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Scaling the next generation of Hidden Champions through carve-out venturing — because the biggest opportunities lie within real businesses waiting to be unleashed.
WHY NOW?
The Mittelstand Is Falling Behind On Innovation
88%
58%
>15%
of Mittelstand companies are not actively pursuing innovation, an increase of 3 percentage points since the start of the pandemic.
Source: KfW Entwicklungsbank
The share of Mittelstand companies without any innovation activities has risen from 32% to 42% over the last decade.
Source: KfW Innovation Report Mittelstand
Of all Mittelstand companies (innovation potential) risk closure and the loss if their innovations due to missing succession by 2026.
Source: KfW Succession-Monitoring Mittelstand
56%
of all innovation spending comes from just 2% of Mittelstand companies, while the majority are left with no real innovation activities.
Source: KfW Entwicklungsbank, Mittelstand Report
are spent annually on innovation in the Mittelstand, yet most of these projects never make it beyond internal discussions and prototypes.
The Mittelstand is the backbone of global industry. But its deep operational expertise remains largely untapped. While others chase unicorns, we carve out proven ideas and scale them faster than a startup on steroids.
€34bn
HOW IT WORKS
The Playbook for Building Future Giants
Liquidity Is Structured, Not Left to Chance
90%
Venture exits are trade sales, not IOPs – SCHWAPe aligns with this reality.
Source: Bundesverband Deutsche Startups e.V. (2021)
Step 1:
Identify Niche Innovation Inside SMEs
Step 2:
Carve It Out into a Standalone Company
Step 3:
Build, Fund and Scale with Startup Speed + SME Mastery
Step 4:
Expand Globally and Lead the Market
We don’t invest in ideas—we invest in execution. Our repeatable playbook de-risks early-stage ventures and cranks up the growth engine. Unlike traditional venture studios, we don’t build from scratch. We carve out success.
The Execution Powerhouse
The SCHWAPe Value Creation Blueprint
Data- & Network-Driven Execution
Market intelligence, combined with industry expertise, competitive benchmarking, and milestone tracking, delivers instant proof of concept and accelerates product-market fit with optimized scale-up.
Execution-First Talent Strategy
SCHWAPe uses Mittelstand experts for niche knowledge, with C-Level oversight guiding strategy and an operator driving execution. Key hires follow model validation, reducing risk.
Investor-Optimized Capital Strategy
Ventures follow a structured funding roadmap with pre-aligned capital for smooth scaling. SCHWAPe’s financial automation lets them focus on execution.
Full-Stack GTM Execution
SCHWAPe accelerates market entry with instant authority, niche-targeted branding, and proven GTM models for structured lead generation.
Operations & Tech
SCHWAPe provides scalable infrastructure and execution roadmaps, with centralized ops handling complexity, letting ventures focus on growth.
Pre-Aligned Regulatory & Exit Strategy
SCHWAPe ensures compliance, IP protection, and corporate structuring for seamless exits.
• M&A readiness and regulatory frameworks from the start.
• Built-in IP protection for high-value exits.
OUR IMPACT
Proof, Not Promises
We’ve already launched ventures across SaaS, platforms, and industrial solutions—each born from an SME’s hidden innovation. Now they’re scaling beyond expectations.
knowible – Organizational Development. Reimagined.
Forget traditional Learning Management Systems. knowible is not about content—it’s about transformation. We empower organizations to evolve dynamically by embedding continuous learning into everyday workflows. No isolated training. No wasted knowledge. Just a system that grows with you, making every employee a strategic asset.
Empowering Growth, Delivering ROI, Ensuring Stability
CONTACT
The Right Partners Build the Future
"We’re not looking for passive capital. We’re searching for allies—investors and industry partners who know the future isn’t built on hype, but on real businesses poised for transformation."
Jonas Schwanebeck, CEO
E-Mail: contact@schwape.com
Location: Berlin, Germany
CREATING A MOVEMENT, NOT A BROCHURE.
This isn’t just a website—it’s the start of something big. If you’re ready to reshape entire industries, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to the Hidden Champions Factory.