Grazia Equity
Grazia Equity is a Stuttgart-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 1998 that invests primarily in technology-driven DACH startups (tickets EUR 0.5mn–EUR 2.5mn) using its own capital and the USD 100mn Grazia Impact III fund, with a track record of 5 IPOs and 7 unicorn exits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersStuttgart, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Grazia Equity does
Grazia Equity GmbH is a Stuttgart-based venture capital firm founded in 1998 by Alec Rauschenbusch that invests in early-stage, technology-driven companies with impact orientation. The firm operates primarily in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) as lead investor, and participates as co-investor across the rest of Europe, the United States, and Africa. Core products are (1) Grazia Impact III, an Article 8 SFDR-classified venture fund of approximately USD 100 million managed by Grazia Capital Management GmbH (a registered AIFM under the German Kapitalanlagegesetzbuch), targeting equity and equity-related investments in young, innovative, technology-oriented companies, and (2) direct equity investment services deployed primarily from the firm's own balance sheet, with typical ticket sizes of EUR 0.5mn to EUR 2.5mn and reserved follow-on capital for portfolio continuation.
Grazia's go-to-market is sales-led and network-driven: deal flow originates from founder referrals, co-investor relationships, and direct outreach rather than traditional marketing, with the firm emphasizing fast, pragmatic decision-making enabled by its high proportion of own-capital deployment. The firm invests across deep tech (Q.ANT photonic computing, Lumotive optical semiconductors, NEURA Robotics cognitive cobots), sustainability/cleantech (Eternal Power green hydrogen, Vytal reusable packaging, Formo cellular agriculture, Conergy solar, Affinity sub-Saharan financial inclusion), biotech/health (Immatics, Carisma Therapeutics, GYANT, XO Life, Hypatos), and consumer/enterprise software (Statista, Mister Spex, Lingoda, Gitti, Moviepilot), supported by an active co-founder posture in selected ventures. The 7-person team is led by Founder/Managing Director Alec Rauschenbusch (Harvard MBA) and Partner Jochen Klüppel (ex-McKinsey), with CFO Markus Ostfalk (ex-KPMG).
The business model generates revenue through a combination of fund management fees on Grazia Impact III's approximately USD 100 million AUM and, more significantly, through equity returns realized via IPOs and strategic exits — a model that has historically produced 5 IPOs/listings (NASDAQ and DAX) and 7 portfolio companies exceeding billion-dollar valuations, including Conergy (IPO 2005, EUR 2.2bn peak market cap), Quantenna (acquired by ON Semiconductor for USD 1.07bn in 2019), Statista (sold to Ströer at 22x multiple), SiTime (USD 200mn exit to MegaChips), Immatics (NASDAQ listing via SPAC in 2020), and Mister Spex (EUR 375mn IPO in 2021).
Grazia Equity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Grazia Equity
- Legal name
- Grazia Equity GmbH
- Website
- https://grazia.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Grazia Equity is a Stuttgart-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 1998 that invests primarily in technology-driven DACH startups (tickets EUR 0.5mn–EUR 2.5mn) using its own capital and the USD 100mn Grazia Impact III fund, with a track record of 5 IPOs and 7 unicorn exits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Grazia Equity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital / Private Equity
- NAICS
- Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)
- SIC
- Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lower Mid-Market Buyout (FSANABAC)
Keywords
Where Grazia Equity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stuttgart
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Grazia Equity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Venture Capital Fund Management: Grazia Equity generates returns through equity investments in early-stage technology companies. The firm invests its own capital alongside managing the Grazia Impact III fund (approximately 100 Mio USD). Returns are realized through IPOs and strategic exits. The firm has achieved 5 IPOs/listings and 7 portfolio companies exceeded billion-dollar valuations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Grazia Equity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Grazia Equity is a venture capital firm that provides early-stage equity financing to technology-driven startups in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and selectively co-invests in Europe, the US, and Africa. Typical ticket sizes range from EUR 0.5mn to EUR 2.5mn per company, with reserved follow-on capital. The firm works predominantly with its own capital, enabling fast, pragmatic investment decisions, and complements capital with strategic/operational advisory and access to its business network.
Product overview
Grazia Equity is a German venture capital firm offering two primary products: (1) Grazia Impact III, an impact-focused investment fund promoting environmental and social characteristics aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, and (2) VC investment services for early-stage technology companies. The firm works primarily with its own capital to make fast, pragmatic investment decisions, focusing on startups in the DACH region with ticket sizes typically between EUR 0.5mn and EUR 2.5mn.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Grazia Impact III Impact-focused venture capital fund that promotes environmental and social characteristics (SFDR Article 8), targeting equity and equity-related investments in young, innovative, technology-oriented companies in the DACH region. Managed by Grazia Capital Management GmbH as AIFM, with final fund size of approximately USD 100 million.
- Grazia Equity VC Investment Services Early-stage venture capital investment services providing equity funding to technology-driven startups in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as lead investor, and to other European countries, the US, and Africa as co-investor. Ticket sizes typically range from EUR 0.5 million to EUR 2.5 million, with reserved follow-on capital, plus strategic/operational advisory and business network access.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5 IPOs/listings at NASDAQ and DAX
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Grazia Equity
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Grazia Equity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Grazia Equity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Grazia Equity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Grazia Equity social profiles
Digital presenceGrazia Equity compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Grazia Equity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Grazia Equity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Grazia Equity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Grazia Equity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments81 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Grazia Equity
What does Grazia Equity do?
Grazia Equity is a venture capital firm that provides early-stage equity financing to technology-driven startups in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and selectively co-invests in Europe, the US, and Africa. Typical ticket sizes range from EUR 0.5mn to EUR 2.5mn per company, with reserved follow-on capital. The firm works predominantly with its own capital, enabling fast, pragmatic investment decisions, and complements capital with strategic/operational advisory and access to its business network.
Is Grazia Equity a public or private company?
Grazia Equity is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Grazia Equity founded?
Grazia Equity was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Grazia Equity based?
Grazia Equity is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Grazia Equity make money?
One revenue line is on record: venture Capital Fund Management.
Does Grazia Equity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Grazia Equity.
What industry is Grazia Equity in?
Grazia Equity's product category is Venture Capital / Private Equity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANABAC, Lower Mid-Market Buyout. Its NAICS code is 5239 and its SIC code is 6799.