New Mittelstand
New Mittelstand is a Berlin-based community platform connecting 4,000+ DACH successors, business owners, investors, and advisors for external company succession. It operates a free community, an annual Summit (scaling to 450 in 2027), paid small-group programs, and Smart Capital investments in Search Funds.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What New Mittelstand does
New Mittelstand is a Berlin-headquartered community platform and event organizer focused on external company succession (externe Nachfolge) in the DACH region. Founded in 2017 by Evgeni Kouris and publicly launched via LinkedIn in 2019, the company curates a community of 4,000+ members spanning four segments: ambitious successors (Searchers), Mittelstand business owners seeking external succession, investors in Search Funds, and professional service providers. The core product is the free New Mittelstand Community, gated through annual Summit registration, supplemented by monthly online events, exclusive paid small-group programs for selected successors, sponsored search mandates for owners and family offices, and a direct investment arm (Smart Capital) that selectively invests in Search Funds. Technology infrastructure is intentionally lightweight — a Squarespace-hosted website (newmittelstand.org), WhatsApp groups, virtual community tooling, and standard social media channels — with the value proposition resting on curation and human facilitation rather than software differentiation.
The business model combines freemium community access with multiple monetization layers: individually negotiated paid small-group programs for successors, four category-exclusive partner sponsorship tiers at the Summit, sponsored search mandate fees, and economics from Smart Capital investments. The annual Summit (NMS26 in April 2026 with 150 curated participants and 400+ registrations; NMS27 in April 2027 planned at 450 participants) is the flagship engagement mechanism and primary commercial touchpoint. Pricing across paid programs is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The organization is led by founder and Managing Director Evgeni Kouris, supported by a small core team (1-10 employees), and partners with strategy firm scaleon, Legacy Partners (Search Fund advisory), and academic anchors at WHU.
New Mittelstand firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- New Mittelstand
- Legal name
- New Mittelstand GmbH
- Website
- https://newmittelstand.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- New Mittelstand is a Berlin-based community platform connecting 4,000+ DACH successors, business owners, investors, and advisors for external company succession. It operates a free community, an annual Summit (scaling to 450 in 2027), paid small-group programs, and Smart Capital investments in Search Funds.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
New Mittelstand industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Business Succession and Search Fund Advisory
- NAICS
- Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vertical/Specialty Search (e.g., jobs, real estate, travel, products) (BPAMAAAD)
Keywords
Where New Mittelstand is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
New Mittelstand business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Community Membership (Free Tier): Basic community membership is free, providing access to the network, regular events, and informational content. This creates the primary community base and pipeline for paid programs.
- Exclusive Small-Group Programs: Selected successors receive intensive, exclusive small-group accompaniment through dedicated programs. The pricing of these programs is not publicly disclosed but represents a direct revenue stream.
- Sponsored Search Mandates: For owners and family offices that mandate long-term, responsible succession through New Mittelstand. The organization invests via Smart Capital directly into selected Search Funds and charges fees for discreet mandate matching and facilitation.
- Partner Sponsorship: Four category-exclusive sponsoring tiers are available at the annual Summit and other community formats. Partners (law firms, banks, advisors, M&A professionals) pay for visibility, targeted lead generation, and curated introductions to relevant community members.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free community membership — access to events, network, and content |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Exclusive Small-Group Programs for selected successors — pricing not disclosed |
| Subscription | Annual | Partner Sponsorship Tiers — four category-exclusive tiers at the Summit |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
New Mittelstand product offering
Product offeringCore offering
New Mittelstand operates a curated DACH community platform for external company succession (externe Nachfolge) and Search Fund-based Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). It connects 4,000+ successors, business owners, investors, and service providers through free membership, monthly online events, and the annual New Mittelstand Summit in Berlin. The platform also delivers selective Search Fund, Self-Funded Search, and Sponsored Search mandate services, alongside direct Smart Capital investments into selected Search Funds.
Product overview
New Mittelstand is a DACH-focused community platform for external company succession and Search Funds, combining the stability of Mittelstand (family-owned businesses) with entrepreneurial agility. The core offering is the New Mittelstand Community platform, which connects over 4,000 curated members including ambitious successors, investors, and business owners seeking succession solutions. The platform operates through three main service pathways: Search Funds (selective minority investment), Self-Funded Search (preparation for self-financed successors), and Sponsored Search (discreet mandates for owners and family offices). The flagship annual Summit serves as the premier networking event, supplemented by monthly online events. Additional offerings include Smart Capital (direct investment in Search Funds), the Insights Blog (educational content), and a Newsletter for community updates. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Berlin, the organization has grown to become one of the largest communities for external business successors in the DACH region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- New Mittelstand Community: A community platform for innovation, transformation, and collaboration among Mittelstand entrepreneurs and successors in the DACH region.
- New Mittelstand Summit
- Humix Community
Products and services
- New Mittelstand Community Free curated community platform for individuals and organizations involved in external business succession in the DACH region, providing peer networking, regular events, and access to the annual Summit.
- New Mittelstand Summit Annual flagship event held in Berlin bringing together successors, investors, business owners, and service providers. Features three tracks, pre-dinner invite-only networking with 40 guests, and curated participant selection (150 attendees in 2026, scaling to 450 in 2027).
- Monthly Online Community Events Open monthly online events held between Summits covering topics on external succession, Search Funds, and Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), maintaining community engagement year-round.
- Search Funds Service Selective minority investment participation in classical Search Funds with a clearly defined role and no operational responsibility, targeting ambitious successors raising capital to acquire Mittelstand businesses.
- Self-Funded Search Service Preparation and sparring services for self-financed Searchers (successors funding their own acquisitions), with focus on decision quality rather than deal speed.
- Sponsored Search Service Discreet, selective succession mandate service for owners and family offices that mandate long-term, responsible external succession through New Mittelstand's network.
- Smart Capital Investment Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 4,000+ community members as of 2026, growing from the initiative launched in 2017
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use New Mittelstand
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
New Mittelstand technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
New Mittelstand partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- SelvendominorSelvendo is a guided sale platform for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs, trades, practices, and local service providers) with typical revenues under €5 million. New Mittelstand provides its community members with a free or discounted potential assessment coupon (Gutschein) for Selvendo's Phase 1 services, creating a referral pathway for smaller succession cases that fall outside the primary New Mittelstand ETA focus.
- Zebras-UniteminorZebras-Unite was an early partner with whom New Mittelstand worked alongside selected Mittelstand entrepreneurs to collaboratively develop a new corporate vision for Germany and Europe. This partnership was instrumental during the formative phase (2019) but appears historical rather than active.
- scaleon GmbHcorescaleon is a strategy consulting firm in Berlin. Stefan Bendorf (Benndorf), Founding Partner, is an Associate Partner at New Mittelstand and delivers strategy Masterclasses for the community. Evgeni Kouris is also an Associate Partner at scaleon. The relationship is bidirectional — scaleon contributes expertise to New Mittelstand while New Mittelstand serves as a platform for scaleon's consulting services and client acquisition.
- Legacy PartnerscoreLegacy Partners, led by Florian von Villiez, is a key strategic partner providing expertise on Search Fund structures and succession economics. Legacy Partners contributed the Partner Perspectives article '250 Mio. vs. 250 Mrd.: Warum Search Fund keine PE-Konkurrenz ist' to the NMS26 build-up, establishing them as a thought partner on succession economics in the DACH market.
- Prof. Dr. Nadine KammerlanderminorProfessor of Family Business at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, and a founding member and ambassador of New Mittelstand. Contributed the 'Family Innovator's Dilemma' concept to the Leitbild and provides academic credibility to the initiative's research on Mittelstand succession.
- Prof. Dr. Holger ErnstminorProfessor of Technology and Innovation Management at WHU, and a founding member of New Mittelstand. Provides academic expertise on innovation and technology management within the Mittelstand context.
- Verena Bahlsen (Bahlsen GmbH & Co. KG)minorActive shareholder of Bahlsen GmbH & Co. KG and founding member of New Mittelstand. Represents the ideal of a multi-generation family business transitioning to a New Mittelstand approach. Provided the quote 'Startups are not automatically sexier than the Mittelstand. We believe in the Kraft des Mittelstands.'
- Kerstin Hochmüller (Marantec Company Group)minorCEO of Marantec Company Group and founding member of New Mittelstand. Embodies the transformation from Hidden Champion to Open Champion. Featured extensively in community content. Represents the 'leadership and organizational transformation' dimension of the New Mittelstand vision.
- Julia Stadler (STADLER Anlagenbau GmbH)minor7th-generation owner of STADLER Anlagenbau GmbH and founding member of New Mittelstand. Represents generational continuity and transformation in family businesses. Contributed to the vision as a 'New Mittelstand pioneer' focused on long-term sustainability.
- Mo Drescher (MODC / PURENESSITY)minorFounding member of New Mittelstand and founder of MODC (InnovationPositive methodology). Contributed to the sustainability and open innovation dimensions of the community. Advises clients including Bugatti, Braungart EPEA, Hermès, Marantec, McDonald's, and Ricola on sustainability communication.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
New Mittelstand competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Family Business Network (FBN): Global membership association for family business owners and next-generation leaders, with chapters across Europe and beyond. A broad incumbent in the family business / succession education and networking space, though much larger and more general than New Mittelstand's external-succession focus.
Direct peers
- Selvendo: Guided-sale platform for small and medium-sized businesses in DACH (typically revenues under €5M) focused on SME succession and M&A matchmaking. Already a New Mittelstand partner (potential assessment coupon for community members), making it the closest direct comparable in target use case and geography.
Emerging players
- Valu8: Data engine for European-wide company screenings providing financial metrics, ownership structures, and similarity searches for succession candidates. Comparable function (target identification/screening) but more data-driven and broader geographically than New Mittelstand's curated approach.
- StrategyBridgeAI: Munich-based AI platform for automated company analysis, peer groups, and multi-method valuation used by M&A advisors and searchers. Overlaps with New Mittelstand's audience (investors and successors) but substitutes AI tooling for community curation.
- PROXDEAL: AI-agent for off-market deal sourcing in the DACH region. Referenced as a professional tool in New Mittelstand's platform comparison content; targets the same succession/search market with a more automated, tech-led approach rather than curated community.
Others
- Search Fund Accelerator: Education and advisory community supporting aspiring Search Fund entrepreneurs, primarily US-based. Comparable in target persona (Searchers/ETA successors) and event/community format, though not directly competitive given DACH vs US geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
New Mittelstand social profiles
Digital presenceNew Mittelstand financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
New Mittelstand leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
New Mittelstand funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
New Mittelstand M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about New Mittelstand
What does New Mittelstand do?
New Mittelstand operates a curated DACH community platform for external company succession (externe Nachfolge) and Search Fund-based Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). It connects 4,000+ successors, business owners, investors, and service providers through free membership, monthly online events, and the annual New Mittelstand Summit in Berlin. The platform also delivers selective Search Fund, Self-Funded Search, and Sponsored Search mandate services, alongside direct Smart Capital investments into selected Search Funds.
Is New Mittelstand a public or private company?
New Mittelstand is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was New Mittelstand founded?
New Mittelstand was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is New Mittelstand based?
New Mittelstand is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does New Mittelstand make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Community Membership (Free Tier) is the primary driver. The others are exclusive Small-Group Programs, sponsored Search Mandates and partner Sponsorship.
Who are New Mittelstand's main competitors?
Family Business Network (FBN) is listed as a broad incumbent. Selvendo is listed as a direct peer. Emerging players are Valu8, StrategyBridgeAI and PROXDEAL. Search Fund Accelerator is listed as an others.
Does New Mittelstand have an API?
No public API is recorded for New Mittelstand.
What industry is New Mittelstand in?
New Mittelstand's product category is Business Succession and Search Fund Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAAAD, Vertical/Specialty Search (e.g., jobs, real estate, travel, products). Its NAICS code is 519290 and its SIC code is 8600.