignments. Clients are founders, shareholders, and managers of tech SMEs seeking capital events or strategic transactions.
• Deal Execution Services Deal execution support spanning process management, due diligence coordination, negotiation guidance, and transaction structuring for M&A processes in the digital and technology sector. Buyers are sellers, buyers, and investors engaged via SSP advisory mandates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150+ successful transactions closed
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Jan OelerssupportingOthersIndustry Expert specializing in Online Marketing. Experienced B2B online marketing specialist and former Google manager with proven track record in the internet industry. Highly skilled in B2B lead nurturing, B2C performance marketing, digital strategy, ecommerce, and analytics.
• Björn SkutlareksupportingOthersIndustry Expert specializing in Data Analytics. Highly skilled data scientist with 20 years of experience in data management and analytics. Worked for blue chip companies including Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Bank, Vodafone, Altran CIS, and Deutsche Post DHL Group.
• Siegfried HeimgärtnersupportingOthersIndustry Expert specializing in Payment/FinTech. Former CEO of DAVASO (Germany's largest provider of tech-enabled claims processing), former CEO of EQUATEX (Zurich), former CEO of SKRILL (London), and EVP at INGENICO. Experience across payment processing, employee compensation plans, and billing services.
• Claus J. KarthecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Partner for Singapore and South East Asia. CEO of German Accelerator Southeast Asia. Over 25 years of business experience in Asia across tech, finance, big data, and deep learning. Has lived in Finland, Germany, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Philippines, and Singapore. Provides market access and expertise for Southeast Asian transactions.
• Stephan GuerincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Partner for Shanghai/China. Former Vice President of Alcatel Alsthom and principal architect of its growth through M&A. 20 years providing services to European companies seeking to access the Chinese market through direct investment or joint ventures. Law degree and master's in Political science.
• Stephan NeunersupportingOthersIndustry Expert specializing in Software/RPA/Digital Commerce. Expertise in strategic and global alliances and international business development. Track record at Amdocs, BEA Systems, and IBM. Strong technical background in robotic process automation, digital commerce, composable commerce, and marketplaces.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cipio Partners: European M&A and growth capital advisory firm dedicated to technology and internet companies. Direct competitor in DACH tech sell-side advisory with overlapping client verticals.
• Progressa Partners: Emerging boutique M&A advisory focused on growth-stage technology and digital companies. Comparable to SSP in targeting founder/VC-led tech businesses for sell-side and growth capital engagements.
• Park Capital Advisors: Tech-focused M&A advisory boutique serving mid-market software and digital companies. Comparable to SSP in scale, client profile (founder-led growth businesses), and senior-led engagement model.
• Clipperton Finance: Paris-based tech M&A boutique advising European technology companies on cross-border exits and capital raises. Closely comparable business model, target client base, and European tech coverage to SSP.
• Hampleton Partners: International tech M&A advisory boutique with strong DACH and Nordic presence. Directly comparable to SSP in client overlap (software, SaaS, e-commerce sellers) and senior-led sell-side execution.
• GP Bullhound: London-headquartered boutique investment bank focused exclusively on technology M&A and growth equity. Closest direct peer to SSP given its tech specialization, boutique scale, European footprint, and senior-led advisory model.
• Drake Star Partners: Global tech-focused investment bank with European and US coverage. Direct competitor in tech M&A advisory with comparable deal-size sweet spot and sector specialization.
• Silverpeak Investment Advisors: Boutique investment bank exclusively serving software and tech-enabled services companies on M&A and private capital raises. Highly comparable boutique model and sector focus to SSP.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln International: Global mid-market investment bank with significant DACH presence and dedicated technology practice. A broader incumbent that competes with SSP on larger mid-market tech mandates while offering wider sector and product coverage.
• Rothschild & Co: Global investment bank with deep European M&A franchise and dedicated technology practice. Competes with SSP for premium European tech advisory mandates and brings fuller product suite (debt, equity, restructuring).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/nonnen

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 DR. SCHWARZ-SCHILLING & PARTNERS