Ekwithree

About Ekwithree

Ekwithree GmbH (brand stylised lowercase, derived from Equity Three) is a Munich-headquartered independent growth-equity firm with offices at Zollstrasse 2b in Munich, Germany. The firm was founded in 2021. Assets under management are not publicly disclosed. Ekwithree operates as the management company for the E3 growth fund vehicle with capital sourced primarily from the founders own entrepreneurial proceeds rather than a traditional institutional limited partner raise. The structure is an independent self-capitalised investment firm where partners deploy proprietary capital from prior entrepreneurial exits, supplemented by selected co-investment partners (Growth Lending appears as a debt co-investor on deals). The firm describes itself as combining entrepreneurial drive and innovative start-up mindset with strategic experience and transactional expertise of an established investment firm. There is one fund vehicle: the E3 growth fund. The leadership team comprises Alexander Steeb (Partner) and Thomas Dobmeyer (Partner) supported by Ilze Lauberte as Advisor. The team self-describes as combining over 40 years of cumulative investment and operating experience with seven years of joined success prior to founding the firm.

Investment thesis

Ekwithree pursues a growth and expansion equity strategy for owner-managed small and mid-sized companies operating in growing or early-stage markets. The firm targets businesses with strong founders, an established product or service, and a clear path to scale through organic expansion, internationalisation, buy-and-build or technology enablement. The hold horizon is long-dated, supported by the proprietary-capital structure that avoids fixed fund-life constraints typical of LP-backed PE. Sectors covered include professional B2B services (highest concentration), financial services and public-sector adjacent services. The firm explicitly favours high-value knowledge-intensive service businesses over capital-intensive industrials or pure consumer plays. Recent deal flow includes IT management consulting and digital-transformation advisory. Geography is DACH-anchored with active mandate across four countries of operation; the inaugural platform investment (Finyx) is UK-headquartered, indicating the firm operates pan-European rather than pure-DACH despite the Munich headquarters. Ticket sizes are not publicly disclosed and are consistent with the small and mid-cap owner-managed services-business positioning. The limited partner base is not applicable in the conventional sense, with the firm deploying proprietary partner capital from prior entrepreneurial exits supplemented by selective co-investors. Value creation operates through hands-on partnership with management teams, support for international expansion, buy-and-build acquisition programmes and tech-enablement.

Recent activity

Recent investments include Finyx in services and IT consulting (2024 platform investment, subsequently expanded via the Woodhurst bolt-on acquisition). No exits have been disclosed publicly to date given the firm was founded in 2021 with its first platform deal closed in 2024, so the portfolio remains in build-phase with no realisations. The platform continues to deploy proprietary partner capital across DACH and pan-European owner-managed professional services and B2B services companies. Detailed buyer names and multiple data available on Pro at €29/month.